Books .
Events
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to jules.graham@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jules Graham.
Glasgow
Thomas Rosenlocher (loeilie liistitut. 3 Park ('ircus. 332 2555. 7pm. Free. The Dresden poet reads from Eastern ll'hingeingi.‘ (‘ontributionv to the ('ullure of (irunibling. \v ith linglish translations read by Ken ('ockburn.
Edinburgh
Fiona McCade, William O’Leary and Cath Sutton National Library of Scotland. (ieorge I\' Bridge. 22(» 453 I. 7pm. Free. Join the authors of The Questionssllll liars to Sort the I’earlsjioni the Sivine and
disco\ er hovv to meet like-minded lyrics. Tom Leonard and Writers Against the G8 Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). 7pm. I’ree. The influential vvritei' opens the ‘lth Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair. l-‘ollovv ed by readings from a Iiost ol‘ the contributing authors to II'riters Against the (i8. including Aiigtis (‘aldciz James Keliiiaii and Anita (iovan.
Edinburgh
Christian McEwan Asselttlil) Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). 2pm. l‘ree. The prolific vvriter. editor and teacher of poetr_v talks at the Edinburgh International Radical Book l‘tllli
Tom Leonard and Donny Gluckstein Asseiiibl} Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). 5.45pm. I-‘ree. The respected \\ riters discuss Zionism at the lz'iliiiburgh Independent Radiea/ Book l-air.
John Clifford, Zoe Fairbairns, Ellen Galford & Paula Jennings Assemva Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). 7.30pm. Free. An evening of reading and music dedicated to the memory of lt‘tltlltlsl and active Word Povv er supporter Sue Innes. Part ol' the Edinburgh International Radical Book l‘itil'.
Saturday 14
Glasgow
it: The Space You’re Not In ()ran .\1or. 73l--735 (ireat Western Road. 08700 600 100. 7pm. £30. A Iiost of celebs including John B}riie. l.i/ l.ochhead. Iiddi Reader. Alasdair (ira). Belle ck Sebastian. Arab Strap and the Bluebird Theatre (iroup perl'oriii songs and poems influenced by (ilasgovv “titer and actress. (iail W} lie.
vv ho recently died from leukaemia.
Edinburgh
Meaghan Delahunt & Kirsty Gunn Assembl) Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 434‘). l0.45aiii. I‘ree. The leading .-\iiiipodean uriiers discuss the role ol‘ storytelling in toda) 's society. Elli/fl”. Jonathan Silberman Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). .\'oon. liree. Silberiiian discusses ('uba's el‘t‘orts to bolster its population's cultural and literary levels in the lace oI~ I‘S threats. Elli/ll”. Mark Curtis, Marjorie Mayo and David Miller .Asselttlil} Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 434‘). lpm. I‘ree. The authors give their ai‘giiiiients against the rapidl} approaching (is stiiiiiiiit at the Iz'llv’b’I-I Lindsay German, Philip Griffiths & Andrew Murray .-\ssc‘lttl)l_\ Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). 3.30pm. I‘ree. (irilfitlis. author of Vietnam at Peace. is joined b} the ctr-editors (it Stop the War. Iz‘lli’lil-l
Grounding a World Assemhl) Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 22f) 434‘). 5. I5pin. I‘ree. Members of the Scottiin ('entre tor (ieopoetics disctiss a nevv essa} -book based on the work of renowned poet-thinker and teacher Kenneth White. Elli/fl".
Louise Yeoman Blackhall Librar). 5(i IIiIIIiotise Road. 52‘) 558‘). 7 Spin. I‘i'ee. The author of" Reportage Sr'otland discusses
36 THE LIST "/ 2'3 Ma, 74.8.“.
her vvork as part of. the Edinburgh ( in Libraries I'estii'al ofSeottish ll'riting.
Edinburgh
Chris Kaday Assemva Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). l lam. Free. The co-author of self-help manual Grow Your ()II'II ('arrot offers some life changing tips. Part of EIRBI’.
Kenny MacAsldll MSP Assemny Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 434‘). Noon. Join MacAskill and contributors to Agenda
for a New Scotland: A Seotland 202!) livion
at the EIRBI’.
The Knuckle End Assemny Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). 2pm. I-‘ree. Top authors (‘olin (‘Iark. Rodge (ilass. .\'ik li Melville. Will Napier and Zoe Strachan read from The Knur'kle End: A Meaty (‘olleetion of the Best New ll’riting in Scotland. Part of the EIRBI’.
Chris Atton Assembl) Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). 3pm. I‘ree. The creator of :In Alternative Internet: Radical Media. Politics and ('reativitv discusses his work at the EIRBI’.
Edinburgh
Nick Rornby: A Long Way Down Traverse Theatre. (‘ambridge Street. 228 1404. 7pm. £5. A chance to meet the bestselling novelist as he reads from A [1mg Il'av I)()lt'll. See revievv. page 34.
Thursday 19
Glasgow
Theresa Breslin Borders Books. Fort Retail Park. 3‘)() Provan Walk. 773 2910.
1 Iain. I’ree. Join the popular children's author as she signs copies of Divided ('iiv. Nick Brooks ()ttakar‘s Bookstore. [hit 6. Buchanan (ialleries. Buchanan Street. 353 I500. b.30pni. Free. Join the vvriter lot the launch of. My Name is I )enise l'orrester.
