list.co.uk/books Events | BOOKS
Friday 21
Wednesday 26 Saturday 29
Glasgow FREE Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. 10–11am. See Fri 14. Read Aloud! Celebrating Commonwealth Women’s Writing Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 1–3pm. £2 (free). See Fri 14.
Saturday 22 Edinburgh Poetry Society Surgeries with John Glenday Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. Times vary. £50 (poetry society members £40). A chance to discuss your work with the poet and tutor. Nothing but the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 11am. £5 (£4). Poetry discussion forum focusing on the work of Thomas Lux. Old Town Tales Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 2–4.30pm. £15. A workshop on urban storytelling in Scotland.
Monday 24
Scotland ✽ Book Week Scotland Various Venues. Times vary. Prices vary.
Until Sun 30 Nov. Scotland gets its book on, with this week of events and activities for readers of all stripes taking place across the country.
Glasgow FREE Gerry Durkin: Tales and Songs Bridgeton Library, Olympia Building, 2–16 Orr Street, 276 0870. 10.30–11.30am. Stories and songs with Gerry Durkin. FREE Sam Alexander Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7pm. An evening about Sam Alexander – recently revealed to be crime writer Paul Johnston.
Edinburgh Tales in the Tower St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. Times vary. £5. Poems and tales in St Giles’. Part of Book Week Scotland. FREE The Inky Fingers Literary Edinburgh Scavenger Hunt Various venues, various times. Until Thu 27. Hunt for objects relating to literary Edinburgh. Part of Book Week Scotland. FREE Golden Hare Book Group Golden Hare, 68 St Stephen Street, 629 1396. 6.30pm. Monthly book group. FREE Lin Anderson: Paths of the Dead Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Quartermile, 229 2902. 6.30pm. Lin Anderson discusses writing and forensics. FREE Tom Pow: Wild Adventure and Concerning the Atlas of the Dead Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6.30pm. An evening with writer Tom Pow. Part of Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival.
Glasgow FREE Poetry Book Discussion Group CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Discussing Peter Larkin’s Give Forest Its Next Portent. Alan Bissett: Desert Island Discs and Books The Glad Café, 1006a Pollokshaws Road, 636 6119. 7.30– 10.45pm. £5. The writer discusses the records and books that have changed his life. Part of Book Week Scotland. Edinburgh Tales in the Tower St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. Times vary. £5. See Mon 24. FREE Owen Dudley Edwards: Burke and Hare National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 2–3pm. The author explores the story behind the Burke and Hare murders. Part of Book Week Scotland. Debjani Chatterjee/Martin Bates Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. £7 (£5). Readings focussing on Debjani Chatterjee and Martin Bates. FREE JD Oswald: The Ballad of Sir Benfro Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6.30pm. A fantasy series from the crime writer. FREE Patrick Richardson: In Search of Landfall Stockbridge Library, 11 Hamilton Place, 529 5665. 7pm. The writer discusses his book, In Search of Landfall. FREE Russel McLean: Cry Uncle Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street, 529 5628. 7pm. The author on his latest novel, Cry Uncle.
Thursday 27
Glasgow Dragon’s Pen Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 5.30pm. £4 (free). The shortlisted writers read their stories in front of a panel of dragons. Part of Book Week Scotland.
✽ David Shrigley: An Evening of Words and Images Glasgow
Film Theatre, 8.30pm. Prices Vary. Expect some illustrated ideas – yes, you can take that literally – as David Shrigley chats about his new book, Weak Messages Create Bad Situations: A Manifesto.
Edinburgh Tales in the Tower St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. Times vary. £5. See Mon 24. FREE Tracey S. Rosenberg: The Naming of Cancer Launch Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. The writer’s pamphlet is launched.Part of Book Week Scotland. FREE Elizabeth Laird: The Lure of the Honeybird Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6.30–7.30pm. Laird discusses her book, The Lure of the Honeybird. Part of Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival.
Tuesday 25 Friday 28
Glasgow Autobiography as Novel with Shazia Hobbs and Magi Gibson CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. £6 (£3). Magi Gibson chats about the challenges of autobiography. Edinburgh Tales in the Tower St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. Times vary. £5. See Mon 24. FREE Ian Stephen: Death and Fish McDonald Road Library, 2 McDonald Road, 529 5636. 6pm. The author reads from his work. FREE Doug Johnstone: The Dead Beat and Other Writings Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue, Portobello, 529 5558. 7pm. Doug Johnstone discusses his sixth novel The Dead Beat.
Glasgow FREE James Bowen: A Gift From Bob Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 12.30pm. The author stops by to sign some books.
