Books EVENTS COMIC
SUPERHERO DAN SLOTT & HUMBERTO RAMOS Spider-Man: Spider Island (Marvel) ●●●●●
Spider-Man has always been one of the comics world’s more light-hearted superheroes. While there have been moments of introspection and heartache, he’s always more than ready with a corny quip as he swings into battle. Spider Island continues in this tradition with a big action adventure that never takes itself too seriously as Peter Parker finds himself the first among equals. Manhattan is suddenly in the grip of
an outbreak of Spider-Powers as the good citizens of NYC develop web-shooters, super-strength and wall-crawling abilities. A full roster of Marvel heroes (Mr Fantastic, Captain America, Wolverine, the Thing) leap into action trying to contain then cure an epidemic that turns an entire city into fledgling superheroes/supervillians.
The problem here is that the tale features too many moments that slide from entertaining and amusing to plain silly; the villains never feel truly threatening and it all wraps up far too neatly. None of which is helped by the fluctuating art quality with the Venom chapters being particularly ugly. Still, younger Spider-Fans should love it and Dan Slott has always been honest – ‘it ain’t Shakespeare! Shut up and have fun!’ – but most adult readers will find Spider Island too frivolous to be genuinely engaging. (Henry Northmore)
ALSO PUBLISHED HISTORY BOOKS
How do you follow up a mind-blowing success like The Suspicions of Mr Whicher? Well, if you’re Kate Summerscale (pictured), you understandably get right back onto that period saddle with Mrs Robinson’s Disgrace: The Private Diary of a Victorian Lady (Bloomsbury). This time, her take on the dark undercurrents that spilled bad seeds onto starchy Victoriana features the mystery revolving around a well-to-do married woman who inadvisably cavorted with a younger man, also betrothed. Loved by David Peace, Paul French’s Midnight in Peking: The Murder that Haunted the Last Days of Old China (Viking) concerns the savage slaying in 1937 of the teenage daughter of Peking’s British consul and his determination never to rest until the killer was found. For those who love a bit of darting about the Londinium subway whenever the chance comes, Andrew Martin’s Underground Overground: A Passenger’s History of the Tube (Profile) will be a sweat-induced, claustrophobic treat as he wonders if some gaps should be minded more than others and whether it would be fatal to do a wee-wee on the power supply rail.
Dealing with somewhat more northerly matters, Sarah Fraser writes the
story of Lord Simon Lovat, the final nobleman to be executed for treason, in The Last Highlander: Scotland’s Most Notorious Clan-Chief, Rebel and Double-Agent (HarperPress) while John Romer heads for a place in the sun with A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid (Allen Lane). This first volume of two draws on new evidence suggesting many of the things we take as gospel about that ancient civilisation might well be horribly wrong. (Brian Donaldson)
46 THE LIST 26 Apr–24 May 2012
EVENTS Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 16 days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Charlotte Runcie. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 26
Glasgow FREE Aye Aye Books Mobile Book Van Various venues, see glasgowinternational.org for details. Mobile shop selling art books. In operation until Mon 7 May. Part of Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art. FREE Unwind with a Book Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. Noon. A weekly, women-only reading group for sharing stories, books and poems. Contact the GWL for details and to sign up. Every Thursday until Thu 17 May. FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre Debate: The Languages of Scotland Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. An exploration of whether and how the literary voices of people from different cultures who have made their home in Scotland are being heard and read. Taigh Ceilidh Ghlaschu Argyll Hotel, 973 Sauchiehall Street, 337 3313. 7.30pm. £2 (£1). An informal weekly Gaelic night of stories, poetry, music, comedy, and craic. As it’s an opportunity to watch, participate in and practise speaking Gaelic, the language is used throughout this event. Edinburgh FREE A Room with Our View Central Library, George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 10am–8pm. A unique poetry installation, in which the objects in a bedroom have been printed with poetry by young writers. Running until Fri 27 Apr. Nothing But the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6pm. £5 (£3). The April sessions of the friendly poetry discussion forum focus on the work of John Burnside. Booking advisable. This session repeated on Sat 28 Apr.
