BOOKS | Events
BEST OF 2013 BOOKS
It’s been a great year for books – we’d pick 2013 of our favourites if we could. . . Life After Life – Kate Atkinson A woman relives her life, again and again, until she gets it right – but what is ‘right’?
The Hat-Stand Union – Caroline Bird Playful, surreal and vulnerable poems from a wonderful performer.
LoveSexTravelMusik – Rodge Glass Ever suffered through an easyJet flight? This short story collection understands your pain.
Burial Rites – Hannah Kent Northern Iceland, 1829: a young woman convicted of murder is sent to live with a farming family for her last days. The Trip to Echo Spring – Olivia Laing An examination of six well-known writers, exploring the link between creativity and alcohol.
A Tale for the Time Being – Ruth Ozeki A complex novel about teenage joy, family heartbreak, and the mysteries of a 104-year-old Buddhist nun.
Play With Me – Michael Pedersen Pedersen has long been one of our favourite poets, and his debut collection does not disappoint. The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt It’s ‘Tolstoy with antiques’: a haunted (and haunting) coming- of-age tale.
Letters of Note – Shaun Usher (editor) Based on the popular website, the book collects over 100 letters of historical interest.
Goat Mountain – David Vann A young boy is eager to make his first kill at a family deer hunt. Dirty Work – Gabriel Weston Surgeon / author Weston’s fast- paced novel raises questions of integrity, mortality and medical ethics.
The Park – Oscar Zarate An intense and beautiful graphic novel that uses elements of slapstick and farce to explore a moral dilemma.
66 THE LIST 12 Dec 2013–23 Jan 2014
Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Performances of poetry and short stories, in English, Gaelic and Scots from Scottish Writers’ Centre members.
Thursday 19 Glasgow FREE Library at GoMA Writers’ Group Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. 6pm. See Thu 12. FREE Lovely Ladies Book Group Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. 6pm. Meet new people, both real and fictional, at this monthly literary meet-up. Ask staff about available spaces. FREE LGBT Book Group Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. 6.30pm. Delve into contemporary fiction, information books, LGBT magazines and more at this monthly discussion group. Enquire with staff about available spaces.
Friday 20
Edinburgh ✽ Rally & Broad Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 07989
508436. 8pm. £5. A literary-flavoured cabaret night. The December edition features performances from Hollie McNish, Michael Pedersen, Gav Prentice and Rally & Broad newcomer Roddy Shippin.
Saturday 21
Edinburgh ✽ Dickens Christmas Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846.
Times vary. Price included in admission. See preview, page 63.
Sunday 22
Edinburgh ✽ A Dickens Christmas Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225
9846. Times vary. Price included in admission. See Sat 21.
Monday 23
Glasgow FREE Scottish Writers’ Book Group Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. 6.30pm. Explore local literature at this monthly reading group. Ask the library about available spaces. FREE Gaelic Writing Group CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Series of workshops for writing in Gaelic or Scots and English, with facilitator Catriona Lexy-Campbell.
Edinburgh ✽ A Dickens Christmas Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225
9846. Times vary. Price included in admission. See Sat 21.
Thursday 26 Glasgow FREE Library at GoMA Writers’ Group Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. 6pm. See Thu 12.
Friday 27 Edinburgh Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30pm. £3 (suggested donation). Regular storytelling club involving song and music aplenty. Tonight it’s ‘The Ingle Bleezin’, with storyteller Donald Nelson.
Glasgow FREE Last Monday at Rio The Rio Café, 27 Hyndland Street, robin.cairns@ btconnect.com 8pm. A poetry and spoken word night for the West End.
Thursday 2 Glasgow FREE Library at GoMA Writers’ Group Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. 6pm. See Thu 12.
Monday 6
Glasgow Glasgow Science Fiction Writers’ Circle The Ogilvie Centre, 25 Rose Street, glasgowsfwriters@gsfwc.co.uk 8pm. £2. Fortnightly critiquing workshop for writers of all things fantastical. Beginners welcome; email in advance to attend.
Thursday 9 Glasgow FREE Library at GoMA Writers’ Group Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. 6pm. See Thu 12.
Glasgow FREE Weegie Wednesdays CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, weegiewednesday. org 7.30pm. Forum offering anyone else with a literary interest the chance to get together socially to talk about books and publishing. First timers, please contact the organisers via the website. Edinburgh Revisiting Burns: Rab Wilson and Calum Colvin Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £6 (£4). Poet Wilson and Burnsiana artist Colvin sit down and have a discussion about Scotland’s bard in a contemporary light.
Thursday 16
Glasgow FREE Library at GoMA Writers’ Group Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. 6pm. See Thu 12. FREE Lovely Ladies Book Group Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. 6pm. See Thu 19. FREE LGBT Book Group Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. 6.30pm. See Thu 19. Edinburgh FREE Annette Carruthers: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Scotland Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 7pm. Free but ticketed. Art historian Carruthers discusses her critically acclaimed book. In conversation with Hil Williamson.
Tuesday 14 Thursday 23
Edinburgh Jo Caulfield Presents . . . The Speakeasy Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 8pm. £6. See Comedy listings. Glasgow FREE Library at GoMA Writers’ Group Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. 6pm. See Thu 12.
HOW TO FIND YOUR NOVEL CURE Feeling under the weather? Grab your tissues and head to Summerhall for some restorative bookish balm from ‘bibliotherapists’ Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin. Throughout the evening the authors of The Novel Cure: An A-Z of Literary Remedies will be prescribing individuals with remedies that will unearth those elusive pieces of literature that can enrich the mind and heal the soul. A literary deep tissue massage for the brain and the perfect antidote to winter lethargy. ■ Summerhall, Edinburgh, Sat 14 Dec.
Monday 30 Wednesday 15
Edinburgh A Dickens Christmas Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Times vary. Price included in admission. See Sat 21. Edinburgh FREE Blackwell’s Book Quiz Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8201. 6pm. Test your literary credentials. Booking essential.
Tuesday 24 Tuesday 7