Books: One Whole Week of Them

Book Week Scotland will take place from 26 Nov to 2 Dec, during which time hundreds (literally hundreds) of events will take place. Some even look pretty good too. Here's a brief selection of some we like the look of

Feature by Johnny Chess | 26 Oct 2012

But first, the suggested programme highlights are:

(a) The launch of a book called My Favourite Place, which is a collection of pieces about people’s favourite places. There are contributions from Alexander McCall Smith, Alasdair Gray and Michael Palin, as well as the general public, and the book will be given away free. So there’s that.

(b) The Reading Hour will take place on 11am on St Andrew's Day, where various readings will take place at that time, and people will be encouraged to read for that hour. Why? I’ve no idea.

(c) The Mitchell Library in Glasgow will host a series of events on 1 December, author talks, workshops and debates. This will probably be worth a look.

The author events will be the best, specifically in this case because authors are going to places they don’t often visit. Alan Massie will be giving a talk on crime and literary novels at Balloch Library (28 Nov), Janice Galloway will be talking about her work at Dumbarton Library (26 Nov) and then at Lionacleit Community Library in Benbecula (29 Nov), Iain (M) Banks will be appearing at Loch Leven Library (27 Nov), while James Robertson will be appearing in Uddingston Library (28 Nov) but not before an event at St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile (27 Nov). And William McIllvanney will be appearing at Dalmuir Library on the 29 November, but I’m keeping that apart since that isn't a place he doesn't often visit. His appearance before was a successful one (if you ask my Dad, who attended).

Crime writers are well represented, with Caro Ramsay appearing in Menstrie (26 Nov) and then Rothesay (28 Nov), Chris Brookmyre at the Central Library in Greenock (26 Nov), Gordon Ferris and Tony Black in a joint event at Newton Mearns Library (29 Nov), Denise Mina going out to Beith Library (27 Nov), and Val McDermid probably travelling furthest, to the Orkney Library in Kirkwall (29 Nov).  All of the above are free events (though interestingly, when Val McDermid appears in her home town of Kirkcaldy on 28 November, you’ll need to buy your ticket – they'll be paying on the streets of Raith, then).

Some of the events are more than just single author talks though. Edwin Morgan will be celebrated in an events featuring his biographer, James McGonigal, and George Burt of the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, on whose latest CD Morgan appears, first at the William Patrick Library in Kirkintilloch (28 Nov), and then for the CD’s official launch at the CCA (29 Nov).

Alan Bissett will team up with Ewan Morrison and Doug Johnstone for An Evening with Cargo Publishing at Port Glasgow Library (29 Nov), while Gutter Magazine are putting on an event at the CCA (27 Nov) featuring the much-admired American wordsmith David Vann alongside the usual strong bill of Scottish writers.

The entertaining sounding Dragon’s Pen event at the Scottish Women’s Library (29 Nov) will feature a panel, including Laura Marney and Kirsty Logan, as well as Scottish Women’s Library staff, listening to writers read their stories, and offering advice, but apparently not Dragon’s Den-style tough love, nor tons of cash either. Slightly further north, Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat will perform at the DCA (Dundee Contemporary Arts) playing from Everything’s Getting Older, and there’s Out of the Narrative, a poetry evening in Stirling featuring Tom Leonard, Billy Letford and Anita Govan (29 Nov).

On 29 November, there’s an intriguing event on at the Scottish Poetry Library. Since this year is the 350th anniversary of The Book of Common Prayer, and 30th anniversary of the New Testament in Scots, Richard Holloway and James Robertson will be discussing the influence of sacred texts.

And my pick of the bunch, the now irregular Words Per Minute returns for an intriguing event (on 2 December) at The Glad Café in Shawlands, in partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council. The night will mix up performances by new writers from refugee communities in Scotland with performances from well-known Scottish authors… but as always with WPM, no-one will get more than ten minutes.

If you've read this far, you're clearly interested – you should probably go to something.

More details of these, and many, many other events can be found at www.bookweekscotland.com http://www.bookweekscotland.com