Friday 27
Edinburgh Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30pm. £3 suggested donation. Regular storytelling club with a good helping of song and music. Hosted by Daniel Allison.
Isle of Colonsay ✽✽ Colonsay Book Festival Colonsay, 01951 200067. Times vary. £40 for a weekend pass; £8 per individual event. Until Sun 29 Apr. See preview, page 48.
Saturday 28
Glasgow FREE Glasgow International Artists Bookfair Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 07845 579706. 11am–6pm. A huge showcase of artists’ books from Scotland, the UK and abroad, timed to coincide with Glasgow International Festival if Visual Art. Edinburgh A Night at the Surgeon’s Hall Museum: Marianne Boruch Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, 527 1649. 6pm. £5 (£3). Poet Marianne Boruch reads from her own work at the evening opening of the museum. Canongate Talks: Jonah Lehrer Surgeon’s Hall, Nicolson Street, 225 3436. 7.30pm. £8. Writer and neuroscientist Jonah Lehrer discusses the current scientific understanding of the imagination. Tickets are available from Waterstone’s on George Street.
Sunday 29
Glasgow FREE Glasgow International Artists Bookfair Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 07845 579706. 11am–6pm. See Sat 28. Edinburgh Shore Poets The Lot, 4–6 Grassmarket, 225 9922. 7.45pm–10.15pm. £4 (£3). Open night at the regular local poetry meet, with readings from Rody Gorman and live music. FREE Pressure Valve The Pear Tree House, 34 West Nicolson Street, 667 7533. 8pm. Weekly open-mic session for poetry, music and spoken word. Every Sunday until 24 Jun.
Monday 30
Glasgow FREE Gaelic Writing Group Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Regular workshops for writing in Gaelic, ending in a showcase on Mon 25 Jun. Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Creative Writers Pulp Fiction, 43 Bread Street, 229 4444. 7pm–9.30pm. Social meet-up for creative writers.
Tuesday 1
Glasgow FREE Women Make History: East End Detectives Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 6pm. Help GWL to research two new Women’s Heritage Walks highlighting women’s history in Glasgow’s East End. Wednesday 2
Glasgow Love Club The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7.30pm. £4. Celebrate Good Housekeeping Day on the anniversary of the housewife’s bible, with spoken word, music, knitting, tea and cake.
Thursday 3
Glasgow ✽✽ Tagore and Word Play Britannia Panopticon Music Hall, 113–117
Trongate, 553 0840. 5.30pm–8pm. £2. The Word Factory-ists deconstruct and rebuild one of the poems of Nobel Literature Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
✽✽ Iain Banks: Stonemouth Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall
Street, 332 9105. 6pm. £3, redeemable on the night against the cost of a copy of the book. The superstar author discusses his new novel.
✽✽ FREE Hello Poetry MacSorley’s, 42 Jamaica Street, 248 8581. 7pm.
Jim Ferguson hosts, with poetry from Rosie Brown, Rapunzel Wizard, Nic E Melville, Michael Pederson and Rodney Relax. With music and a raffle. FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre presents Mirrorball Clydebuilt Apprentice Showcase Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, stmungosmirrorball.co.uk 7pm. Selection of fresh trainee poets. Taigh Ceilidh Ghlaschu Argyll Hotel, 973 Sauchiehall Street, 337 3313. 7.30pm. £2 (£1). See Thu 26.
Friday 4
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE SMUT-A-RAMA with Lock Up Your Daughters Luke
and Jack, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. 7pm. Erotic fiction readings, with short films from Lock Up Your Daughters. Women only. Ages 18+. BYOB. Booking essential. FREE The Magic Carpet Cabaret Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. A night of poetry, songs and stories, with open mic spots.