BOOKS | Events
MAGAZINE LITERARY MAGAZINE VARIOUS Gutter (Freight) ●●●●●
Gutter’s clean cover design and minimalist layout reveals the disconnection between its intentions – the word ‘gutter’ conjuring a sense of Trainspotting grittiness – and what it actually delivers: proficient MLitt Creative Writing-type prose. The literary standard is high, with interesting work from the
established (Regi Clare), the emerging (Stephanie Brown), and the standout (Ewan C Forbes with ‘Granite’, a subtle meditation on male depression). However, overall it’s hard to distinguish one writer’s voice from another and the obligatory inclusion of a Fifty Shades- style short story is just grating. Many of the poems lack depth, and hold-your-breath pieces such as Nikki Magennis’ ‘At Polmont Prison’ are the exception when they should be standard.
Where is the
emotional range, the romance, and where are the truly original new voices, indeed ‘the bleeding edge’ of Scottish writing? Sacrificing a blow-job gag or masturbation poem might bring Gutter closer to something less self-conscious, something more beautiful, just something more. With younger,
hipper journals like Valve pumping new blood into the scene, Gutter may need to try that wee bit harder. (Ruth Johnston)
FLASH FICTION
THE HONEY GATHERERS by Angela Readman
Whenever he touches me I think of honey, the slick drip of it silking his hands I let flow over me. Sunlight coats my tongue, glues pleasantries into my mouth. I lick sticky urges, words, and tell him to drive safe. If he forgets to say he loves me, it’s OK. I’m collecting pollen from flowers he doesn’t buy, weeping it into my hive.
The supermarkets taught us how to be with those plastic cards, loyalty points granting the faithful rewards. I am a Honey, finally, a Sugar Babe, the app on my phone tells me. I message just the right amount of :) and xxxs, not so many he sighs, not so few he doesn’t feel someone’s thinking about him when he’s bored. I don’t make a fuss about anything. If I try, too much pops up. :( You are not a honey. This is a guilt trip, a question, a need. I’m relegated to drone.
Some girlfriends wing it, fly out on a storm, tell guys to shove their apologies where the sun doesn’t shine. It’s not worth it, losing the honey. One word could cost me so many points I’ll only be able to love someone unthinkable next time, someone unsigned. They haven’t one :) or loyalty point to their name. Honestly, it’s not worth it. There’s no way of knowing if they’ve earned a honey like me. You’d have to be crazy to love like that, it’s a waggle dance in the dark.
In bed, we lie back to back, bottoms nudging. I hum night night and imagine bees storing pollen over winter. Come spring, I’ll have enough loyalty points to leave. And he’ll have no option but to bumble through his fuzzy life, a solitary worker collecting any bits of honey he can find. ■ Angela Readman’s fiction is included in Once Upon a Time There Was a Traveller (Virago).
42 THE LIST 22 Aug–19 Sep 2013
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jaclyn Arndt. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 22
Glasgow FREE 100 Years of Scottish Magazine Publishing Exhibition Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 9am–8pm. A look back over the industry as far back as the 1700s. Curated by the Professional Publishers Association Scotland. FREE Robin Lloyd-Jones: The Sunlit Summit Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7–8.30pm. The writer discusses his new book about Scottish mountain climber William Hutchison Murray. Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Book Fringe Word Power Bookshop, 43 West Nicolson Street, 662 9112. Times vary. Until Fri 23 Aug. The final few days of the radical book fest, which brings together writers and activists from around the world for a host of daily readings and discussions. Catch Louise Welsh, Zoë Strachan, Kellan MacInnes and the launch of the latest Edinburgh Review. Edinburgh International Book Festival Charlotte Square Gardens, Charlotte Square, 0845 373 5888. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Mon 26 Aug. The world’s largest public celebration of the written word takes place in the first UNESCO City of Literature in the beautiful Charlotte Square Gardens. The last few days of the fest include events from Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, Caitlin Moran, Graeme Gibson, Tessa Hadley and Quintin Jardine. FREE Palimpcyst Yellow Bench, 31 Crighton Place, Leith Walk, 07510 861842. Noon–9pm. Until Fri 30 Aug. Exhibition of books and visual and concrete poetry.
Sunday 25 Edinburgh The Kennedys The Scottish Parliament, Horse Wynd, 0800 092 7500. 2–3.30pm. £5 (£3.50). Joseph P Kennedy’s biographer talks about the Kennedy dynasty. Part of Festival of Politics 2013.
Monday 26
Celebrate the launch of Hendry’s first novel, a historical fiction set in 1940s Edinburgh. Dundee FREE Neil Gaiman: Ocean at the End of the Lane Waterstones, 35 Commercial Street, 0843 290 8287. Noon. The author and screenwriter signs copies of his latest.
Thursday 29 Glasgow FREE James Heneage: The Walls of Byzantium Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7pm. Heneage kicks off his new series, The Mistra Chronicles, with this first of three books.
Edinburgh FREE Tessa Ransford Reading Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. The poet reads selections from her books A Rug of a Thousand Colours and Don’t Mention this to Anyone.
Friday 30
Edinburgh FREE Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30pm. Regular storytelling club involving song and music aplenty. A Fringe special as the festivities power down. Saturday 31
Glasgow Editing and Revision Workshop with 4 Winds Writers and Sara Grant i2 Office, 2 West Regent Street, 4windswriters.com 10.30am–5pm. £85 (includes lunch). Take on the next phase of novel writing with this workshop in revision. Bring along the first two plus the final chapters of your young adult or children’s book. Monday 2
Glasgow ✽ FREE Helen FitzGerald: The Cry Waterstones, 174 Argyle
Street, 248 4814. 7–8.30pm. Free but ticketed. The author launches her new psychological thriller.
Edinburgh FREE Tricolour: NLS Poetry Night National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3748. 6.30pm. Three poets and spoken word performers with three different styles. Tonight, it’s Claire Askew, Bram Gieben and Camilla Chen.
Glasgow FREE Gaelic Writing Group CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–9pm. Series of workshops for writing in Gaelic or Scots and English, with facilitator Catriona Lexy-Campbell. Ages 16+.
Wednesday 4 Glasgow Word Play Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8.30pm. £2. Open mic night with acoustic music, poetry and prose, hosted by The Word Factory.
Tuesday 27 Thursday 5
Glasgow FREE Diverse Voices CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. Readings of poetry and short stories from members of Glasgow’s diverse communities, hosted by author Chiew- Siah Tei. Edinburgh FREE Launch: New Writing Scotland Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Free but ticketed. Celebrate the publication of the biggest volume of New Writing Scotland so far: Black Middens.
Glasgow FREE TF Muir: Life for a Life Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6pm. Free but ticketed. The St Andrews’ writer launches his new crime novel. Edinburgh FREE Tony Black: His Father’s Son Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6pm. Free but ticketed. The crime author talks about and signs copies of his new book.
Friday 6
Wednesday 28 Edinburgh FREE Victoria Hendry: A Capital Union Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Free but ticketed.
Stirling Off the Page Stirling Book Festival Various venues, 01786 432383. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Fri 13 Sep. Now in its eighth year, this local festival offers a wide range of authors