Books EVENTS
✽ Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair Out of the Blue Drill
Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 662 9112. Times vary. Until Sun 28 Oct. Prices vary. See preview page 52, and full listings at list.co.uk. FREE Arc Publications: Bones Will Crow Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. Three poets from Burma read and discuss their work. Neu! Reekie! Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. 7pm. £7 (£6). Spoken word fusion night.
St Andrews ✽ St Andrews Literature Live! Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, 01334 475000. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Sat 27 Oct. This new two-day literary festival features appearances from Iain Banks, Jeremy Bowen, John Burnside, Lyn Moir, Doug Johnstone, Stuart McBride, Douglas Dunn and Andrew Greig. See list.co.uk for full listings.
Saturday 27
Edinburgh ✽ Scottish International Storytelling Festival Various
venues, 556 9579. Times and prices vary (free–£12). Until Sun 28 Oct. See Fri 19.
✽ Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair Out of the Blue Drill
Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 662 9112. Times vary. Until Sun 28 Oct. Prices vary. See preview, right, and full listings at list.co.uk. FREE Mariscat 30 Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6pm. A night of poetry to celebrate 30 years of the Mariscat Press.
Sunday 28
Edinburgh ✽ Scottish International Storytelling Festival Various
venues, 556 9579. Times and prices vary (free–£12). Until Sun 28 Oct. See Fri 19.
✽ Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair Out of the Blue Drill Hall,
30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 662 9112. Times vary. Prices vary. See preview, right, and full listings at list.co.uk.
Monday 29
Edinburgh James Runcie: Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death Christ Church, Morningside Road, 447 1917. 7.30–9pm. £5 including a glass of wine. An evening with the film-maker and author. Tickets available from the Edinburgh Bookshop.
Wednesday 31 Edinburgh Meg Peacocke Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £7 (£5). The poet reads her work. Writers’ Bloc: Seance Fiction The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. 7–10pm. £4 (£3). A night of spoken word and comedy in honour of All Hallows’ Eve.
Thursday 1
Glasgow ✽ FREE Ronald Frame Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332
9105. 6.30–8pm. The author launches his new book Havisham and signs copies. Booking essential.
Edinburgh Film Poems with Peter Todd Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £7 (£5). Evening of film poems by artists including Margaret Tait. Little Forks (Forcan Beaga) Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). Book
52 THE LIST 18 Oct–15 Nov 2012
Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair
launch of Little Forks, an exploration of memory, landscape and storytelling.
Friday 2 Edinburgh Caesura The White Horse, 266 Canongate, 557 3512. 7pm. Tickets by donation. Poetry and spoken word. Little Forks (Forcan Beaga) Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). See Thu 1. Please note that this event is in Gaelic.
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Haddington ✽Lennoxlove Book Festival Lennoxlove House, 0844 357 7611.
Times vary. Prices vary. Until Sun 4. JK Rowling, Michael Morpurgo and Alexander McCall Smith are among the literary celebs attending this country manor-set festival.
Saturday 3 Edinburgh Cell Culture Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 2–3.45pm. £5. Readings and discussions on life sciences and genetics in fiction.
Sunday 4
Edinburgh Stewed Rhubarb Poetry Book Launch The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 4pm. £3 (£2). Launch of a new poetry press, with readings.
Wednesday 7
Glasgow The Writer’s Life Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 2pm. £6 (£3). Scottish writer Carol McKay discusses e-publishing. Edinburgh Peter McCarey and Richard Price Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £7 (£5). Readings from two ‘Scottish Informationist’ poets.