Edinburgh
Lin Anderson (‘entral Library. George I\' Bridge. 225 5584. 7—Xpm. Free. The (ireenock-born author talks about 'Ion‘h. featuring t'orensic scientist Rhona .\Iacl.eod. Part of the Edinburgh ( in Libraries l‘i'.\'tii'(tl o/bht‘ollislt II'riting.
Glasgow
Theresa Bneslin Borders Books. ‘)8 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 2pm. See Thu 1‘).
Edinburgh
Poetry in Action .\Iuseuin of Scotland: Ilavxthornden (‘ourL (‘haiiibers Street. 247 421‘). ll.45aiii. 12.45pm. l.45pm & 2.45pm. I‘ree. Poets Suhayl Saadi. Anita (iovan. Richard Medrington and Bashabi liraser. Collaborate.
Edinburgh
Carol Drinkwater ()iiakar‘s. 57 George Street. 225 4495. 7pm. £1. Join the author for the final part of her Provencal olive farm trilogy.
Wednesday 25 .
Edinburgh
Writer’s Bloc: Better Read Than Dead Roxy Art House. 2 Roxburgh Place. 087l 750 0077. ‘)ain—noon. £3. A mix of professional authors and fresh voices. Part of Edinburgh Rush.
Glasgow
Charlie Connelly Royal (‘onceit Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 X000. Ipiii. £4 (£3.50). In researching Attention All Shipping ('ontiell} visited ‘the worlds most boring iovvn‘ and met Marilyn Monroe's dad.
Edinburgh
Dilys Rose (‘entral I.ibrar_v. (ieorge I\' Bridge. 225 5584. lpm. I'i'ee. Reading and workshop. Pan ol Edinburgh ('itlv Libraries festival ofSt‘ole/i Il'riting.
Comics SUPERHERO JUDD WINICK AND DUSTIN NGUYEN
Batman: As the Crow Flies (DC) DC.
We all know Batman works best when it's dark and tWisted. And fortunately that is exactly what WiniCk is after — a nicely blended tale of terror. Artist Nguyen's huge swathes of shadow and jagged lines add to the murk and hidden dread. The Penguin works so well as an evil. warped fucker of a businessman. a master Criminal tactiCian. here
with the Scarecrow and his various fear potions in his thrall. And there is a new creature lurking on the block With the hulking Scarebeast. The pacing is excellent. thocigh at times Batman seems a little slow on the uptake lpeOple are dying of terror, the Scarecrow is on the loose — come on mate. work it Out). Written With true style. this ll‘lgl‘l not be a classic but it slots in perfectly Willi some of the Dark Knight's deadlier tales.
(Henry Northmorei
FANTASY
BILL WILLINGHAM & MARK BUCKINGHAM Fables: The Mean Seasons
(Titan/DC) oooo
ConSistently impresSive. Fab/es might revolve around the not entirely original premise that fairytale characters are alive. well and liying alongside us 'normals' in modern day New York. but it does so With knowmg humour and a conVincmgly flail-red cast of characters.
The Mean Seasons collects a standalone iSSUe exploring Cinderella's role :n the
. E.
l llll lll n \l isms ',
Fabletown hierarchy. a two-part tale set in World War II and an arc footising on the aftermath of the Fabletown mayoral electioa.
Here it moves effortlessly between broad comedy. as Prince Charming has ousted the incumbent King Cole. and personai drama. when Snow White gives birth to a litter of lycanthropes after a liaison With the Big Bad Wolf.
Artist Buckngham obviOLiSly engoys iirngng these legendary creatures to life. H's sensitive rendering of facial expressons :s worth any amoant of dialogue. i'inaie irs pane: lay/Out is always experii‘nenta;. but never distracts from the st. ries. which really deserve attention. (Dave Marti"-
EXPERIMENTAL MALCY DUFF
I Can't Draw: Part 2 (Giant Tanki 0000
This series of ship (2 tableaux snow at young. shaggy-haired Illa." Sitting hunched Over a desk weth a pe'icl n it s left hand. Leaning over him .8 a figure whose dialogue consists on;y ol the phrase: ‘Youre flOlCllllg your penci- the wrong way." ‘oiioweri by a cant of formu ac and instructzon.
liiterspersee wet". this recurring scene are the blank pages 0‘ a notebook. staring disconcertmgiy back at the reader. bare canvases inviting the
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inscription of meaning. Like a photographic negatzye that develops before your eyes. the images coalesce into a semblance of meaning. somewhere between a meditation on the creative process and an exploration of the lack illlt(}l()lli .ii communication. Oblique and intriguing. there .s certainly no-one eise like Mr Duff working in comics today. and copies of this latest opus are available direct from him at malcyduft’a; notiiiaiicom. lDave Martini
AUTOBIOGRAPHY HARVEY PEKAR AND OTHERS American Splendor: Our Movie Year (Titanl 0..
This is not so much a graphic novel as a ceilection of strips written by Harvey Pekar around the making of Arne/lean Splendor. the fllll‘ based on his life and his aiitol)iographical ceiiiics. The stories. illustrated by Pekar‘s regular collaborators including Robert Crumb. are bookended by two long strips. one recounting how the film got made and the other detailing a promotional tour in Australia. In between. the shorter strips deal Willi the various ways in which the American Splendor movie experience affected Pekar and his family's life.
Pekar is a born and se f-confessed pessimist. Accordineg even when life's good. he finds SOHtGilllllg to moan about. namely Will his newfound relative wealth last? Pekar's saving grace. however. is his directness. These strips might not be from off the streets of Cleveland as then author likes to proclaim. but they're still refreshing honest accounts of everyday life. ilvliles Fielderl