BOOKS | Events PODCAST
FEMINISM & BOOKS VARIOUS For Books’ Sake #1 (forbookssake.net) ●●●●●
As a List reader, it’s a fair bet that sex and books both rank high on your list of interests – so the sex-and-love theme of the first For Books’ Sake podcast should be just your cuppa. It begins with exciting news about Margaret Atwood and Naomi
Alderman’s collaboration, a serialised zombie novel, and Michelle Tea’s upcoming memoir How to Grow Up.
The highlight comes later, with a debate on what erotica writer Anaïs Nin would make of rubbish bonkbuster 50 Shades of Grey. Conclusion? Anastasia Steele is a regressive stereotype, and we should all read some decent smut.
The podcast may lack the polish, flair and variety of the website, and the editing and sound quality could do with serious work, but as it’s the first episode it’s easy to forgive the rough edges – and as this is a DIY effort it seems churlish to criticise too heavily. Look past the unpolished window-dressing, and the passion and pride shows through. For Books’ Sake love women’s writing, and they love that you love it too. (Kirsty Logan)
FLASH FICTION
HEFT by Jane Flett The only way you’re going to get this is to clamber in and heft it out, this thing, this beast, almost human in weight. Note the squish of sundried tomato between your teeth, throw a sweater across the room, tell your friend that’s the song you love and persuade them to get into the car and drive, goddamnit, pedal to the floor while the wind blows, as if it was the wind in a country and western song, as if it knew exactly what it was doing. You don’t get this on the internet or scraping calcified flour from those kitchen dishes; you can’t find it in the wayward piles of books stacked like skylines against your walls. Not even amongst these rumpled sheets, slightly stained and bruised, dishevelled as a sewer cat. If you want this you’re going to have to scrabble on the inside and bring your monsters to the air where they’re as warty as you ever were, where the world can see them belch and barf and rot. If you want this you’re going to have to go in and get it. Get down on your knees and dig. ■ Jane Flett’s poetry collection Quick, To The Hothouse is published by Dancing Girl Press.
46 THE LIST 21 Mar–18 Apr 2013
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Charlotte Runcie. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 21
Glasgow Read, Relax, Recharge Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 12–2pm. £2 (free). Relaxed weekly read-aloud group. Edinburgh Nothing But the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £5 (£3). Poetry discussion, this month featuring Jo Shapcott. Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award Showcase Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. 6.30pm. £5. Get a sampling of the best new Scottish writing talent, compered by comedian Siân Bevan and singer-songwriter Amy Duncan performs. FREE Edinburgh Reads: Welsh and Claire Central Library, 7-9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 7–8pm. Writers Louise Welsh and Regi Claire talk about their novels. FREE Stranger Than Fiction The Jolly Judge, 7 James Court, High Street, 225 2669. 7pm. Friendly, monthly non- fiction writers’ group. FREE Wordy Thursdays The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, 650 4673. 8–11pm. Your weekly fix of wordplay every Thursday night.
Saturday 23
Glasgow Reel Words: Found in Translation The Poetry Club, 100 Eastvale Place, reelfestivals.org 6–9pm. £3. Poems from and for Iraq by Ghareeb Iskander, Sabreen Kadhim, Zahir Mousa and Awezan Nouri, performed by Scottish poets. Part of Real Iraq 2013. Edinburgh FREE Reel Iraq Reading Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 4–6pm. An evening of Iraqi poetry in Arabic with new translations from John Glenday, Jen Hadfield and Krystelle Bamford. Reel Words: Found in Translation Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 4–6pm. £3. See Sat 23. Tall Tales Oscar Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30pm. £8 (£6). Listen to tall tales and ferocious fibs, then decide who wins the lucrative accolade of Oscar the Leprechaun.
Sunday 24
Edinburgh FREE Rogue Writers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 3.30pm. Informal meet-up and sharing of work for writers. ] FREE Hassan Blasim: The Iraqi Christ Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. 5–6pm. The Baghdad- born filmmaker and writer reads from his upcoming short story collection, Iraqi Jesus. Reel Iraq 2013
Monday 25 Glasgow ] FREE Hassan Blasim: The Iraqi Christ Mono, 12 Kings Court, King Street, 553 2400. 8–9.30pm. See Sun 24.
Tuesday 26 Glasgow Kate Atkinson: Life After Life Mitchell Theatre, 6 Granville Street, 287 2999. 6.30–7.30pm. £8 (£7). The novelist
and Costa Book of the Year winner talks about her new book. Part of Aye Write! Edinburgh FREE Inky Fingers Open Mic The Forest Café, 141 Lauriston Place, 229 4922. 8–11pm. This month’s headliner is Chicago’s Kristiana Colón, a poet, playwright, actor, hip-hop artist and educator.
Wednesday 27 Edinburgh ] FREE Electric Bookshop Inspace, 1 Crichton Street, 650 2750. 7.30–10pm. The keepers of the Electric Bookshop use a combination of human interaction and artificial intelligence to create custom ‘books’. FREE Sofi’s Book Club Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street, 555 7019. 7.30pm. A monthly get-together for book worms.
Thursday 28
Glasgow Read, Relax, Recharge Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 12–2pm. £2 (free). See Thu 21. Edinburgh FREE Wordy Thursdays The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, 650 4673. 8–11pm. See Thu 21.
Friday 29
Edinburgh Neu! Reekie! Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. 7–10.15pm. £7. Readings from Douglas Dunn and David Kinloch, music from Teencanteen and a screening of Claire Lamond’s animated short All That Glisters.
Saturday 30 Edinburgh FREE This is Horror Presents Joseph D’Lacey, David Moody, Gary McMahon and Jasper Bark Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 3–5pm. Jasper Bark presenting two hours of horror readings, interviews and Q&A with the audience. FREE Alex Gray Waterstones, 103 Market Street, 01334 477893. 12–1pm. The crime thriller writer talks about newest novel, The Swedish Girl.
Sunday 31 Edinburgh Gallery Book Lounge Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. 2–4.30pm. £12 (£10). The National Gallery’s monthly book group. FREE Rogue Writers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 3.30pm. See Sun 24.
Tuesday 2
East Kilbride FREE Jodi Picoult: The Storyteller Waterstones, Unit 1 Princess Square, 01355 271835. 1pm. Picoult signs copies of her latest novel, The Storyteller.
Wednesday 3 Glasgow Word Play Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8.30pm. £2. Open mic night with acoustic music, poetry and prose.
Thursday 4
Glasgow Read, Relax, Recharge Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 248 9969. 12–2pm. £2 (free). See Thu 21. Edinburgh Mark Tredinnick and Emily Ballou Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s