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WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL Films, food, fresh air – and books
R efreshingly, this year’s expansive Wigtown Book Festival is not just about the traditional literary fest events format. You know the game: author talks to chairperson about their book, with time at the end for questions (and for one audience member to bang on about why their own brilliant novel hasn’t been bought yet).
That sort of structure can work brilliantly with a charming, witty and indiscreet author, but there’s no harm in variety. Highlights of Wigtown’s imaginative programming this year include foraging on the Galloway saltmarsh, night cycling, campfire cooking with the Guyrope Gourmet, and Camper Obscura: a camera obscura in a camper van. Traditional book events with a variety of new and established authors (Simon Garfield, Sara Maitland, Mark Lawson, James Meek) are available too, of course, and there’s
44 THE LIST 19 Sep–17 Oct 2013
a strand of movie-related events beginning with a mythical walk in the footsteps of The Wicker Man, a drive-in screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and short film showings at Not the Wigtown Film Festival. Those wanting to check off big names should book early for Joanna Lumley, Fred MacAulay, the BBC’s Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen and Peter Snow, as well as a chance for radio stardom as Brian Taylor’s Big Debate comes to town. If it’s all too much choice, the Random Book Club Live events can make the decision for you. They’re intimate, bitesize 20-minute audiences with surprise authors and, hello, there’s a hot tub. Whatever you do, don’t drop your Kindle. (Charlotte Runcie)
Various venues, Wigtown, Fri 27 Sep– Sun 6 Oct.
HITLIST THE BEST BOOKS, COMICS & EVENTS
✽ Canongate Presents: The Other Side Michel Faber, Lemn Sissay (pictured),
Alasdair Gray, Aidan Moffat, RM Hubbert, and Jeremy Dyson, all in the same place at the same time? We are seriously excited. Win tickets at list.co.uk. The Jam House, Edinburgh, Thu 19 Sep.
✽ William Boyd Cocktails and a Bond writer make for a nicely chilled Monday
evening. Need we even mention whether the drinks are shaken or stirred? Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 30 Sep.
✽ Patrick McCabe If you like your horror stark and dark – and well-written, of course
– then McCabe’s new pair of tales (Hello and Goodbye) will darken your autumn nights. Definitely not for the faint of heart. See review, page 45. Quercus.
✽ Gary Gibson ‘The new Iain M
Banks’. Hear him read from his newest sci-fi book Marauder to see if you agree. Waterstones Argyle Street, Glasgow, Thu 19 Sep.
✽ Wigtown Book Festival See preview, left. Various venues, Wigtown, Fri 27 Sep–
Sun 6 Oct.
✽ TS Eliot Poetry Prize Tour Enjoy readings from some of Scotland’s finest poetic talents: Don Paterson, Kathleen Jamie, Robert Crawford and William
Letford (pictured). See Flash Fiction, page 46, for a taste of Letford’s writing. Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Mon 30 Sep.