The Londonist Literary List appears every Tuesday. If you’d like to bring an event to our attention, please email [email protected].
The Londonist Literary List has only one Christmas wish, and that is for all of its readers to buy books as gifts this holiday season, and for those books to be bought at independent bookstores, so that Waterstone's and Borders don't take over the world. The indie stores are making this easy for you this week, with offerings of free booze and discount prices. We personally can't think of anything we'd rather do than spend an evening wandering around Foyle's with a mulled wine in our hand (and in our belly) — who knew that Chistmas time could be so pleasant...
Events Around London:
Tonight, the London Review Bookshop is once against keeping its doors open late, so you dear customers can drink wine and make a bunch of drunken purchases that you'll regret in the morning. No, no, really, the LRB is much more civilized than this: just stop by and have one glass of wine and get 10% off all purchases until 8:30pm. 14 Bury Place. FREE
Tomorrow (the 14th), Ali Smith, John Sutherland and Bonnie Greer get together at the British Library to discuss Toni Morrison's Beloved. 96 Euston Road. 6:30pm. £6/Concessions £4
On Thursday (the 15th), Foyle's Bookshop is following the LRB's lead by having its own late shopping evening, only they're stepping it up a notch with mulled wine, mince pies and a closing time of 10pm (although no discounts). 113-119 Charing Cross Road. FREE
New Release:
Sex Wars, by Marge Piercy
Other News:
Whitbread has pulled out of the Whitbread prize, which means that the prize needs a new sponsor or it will cease to exist. Turns out the company was really only using the prize to its own financial ends. We're shocked.
Harold Pinter used his Nobel Prize acceptance speech to criticize American policies. We're double shocked.
