BOOKS | Events
TOP 5 . . .
BOOKS THAT INSPIRED MUSICIANS When Oasis broke down en route to T in the Park, the AA offered Noel Gallagher space for two people in their van – he took Simon Mason, the ‘Rock’n’Roll Doctor’, and left the rest of the band stranded on the hard shoulder. Bruvs before drugs, Noel. To celebrate Mason’s new memoir of being personal chemist to the biggest bands of the 90s, including his failed attempts to become a bona fide rockstar and even more failed attempts to kick heroin, enjoy these books that have inspired musicians:
Perfume by Patrick Süskind
This novel about a man with an amazing sense of smell but no smell of his own, who murders a young woman to capture her scent, inspired Nirvana’s ‘Scentless Apprentice’. Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
As well as being made into a film, this not-particularly-cheerful graphic novel also inspired an Aimee Mann song with the same title.
The Stranger by Albert Camus This existential French classic inspired another classic: The Cure’s 1980 song, ‘Killing an Arab’.
Paradise Lost by John Milton
The title of Nick Cave’s murder ballad ‘Red Right Hand’ is a quote from this epic Biblical poem, written when Milton was blind, bitterly disappointed by the Restoration and briefly in danger of execution: ‘Should intermitted vengeance arm again/ His red right hand to plague us?’ Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
Did you know that Charlotte Church’s ‘How Not To Be Surprised When You’re a Ghost’ was inspired by this novel by Russian writer, lepidopterist and chess composer Nabokov? Neither did we. (Kirsty Logan) ■ Too High, Too Far, Too Soon by Simon Mason is out now from Mainstream Publishing.
54 THE LIST 11 Jul–22 Aug 2013
Monday 22
Tuesday 30 Monday 12
Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Creative Writers’ Club Pulp Fiction Café Bookstore, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7–10pm. See Mon 15. Glasgow Perfecting the Page with Alan Bissett CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8pm. £6 (£3; members free). See Tue 16. Final workshop.
Tuesday 23 Thursday 1
Glasgow In Process with Janet Paisley CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. £6 (£3; members free). The poet, novelist and playwright talks about her political and historical work. Presented by Glasgow Women’s Library and Scottish Writers’ Centre. Glasgow Science Fiction Writers’ Circle The Ogilvie Centre, 25 Rose Street, glasgowsfwriters@gsfwc.co.uk 8pm. £2. Regular fortnightly critiquing workshop for writers of all things fantastical. Beginners welcome; email in advance to attend. Edinburgh FREE Grow Your Own Poetry Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. 2–4pm. Take some literary cuttings and make brand new poetry out of them. With Mandy Haggith, as part of the Scottish Poetry Library’s Walking with Poets project.
Edinburgh ✽Christopher Brookmyre: Flesh Wounds Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6pm. £4 (£3). The crime writer discusses and reads from his new book. Monday 5
Edinburgh FREE Inky Fingers Minifest The Forest Café, 141 Lauriston Place, 229 4922. Times vary. Until 10 Sat Aug. A free celebration of spoken word in all its forms: slams, storytelling, open mics, cabarets and a host of other events. FREE Tricolour: NLS Poetry Night National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6.30–7.30pm. Three spoken word and performance poets with three different styles. Tonight it’s Young Dawkins and Sophia Walker plus a special festival poet.
Wednesday 24 Tuesday 6
Words or Less Creative Glasgow ✽FREE Popcorn Horror: 100 Writing Workshop Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 2–3.30pm. Flash fiction, spooky style! Cara and Felix of Popcorn Horror help you to craft your own tale, which you can submit to their horror writing competition. Booking essential.
Thursday 25 Edinburgh FREE Iain Banks Book Quiz Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 6.30–8pm. Celebrate the life of the author by pulling out all the facts you know about the impressive man and his impressive career. FREE Mandy Haggith Reading Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. 7–8.30pm. RGBE poet-in-residence Mandy Haggith shares some of her work inspired by the Gaelic tree alphabet. FREE Stranger Than Fiction The Jolly Judge, 7 James Court, High Street, 225 2669. 7pm. Friendly writers’ group for those interested in writing non-fiction.
Friday 26
Edinburgh Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30–10pm. £3 suggested donation. Tonight Sheila Kinninmonth tells the tales of farm workers by the light of the harvest moon in ‘Bothy Blethers’.
