The Londonist Literary List appears every Tuesday. If you’d like to bring an event to our attention, please email [email protected].
Yes, there is a new novel out by Nadine Gordimer this week (along with a serious slew of others). But early reports are leading us to believe that the real star of the new releases is The Possibillity of an Island, by the controversial French writer Michel Houellebecq (pictured). Once you get past the excessively stupid cover design, rumour has it that this is one of the best books of the year. So there's that, and also we have some great live events to report this week...
Events Around London:
Tonight, scientific genius Stephen Hawking stops by UCL to discuss a bunch of things that he understands and we don't, like quantum theory and curved space. Right. Logan Hall, 20 Bedford Way. 7pm. £5. Tickets available from Waterstone's Gower Street.
Tomorrow night (Wednesday), Michael Wood appears at the London Review Bookshop to discuss the short stories of Henry James, and specifically how they deal with the perception of writers. Yeah yeah, Henry James was American, but he more or less defected to England, so it's cool. 14 Bury Place. 7pm. See website for ticket info. £4.
Also tomorrow, Canadian author Margaret Atwood discusses her motivation for writing her latest novel, a retelling of the story of Penelope and Heracles, who lived a very, very long time ago and have nothing to do with Canada. Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre. 7:30pm. £9.
On Thursday, of course, the most important event in London, literary or otherwise, is the Londonist Birthday Party. Offside Bar. 8pm (till late!).
New Releases:
The Possibility of an Island, by Michel Houellebecq
The Naming of Eliza Quinn, by Carol Birch
Dover Beach, by Leslie Thomas
Malambo, by Lucia Charun-Illescas
School Story, by Iain Mackenzie-Blair
Torn Water, by John Lynch
Sylvanus Now, by Donna Morrissey
Get a Life, by Nadine Gordimer
Summer in the City, by Pauline McLynn
The Touch, by Liu Hong
Map of Glass, by Jane Urquhart
Saving Fish From Drowning, by Amy Tan
Other News:
If you are part of a small literary project or event, please please please bring it to our attention at [email protected]. We really do want to know about what you are doing!
