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Hitlist FESTIVAL BOOKS *
P H O T O
: J E R R Y B A U E R
RODDY DOYLE He may be one of Ireland’s greatest living writers, but Roddy Doyle is someone who cares not for being trapped into a single generic pigeonhole as his two events at Charlotte Square Gardens prove. In one, he discusses the history of modern Ireland through the eyes of the fictionalised Henry Smart who first cropped up in 1999’s A Star Called Henry and has now revisited him with the third of his Last Roundup novels, The Dead Republic. His second event proves Roddy’s range as he chats to the nippers about his kids books featuring Rover the wonder-dog and the eccentric but loveable Mack family. (Brian Donaldson) ■ 26 Aug, 11.30am, £10 (£8); 4.30pm, £4. 5QUESTIONS
✽ Alan Warner Having been longlisted for the Booker with The Stars in the Bright Sky, there could be a party mood revolving around his two events. See online short story extract, list.co.uk/festival. 20 Aug, 3.30pm, 8.30pm, £10 (£8). ✽ Jackie Kay The author of Trumpet and Why Don’t You Stop Talking took time out to find her birth parents. This moving story is told in Red Dust Road. See page 20. 25 Aug, 8pm, £10 (£8). ✽ Owen Sheers One of the UK’s finest young poets chats about some classic verse and discusses his latest novel in a pair of anticipated events. See page 23. 21 Aug, 10.15am; 4pm, £10 (£8). ✽ Heather Brooke Having helped bring some of our more corrupt MPs to their knees, the intrepid journalist is looking towards newer targets. See online interview, list.co.uk/festival. 21 Aug, noon, £10 (£8). ✽ Alice Thompson The former List editor and Woodentops keyboardist delivers her finest book to date, The Existential Detective. See page 22. 25 Aug, 7.30pm, £7 (£5). ✽ David McKee You might not recognise the name instantly but you’ll certainly know his work: Mr Benn, Elmer and Not Now, Bernard for three. See page 22. 22 Aug, 2pm, £4; 5.30pm, £10 (£8). ✽ Jah Wobble A crazy old life in the world of British rock music is recalled here by the PIL and punk guy. See page 21. 26 Aug, 8.30pm, £10 (£8). ✽ Emily Mackie This Highlands-born writer will be one of the names to watch in the coming years if her debut And This is True is anything to go by. See page 24. 21 Aug, 4.30pm, £7 (£5). All events are based in Charlotte Square Gardens. The box office number is 0845 373 5888 and the website is edbookfest.co.uk
19–26 Aug 2010 THE LIST 19
Reviewing her debut novel last year, we described Nora Chassler as ‘a distinctive new voice’. Here, she responds by taking on our Q&A Can you give us five words to describe Miss Thing? Confusing, sweary, sweet, funny, disguised. Which authors should be more famous than they are now? Ted Berrigan is a great American poet. He’s dead, but fame doesn’t do the living much good anyway. Oh, and Steve Aylett. But I wouldn’t wanna meet him . . . What do you love about book festivals? I love bookshops at festivals, the way they only have a few books to choose from. Limitation is freedom! Which dead author do you wish was still alive today? Alex Haley writing as Malcolm X. I’d like to know what he/they made of where we are now. What would you change about the publishing world? The clothes. (Interview by Brian Donaldson) ■ 19 Aug (with RJ Price), 10.15am, £10 (£8).