Notes From the Festival

346 days to go

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:58:00 +0000

August 2012 watched two hundred thousand people fall in literary love with eight hundred authors.

Michael Morpurgo sang ‘Only Remembered’, unaccompanied. Jackie Kay stood up and by way of introduction said “I'm from Scotland and I'm a lesbian”. David Walliams made four hundred kids fire questions at him. Chris Riddell drew a monster in the middle of the Gardens. Val McDermid dressed up as a pirate. Jeremy Paxman admitted he can't dance. John McCarthy told us how to laugh when you're locked away without sunlight. Neil Gaiman rolled about on the walkway. Michael Palin did the Bolt pose. John Sampson made everyone sing. Ali Smith caused two journalists to throw away their pens and just listen.

That's about 1% of what caused a mass outbreak of glee and awe this month in Charlotte Square Gardens.

I'm loathe to say what I'm about to say, because it seems obvious to the point of being hackneyed. But I'm going to say it anyway, because it's the truth: my highlight of the 2012 Edinburgh International Book Festival was the World Writers' Conference. The keynote speeches were astounding, and I've never known a Book Festival venue to be so alive. There were guffaws, swearing, hissing, cries of “hear hear!”, and a philosophical quandary the size of a small planet. Actually there were a few of those.

If you're one of the Writers' Conference delegates and you're reading this, please know that your mind is bloomin' delicious and I would like to eat it. (If that's okay with you.)

The Book Festival would not simply whip itself out from under us like a tablecloth and leave us shivering. It's left plenty of stuff for us to be getting on with. The memories, yes, and the books, and the autograph you got Jeanette Winterson to scribble on your left hip (admit it) – but there's also all this:

Video & audio recordings

Five video recordings of some of the biggest events from this year's Book Festival, along with a plethora of audio recordings, will become available – completely free of charge – in the Book Festival media gallery over the next few weeks. So if you weren't in Edinburgh this August, you won't miss out after all.

Writers' Conference

This was just the beginning. The biting intellectuality of the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference events will continue, starting with the Berlin International Literature Festival next week and then moving on to sixteen countries around the globe. Keep an eye on the Writers' Conference website for videos and updates. And continue the debates on Twitter with hashtag #worldwritersconf

Elsewhere

The Book Festival's very own book packed with brand new writing on the subject of “Elsewhere” will be available in shops soon. You can read the pieces (by a great range of writers, from Theresa Breslin to A L Kennedy) on the website; and listen to many of them being read out by the authors themselves.

The Anobii First Book Award

A celebration of debut novelists, the Anobii First Book Award gives us – the readers – forty six nominees to choose from. Which new book really awed you? Voting closes at 4.30pm on Friday the 12th of October 2012.

2013

The next Edinburgh International Book Festival programme will be announced in June 2013. Charlotte Square Gardens will open its gates once more to the book-loving public on Saturday the 10th of August 2013.

This is me signing off. If you've been reading – thank you! For tolerating my silliness and my strange punctuation, and for taking part in the social media side of the Book Festival, which has been just as triumphant as the grassy bits.

I'm tempted to finish on a stream of mushy adjectives. But instead I'll finish with a quote from John Calder (Writers' Conference founder, and supporter of the Book Festival long before it was even conceived). He stood up during the debate on the future of the novel and said this:

"Literature is art.

As long as there is life, there will be art".

Day 18

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:42:00 +0000

A 9-year-old boy planning out his career as a novelist with help from a Book Festival author; a trio of girls squealing at writer Jacqueline Wilson as if she were Justin Beiber; a group of school kids sitting on the grass with their noses buried in freshly-bought books.

Those were just some of the scenes from this month in Charlotte Square Gardens. We have nothing to fear from the future of literature – the youngest generation of book fans will make sure no page goes unturned. Or indeed unwritten.

By the way, I'm not just venting randomly. Today was the Schools Gala day at the Book Festival, which meant a full day of events just for schoolkids. We had Julia Donaldson and Tom Pow, Theresa Breslin and Joan Lingard, many other talented and good-spirited contributors, and loads of bunting and balloons (which of course meant a number of helium-voices over the radios). All of it added a great party atmosphere to the sun-filled Gardens.

Oh, and there were about a zillion Where's Wallys.

Where's Wa- THERE HE IS.

I'll post one last time here on the blog tomorrow with m'final thoughts on this year's record-breaking Book Festival, but, for now, it's time to fold up the deckchairs, take down the tents, pull up the walkways, pack up the books, and sweep up all the sleeping authors.

Day 17

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:49:00 +0000

Okay so I didn't go to eight events at the Book Festival today. I went to nine. Oho that's right. I've spent hours (sleepily) boasting about it and have been reliably informed that it's a Book Festival record. Allow me to boast some more by telling you about my day.

10:00 Ten at Ten. These have been consistently good-quality little events every morning at the Book Festival, and they ended this year on a high. Samkela Stamper read from her poetry and diary with contagious gusto.

10:15 Deborah Levy & Gwendoline Riley. Two powerful authors with a captivating way with words. There's something exciting about an author reading from their own works, and this event was a perfect example of that. Author readings have been among my favourite moments this August.

11:30 Kathy Lette. Kathy began her event with a mini highland fling! And it only got better from there. Full of outrageous true stories (from keeping Julian Assange in her attic to kissing Prince Harry on the lips), Kathy fused moving insights into her character's (and son's) autism, with laugh-out-loud humour.

14:00 Tom Bullough & Jane Sullivan. It's inspiring when speakers can work a small venue to great effect. Tom gripped the audience with tales of the deaf protagonist in his latest novel, and Jane shared the thinking and history behind her remarkable book about little people.

15:30 Harriet Walter. “We never tell older people that they're beautiful”, said Harriet. “So I went up to her and told her”. Harriet earned the adoration of a large audience as she shared her photography project celebrating the beauty of the older woman.

17:00 Robert Macfarlane. This was a motivating event about walking through landscape, and thinking as you do so. Robert is possibly the most instinctively articulate author I've heard at the Book Festival this year; and that's really, really saying something.

18:30 James Meek. This novelist writes about love as few others can; meticulously and without restraint. In his event this evening he gave us an insight into how, and why.

20:00 John McCarthy. Famously, John McCarthy is the BBC journalist who spent five years as a captive in Lebanon. He spent that whole time without a glimpse of sunlight. Tonight he gave a personal, fascinating account of his experience. It wasn't a surprise that the event was moving – but it was a surprise that it was hilarious. An absolutely extraordinary hour. Furthermore, it was the inaugural Frederick Hood Memorial Lecture at the Book Festival, celebrating the life of the late Frederick Hood, a young Charlotte Square-based investment manager who had a profound impact on those around him. Tonight, Hood's father presented John McCarthy with a Frederick-inspired fedora hat as a thank you and a memento.

