ED2011 Books

Some quick Book Festival Tips

By | Published on Tuesday 9 August 2011

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The Edinburgh International Book Festival kicks off in Charlotte Square Gardens this weekend. With that in mind, we asked our 2011 book correspondents to tip a must-see event.

ELEANOR PENDER recommends Audrey Niffenegger, Monday 15 Aug at 8.00pm
I am most definitely looking forward to hearing from Audrey Niffenegger. This event offers the rare opportunity to see into the fantastical mind of the acclaimed author of ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’. Her novels combine the real, the strange and the magical in such a grounded way. Beautifully written, her characters embody a plot that would be lost in anyone else’s hands.

TRACEY S ROSENBERG recommends AS Byatt, Sunday 28 Aug at 3.00pm
AS Byatt, the Booker-winning grande dame of interpreting the Victorians and Edwardians, takes an unexpected and autobiographical turn with her forthcoming work: a retelling of the Norse tale of Ragnarok, part of the acclaimed Canongate Myths series. Byatt will be in conversation with literary editor Stuart Kelly about the ways in which gods and mythology shaped her wartime childhood.

CAMILLE BURNS recommends Different Worlds With Patrick Ness & Moira Young, Sunday 21 Aug at 3.30pm
Despite the title, the similarities between their worlds make this a top event. Written without shying away from ‘adult’ subjects, themes of injustice, loss, love and loyalty, are skillfully manipulated in ‘Chaos Walking’ and ‘Blood Red Road’ until the line between good and evil is blurry at best. This event will be a fascinating discussion with two authors whose novels would affect even the most disdainful adult.

SAMUEL JOHNSTON recommends Candia McWilliam on Thursday 18 Aug at 8.30pm
One of England’s most gifted novelists, a Guardian award winner and Man Booker judge, Candia McWilliam has now published a memoir detailing her recovery from blindness. Having covered the topic with a sensitivity and optimism that is a refreshing change from the now ubiquitous misery memoir, this event is certain to be both delicately poignant and eye opening.

ELLIE BLOW recommends ‘Alasdair Gray: A Life In Words And Pictures’ on Saturday 13 Aug at 11.30am
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of ‘Lanark’, Alasdair Gray’s highly acclaimed first novel. To celebrate, he is closing the Book Festival with a performance of his play ‘Fleck’ – and opening it with this, a discussion of both his writing and his equally-famous art. A rare and exciting chance to catch one of Scotland’s best-loved novelists.



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