The Londonist Literary List appears every Tuesday. If you’d like to bring an event to our attention, please email [email protected].
Regular readers of this column know that I spent a lot of time in December and January pondering the lack of literary eventage in London. Well, I may have finally come across the explanation I've been looking for. It turns out that you really can blame James Frey for everything that's wrong with the world. According to Publisher's Weekly EIC Sara Nelson, the Frey scandal "put just about all new business on hold for four weeks this past January." She's talking about the States, but it seems that the effects spilled over to the UK, as well.
Yes, London got Freyed. But look below — it's recovering nicely!
Events Around London:
The Spit Lit Festival celebrating women's writing continues through Saturday. Click here for a listing of all events, many of which are quite good.
Tonight, Ambit Books presents Sonja Besford as she reads from her new short story collection, memories of summers in brist near gradac, at The Owl Bookshop. 7pm. 209 Kentish Town Road. FREE.
Also tonight, Stefan Collini stops by the London Review Bookshop to discuss his new book, Absent Minds: Intellectuals in Britain. Expect no shortage of inflated egos at this one. 7pm. London Review Bookshop, 14 Bury Place. £4.
On Thursday (the 9th), Alexei Sayle (pictured) reads from his new novel, The Weeping Women Hotel, at the Waterstone's in Picadilly. 7pm. 203-206 Picadilly. £3, redeemable against a purchase.
Also on Thursday, Ambit continues a busy week with its presentation of poet Sonja Besford and novelist (and Ambit editor) Martin Bax. 7:30pm. Upstairs at the Bath House. £4/£3 concession.
Next Tuesday (the 14th), American novelist Jay McInerney makes an appearance in London to celebrate the release of his novel The Good Life, and early example of what is sure to become an entire genre: the September 11th novel. Waterstone's Picadilly. 7pm. 203-206 Picadilly. £3, redeemable against a purchase.
New Releases:
The City of Dreaming Books, by Walter Moers
Blue Shoes and Happiness, by Alexander McCall Smith
The Unfinished Novel and Other Stories, by Valerie Martin
Watch Me Disappear, by Jill Dawson
Other News:
The Observer compiled a list of the 50 most powerful people in the British Book World. Writers, schmooze with these people and you just might have a fighting chance.