21:00 Unbound. The Book Festival's late-night series of events has been a joy and – as ever – a phenomenal success. Sending it out on a high for another year was comedian Sian Bevan and the talented winners of Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award. Lots of interaction, lots of brilliant readings, and LOTS of laughs.

The 2012 Edinburgh International Book Festival has come to an end for another year. But let us not mourn! Let us look back and sigh with great – and happily smug – contentment. And, of course, let us look forward. The Book Festival is getting better every year – so imagine what 2013 is going to be like.

Incidentally, it's not really the end of the Book Festival for this year...

Tomorrow is School Gala Day; a whole day in Charlotte Square Gardens open only to schools. So I'll report back to you tomorrow, and then – maybe – we can start thinking about closure...

Day 16

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 23:32:00 +0000

My discoveries on the penultimate day of this year's Book Festival.

Alistair McIntosh was sharing his views on Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day' recently, and although he was as eloquent as ever, he didn't dare use certain words he was keen to utilise. But as he said today, where better than the Book Festival to use words like “epistemological” and “ontological”? As Alistair says, “at the Book Festival you're not only likely to understand what those words mean; you're likely to buy me a drink for using them”.

Gavin Esler today chaired an event on the value of the environment, and he mentions sitting in an plane the other day (tut tut), musing over how many people deny climate change, when suddenly, as if in answer to the question as to to whether climate change is a real issue, the heavens opened up and flooding at Heathrow delayed his flight for over three hours.

Masha Gessen has written a book on Vladimir Putin ('The Man Without a Face'), uncovering some startling facts – but she has never met or even seen the subject of her book. This is because she is the first Russian journalist to be blacklisted by Russian authorities.

Struan Stevenson has sounded his support for politically-motivated Russian punk band Pussy Riot. In his words, their controversial anti-Putin protest was courageous, and the orthodox church was the ideal place to hold it. It may be easy to turn your nose up at support from the likes of Paul McCartney and Madonna, but Struan praises their participation as similarly brave and worthwhile and encourages others to add their voices.

Have you been enjoying the pre- and post-event music in the Book Festival venues? I discovered today that the selection is thanks to Spanish DJ José Padilla of Café del Mar, who has had a great influence on those who choose the Book Festival music.

Will Self today admitted to fleeting to the States in an attempt to escape the Olympics. His efforts were completely successful; except at one point when he was approached in a gas station by an enthusiastic Olympics fan who said; “isn't Bradley Wiggins fantastic?” To which Will Self replied; “who?”

This evening Nick Papadimitriou shared that he had a fairly troubled childhood, and as a boy would play truant from school for weeks at a time. He would “inhabit wastelands”, lighting a fire to keep himself warm, and sometimes building a little shack to sleep in until it was time to join the other children in their walk home at the end of the school day.

So, tomorrow is the la... the las...

No, I can't say it. I won't say it.

Suffice to say, I'm planning on going to eight Book Festival events tomorrow.

Day 15

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 22:11:00 +0000

Lots of discoveries from Day 15 at the Book Festival.

Look! There on the left! It's Horace the Haggis. He's from Sally Magnusson's children's book, and he's been wandering happily around the Book Festival today with great aplomb. Black & White Publishing have put together an enjoyable little collage of Horace's day out in Charlotte Square Gardens.

As Chris Hoy is normally a blur, it's difficult to hold him still and check if it's really him, but – yes – it's been confirmed – that was the Olympic champion himself visiting the Book Festival. He was watching his great uncle Andy Coogan's (left) event this evening.

Jeremy Paxman confesses he couldn't dance to save his life. Not that he was expected to dance in his event today. But he did mention he was once out with some Anglo-Indian people who were doing the jive (as in the ballroom dance style), and when complimented they said sincerely that they “got their natural rhythm from the British”. The audience laughed for about five minutes when Paxman told us this.

You've seen – or at least heard of – the Lewis Chessmen, but have you noticed how utterly despondent they look? 'Horrid Henry' author Francesca Simon has, and today she shared her theory as to why they are so gloomy. They're real people, frozen and shrunk. You'd be at least a little bit frowny if that happened to you.

Censorship has been a sizzling hot topic at the Book Festival this year, and this morning Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy reminded us that she herself was censored by Britain's biggest exam board back when (as she puts it) “Meryl Streep was Prime Minister”. Carol Ann Duffy's 'Education for Leisure' was thought to be a potential provoker of knife crime in schools.

I don't know about you, but I kind of like the idea of some knife-wielding teenage hoodlum being influenced by a poem.

The other day, Nile Rodgers persuasively re-branded the Book Festival “The World, In Words (& Music)”. From the talented trills of M J McCarthy, to the veritably touching song of Michael Morpurgo (left), to the eclectic mix of musicians that have performed at Unbound over the last couple of weeks, the Book Festival has enjoyed a truly successful soundtrack this year. And it's wonderful what music can do. Just today, woodwind musician John Sampson had a packed audience bent double with laughter, and he didn't have to say a word.

Oh go on then. Let's admit it. Let's admit it so we can embrace it. It's been raining – a lot. The humming of rain on the tents, the whisper of drizzle on the green grass – it's all been damply atmospheric. And what do Book Festival fans do in the rain? We sip hot coffee in the Signing Tent, stretch out in the Bookshop – oh, and laze around on the deckchairs in the rain, of course. Preferably with an ice cream.

Day 14 and a half

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Here are a few recommendations for the next (and final!) few days of the Book Festival.

Tonight (Saturday 25th)

Jasper Fforde

Have you read 'The Woman Who Died a Lot'? Jasper Fforde has, because he wrote it. And as you can tell by the title, this is a writer full of humour and intrigue and brilliantly unexpected quirks. But you already know that. Come to his event at 8.30PM in the ScottishPower Studio Theatre this evening and you'll know it even more.

Will Self

Tonight at 9.30PM in the the RBS Main Theatre, the prince of pronunciation himself will be talking about his new novel 'Umbrella' and the implications therein. If you're not going to this event, go and sit in the corner and have a long hard think about your life. And then go to the event.

Tomorrow (Sunday 26th)

Susannah Clapp

There has been a fair bit of buzz on Twitter about this event, so I'll say it again: Susannah Clapp's event at 3.30PM in the ScottishPower Studio Theatre looks to be very interesting indeed. And not only that, but moving. Susannah will be discussing her novel about the great Angela Carter, with whom she was close friends.

Mark Billingham

He was a stand-up comedian, and now he writes crime fiction. That's what we at the Book Festival call a very, very, very promising event. He's on at 4.30PM in the RBS Main Theatre. Prepare to make all manner of intrigued noises.

The day after tomorrow (Monday 27th)

Deborah Levy & Gwendoline Riley

A powerful, likeable author with a remarkable novel. And there's two of them. In the same room. At the same time. To take full advantage of this fact, see you at 10.15AM in the famously atmospheric Guardian Spiegeltent.

Peter Robinson

A crime writer with intelligence, with passion, and with a brilliant character that's really getting people talking. This character, DCI Banks, recently starred in a four-part series on ITV, and is now back in book form with a vengeance. 7PM in the ScottishPower Studio Theatre.