Thursday 8
Glasgow Scottish Writers’ Centre Presents In Process: Catherine Czerkwsaska Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. £6 (£3). A literary talk by the playwright, screenwriter and novelist. FREE St Mungo’s Mirrorball The Glasgow Art Club, 185 Bath Street, 248 5210. 7pm. WN Herbert, Richard Price, Patricia Ace and Gordon McInness read from their works. Edinburgh FREE The Genius of Osbert Lancaster: Satirist Cartoonist, Writer, Dandy and Wit National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Author James Knox discusses the English writer and cartoonist. Kate Mosse Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6pm. £5. The Labyrinth author reads from her new book and signs copies. FREE Tea Tasting and Books Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Quartermile, 229 2902. 6.30pm. Taste three special teas and hear about Sara Sheridan’s latest read, The Secret Mandarin. What I Love – What I Hate About Poetry Debate Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £7 (£5). David Greig, Gerry Cambridge, Alan Taylor, Stav Poleg and Liz Lochhead battle it out with the audience to decide what we feel about poetry.
Friday 9 Edinburgh FREE Blind Poetics Blind Poet, 32c West Nicolson Street, 667 4268. 8–11pm.
This year marks the sweet 16th Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair, now firmly lodged in its setting deep in the heart of Leith. Those who organised the very first gathering might well have been surprised to be told that the 2012 fair would feature events about arachnophobia and flashing but such diversity makes the event a must-visit for radicals, independents and friends. The spidery tale is Alan Bissett’s one-man play The Red Hourglass (pictured), which went down a storm in the city during its August run, while Kate Gould analyses the role of flashing in contemporary culture with a discussion of her book, Exposing Phallacy. Perhaps on more familiar territory are events about debt, China’s rural
migrants, the Middle East and the march of materialism, while more local issues are debated with Richard Rodger talking about the history of Edinburgh’s Colonies and David Spaven discussing the Borders railway. Among those familiar names taking part in the five-day event are
Richard Holloway, Pat Kane, Sara Maitland, Alasdair Gray and Kirsty Gunn, while a photographic exhibition by Owen Logan entitled Flammable Societies: Studies on the Socio-Economics of Oil and Gas can be viewed throughout the period. ‘Independent’ and ‘radical’ might sometimes feel like dirty words in these beige-politics times, but this festival fully deserves to clean up. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh, Wed 24–Sun 28 Oct. Full listings at list.co.uk/books.
Spoken word night, featuring Stephen Barnaby and his 50-word stories.
Saturday 10 Edinburgh Off By Heart Memory Circle Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 11am. £5 (£3). Share poetry from memory or learn from the pros how to memorise a line or two.
Monday 12
Edinburgh FREE A National Press is an Indispensable Part of Nationhood National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Magnus Linklater and Jackie Kemp discuss the importance of the Scottish press.
Tuesday 13 Edinburgh Cream Tarts, Tea and Talk The Stevenson House, 17 Heriot Row, 556 1896. 4pm. An insight into Robert Louis Stevenson's life and work from his biographer, Jeremy Hodges. Booking essential. Part of Robert Louis Stevenson Day. FREE Muriel in Italy National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Talk looking at Italy through the eyes of Muriel Spark and her writing. A Robert Louis Stevenson Evening Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh,
Bristo Square, 455 6433. 7pm. £5. Nigel Planer and John Sessions discuss their love of Stevenson’s work. Booking essential. Part of Robert Louis Stevenson Day. Shore Poets’ 20th Anniversary Celebration The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. 7–10pm. £6 (£4); tickets include buffet. Celebrating two decades of the enduring local poetry meet with music and craic.
Wednesday 14 Edinburgh Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9pm. £5. Gaelic songs and stories, hosted by singer Gillie Mackenzie.
Thursday 15 Edinburgh FREE Thomas Carlyle and the University of Edinburgh David Hume Tower, George Square, 5.15pm. ed.ac. uk Lecture marking the 40th volume of Carlyle’s letters. Nothing But the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£3). Poetry discussion. Robin Robertson is the poet under the microscope this time. FREE Liz Lochhead and Poetry for Pleasure Central Library, 7-9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 6.30–7.45pm. The Makar talks about her favourite poems in conversation with Robyn Marsack. Booking essential.