Books EVENTS
things that have disappeared from our world, from species and cultures to languages and ideas. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival. Brave New Words Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 0844 557 2686. 8–10pm. £8 (£6). Writers’ Bloc present an informal night of spoken word inspired by science fact and science fiction. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival.
Thursday 5
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE The 2012 Annan Lecture: The Word and the
MAGGIE O’FARRELL Central Library, Edinburgh, Mon 23 Apr
Maggie O’Farrell often retells the moment when the notion of authorship became embedded in her psyche. At the age of five, little Maggie was struggling with a story she was penning. On asking if her mother would write it instead, she was met with this reply: ‘But if I wrote it, it would be my story, not yours.’ From that moment on, O’Farrell has fought to have her own voice heard on the page and has done so with much success. Her 2000 debut, After You’d Gone, was a taut drama about a troubled young woman, Alice Raikes, who sees something terrifying at Waverley Station and heads immediately back to London where she is later involved in a traffic accident and left in a coma. Through her damaged haze, the stories of her life slowly unravel. Arguably her breakthrough book is The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, whose setting shifts between India and Scotland as we learn of the complex relationship between two sisters and the impending psychological breakdown of one.
Her most recent book is the Costa Novel Award-winning The Hand that First Held Mine, a haunting tale set both in the present day and 1950s Soho. In this World Book Night event, she discusses her work with literary agent Jenny Brown, no doubt looking at some key themes such as sibling relations, loss, love and the mysteries and connections held in the past. (Brian Donaldson)
52 THE LIST 29 Mar–26 Apr 2012
Image Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 7–8.30pm. The annual lecture from the Scottish Society for the History of Photography explores the links between the written word and the captured image, and is delivered by James Robertson, author of And The Land Lay Still, and photographer Robin Gillanders.
Edinburgh ✽✽ Iain Banks: Stonemouth Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes
Street, 226 2666. 6pm. £2. Banks reads from his new novel, Stonemouth, a homecoming tale set in a small estuary town north of Aberdeen. See review, page 50.
Friday 6
Glasgow FREE The Magic Carpet Cabaret Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. A night of poetry, songs and stories, with open mic spots.
Saturday 7
Glasgow ✽✽ Julia Donaldson Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999.
10.30–11.30am. £3. The Gruffalo author reads some of her well-loved kids’ stories. Please note re-scheduled date.
Monday 9
Edinburgh FREE Joseph Pearce’s Book Club Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row, 556 4140. 7–10pm. Monthly book club in a cosy bar setting.
Tuesday 10
Edinburgh FREE Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops The Edinburgh Bookshop, 219 Bruntsfield Place, 447 1917. 5.30–6.30pm. Jen Campbell introduces her forthcoming book, which does what it says on the tin, with many a funny and surreal tale of the odd requests made of her by customers in her life as a bookseller. The School of Poets Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–8.30pm. £2. Monthly poetry workshopping session. Beginners and new members welcome, if you like it you can join up for the year.
Wednesday 11
Glasgow FREE Be Inspired: Reading for Wellbeing Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 2–3.30pm. A women-only launch event for GWL’s project to improve your wellbeing through books. Poetry@The Ivory Ivory Hotel, Langside Avenue Shawlands, 636 0223. 7.30–9.30pm. £3. Monthly poetry event with guest readers and open mic spots for those who want to share their poetic talents with the world. Edinburgh Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9pm. £5. A relaxed session of oral storytelling, poetry by memory, music and song.
Thursday 12
Glasgow FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre presents Alan Bissett, In Process CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Noted Scottish author Alan Bissett (he of Pack Men, The Moira Monologues and Death of a Ladies Man fame) explains the workings of his creative process. Dundee FREE A Pound of Flesh Central Library, The Wellgate, 01382 431500. 7pm. Three renowned Scottish novelists,
Alex Gray, Tony Black and Doug Johnstone (who’s also been known to scribe for The List from time to time), convene to discuss a life of crime . . . writing. Friday 13
Glasgow FREE Reading Allowed Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. A monthly evening of storytelling and poetry reading in a relaxed, tea- sipping environment. Edinburgh Jane Hirshfield Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £10 (£7). American poet Hirshfield reads from her work and discusses it with Scottish Poetry Library director Robyn Marsack. FREE Hazel McHaffie Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 6.30–8.30pm. Hazel McHaffie, a specialist in novels dealing with medical ethics issues, reads from her new book Saving Sebastian before discussing her work. A Braw Nicht Oot Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £6 (£4). Scots storytellers including Tim Porteous, Senga Munro, Sheila Kinninmonth, James Spence and Jackie Ross will be telling tales in different dialects, plus music and song, and a short comedic theatre piece, Costa del Port Seton. Part of Ceilidh Culture.