Day 14

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 21:15:00 +0000

Today's discoveries!

Today I met a lady who'd visited the Book Festival annually for thirteen years! I also met a 12-year-old boy who'd been to the Book Festival every year of his entire life. A born fan, then. Both attest that it gets better by the year. They'd know.

In an event this afternoon, chair Rodge Glass was schooled by (a beautifully playful) Howard Jacobson on what authors he's allowed to say he enjoys. And the rule, apparently, is this: if you're chairing an event at the Book Festival, you are permitted only to adore the books of the author you're interviewing, and no other. Unless the other authors you're referring to are dead. That's allowed.

Time for quite an immature discovery. You may have seen the “Hopes of a Nation” board in the children's bookshop. It's full of sweet and inspiring thoughts from the kids that contribute to it. But take that same insightful child and put it with a group of its schoolmates, and what do you get? “Books are gay”. Ahh, hopes of a nation indeed!

Our Book Festival authors have some enjoyably unexpected backgrounds, and the list grows day by day. Politicians, artists, priests, police officers, chefs, film-makers, teachers, scientists, athletes, an Islamic fundamentalist, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain. See if you can guess who's who.

Howard Jacobson today spoke of a bittersweet honour. His work is packed with references to how the novel is failing and how literature is under-appreciated.

Unfortunately, in 2010 'The Finkler Question' won the Man Booker prize.

This ruined his point completely.

Day 13

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:22:00 +0000

First, a couple of discoveries.

When the bookshop staff came into the signing tent, they found that the Ian McEwan books – ready for his events today and yesterday – had mysteriously arranged themselves into artful stacks. Further investigation confirmed that this was the work of the warehouse staff, who delivered the books to the signing tent and happened to be in a particularly arty mood.

Mark Haddon, author of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time', confessed today that he believes himself to be a fairly poor writer by nature. He says his first drafts are awful. What he is, however, is a very good “editor”. It takes him endless drafts to reach the glowing quality we enjoy in his books. He explains that the process is like combing a very dirty Afghan Hound. It starts off a mess, but gradually gets smoother and tidier and more beautiful until it's quite pristine.

Recently I got my hands on four tickets to Susannah Clapp at the Book Festival, so I can brandish them gleefully as a prize to the winner of... a Book Festival caption competition!

There are so many impressed “hmm!” noises at Chris Close's portraits around Charlotte Square Gardens that it's like having a bee stuck in your ear. Today I picked out one of my favourites, and am opening it your captions. Tomorrow, Chris himself will help me pick the winner.

Susannah Clapp's event is this Sunday the 26^th at 3.30PM. She has penned a remarkable book on the late Angela Carter, one of the most influential artists of the last fifty years. Susannah will be discussing her book and her moving, fascinating meetings with Carter.

As if that wasn't a tempting enough prize, the event is sponsored by the Folio Society, a company renowned for its beautiful and creative cover designs. And for its generosity, which means – yes that's right – goody bags. Expect free book vouchers and other such treats.

So, on with the picture!

This is Chris' photograph of Professors Frank Close and Peter Higgs (as in Higgs boson).

You can contribute your captions on Twitter (with hashtag #edbookfestcomp) or here in the comments section. If you do use the comments section, please leave your full name or/and email address.

This competition will close at 12 noon tomorrow (Friday)!

Good luck!

Day 12

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:43:00 +0000

My discoveries for the day...

The last time Adam Thorpe was in the Spiegeltent he was doing an event with Hilary Mantel (left), who was writing 'Wolf Hall' at the time. Adam asked her what she was working on, and she said it was a novel about Thomas Cromwell. “Oh”, Adam remembers saying sarcastically; “that'll go down well”.

The rest is history.

Given that Charlotte Square Gardens is slap bang in the middle of Scotland's capital city (which, in turn, is slap bang in the middle of festival season), noise from the outside world sometimes slips into the ambiance of the theatres. But this has always been dealt with to great effect in the events I've been to. Danny Wallace said of the rainstorm - “I have angered Thor”. Adam Thorpe said of the sirens - “I specifically asked for these sound effects”. When a plane flew very low over the Gardens, Stuart Kelly remarked - “you'll always remember you were at the Book Festival the day war broke out”. And, the other day, when a group of girls were heard squealing outside the Main Theatre, an audience member leaned over and said to me “crikey, you'd think Jacqueline Wilson was out there or something”. Sure enough, when I went outside, there was Jacqueline Wilson herself, talking animatedly to a group of eager fans. What a lucky guess.

Claire Kilroy's gothic novel, 'The Devil I Know', was not supposed to be gothic. But while she was writing it, the Irish economic situation was dominating the news, which she heard through the radio. “ATMs will freeze, hospitals will close. Go buy some tin peaches because it might be the last meal you have in a while”. And, before she knew it, her writing was reflecting that looming asperity.

Each day at the Book Festival has been jam-packed with authors performing readings of their work, be them funny, moving, haunting, inspiring, or all of the above. But next time you hear a reading, make sure you bring the original text along... because Karen Campbell has confessed to occasionally self-editing as she reads out her work to an audience! I wonder if any other Book Festival authors do this. Let's keep a very sharp eye out. And if you catch someone doing it, heckle! Loudly.

(Don't.)

(I said don't!)

Day 11 and a half

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Not sure what events to go to? Here are some recommendations for the next few days.

This evening (Wednesday 22nd)

Shaun Tan

This is a unique chance to hear from an eclectic Book Festival author, artist and film-maker. In 2011 he won Sweden's Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and an Academy Award. This year he's sharing his experiences and inspirations with a lucky Book Festival audience. He's on at 5PM in the ScottishPower Studio Theatre.

Iain Banks

The idea that I actually need to say anything persuasive about this fellow is a bit silly. So I'll just say his name. Iain Banks. Iain Banks will be here. 8PM in the RBS Main Theatre.

Tomorrow (Thursday 23rd)

Paul Broda

There's a whole host of great events on Thursday, and this one is right up there. Professor Paul Broda (left) will be speaking with Tam Dalyell about some astonishing political truths. Paul Broda's stepfather was Alan Nunn May - a Soviet spy. Hear about the history and resonance of this at 5PM in the ScottishPower Studio Theatre.

Kate Summerscale

Sex, secrets and dangerous whims - the incredibly successful writer of 'The Suspicions of Mr Whicher' has penned a new Victorian scandal to match it. Join her at 11.30AM in the RBS Main Theatre. The tickets are hot, so don't burn your fingers.

The day after tomorrow (Friday 24th)

Carol Ann Duffy

As recommended events go, I'm recommending this one fiercely. I might tantrum if you don't go. Carol Ann Duffy is - obviously - Poet Laureate. She will be joined not only by her fervent talent, but by musician John Sampson. This unmissable event is on at 4.30PM in the RBS Main Theatre.