Edinburgh Tales in the Tower St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. Times vary. £5. See Mon 24. FREE Golden Hare Book Group Golden Hare, 68 St Stephen Street, 629 1396. 6.30–8pm. See Mon 24.
✽ Neu! Reekie! Pilrig St Paul’s Church, Pilrig Street, Leith Walk, 553 1876. 7–11pm. £8. The group’s end of year bash. FREE Guid Crack Club Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. 7.30pm. The storytelling club does ‘Broth, Breid and Bannocks’.
Edinburgh Tales in the Tower St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. Times vary. Prices vary. See Mon 24. FREE Gavin Francis: Empire Antarctica – Ice, Silence and Emperor Penguins Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 2.30pm. See Thu 27. FREE James Oswald: Dead Men’s Bones Muirhouse Library, 15 Pennywell Court, 529 5528. 3–4pm. ticketed. The crime writer launches the fourth in his Inspector McLean novels. Part of Book Week Scotland. Jess Remembers Belle Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30–9.30pm. £8 (£6). Jess Smith celebrates the life of Belle Smith.
Sunday 30 Edinburgh Shore Poets: Be The First To Like This Quiet Slam Henderson’s @ St John’s, St John’s Terrace, 3 Lothian Road, 229 0212. 7.15pm. £5 (£3). Shore Poets’ first ever slam.
Monday 1 Edinburgh FREE Tricolour: NLS Poetry Night National Library of Scotland, 159 Causewayside, 623 3918. 6.30pm. Three spoken word and performance poets.
Tuesday 2
Edinburgh SPL Poetry Workshop Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–8pm. £5 (£4). A writing workshop for all levels.
Wednesday 3 Edinburgh Edinburgh Genre Group Forest Centre +, 38 Castle Terrace, 229 4948. 6.30pm. £3. A workshop style get- together for genre writers.
Thursday 4 Glasgow St Mungo’s Mirrorball CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. £5 (SMM members free). Showcasing poetry talent.
Friday 5
Glasgow FREE New Work with Sarah Tripp, Isla Leaver-Yap and The Happy Hypocrite CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Two new Book Works publications are launched, plus performances and presentations. Ages 18+. Saturday 6
Glasgow FREE Seeds of Thought CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7.30pm. Diverse live performance and spoken word night. Ages 18+.
Monday 8 Glasgow FREE Scots/English Writing Group Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. See Mon 24.
Tuesday 9 Glasgow FREE Seeds of Thought Writing Group CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 6pm. An informal group for writers of every level. Poetry Improvisation Workshop CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900.
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S C O T T S H B O O K T R U S T - R O B M C D O U G A L L
TOP 5 BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND EVENTS The Inky Fingers Scavenger Hunt Teams of four can take up the challenge of hunting down objects related to literary Edinburgh. A prizegiving will be held on Sun 30 Nov in the Forest Café with writers and live music. Various venues, Edinburgh, Mon 24–Thu 27 Nov. Tales in The Tower St Giles Cathedral will open its roof for the first time for half-hour slots throughout the day as groups of four get up close and personal with the clockwork and bells, listening to a selection of stories and poems. St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, Mon 24–Sun 30 Nov. The Travelling Book Trolley of Joy Interactive adventure for all ages. Track the trolley by following @literarydundee and get in on the action by meeting it on its travels and picking up a book. Various venues, Dundee, Mon 24–Sun 30 Nov. Ross Ruane and Stef Smith Present: Living Library Ten women will read an extract from a work of fiction that inspires them. A combination of new stories and old classics read aloud followed by a live music set: all you need to do is turn up with open ears. The Glad Café, Glasgow, Tue 25 Nov. True Confessions of Professional Liars Illicit Ink will be hosting a night of confessions. A gathering of Scottish writers and performers spill their secrets, past shames and dirty deeds, through stand-up, storytelling and spoken word. The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, Wed 26 Nov. (Molly Reid) ■ Book Week Scotland, Mon 24– Sun 30 Nov.
7–8.30pm. £6 (£3). A group poetry improvisation workshop with Robin Vaughan-Williams. Edinburgh FREE Hush Hour The Lucky Liquor Co, 39A Queen Street, 226 3976. 7pm. Read books and drink cocktails. Songs of Edinburgh with Alexander McCall Smith The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 8pm. £16.50. The author teams up with composer Tom Cunningham for eight songs inspired by old photographs of Edinburgh that are the basis for his new novel A Work of Beauty.
13 Nov–11 Dec 2014 THE LIST 49