BOOKS | Events COMIC
GRAPHIC NOVEL OSCAR ZARATE The Park (SelfMadeHero) ●●●●●
Laurel and Hardy: just a bit of old-fashioned fun, right? In The Park, Oscar Zarate contrasts the suppressed violence of slapstick with an aggressive dog incident to explore ideas of blame, rebellion and social responsibility. When newspaper columnist
Ivan’s dog bites mild-mannered Chris in the local park, neither man will accept blame. In his anger, Ivan pushes Chris, but Chris refuses to fight back and instead just walks away. Their individual resentments heat up over the following days, made worse by their problems connecting with their grown-up children, who find their fathers either too aggressive or too weak. The children – a physiotherapist and a graffiti artist – later meet, though only one of them knows of the other’s role in the dog incident.
Zarate’s watercolour artwork perfectly illustrates the changing, moody beauty of the park, and emphasises the drama of the night scenes of sex and graffiti.
Dramatic artwork, an engrossing story, an interesting central issue worthy of debate: most graphic novels strive to provide one of these elements, but The Park excels at all three. (Kirsty Logan)
FLASH FICTION
A TALE O’TRUTH by Zoë Strachan
The wind picked up as Tam wended away from the Howff. Stoating from lamp-post to wall, and realising he was singing out loud, he took the longer, more sobering, route through the park. The moonlight on the shadowy trees almost brought on a poetic reverie, quickly superseded by the image of Kate’s thunderous face and memories of the night she’d bolted the door, forcing him to sleep in the greenhouse. At the peak of the old brig, Tam saw plastic-wrapped bouquets and posies tied with ribbon. The water rushed and seethed below. Amidst the flowers was a laminated photo of a dark-haired girl with green eyes. A sad business. Bullying at school, they said.
He huddled into his jacket and walked on. The noise of smashing glass startled him and he saw the flicker of firelight ahead in the ruined kirk. Bloody teenagers. As he drew closer, he heard music. Not so bad, he thought, his feet catching the rhythm. Ach well, everyone deserved a good time once in a while. He drew closer. Goths or emos, he couldn’t keep up. One of the girls was dancing, whirling in the middle , black hair swirling out around her, her smile splitting her face.
‘Haw you, you perv!’ The music stopped. The girl froze and her eyes met Tam’s.
Her bright green eyes.
‘But you’re . . . ’ he began, and then someone kicked over the fire and all was dark.
‘Get him!’ Tam turned and ran, feet pounding over the path. As he
neared the bridge he could feel a presence fast as the wind behind him. Just as he reached the keystone a hand seized his wee ponytail and – snip! – he was free.
That would please Kate at least. She’d been saying he was too old for it. ■ Zoë Strachan’s latest novel, Ever Fallen in Love, is published by Sandstone Press
54 THE LIST 17 Oct–14 Nov 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 17
Glasgow FREE Peter Kerr: Human Rights in a Big Yellow Taxi CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Launch of the latest ‘Rant’ offering from Vagabond Voices, in which Peter Kerr takes on anti-terror legislation. Edinburgh FREE A Scott Berg: On Woodrow Wilson University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, 650 1000. 5.30–6.30pm. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author and biographer explores the life of the American president. FREE Lesley Riddoch: Blossom – What Scotland Needs to Flourish National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3748. 6–7pm. The journalist discusses the impending referendum. Judy Brown and Carola Luther Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £5 (£4). The poets share the work they created during their stays at William Wordsworth’s cottage in Grasmere.
Friday 18
Glasgow ✽ Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival – Literary
Strand Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Sat 19 Oct. The folks at Aye Write are behind the addition of a literary component to SMHAFF, with a busy programme that includes Alasdair Gray, Don Paterson, Denise Mina, Nathan Filer, Ella Berthoud, Dennis O’Donnel and Sathnam Sanghera speaking on subjects like grief and loss, mental health institutions and eating disorders.
Edinburgh Scottish International Storytelling Festival: Once Upon a Journey Various venues, 556 9579. Times vary. Prices vary. Until 27 Oct 13. The 2013 edition of the world’s leading storytelling festival traverses time and space with the theme Travellers’ Tales. Join nomads, explorers, pilgrims and voyagers for ten days of traditional and contemporary storytelling with live storytelling performances, talks, workshops and discussions. Held primarily at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. FREE The World Through Don Quixote’s Eyes Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 11am–5pm. A six-hour continuous reading of Don Quixote by members of Edinburgh’s Spanish community, aiming to bring to light mental health issues. Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival.
✽ Rally & Broad Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 07989
508436. 8–11pm. £5. It’s the season two launch of the literary-flavoured cabaret night, with poet and musician Tim Turnbull, singer-songwriter Hailey Beavis, poet Degna Stone, dancer and director Ruth Mills and harmonica player Homesick Aldo. See feature, page 22.
Saturday 19 Edinburgh Malala Yousafzai McEwan Hall, Bristo Square. 10am. £tbc. The student activist and proponent of girls’ rights launches her memoir and speaks about the cause.
John Bishop: How Did This All Happen? Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 7pm. £8 (students £6). The comedian discusses and signs copies of his autobiography. Sunday 20
Edinburgh FREE Inky Fingers Readeasy Writers’ Group The Forest Café, 141 Lauriston Place, inkyfingersedinburgh@ gmail.com 2–5pm. A fun and constructive environment for improving your creative writing work. Email ahead to attend.
Monday 21 Stirling Liz Lochhead Lecture Smith Art Gallery & Museum, Dumbarton Road, 01786 471917. 7.30–9pm. £5 (including refreshments). The National Poet celebrates the word in all its forms – poems, monologues, theatre pieces and so on and so forth.
Tuesday 22
Glasgow FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre Danish Exchange CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Lene Asp, Martin Glaz Serup and René Jean Jensen (the Danish contingent of the exchange, natch) give readings and discuss writing methods. Bums Oot the Windae The Glad Café, 1006a Pollokshaws Road, 636 6119. 7.30pm. £3. Performances from storytellers, poets and singers from the Village Storytelling Centre. Edinburgh FREE Cracking on: Poetry with Grey Hen Press Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Free but ticketed. Readings of poetry written by older women, performed by A C Clarke, Joy Howard, Lyn Moir and Margaret Wood. Luminate Scotland. FREE Maria Fusco and The Happy Hypocrite Launch St Cecilia’s Hall, Niddry Street, 668 2019. 6–8pm. Launches of two new publicaitons of experimental writing: Maria Fusco’s With A Bao A Qu Reading When Attitudes Become Form and issue six of art journal The Happy Hypocrite, guest-edited by Lynne Tillman. FREE James Adair: Rowing after the White Whale National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3748. 6pm. It took them 16 days, but James Adair and Ben Stenning eventually fulfilled their drunken pact to row their way across the Indian Ocean. Adair shares the tale. Electric Tales The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). A blended mix of comedy and storytelling, told by a range of performers.
Wednesday 23 Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh Independent Radical Book Fair Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 662 9112. Times vary. Until Sun 27 Oct. Five days of free readings and discussions plus bookstalls with an emphasis on small and independent presses. Highlights include a discussion between Alasdair Gray and James Kelman, the launch of Chris Kent’s gothic comic, The Golem, and an evening of comedic poetry from John Hegley, plus panels on immigration, the referendum, activism and protest songs and mental health. W N Herbert and Alexander Hutchison Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £5 (£4). An evening with the two poets, who write in Scots and English.