The Brain of James Carter

This children's event on Friday afternoon sounds fantastic. The Book Festival can offer young 'uns a peek inside James Carter's brain - and it's a brain full of bewitching imagination and wild poetry. Ideal for kids aged 6 to 10. Join us at 1.30PM in the RBS Imagination Lab. And you may want to take the name of the venue, "Imagination Lab", literally.

Day 11

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:33:00 +0000

Discoveries aplenty! Let us delve into them. Starting with my favourite...

Reports of strange Book Festival related dreams have been cropping up all over the place. We know that Chika Unigwe had a dream before the Writers' Conference that Woody Allen came to tell her that all writers were rule-breakers, but you probably didn't know that at least two audience members have dreamed that the Gruffalo is the secret brains behind the Book Festival.

Additionally, one staff member had a dream that the entire front row of seats in the Main Theatre had been put in the wrong way round, and I myself had a dream that the Front of House staff had been called up to be told about someone's disability requirement, which was that they were lonely and needed a hug before each event. Someone also mentioned that they fell asleep in Charlotte Square Gardens and was allegedly woken up by Vimes from Terry Pratchett's 'Discworld'. Were they sure that was a dream? You never know with the Book Festival.

Rubbing shoulders with your heroes at the front of a signing queue is a real highlight for many Book Festival visitors – and it can make your career. Once upon a time, theatre director David Johnstone was queuing to have his book signed by Ben Okri (left). David mentioned that he was a director, and Ben scribbled his phone number beneath his autograph. Now David is directing the theatre adaption of Ben Okri's 'The Comic Destiny'.

Today in his event, Antony Beevor said: “'I'm convinced the US was right to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki”. A juicily controversial assertion! When taken out of context. So I asked Antony to contextualise it, and he kindly agreed, explaining that without the bombings significantly more causalities would have been caused by war and starvation in Japan.

John Burnside has written and spoken about wind turbines and their effects, and, as someone who knows a great deal about them, he adds his knowledge to the relevant Wikipedia pages – only for his edits to be immediately removed by the organisations that own the turbines.

Official yurt doodler Mo bagged her first posed Book Festival models. She usually goes for candid sketches, but today both China Miéville and Ewan Morrison (left) sat for her. And they didn't wriggle.

Speaking of China and Ewan, the last of the Book Festival's Writers' Conferences was today. It was about the future of the novel, and sparked as much passion as the Conference did on previous days. (And you can re-live those days on the Writers' Conference website.)

While the Writers' Conference as a quintet of events provoked mostly agreement, a remark that came up time and time again was that rarely were any clear conclusions made. But the idea of concluding any discussion on the very free and very profound topic of literature is a distressing one.

If you love to debate (or, as your friends and family call it, “bicker”), you'll know that the very act of debate is intrinsically satisfying, and is not a means to an end at all. I fear the people who crave full stops and neatly-tied loose ends for the Writers' Conference are very sensible and tidy people. And none of my favourite writers are sensible or tidy.

If the Writers' Conference has left you utterly buzzing, but without a sense of resolution, then I believe it has done its job beautifully.

Most of the feedback on the Writers' Conference was as erudite as the writers themselves, but in my opinion the most expressive and telling feedback was the far less articulate stuff to be overheard while leaving the Writers' Conference.

At one point I heard: “Jackie Kay is so completely... she's just so completely... you know?” and “Ben Okri has this way of speaking, it's just... actually, I don't know what it is... but wow...” and “Ewan Morrison does this amazing thing when he makes a point; he sort of... he just... he kind of just...” and “how does China Miéville actually be like that? I can't even... I can't begin to...” and “Chika Unigwe, she's just so... so... she's just so...”

I know exactly what they mean.

Day 10

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:36:00 +0000

A hefty array of discoveries today, made in events and around the Book Festival.

One of Chika Unigwe's favourite songs as a child was 'Let's Talk About Sex' by Salt n Pepa, but she was so nervous of the forbidden word “sex” that she replaced it with the word “bread” when she was singing along. “Let's talk about bread, baby”!

Have you spotted any filming in the events? Well, those lovely folk have their work cut out. Today there were two cameras, a sound recordist and a director in the RBS Main Theatre – and that's not counting the other, separate crew in there. As for the now-notorious Writers' Conference live stream, those cameras roam. And the talented people behind them have to make judgment calls on what reactions to pick out of the audience. I promised that I would pull some exuberant responsive expressions for next time.

Musician Nile Rodgers was a huge star at the Book Festival yesterday, and, as it turns out, he was as moved as we were. In the run-up to his time at the Book Festival he penned an inspired blog post which, among other things, shared his love of being called an “author”, and afterward the famous New Yorker said that “Edinburgh is a remarkable place. I'll never forget this experience.”

When Jeanette Winterson was seven years old, her adoptive mother read 'Jane Eyre' to her. Much later, Jeanette realised that her mother had been making up huge chunks of the story as she went along, having Jane marry St John Rivers and go away to do missionary work with him.

As you'll see from roaming around Charlotte Square Gardens, portrait photographer Chris Close gets his subjects to do some excellent things. The first week of the Book Festival was (of course) infused with Olympic fever, so he had plenty of authors doing Usain Bolt and Mo Farah's poses – including Michael Palin and Menzies Campbell...! But the highlight of this week was, perhaps, Steve Cole (left). Otherwise known as spiderman in a kilt.

The Writers' Conference is reaching and effecting more and more people – mainly thanks to the live videos and the participation on Twitter – but today it embraced a very practical move. When Junot Díaz (left) brought up the topic of Latino literature being banned in Arizona schools, there was an outcry from the writers present, and within minutes the idea was given to put together a statement from the writers present and use it to condemn the law. Tomorrow's Writers' Conference will see the statement shared, confirmed and signed.

Day 9

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:12:00 +0000

I'm told there is a word hidden in the term "Book Festival". A word beginning with "B" and ending in "ook".

When I eventually figured out what this word was, I decided to spend some time today asking lots of people at the Book Festival a simple, joyous little question -- what are you reading at the moment?

So my list of discoveries today is substantial, and consists of what books are being devoured by Book Festival authors, staff, press, and, of course, members of the public, both young and not-so-young. And they're all bundled in together, because book-lovers are book-lovers, no matter how famous.

If you're looking for book recommendations right from the heart of the Book Festival, this is the list for you. Though don't try to read them all unless you have very, very, very eclectic tastes...

