Books Events
Events Friday 4
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to suzanne.black@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.
Thursday 3 Glasgow FREE Charley Boorman Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. The son of director John Boorman (and travelling partner of Ewan McGregor) signs copies of Right to the Edge: Sydney to Tokyo by Any Means. FREE Poetry Discussion Group Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, 287 2999. 6pm. Lively and informal discussions of poetry on the first Thursday of every month.
Edinburgh FREE Allan Massie Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6.15pm. Get acquainted with Allan Massie’s novel, Surviving, which is about a bunch of ex- pat alcoholics in Rome.
✽✽ FREE Alan Bissett and Doug Johnstone National Library of
Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6.30pm. Two of the toasts of Scotland’s contemporary literary scene discuss and read from their works.
✽✽ In Conversation with Bernard MacLaverty Scottish Poetry
Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). The prolific writer and raconteur talks about his favourite poems while whisky, oatcakes and cheese sweeten the deal.
Glasgow Reading the Leaves Tchai Ovna, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 7.30pm. £2. Poetry and storytelling evening. Edinburgh FREE The Layout of the Psalms University of Edinburgh, Main Library, George Square, 650 3384. 1–2pm. A talk by Eyal Poleg on ‘Memory, Performance, and Change: The Layout of the Psalms 1200-1611’ as part of the Centre for the History of the Book’s Autumn lecture series. FREE Getting Started at NLS National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 2–3.30pm. Find out how to register, seek out specific books and peek inside the Reading Rooms, then enjoy a lifetime of reading books for free.
Saturday 5
Glasgow FREE Gordon Brown Borders Books, Fort Retail Park, 390 Provan Walk, 773 2910. Noon. Gordon Brown launches his latest book, Falling. FREE Comic Launch Old Hairdresser, Opposite Stereo, Renfield Lane, www.lulu.com. 7pm. Launch event for The Abortion, the new one-off horror comic from Jamie McMorrow (writer) and Garry McLaughlin (artist). With DJs, projection and art work by Garry McLaughlin and free refreshments.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Neil Oliver Waterstone’s, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 1pm. The author, historian and presenter signs his new book, A History of Scotland, which accompanies his excellent TV
series of the same name. Check it out on BBC’s iplayer if you’re having trouble remembering your Jacobites from your Covenanters. Monday 7
Glasgow Creative Writing Programme Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 6pm. £6.50 (£30 for six sessions). Alistair Paterson leads a weekly class to inspire, guide and shape your literary outpourings. Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Quiz Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 5.45pm. If you think you know your Austens from your Brontës and made it all the way to the end of War and Peace you can put those literary credentials where your mouth is in teams of up to five members. Reading Group: New Books Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30–8pm. £5 (£3). Librarian Julie Johnstone will select the pick of the library’s new poetry for discussion at this monthly group. For booking and more details please phone or email reception@spl.org.uk
Tuesday 8 Edinburgh FREE Discovering Family History at NLS National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3845. 2–3.30pm. Look for family secrets or royal blood in a practical workshop. FREE Book Group Waterstone’s, 13–14 Princes Street, 556 3034. 6.30–7.45pm. Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to a discussion of Christopher Isherwood’s
Neil Oliver With those lovely flowing locks and fruity annunciations, Neil Oliver has left himself wide open to the attentions of crazy satirists (see Only an Excuse and Children in Need), but lest we
forget, the guy knows a thing or thousand about the past. A History of Scotland has fallen into many a hand and some of those lucky people will now get the chance to meet the great man in person. ■ Waterstone’s, Edinburgh, Sat 5 Dec.
38 THE LIST 3–17 Dec 2009
www.list.co.uk/books
Goodbye to Berlin, which depicts the decadence of pre-Nazi Germany, and inspired the musical Cabaret.
✽✽ Alasdair Gray Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. 7pm.
£6.50 (£5). Launch of A Gray Play Book, an anthology of short plays, an unused opera libretto, a film script and excerpts from the storyboard of the novel Lanark.
Stirling Mary, Queen of Scots Talk and Book Signing Stirling Castle, Old Town, 01786 449209. 11am & 2pm. Included in admission: £9 (£7; children £4.50). Author, director and producer Roderick Graham gives a talk on his novel An Accidental Tragedy: The Life of Mary, Queen of Scots, and signs copies of it in celebration of the anniversary of her birth.
Wednesday 9 Edinburgh FREE Poetry Pamphlet Party and Fair National Library of Scotland, 33 Salisbury Place, 623 3845. 6pm. Wine, mince pies, readings and lots of poetry paraphernalia to purchase. Email events@nls.uk to book.
Thursday 10 Glasgow FREE Gordon Brown Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 5.30pm. See Sat 5.
Friday 11
Glasgow FREE Reading Allowed Tchai Ovna, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. A monthly event of storytelling and poetry reading. Saturday 12
Glasgow FREE Andy Goram Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 1pm. Scotland goalkeeper Goram lifts the lid on the scandal behind his safe pair of hands in The Goalie: My Story. Edinburgh FREE Craig Pritchett Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, 657 4041. 2pm. Get to know the pawns from those horsey ones in Craig Pritchett’s gentle introduction, Chess for Rookies.
Monday 14
Glasgow Creative Writing Programme Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 6pm. £6.50 (£30 for six sessions). See Mon 7.
Tuesday 15
Edinburgh FREE Christmas Poems Aloud Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 3–4pm. Gather round for festive poems and hot drinks, two perfect reasons for staying indoors at this time of year. Wednesday 16
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Don’t Eat the Mic Tchai Ovna, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524.
8pm. An evening of poetry performance in association with ToadinMud.co.uk
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE The Golden Hour Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place, 220 4538. 8pm.
Get set up for the holiday season with a bumper edition of the Forest’s brilliant cabaret evening with readings from Rodge Glass, Anneliese Mackintosh, Jason Morton and Ben Lancaster as well as music from the Forest Choir, Jed Milroy & Hailey Beavis and The Stormy Seas.