Books HITLIST THE BEST BOOKS, COMICS & EVENTS
Iain Banks Fans of Banksy will have hungrily digested Stonemouth by now, so this is the time to hear from the man himself about his new novel. Waterstone’s, Glasgow, Thu 3 May; Central Library, Dundee, Thu 10 May.
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Colonsay Book Festival James Robertson (pictured), Margaret Elphinstone and Alexander McCall Smith all feature in another exciting festival line-up. Get that ferry booked now. See profile, page 48. Isle of Colonsay, Fri 27–Sun 29 Apr. SMUT-A-RAMA A woman-only filth-fest with short films and erotic readings from the likes of Zoe Strachan (pictured), Kirsty Logan and Helen Sedgwick. Luke and Jack, Glasgow, Fri 4 May.
Boswell Book Festival Johnson’s mate and the world of memoir are celebrated via events featuring Timothy West and Janice Galloway. See profile, page 48. Auchinleck House, Cumnock, Fri 11–Sun 13 May. Irvine Welsh Anyone up for a Trainspotting prequel? The Miami- based Leith boy obliges with Skagboys, which looks at the early lives of Renton, Spud et al. See feature, page 16. Jonathan Cape.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm for Africa Liz Lochhead, Jim Carruth and some guests lead an evening of animal-themed poetry and song, all in aid of Oxfam. Glasgow Art Club, Fri 18 May.
Jon McGregor The author of Even the Dogs delivers a props-happy performance based on his latest collection of stories, This Isn’t the Sort of Thing That Happens to Someone Like You. Discovery Point, Dundee, Fri 18 May.
Mark Haddon The talented chap behind literary phenomenon The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time makes a rollicking return by hanging out in The Red House. See review, page 45. Jonathan Cape.
Tagore and Word Play Through a particular Scots- Indian fusion, the Word Factory deconstructs and rebuilds a poem by the great Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore. Britannia Panopticon Music Hall, Glasgow, Thu 3 May.
Hello Poetry This inaugural non-profit- making poetry roadshow culminates with a secret-venue grand finale, along the way featuring the likes of Ruth Aylett, Anita Govan, Nic E Melville and Rapunzel Wizard. Various venues and dates.
44 THE LIST 26 Apr–24 May 2012
list.co.uk/books
FirstWrites INTRODUCING DEBUT AUTHORS
JENNI FAGAN takes on this issue’s debut author Q&A. Her first book features a teenage girl trapped in a disturbing social experiment
Give us five words to describe Panopticon? Gutsy, violent, philosophical, beautiful, sad.
Name one author who should be more famous than they are now? Breece D’J Pancake, a great short story writer who influenced lots of authors.
What was the first book you read? The Magic Faraway Tree. I was particularly impressed by jelly land. Which book makes you cry? Kieron Smith, Boy. It takes you back into childhood and that painful awareness of what it means to be alive.
Which book makes you laugh? Hunger by Knut Hamsun: the protagonist is so anti-social and demented.
Which dead author do you wish were still alive today? William Burroughs. I would have loved to go for afternoon tea with him.
What one thing would you change about the publishing world? Writers find it hard to get a look-in unless they have an agent. I think all the big publishers should have an open submissions slot for a few months every year, where they embrace works that are not necessarily obviously commercial. What plans do you have for book number two? I have seven novels outlined. I have started one called Copernicus, based in a small caravan park near a waste-ground outside some un- named Scottish city. It’s a bit David Lynch, a bit Sigur Rós, but mostly just me. I have no idea where it’s going. (Interview by Brian Donaldson) ■ Panopticon is published by Heinemann on Thu 3 May.