'Pulphead' by John Jeremiah Sullivan
Rob (in the press tent)

'Embassytown' by China Miéville
Teresa Flavin (author)

'The Moon and Sixpence' by W Somerset Maugham
Kapka Kassabova (author)

'Ambition to Meaning' by Wayne W Dyer
Vicky (journalist)

'The Beautiful Indifference' by Sarah Hall
Roland (Programme Manager)

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø
Kristen (in the signing tent)

'The Betrayal' by Helen Dunmore
Nicola Morgan (author)

'Channel Sk1n' (an e-book) by Jeff Noon
Chris (photographer)

'N-W' by Zadie Smith
Nick (Book Festival Director)

'Gladiator' by Simon Scarrow
Nathaniel (aged 12)

'Violence' by Slavoj Žižek
Ewan Morrison (author)

'The Beano Annual 2012'
Sorley (aged 7)

'Bloodstone' by Gillian Philip
Daniela (Sorley's mum)

'International Private Law'
Lula (Front of House Supervisor)

'This is Not About Me' by Janice Galloway
Liz (in the bookshop)

'The Terror of Living' by Urban Waite
Mike (in the queue for Main Theatre)

'Midnight Swimmer' by Edward Wilson
Frances (Press Manager)

'The Impossible Dead' by Ian Rankin
Mike (in the queue for Peppers Theatre)

'Hawthorn and Child' by Keith Ridgway
Ian Rankin (author)

Day 8

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 00:08:00 +0000

This evening I spoke to someone who summed up her day at the Book Festival thus: “I feel like my life is sparkling”.

Here are my favourite discoveries today.

It has been a day for enthusiastic audiences at the Book Festival. Cheering, laughing, heckling, whooping, singing – and, for Michael Morpurgo, a standing ovation from a huge audience moved by his song, by his writing, and by his life.

Today's Writers' Conference on style versus content could not resist the hot literary topic of the moment: 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. Some objected to its involvement in the conference – and some objected fiercely – but there were voices of support. A book seller from Edinburgh mentioned that the book sells huge quantities in her shop, but those who buy it often come back later for more material to read. It has introduced the world of books to those who don't normally read. It is, as she said, an “entry drug into literature”

Most of us know that Danny Wallace started a country in his flat. But did you know that he then moved out of his flat and failed to tell the next occupant she's living in her own country? When he first opened his flat as a country, he invited local press to write about it. Then he framed the article and put it on top of a tall shelf, so that when the new owner is changing a light bulb she'll be met with the amazing surprise that she is living in an independent state.

There's a big board in the children's bookshop here at the Book Festival called “Hopes of a Nation”. Young visitors to the bookshop can write up their own hopes for the future.

Here are some of the contributions:

I wish people would be more respectful of people's opinions and views.

- Jessica (aged 14)

I hope my cardigan is found.

- Brodie (aged 3)

I hope Scotland has lots of rain so I can splash in puddles.

- Sophie (aged 6)

When I am older I hope there will be no more poor people.

- Poppy (aged 5)

I would like to be a doctor fairy princess. And live in Germany.

- Maya (aged 4 ½)

Day 7 and a half

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 16:37:00 +0000

Time for another recommendations package, do you think? Yes? Yes, I do too.

This evening (Saturday 18th)

Danny Wallace

He seems to go out of his way to do unique things and talk about those unique things in a way that makes us laugh out loud. Tonight at 8.30PM in the ScottishPower Studio Theatre he'll be sharing his debut fiction, 'Charlotte Street', a story of a man fixated on the photographs inside a discarded disposable camera.

Junot Díaz & Nathan Englander

I've already seen both these very talented humans in action, and I can promise that they are extraordinarily engaging and likeable. Tonight at 7PM in the RBS Corner Theatre they'll be talking about their work. See you there!

Tomorrow (Sunday 19th)

Ali Smith

Her keynote speech at the Writers' Conference today provoked whoops of appreciation and howls of laughter from the audience. Need I say more? Sunday will see her in the RBS Main Theatre at 11.30AM. Be there or face the consequences.

Don Paterson

A much-beloved Scottish poet whose work never fails to produce both thought and emotion in its readers. See him in the ScottishPower Studio Theatre at 7PM this Sunday.

The day after tomorrow (Monday 20th)

Roald Dahl Funny Prize Event

This is a special one. It's for little 'uns – and big 'uns – and will feature chat about comedy, and why comedy can be particularly tricky. The participants are Liz Pichon (left), Rose Impey, and Philip Ardagh, who has recently been provoking (embarrassingly loud) guffaws on Twitter, so we'll see you in the RBS Corner Theatre at 5PM on Monday if you like a laugh. And who doesn't like a laugh?

Joyce Carol Oates

I hesitate to mention this event here, because it's selling so fast it might get a nosebleed, but at time of writing there are still tickets available – so grab them now! Joyce Carol Oates is, of course, one of the world's most respected novelists. Her event is on Monday at 11.30AM in the RBS Main Theatre.

Day 7

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:11:00 +0000

Today was a great day for much-anticipated events, from Joan Bakewell to John Burnside, from Axel Scheffler to Russell Kane. And it was an especially big day for the Edinburgh World Writers' Conference, which today kicked off a series of thought-provoking and busy debates based on subjects that were discussed at the first Writers' Conference exactly 50 years ago.

So that is the theme for today's list of discoveries!

According to Elif Shafak, many characters in Turkish fiction are under-developed. This, says Elif, is because Turkish fiction tends to focus on the demon outside of us – as opposed to the demon within.

When the original Writers' Conference of 1962 was first being planned, John Calder (left), Sonia Orwell and Jim Haynes were discussing it in a Greek restaurant on Rose Street when suddenly – out of sheer disagreement with John – Sonia produced a wine bottle and smashed it over his head. John was knocked cold. Then he woke up and they continued the discussion.

When the Writers' Conference first opened in Edinburgh fifty years ago, John Calder sent one lone cashier to the venue to sell tickets. Within the hour, there were over a thousand people in the queue.

Writers love discussion. Readers love discussion. People love discussion. The discovery here being that the Writers' Conference chat on Twitter reached over 43,000 people - a statistic that has astounded us.

Although I had been told a lot about the Writers' Conference – both by people directly involved in it and by people simply interested in its legacy – I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. But what I knew for sure was that today's conference – the first of five two-hour events – would have ideas, opinions, subjections and objections bouncing off the walls like a thousand dropped ping-pong balls.

Sure enough, it was engrossing. The topic for today was “should literature be political?”, and every word in that question was analysed. Can there be a “should” when it comes to literature? And what do you mean by “literature”? And how can it “be” anything other what the writer intends? And in what sense is anything “political”?

There were cogent points round every corner. Ahdaf Soueif observed that the novelist, just like the activist, is a citizen of the world. China Miéville pointed out that literature can be political irrespective of what the words in the book say. We had articulate agreements and articulate challenges, we had a bit of passionate volume and a bit of impressive swearing, we had Ewan Morrison getting up from the audience and pacing as he wondered if novels were over-stretching themselves politically, and we had Denise Mina share that because her main characters are female she was once asked why she was “being so political”.

George Orwell may have been being political by writing 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' instead of 'Thirteen Eighty-Eight', but was JK Rowling being political by writing 'Harry Potter' instead of 'Harriet Potter'?

The discussion could go on forever. And actually, that's kind of the idea. Take a look at the Edinburgh World Writers' Conference website to get involved.

