Friday 24 Monday 27
Books Events
Events
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to suzanne.black@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.
Thursday 23 Edinburgh Royal Mile Story Walk Part 1 Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 11am. £5 (£3). Master storyteller John Fee leads a walk down the Mile from the castle to Netherbow, explaining the characters and events that have shaped the Old Town. Meet at the statue of Earl Haig on horseback on the esplanade. Ages 8+; children must be accompanied. Royal Mile Story Walk Part 2 Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 2pm. £5 (£3). Master storyteller John Fee continues his walk down the Mile, this time from the Netherbow to Holyrood Palace, explaining the characters and events that have shaped the Old Town. Meet at the Storytelling Centre. Ages 8+; children must be accompanied. FREE Michael Fry Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Fry launches Edinburgh: A History of the City, which examines the two sides of Scotland’s capital: a city which can be both ‘Auld Reekie’ and ‘the Athens of the North’. FREE We are the Friction Analogue, 102 West Bow, 220 0601. 7pm. Launch of We are the Friction, a book of short fiction and illustration by 24 international writers/illustrators, with cake and beer. The contributors include Spencer Krug, Ray Fenwick, Ryan Boudinot and Pietari Posti. See page 9 for more.
Glasgow FREE Captured Hearts: New Brunswick’s War Brides Glasgow Women’s Library, 2nd Floor, 81 Parnie Street, 552 8345. 2pm. The leading authority on the history of the Canadian war brides of WWII visits the library to talk about the follow-up to her 2007 book, War Brides. Jeffery Deaver Mitchell Theatre, 6 Granville Street, 287 2999. 6.30–7.30pm. £3. The bestselling American crime author launches Roadside Crosses, which takes a modern spin on the genre with a killer who uses the info victims have posted on social networking web sites.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Diana Gabaldon Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622
8222. 2–4pm. The bestselling author of the Outlander series, which is set in the Highlands of Scotland, drops by to chat about and sign copies of her latest title, Cross Stitch.
Saturday 25
Glasgow Satellite 2 Crowne Plaza, Congress Road, 306 9988. 10am. £50 (£45 in advance). Iain M Banks guests at this science fiction convention that celebrates the 40 years since Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Join him for a day of talks, quizzes and panels with a sci-fi theme. Edinburgh FREE Concrete Poetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 11am. A guided viewing of the Ian Hamilton Finlay collection with librarian Julie Johnstone. FREE Jeffery Deaver Waterstone’s, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 12.30pm. See Fri 24.
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What did you think? ARAVIND ADIGA Writer’s talk, Blackwell, Edinburgh, Wed 15 Jul
Michelle English teacher in Vietnam Very informative, especially the things he said about India and all the stuff about the south and the diversity of culture down there.
Neil English teacher in Dubai In Dubai where I work, there’s a large Indian population who are very influenced by the West and I think quite influential, and it’s very interesting to see this new style of writing and films coming out of India. Angela Personal care assistant I’m here tonight because a friend invited me to come. I’d heard about the writer and was keen to hear a bit more. I really enjoyed it – it’s really made me want to have a look at the two books.
Margaret Retired I found it fascinating, having visited India and having lived overseas. I thought he was very knowledgeable.
Glasgow Creative Writing Programme Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 6pm. £6.50 (£30 for six sessions). Alistair Paterson leads a weekly class to inspire, guide and shape your literary outpourings.
Wednesday 29 Edinburgh Storytelling Café Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £4. Storytelling, music and song in a relaxed café atmosphere.
Thursday 30
Glasgow ✽✽ Alan Bissett Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7–9pm. Ticketed.
An evening with the Incredible Adam Spark author as he reads form his latest novel Death of a Ladies’ Man with musical guest performances from Zoey Van Goey and Adam Stafford.
✽✽ Grace Maxwell Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332
9105. 6.30–8pm. £3 (redeemable against purchase). Grace Maxwell talks about her partner in Falling and Laughing: The Restoration of Edwyn Collins. FREE ONE Magazine Presents ‘Oscar Wilde & The Black Douglas’ with Gawain Douglas Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 07969 424529. 6.30pm. Poet Douglas reveals a different side to the story of his great-uncle Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie), confidant of Oscar Wilde.
Edinburgh FREE Anne Thomson Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. An insider’s view into the Voluntary Service Overseas from Anne Thomson, who signed up at the age of 60 and found herself working in The Prison Fellowship of Zambia. Her book Wash My Bikini chronicles life as a volunteer and her experiences of an African developing country.
Friday 31 Edinburgh Guid Crack Club Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30pm. £3 suggested donation. Edinburgh’s monthly storytelling club welcomes all to listen or contribute to the spinning of yarns.
Monday 3
Glasgow Creative Writing Programme Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. 6pm. £6.50 (£30 for six sessions). See Mon 27. Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Quiz Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Test your literary credentials in teams of up to five.
Tuesday 4
Glasgow DiScOmBoBuLaTe Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7.30pm. £4 (£2). Ian MacPherson hosts another verbose outing of the literary/comedy evening. Edinburgh Reading Group: Nothing but the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30–8pm. £5 (£3). Removing the pressures of review, criticism and hype, and without relying on background knowledge, this gentle reading group led by Julie Johnstone focuses on the reader’s response to the text. For booking email reception@spl.org.uk
Diana Gabaldon Gabaldon’s Outlander series (published as Cross-Stitch in the UK) follows the fortunes of a
time-travelling 1940s nurse and her 18th-century husband. It’s a mix of romance, historical fiction, and science fiction, and although Gabaldon lives and works in Arizona, the books are set in Scotland, and the hero, Jamie Fraser, is a Scottish Highlander. For one weekend only Gabaldon will be venturing into the Edinburgh jungle to address the clans (at the Edinburgh Gathering) and any other non-tartan-clad booklovers at a Blackwell appearance. ■ Blackwell, Edinburgh, Fri 24 Jul.
36 THE LIST 23 Jul–6 Aug 2009