Saturday 27 Edinburgh FREE Renga: Collaborative Poetry Writing Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. 1–5pm. RGBE poet-in-residence Mandy Haggith leads this round of collaborative poetry writing.
Sunday 28 Edinburgh FREE Gaelic Tree Alphabet Walk Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. 3.30–4.30pm. After a month stewing over the Gaelic Tree Alphabet, Mandy Haggith reads some of her arbour-inspired poetry as she points out a yew tree or two.
Glasgow In Process with Magi Gibson CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. £6 (£3; members free). The author and founder of Wild Women Writing Workshops talks about finding your voice, the mysteries of creativity and writing poetry and young adult fiction.
Wednesday 7 Glasgow FREE Crime Panel: TF Muir, Michael Malone and Caro Ramsay Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. Three of the country’s crime big wigs come together to discuss the importance of location to crime fiction. Booking essential. Word Play Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8.30pm. £2. Open mic night with acoustic music, poetry and prose, hosted by The Word Factory.
Friday 9
Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Book Fringe Word Power Bookshop, 43 West Nicolson Street, 662 9112. Times vary. Until Fri 23 Aug. Taking place in radical bookshop Word Power, the Edinburgh Book Fringe brings together writers and activists from around the world for a host of daily readings and discussions, all of which are free. Visiting authors include Saltire prize-winning author James Robertson; novelists Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan; poets Jila Peacock, Chrys Salt and Tessa Ranford; and non-fiction writers Jay Griffiths, Liam McIlvanney and Neil Mackay.
Saturday 10 Edinburgh Edinburgh International Book Festival Charlotte Square Gardens, Charlotte Square, 0845 373 5888. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Mon 26 Aug. The world’s largest public celebration of the written word takes place in the first UNESCO City of Literature in the beautiful Charlotte Square Gardens. This year’s heavy hitters include Salmon Rushdie, John Banville, Carol Ann Duffy and Dawn O’Porter, among others, plus storytelling sessions and book groups. See list.co.uk for full festival listings and previews.
Glasgow FREE Gaelic Writing Group CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–9pm. Series of workshops for writing in Gaelic or Scots and English, with facilitator Catriona Lexy-Campbell. Ages 16+. ✽Patti Smith & Tony Shanahan: An Evening of Words & Music Òran Mór, 731-735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 7pm. £27.50. The redoubtable New York punk diva is joined by accompanist Tony Shanahan to perform stripped-back renditions of classics from her back catalogue and share some free- flowing spoken word. Edinburgh FREE Courtyard Readings Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. Mon–Sat 2–3pm. Until Sat 24 Aug. An open event for poetry lovers, where all are invited to come and read their own poems or personal favourites of other writers in the language of their choice.
Tuesday 13
Glasgow FREE Pedro Lenz and Donal McLaughlin CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. Lenz wrote his first novel, Der Goalie bin ig, in a Swiss dialect, and McLaughlin translated it into Glasgow patter under the title Naw Much of a Talker. The two writers speak about the book(s). Edinburgh The School of Poets Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 8–11pm. £2 for taster session; £10 for annual membership. Workshop- type poetry session aiming to encourage and develop writing skills. Bring along 4–5 copies of one of your poems.
Wednesday 14 Glasgow Andrew Davies: City of Gangs Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 6pm. £6. The author talks about the Billy Boys, the Savoy Arcadians, the South Side Stickers and other notorious Glasgow gangs as he launches his book. Tickets available from the Royal Concert Hall. FREE Weegie Wednesdays CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900, weegiewednesday.webs.com. 7.30– 10.30pm. See Wed 17.
Friday 16
Edinburgh FREE Andrew Marr: The Battle for Scotland Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 12.30pm. The celebrated journalist punts his twenty-year-old book, which is suddenly relevant again, thanks to the pending referendum. Meet and greet and signing.
Saturday 17 Innerleithen Books, Borders & Bikes Traquair House, 01896 830323. Times vary. Weekend pass £45; individual event prices vary. Until Sun 18 Aug. The stationary meets the cyclical at this celebration of literature, thought and the outdoors in the Borders. Using the natural environment and the inspirational effects of the outdoors to stimulate debate, events include literary and woodland walks, storytelling cycle rides.
Monday 19 Glasgow Liam McIlvanney: Where the Dead Men Go Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 6pm. £6. The author talks about his latest, set in the gritty Glasgow underworld. Tickets available from the Royal Concert Hall.