Word of the Writers' Conference at the Book Festival is spreading like dog fur on a carpet (that's fast, by the way), so grab what's left of the tickets while you still can.

Style vs Content (Saturday 18 August 3:00pm - 5:00pm)
A National Literature? (Sunday 19 August 3:00pm - 5:00pm)
Censorship Today (Monday 20 August 3:00pm - 5:00pm)
The Future of the Novel (Tuesday 21 August 3:00pm - 5:00pm)

The question “should literature be political?” has no conclusive answer, but this was my favourite snippet of insight from this afternoon's fascinating conference.

"How can you, if your gift is narrative, absent yourself from the great narrative of the world?" Ahdaf Soueif

Day 6

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:02:00 +0000

Here are my favourite discoveries of the day...

According to the man himself, Allan Massie prefers not to describe the physical appearance of his protagonists. Why? Because he's looking through them – not at them.

In his event today, Sam Bourne talked about an astonishing piece of research. In the '40s, '50s and '60s, Yale and Harvard (among other Ivy League universities) systematically took nude photographs of every new undergraduate. This was supposedly for a study of posture, but in fact the data was being collected by two researchers with an interest in eugenics, who were looking for a correlation between physique and intellect. Among those that would've been photographed were Hilary Clinton, George Bush Sr, and Meryl Streep.

Have you heard of Edinburgh's mysterious artist who makes sculptures from the pages of books? Of course you have! He or she has been mystifying and delighting the city for a year now, and today in Charlotte Square gardens a number of delicate paper roses were discovered. There are supposedly fifty of them (so many still to find!), each with the quote by Oscar Wilde: “freedom, books, flowers, and the moon”.

You may recognise the Book Festival's series “Elsewhere” from previous years. Fifty writers have been commissioned by the Book Festival to write a short story or an essay on the theme of elsewhere – and on the website you can read them all, and even listen to some of them being read out by the authors.

The printed book of all fifty of these Elsewhere pieces was launched this very evening in a much-anticipated event packed with enthusiasm. You can now purchase it from the Bookshop and enjoy the very addictive result of a very satisfying project.

Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Some good juicy discoveries today.

People may be quick to turn their noses up at famous erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey", but Alexander McCall Smith thinks the book's sky-high popularity is nothing to disapprove of. It may not be high-calibre literature, he says, but much of the money it's earning will find its way back into the publishing industry, benefiting promising new authors in years to come. There was a lot of impressed nodding in the audience when he made this point.

Val McDermid is known for her suspenseful and serious crime novels - but today saw her wandering Charlotte Square Gardens with a pirate's hat on her head and a stuffed parrot on her shoulder. She has officially dubbed herself "the Scottish Rod Hull".

Who do you think the most famous figures at the Book Festival are? There are a few to choose from. But I bet you're wrong. The most famous figures are in fact the rubber ducks, which bob around merrily in the puddles ifever the rains come a-callin'. And over the past few days I've heard at least ten people bemoan the beautiful weather and hope the skies open so that the Book Festival ducks can have a splash! Judging by the pitter-patter on the roofs of the tents, they may get their chance soon...

Writer Daniel Tammet spoke today about being an autistic savant and a lover of numbers, and shared that he taught himself empathy by using mathematics. Numbers are universal, and, by appreciating this, he found it easier to relate to those around him. He remembers, for instance, tears being shed when he recited pi. The power and beauty of numbers has proved to build bridges between strangers.

The love and admiration in the Main Theatre for Alexander McCall Smith today was such that it was as if each member of the audience knew him personally. (And, given his approachable demeanour, maybe they did.) His event had a musician, a guest reader, a great interview, and a poem to finish. (And you can still see him! In his event tomorrow at 6.30PM.)

The fellow sitting next to me was from Tasmania, and reads McCall Smith books in order to "stay in touch with the people of Edinburgh". And the lady in front of me had such genuine passion for Alexander McCall Smith that Sandy himself was stirred, and spontaneously gave her a signed book mid-event. She was a writer too... so, in fact, they swapped signed books. A strange and sweet little hand-over ceremony in the middle of one of the most enjoyable Book Festival hours so far.

Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:09:00 +0000

Another packed day of discoveries at the Book Festival. Here are a few...

Andy Coogan is Edinburgh hero Chris Hoy's great uncle - and was an Olympic torchbearer this year! You can watch Andy in action on YouTube, and see him in person at the Book Festival on the 25th in his event with Graham Ogilvy.

The press tent here at the Book Festival is always full of people tapping away on state-of-the-art equipment; but today we also had something not so state-of-the-art. Rob of RobAroundBooks brought in a typewriter! Those of us who'd never used a typewriter before were keen to show that we were... well, not very good at it.

Despite being a bad liar, Clive Stafford Smith (whose event has been one of my absolute favourites so far) can beat a lie detector (polygraph test). At the beginning of the test, you're asked basic, easy questions, such as your mother's maiden name. Clive was taught that to cheat the test all you have to do is think the most erotic thoughts you can when asked these basic questions. Though he didn't find this very easy to do while thinking about his mother's maiden name.

Book cover designer Jamie Keenan has shared some of his secrets. Sometimes he'll just scribble the title of the book in a funky sort of way, et voilà! An excellent book cover design.

Today I made a point of going along to some of the daily free events offered by the Book Festival.

First there's Ten at Ten in the Writers' Retreat, which features a ten-minute reading (at 10AM) from one of the Book Festival authors. Check the screen in the Entrance Tent to find out who's reading that morning.

The City of Literature Trust's Story Shop is a chance to hear new writers share their talent from 4PM in the Guardian Speigeltent. Story Shop contributors from previous years have gone onwards and upwards, so see them now and boast about it in years to come.

The Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers series is a significant string to the Book Festival bow, with its events from 17.30 to 16.45. Each day in Peppers Theatre the Amnesty event features favourite authors reading from the works of writers persecuted simply for being who they are. Tickets are free, and you can pick them up from the Box Office on the day.

Unbound enjoys its "anything goes" reputation, from poetry to music, from storytelling to stand-up comedy. It takes place in the grand Guardian Spiegeltent, and whether an event is haunting and sumptuous or laugh-out-loud funny, it's bound to be unique. Take a look at The Skinny website for the Unbound programme. Events are on from 9PM each night.

If you're after a great day at the Book Festival without worrying about price, the above lot is your answer. Open the day with a Ten at Ten reading, discover new writers in the afternoon's Story Shop, followed by some moral discourse courtesy of Amnesty International, bring a picnic to enjoy in the sprawling green Gardens, and end with an entertaining night in the atmospheric Speigeltent.

As for the kids, there are fun, hands-on activities in the RBS Story Box at any time between 11AM and 4.30PM, and, if you book in advance, enjoyable half-hour events at 10AM in the Story Box.

And the price for all this? Zilch.

Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:21:00 +0000

My discoveries at the Book Festival today include...

Ben Hammersley was at yesterday's Olympic closing ceremonies... dressed as a priest! Did you spot him?

