BOOKS | Events Tuesday 25
Glasgow FREE Physical Impossibility Issue 2 Launch Saramago Café Bar, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4920. 6–8pm. Glasgow’s cult movie zine launches its second issue.
Another Kind of North: Poems From and About Finland CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. £6 (£3; SWC members free). Donald Adamson launches his new collection; Liz Niven talks of her love of all things Finnish; Alia Juvonen discusses translating poetry into Finnish; and Gerry Loose talks about his relationship to the Nordic country. John Romita Jr Masterclass CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 8pm. £8.50 (£6.50). The comic book artist discusses his varied work, which started with Marvel UK in the 1970s. Part of Glasgow Film Festival.
Edinburgh SPL Poetry Workshop The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, 557 2876. 6–8pm. £5 (£4). A writing workshop suitable for writers at any stage in their career. FREE Talking Heids Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street, 555 7019. 7.30–11pm. Poetry cabaret hosted by veteran performance poet Colin McGuire, with featured poets, a spot of open mic and a dash of music and comedy. Part of LGBT History Month. Stirling Janice Galloway Macrobert, University of Stirling, 01786 466666. 6.30pm. £6 (£4). The celebrated Scottish author takes an enlightening look back at her 23-year career.
Wednesday 26
Glasgow ✽ Rally & Broad Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 07989 508436. 8pm. £5.
See Thu 20. With words and music from Martin O’Connor, Sam Small and Becci Wallace.
Friday 28
Glasgow FREE Read Aloud! Celebrating Commonwealth Women’s Writing Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 2–3.30pm. See Fri 21. Edinburgh Teaching through Storytelling and Poetry Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43– 45 High Street, 556 9579. 2–4.30pm. £18 (members £15). Explore how storytelling can lead into appreciation of poetry, with Beverly Bryant and Georgi Gill. Ideal for artists and educators. FREE Speak Out: Book Launch Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 6–9pm. See LGBT listings. Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30–10pm. £3 suggested donation. Regular storytelling club. Tonight, a celebration of St David’s Day with ‘Tales from the Mabinogion’, from Welsh storyteller Fiona Collins. Neu! Reekie! Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. 7.30– 10.30pm. £9. 49th edition of the spoken word, film and music fusion night. Music from Momus and the Band of Holy Joy; performance poetry from Luke Wright and Patience Agbabi; and curated animations from Professor Electrik Al.
Saturday 1 Glasgow FREE Mixing the Colours: Creative Writing Workshop with Magi Gibson Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 1–4pm. Workshop for women who have something to say about sectarianism and want to brush up on their writing skills.
Sunday 2 Edinburgh Illicit Ink Underground The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate, 558 8844. 8–10pm. £5 (£3). Illicit Ink keeps things dark and playful at this bi-monthly writers’ performance night. Tonight’s theme is ‘body language’.
Monday 3
Edinburgh FREE Tricolour: NLS Poetry Night National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 6.30pm. Three spoken word performers with three different styles. Tonight, it’s Brian Johnstone, Trio Verso and E13.
Tuesday 4 Glasgow In Process with J David Simons
TOP 5 . . . INDIE BOOKSHOPS
Forget those faceless online stores and get yourself out to Scotland’s finest independent booksellers. With their gorgeous surroundings, carefully selected titles and expert knowledge, you’ll never want to shop online again. Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Edinburgh
Tables made out of chessboards, cosy sofas, big wodges of cake, cool merch from US brand Out Of Print, kids’ drama workshops, a writer in residence . . . oh, let us count the ways we love Looking Glass (pictured). Their events programme is great too, with a focus on new writers. Young’s Interesting Books, 18 Skirving Street, Glasgow
If you like your bookshops small and quirky, Young’s has got the goods. It’s one of the few non-charity-shop places to buy second-hand books, and there’s a great mix of modern paperbacks and collectors’ editions, from vintage Agatha Christie to Scottish ballads to classic sci-fi magazines.
Golden Hare, 102 West Bow, Edinburgh
It’s impossible to go into Golden Hare and leave empty-handed. Every book on their shelves is beautiful, including the bril- liant children’s section. Look out for their book club and Pass on a Poem events. Milngavie Bookshop, 27 Douglas Street, Milngavie
Located 20 minutes from Glasgow city centre, the family-run Milngavie Bookshop has been in business for 30 years. It’s traditional and welcoming, with a cosy café and busy events programme mixing familiar faces with local authors.
The Mainstreet Trading Company, Main Street, St Boswells Come for the selection of 6500 books, stay for the cheese and coffee and gingerbread men and homemade loaves. And don’t forget the books. Definitely worth a trip to the Borders. (Kirsty Logan)
40 THE LIST 20 Feb–20 Mar 2014