As Aye Write! gets under way, programmer Bob McDevitt looks ahead to some of the highlights for 2018
1. Brett Anderson – Coal Black Mornings
As a fan of Suede (I think I first saw them back in 1992), I was very much looking forward to reading this memoir by lead singer Brett Anderson. There are only two weeks between us in age and consequently I found that the cultural references of his childhood spend in a suburb of London resonated with my own. It’s a fascinating and beautifully written account of the early years of a creative life – I hope there will be further volumes down the line.
Susie Orbach has been called ‘The most famous psychotherapist to have set up couch in Britain since Sigmund Freud’. Her book In Therapy is cleverly constructed with dramatized ‘sessions’ with a variety of people interjected with Susie’s commentary on the cases. I found it a revelatory and very human read.
3. James Robertson & Liz Lochhead – Michael Marra: Arrest This Moment
I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the recent Celtic Connections event where the author James Robertson was joined on stage by the dancer Frank McConnell along with the musicians Karine Polwart, Rab Noakes and Michael’s daughter Alice Marra. The book tells the complicated life story of one of Scotland’s finest songwriters and the Aye Write event will pair James with the legendary Liz Lochhead to discuss their much missed friend.
4. Angus Roxburgh – Moscow Calling
I’m reading this distinguished journalist and broadcaster’s memoir about his forty years living and working in, and writing about Russia. It’s a remarkably frank and personal account of some of the key events in a country that remains at the top of the international news agenda to this day.
5. Evan Davis – Post Truth: Why we have reached Peak Bullshit and what we can do about it
I saw Evan Davis talk about his book at last year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival and he was one of the first people I approached about appearing at Aye Write. I like Evan’s presenting style on Newsnight, The Bottom Line and Dragon’s Den and I found him to be a charming and engaging raconteur as he shared some funny and frightening examples of Bullshit in our politics and culture!
This is an unmissable opportunity to see some of your favourite crime writers (including Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre and Mark Billingham) as you have NEVER seen them before! Fun Loving Crimewriters are an excellent covers band with a carefully selected set list of crime-themed songs. It’s a little bit sickening how this bunch of award-winning writers, are also incredibly talented musicians but hey, who said life was fair?!
7. Maggie O’Farrell I Am, I Am, I Am
As she is one of my favourite novelists, I am always excited when I hear there’s a new book on the way. This time though, I got a surprise as the new book is in fact a memoir which details Maggie’s numerous brushes with death throughout her life. It is, of course, wonderfully written and I found it was one of those books that really stayed with me for days after I finished it, having stirred up thoughts of my own life and mortality.
8. David Adam – The Genius Within
I was a big fan of David’s previous book The Man Who Couldn’t Stop: The Truth about OCD so I’m looking forward to reading his new one The Genius Within which takes on the subject of smart drugs, brain hacks and the neuroscience of cognitive enhancement – certainly something my tired old brain could do with a bit of help with!
9. Jo Pratt – The Flexible Vegetarian
Over the past year I have joined the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who are trying to eat less meat. The reasons for doing this can be many and varied from concerns about the environment and climate change to worries about a range of health conditions and of course a commitment to reducing animal suffering. Jo’s book is full of recipes for your meat-free days.
10. Aye Write Introduces
Denise Mina - Louise Welsh - Jon McGregor - Lin Anderson -
Debut writers have always been an integral part of the Aye Write programme and this year is no exception with prize-winning authors such as Jon McGregor, Denise Mina, Louise Welsh and Lin Anderson introducing a terrific range of debut writers. They include; Chris McQueer’s hilarious Hings; the much talked-about Imogen Hermes Gowar’s The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock; a thrilling crime debut in Cara Hunter’s Close to Home and Danny Denton’s dystopian The Earlie King and the Kid in Yellow. You may not know the names (yet!) but give them a try…
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