Forget Russell Brand; it's theoretical physics that students adore. When a group of students discovered that all the tickets to Frank Close (left) and Professor Higgs were sold out, there were tears in Charlotte Square Gardens.

Vivian French once sneezed during acupuncture therapy. Let's just say that she does not recommend it.

When I asked him where on The Edge he would live, illustrator-in-residence Chris Riddell said the floating island of Sanctaphrax, in a small school of learning where he would wear multi-coloured robes. Though he also expressed interest in becoming a spindlebug (left).

Michael Palin has an idea for a Book Festival event next year. His two heroes, David Attenborough and Bruce Springsteen. Discussing Jane Austen. As Michael says, “they'd probably just agree on everything, and hug.”

Edinburgh International Book Festival has its very own “yurt doodler”, Mo. The author's yurt is the Book Festival's green room. There's no photography allowed in there, but Mo is allowed in and she sketches what she sees! Keep an eye on her Tumblr page over the next couple of weeks.

My favourite moment today (actually, my favourite moment of the last two decades) was making Michael Palin laugh. He's my absolute idol, so now that he's shaken my hand, I'm never washing it again. Except just now, because my cat sneezed in it.

When his understandably popular event swung round, I went in early and accidentally became a sort of honourary Front of House assistant, helping set things up. When I sat down, a very nice lady with a very tiny baby sat next to me. So she could take off her jacket, she handed me her programme and said “please could you hold this?” And then her coat; “please could you hold this?” And then her baby: “please could you hold this?” I'd never held a baby before, but I think I managed not to hold him like a coat. And that was how I met the youngest Michael Palin fan in the world (eight weeks old).

My other favourite event today was Colm Tóibín's. Isn't it amazing when someone combines great talent with great humility? It was as if his terrific rhetoric and insightful remarks slipped out by accident.

So on the whole, an excellent day.

Also, I think I've stolen Gordon Brown's pen.

Day 2 and a half

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:21:00 +0000

As the gates open to a third day of soaking up that Book Festival atmosphere, I thought I'd provide some recommendations for the next couple of days.

This evening (Monday 13th)

The Heart and History of The Dandy. Andy Stanton, former Dandy editor Morris Heggie (left), and Dandy/Beano illustrator Gordon Tait share, discuss and enjoy the creative thoughts behind one of the most beloved comics in Britain. A great events for families.
ScottishPower Studio Theatre, 5PM

In what promises to be an intelligent and fascinating event, Geoff Dyer discusses his newest book, "Zona: A Book About a Film About a Journey to a Room". Ideal if you like a bit of late-evening thinking and entertaining.
Peppers Theatre, 8:30PM

Tomorrow (Tuesday 14th)

Oddles of Poodles with Anna Wilson. In an event for children ages 7 to 10, Anna Wilson shares stories of her pampered pet salon. Or should I call it secret canine detective agency?
RBS Corner Theatre, 12PM

Join Charles Allen in a significant event about a significant figure. Many of us haven't even heard of Ashoka, but - two hundred years before the birth of Christ - he was the illustrious and peaceful ruler of the entire Asian subcontinent.
ScottishPower Studio Theatre, 12PM

The day after tomorrow (Wednesday 15th)

Award-winning author Charles Nicholl runs an event for those who love great history and great intrigue. You'll learn things you never knew about some of the most renowned historical figures in history, from Michelangelo to Shakespeare, from Arthur Cravan to Jack the Ripper.
ScottishPower Studio Theatre, 10.30AM

In this unique event, celebrated Scottish crime writer Val McDermid will be unveiling her latest work, 'The Vanishing Point', a month before its publication. This is quite simply an event not to be missed.
RBS Main Theatre, 8PM

Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:15:00 +0000

I counted seven open Book Festival programmes on the bus today. Which is pretty inspiring, despite the fact that two of them were mine.

Here are some of my favourite discoveries made in Charlotte Square Gardens today.

As the Olympic Games closed, Book Festival visitors wished they had just one more gold medal to give out – to Darren Shan, who spent over three hours signing books after his event! He received a delighted round of applause for his triumph.

Kristina Stephenson's Sir Charlie Stinky Socks event features music so enjoyably catchy that it embedded itself in the consciousness of several Book Festival staff members (including myself) for the remainder of the day.

Prue Leith was campaigning for healthier school dinners some time before Jamie Oliver. She even came close to persuading PM Tony Blair of her cause.

Maajid Nawaz was an activist with Islamic extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. But during a four-year imprisonment in Egypt he engaged in fierce political debate with a number of fellow prisoners and emerged a left wing liberal.

The mother of David Lammy MP used to ferverently believe he would become “a black Aled Jones”. David did his best not to disappoint.

A few people today were intrigued by the photos taken here and there and were wondering where they might see them. In due course they'll be posted on the website, but you can catch some throughout the day on Twitter – and in the meantime, here's a whole little collection from the last couple of days!

Andrew Motion reads from 'Silver', his loving tribute to 'Treasure Island'

Two young visitors bask in Charlotte Square Gardens

Tom Watson and James Naughtie talk phone hacking

The Soul Foundation entertain at the enthusiastic Book Festival opening party

Visitors and authors alike enjoy the atmospheric Guardian Spiegeltent

Simon Callow smoulders for the cameras

Eager book fans browse the Bookshop

Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 20:07:00 +0000

Today began with a little girl at the gates of Charlotte Square Gardens, devising a cunning plan to make our own staff t-shirts and wear them so we could sneak our way into the Book Festival early.

But before this ingenious scheme could be put into motion, the gates opened and in we all poured, accompanied by sunlight and samba music.

Here are a few interesting and funny things I learned today – and they were learned straight from the authors' mouths!

Andrew Motion is allergic to the word “sequel”! His book 'Silver' is a tribute to 'Treasure Island'; not a sequel. His tribute is based around an enormous amount of affection for Robert Louis Stevenson's treasured classic.

David Rain is the one we have to thank for today's triumphant weather. Despite his suspicious surname, Mr Rain penned the book 'The Heat of the Sun'. It can't be a coincidence.

Illustrator Chris Riddell has nightmares about manga! This is because one of his very first jobs as an illustrator was to draw a little manga-style cockroach – hundreds and hundreds of times. That cockroach's manga eyes still haunt him today...

Stuart Kelly's earliest memory is of pulling a carton of eggs off a shelf in a supermarket, at the age of eight months. He can remember the intricate details. The thing is, this memory is a false memory.

Simon Callow was at first tentative about playing Charles Dickens in Doctor Who, but once he read Mark Gatiss' script he saw that it was full of fierce and honest affection for Dickens. Today Simon quoted the episode in question.

Dickens: “will I be read?”
Doctor: “yes.”
Dickens: “for how long?”
Doctor: “for ever.”

Without question, there were some phenomenal events today. But my vote for the most fascinating one I saw goes to...

Charles Fernyhough and Claudia Hammond, at their event on memory and time.

