The Book Grocer

By London_Drew Last edited 212 months ago

Last Updated 26 April 2007

The Book Grocer
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Fresh Next Week

John Lanchester's third novel Family Romance is the story of an extraordinary family - from his grandparents’ beginnings in rural Ireland and colonial Rhodesia, through his father’s wartime separation from his parents and his mother’s tragic first love, her decision to become a nun and her adoption of a new identity. Next Wednesday, 7pm, £6, The London Review Bookshop, 14 Bury Place, WC1A 2JL, 020 7269 9030.

Givin’ ‘em away:

Tomorrow night winners of the International Willesden Short Story Prize, judged by Zadie Smith, convene to read stories from Britain, India, Ireland, Japan and the United States. 7:30pm, free, studio 95, Willesden Library Centre, Willesden High Road, NW10. RSVP to [email protected].

And more awards with the presentation of The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2007 next Wednesday at Foyles. The six contenders are:

The Book of Chameleons by José Eduardo Agualusa translated from Portuguese by Daniel Hahn.

The Story of Blanche and Marie by Per Olov Enquist translated from Swedish by Tina Nunnally.

Four Walls by Vangelis Hatziyannidis translated from Greek by Anne-Marie Stanton-Ife.

Your Face Tomorrow 2: Dance and Dream by Javier Marías translated from Spanish by Margaret Jull Costa.

Vienna by Eva Menasse translated from German by Anthea Bell.

Shyness and Dignity by Dag Solstad translated from Norwegian by Sverre Lyngstad.

Wednesday 2 May, 6.30pm, The Gallery, Foyles, 113–119 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EB - free but confirm attendance in advance by emailing Laura Quinn [email protected], or telephoning 02076312666.

Try a Bit of This:

We started with rain,

but then you tell me that

the only thing you've ever wanted

is to make love in a thunderstorm,

watch the clouds crowding in.

The night jostles against my skin,

warning me to assess.

Traffic, with nothing to stay for,

moves on. I am left

to walk the tightrope of your smile

not alone

but by myself.

Extract from Risk Assessment by Helen Mort. Mort's first volume of poetry,

The Shape of Every Box, is out this week.

Two for a Pound:

1. Sacred Texts go on show in London.

2. January Magazine hearts Atwood and the Defining Books of Our Era .

If you'd like to bring an event to our attention, please email [email protected].