Monday 16
Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Group Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. A discussion of the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Wednesday 18
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Lin Anderson Drumbrae Library Hub, Drum Brae Drive, 529
5524. 6.30–7.45pm. Edinburgh crime writer Lin Anderson, creator of the Rhona MacLeod series, discusses her latest work. Booking essential. FREE Nothing but the Poem Central Library, George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 6.30–7.45pm. Ryan van Winkle leads this poetry reading session, which is mercifully free of high falutin’ language. Booking essential.
Thursday 19 Edinburgh FREE Reading: John KV Eunson Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6pm. Eunson talks about his new book Sporting Scotland, which tells the stories of remarkable Scottish sportspeople. Booking essential. FREE Alex Gray Central Library, George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 6.30–7.45pm. Crime writer Gray (author of the DCI Lorimer novels) discusses her latest novel A Pound of Flesh with Scotsman journalist Jackie McGlone. Booking essential.
Friday 20 Glasgow FREE Aye Aye Books Mobile Book Van Various venues, see glasgowinternational.org for details. You know how it is: you attend an art exhibition and the experience just isn’t complete unless you buy a book. Fortunately Aye Aye Books (normally based in the CCA) will be on hand (and in a van) to answer your coffee-table- filling needs. The Mobile Book Van will be in operation until Mon 7 May. Part of Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art. FREE The Better Crack Club Tchai- Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. Storytelling club for adults.
Edinburgh Skagboys The Caves, Niddry Street South, 557 8989. 8.30pm–midnight. £10. Irvine Welsh reads from long- awaited new novel Skagboys, prequel to the seminal Trainspotting. Also appearing are World Slam Champion poet Elvis McGonagle as host, and DJ Craig Smith, who appears in some of Welsh's novels. Advance tickets from bookslam.com. See our interview with Irvine Welsh next issue. Monday 23
Glasgow FREE World Book Night with Glasgow Women’s Library Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 5.30–7.30pm. Enjoy tea, cake and chat amid the library’s shelves.
Edinburgh FREE World Book Night Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Free (ticketed). Readings and chat from authors including James Robertson, Andrew Greig and Keith Gray.
✽✽ FREE World Book Night with Maggie O’Farrell Central
Library, George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 6.30–9.15pm. O’Farrell, a Costa prize winner for her 2010 novel The Hand That First Held Mine, discusses her work with Jenny Brown. See panel. Tuesday 24
Glasgow FREE Reading the Leaves Tchai- Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. Join guest writers for an evening of poetry and creative writing. Edinburgh Electric Tales The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). A blended mix of comedy and storytelling, making for a chilled night of funny yarns and verse told by a range of performers, with the sole aim of cheering you up.
Wednesday 25
Glasgow FREE Weegie Wednesdays CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7.30pm. Monthly forum offering writers, poets, publishers, booksellers, librarians, creative writing students or anyone else with a literary interest the chance to get together socially to talk about books and publishing. Edinburgh Here Be Dragons: Edwin Morgan, Beowulf and the Dragon Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30–8pm. £7 (£5). The inaugural Edwin Morgan lecture is given in the week of what would have been the poet and Makar’s 92nd birthday, by Chris Jones of the University of St Andrews.
Thursday 26
Glasgow FREE Unwind with a Book Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. Noon–2pm. A women-only reading group offering a friendly environment for sharing stories, books and poems with other readers. Contact the GWL for details and to sign up. Edinburgh Nothing But the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£3). Informal poetry discussion forum. This month, the group turns its attentions to the Dunfermline-born poet John Burnside, a former winner of both the TS Eliot and Forward Poetry prizes. Booking advisable; a second session runs on Sat 28 Apr.