There was some discussion on the extremely mysterious nature of time. If you spend 20 minutes waiting for a delayed train, time seems to go by very slowly indeed. And if you spend 20 minutes on a lunchbreak, trying to quickly exchange stories with a friend, time seems to zip by. But it's exactly the same 20 minutes. That can be hard to believe.

It seems it's all about our attitude to time. The example given in the event was: if there's a meeting on Wednesday, and the meeting is moved two days, when will the meeting be? Monday or Friday? Those of us who think Monday are apparently waiting for time to come to us, whereas those who think Friday are moving towards time. For me, Friday sprang to mind, so I'm an “ego-mover” as opposed to a “time-mover”. Good to know!

Our attitude towards time and memory is so enigmatic and changeable, but the event saw some rather beautiful conclusions. Charles Fernyhough said that a number of people read his book ('Pieces of Light') because they want to remember everything. But do you really want to remember everything? We out-source our memory these days, using modern technology among other things. We don't need to remember everything – and imagine how busy and cramped our minds would feel if we did.

Claudia Hammond, in the meantime, has people coming to her in the hope that they'll be able to slow down time, because it seems to move so fast. But she explained that when time moves slowly, it's because of boredom, or feelings of loneliness or rejection. If time seems to zip by, on the other hand, it's a sign that you're leading an exciting, eventful life.

In a very unexpected twist, the event ended with a lady in the audience putting up her hand and asking Claudia if she remembers her. Claudia hadn't. The lady then went on to say that she doesn't remember her either – but they should remember each other, because they were best friends when they were five years old...! The event ended, and Claudia shook her hand, grinning.

As a delighted audience member said afterward: you couldn't make it up.

1 day to go

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Today I asked some of our Book Festival authors and illustrators to sum up their event in three words.

And then in four words.

Sally Nicholls

3 words: "Buboes, orphans, apocalypses"

4 words: "Hope, death, survival, change"

Sally Nicholls will appear at 5PM on the 25th in a teen's event with Kathryn Erskine

Nicola Morgan

3 words: "Perfect Pitches Promised."

4 words: "Whipping hooks into shape."

Nicola Morgan will appear on the 21st in a sold out event

Cate James

3 words: "Words and pictures."

4 words: "Fun chat about books."

Cate James will appear at 11AM on the 11th in her Creative Writing Class

Ken MacLeod

3 words: "Scary future societies."

4 words: "SF writers scan horizon."

Ken MacLeod will appear at 8.30PM on the 27th in an event with Chris Beckett

Kerry Hudson

3 words: "dark, funny, estatey"

4 words: "blackly funny estatey ladies"

Kerry Hudson will appear at 3PM on the 14th in an event with Lisa O’Donnell

Teresa Flavin

3 words: "Magic, mystery, alchemy!"

4 words: "Magic, mystery, alchemy, time-travel!"

Teresa Flavin will appear at 4.30PM on the 18th in her children's event

Fi Bird

3 words: "Scotland's Kids' Larder"

4 words: "Wild Cooking with Kids"

Fi Bird will appear on the 12th in a sold out children's event

Ian Rankin

3 words: "Cop With Problems."

4 words: "Likeable Cop With Problems."

Ian Rankin will appear on the 21st in his sold out Rebus event

Cat Clarke
3 words: "Edgy, dark, British!"

4 words: "In four words? I'd add... awesome *cough* "

Cat Clarke will appear at 4.30PM on the 12th in a young teen's event with Keren David

Jeremy Vine

3 words: "News. Music. Life."

4 words: "News. Music. Life. Floccinaucinihilipilification. "

Jeremy Vine will appear on the 23rd in a sold out event

And more demonstrations of the Book Festival spirit are just round the corner. A rapidly approaching corner – there's only one day to go now! One day! That's almost no days.

The gates open at 9.30AM in Charlotte Square – I'll be there; will you?

There will be sunshine (or an arctic snowstorm, let's be honest), there will be ice cream, and there will be a live samba band. There'll be café bars and bookshops and book signings, events for kids, events for adults, events for teenagers. Events for people with excellent beards, and events for people with no beards at all. Events for people who want to listen to their favourite author, and events for people who want to join in. And, of course – most importantly – as many writers, artists, readers and books as you'd expect from the most celebrated Book Festival this side of Jupiter.

(And I hear the Book Festival on the other side of Jupiter isn't getting any sun at all this year, so it looks like we win.)

See you tomorrow morning!

2 days to go

noreply@blogger.com (edbookfest) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Did you hear that? Two days to go! TWO! That's today and tomorrow we have to get through before we begin a festival to remember.

But don't waste those days; do something constructive. Like buy more tickets for the Book Festival. Have a good poke around the website; I think you'll be surprised by what events you can still sneak tickets for.

And if you could do with some suggestions, I've got you some from behind the scenes. If the Edinburgh International Book Festival staff are for anything they're for prodding and poking until book reviews spill out. Not that they need much prodding and poking – the wall of books in the office is approximately the size of the galaxy, and they have been devoured by the staff; who are, after all, bookworms by definition.

Anyway, on with some of their suggestions!

The Baskerville A Confession – by John O’Connell
“If Cumberbatch hasn’t yet turned you onto Sherlock then this novella (which has its basis in fact) provides an enlightening look behind the man that made the detective and his most famous crime story to whet your appetite.”

John O'Connell will appear with Ros Barber at 3PM on Wednesday the 22nd

Railsea – by China Miéville
“I loved this. China Miéville has an amazing imagination. I loved the characters' names, the places they come from, the trains, the thrills and spills. This makes it sound like a children’s novel, which it could be, but it also goes a lot deeper than that and makes you sit up and think about what we are doing to our planet as well. I’ve not read anything by China Miéville before and really want to go and see him now.”

China Miéville will appear with at 8.30PM on Monday the 20th

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank – Nathan Englander
“When I first read Nathan Englander’s work, he reminded me of a young Jonathan Franzen. What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank is a terrific short story collection, and I am really looking forward to hearing him at the Book Festival before he really hits the big time.“

Nathan Englander will appear with Junot Díaz at 7PM on Saturday the 18th

Seventy Times Seven – John Gordon Sinclair
"Who knew that the long haired charmer from Gregory’s Girl would turn his hand to writing suspenseful crime? Sinclair takes an IRA hitman as his unlikely hero and sends him from Belfast to the USA to track down an old informer as his final job. However, things don’t turn out quite the way he expected when the old informer turns out to be someone quite different."

John Gordon Sinclair will appear at 7PM on Sunday the 26th

Narcopolis – Jeet Thayil
"The beautifully poetic prose of Jeet Thayil’s Narcopolis takes you on an intoxicating journey through the backstreets of Bombay’s forgotten Opium dens, offering a unique perspective of India’s underworld. This is definitely one my favourite books in the programme this year and well deserving of its place on the Man Booker longlist."

Jeet Thayil will appear with Teju Cole at 7PM on Sunday the 26th