World Book Night !

Rab Wilson, me and Giancarlo Rinaldi

(photo : Fiona Russell)

I don't think that anyone expected there would be more than a hundred people gathered at the Ewart Library in Dumfries on Saturday 5th March for the World Book Night Party - nor that the table, groaning with the weight of the giveaway books, would be empty by the end of the session. But people perched on ledges, sat in seats in front, beside and behind bookcases or stood to listen to us extol the virtue of our chosen books. Rab had chosen Seamus Heaney's Collected Poems, but he spoke warmly about many writers who had caught his attention over the years. Giancarlo chose Nigel Slater's 'Toast' which is full of delicioius wit, spite and food and I chose 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison because I believe it to be a most profound book on the subject of what she calls 'disremembering ' or willfully forgetting, in relation to bits of history we white Westerners like to gloss over. There was home baking and wine and a choir, The Balliol Consort, to top off the evening. A most good natured, civilised and thought provoking event. I do hope they do it again.

the serious bit....

(photo : Fiona Russell)

Tomorrow I'm off to read at the launch of 'Singing Over the Bones 2' - a publication in celebration of women in and around Wigtown. Liz Niven will be the main speaker but there are various readers with work in the two volumes - bound to be fun at the Supper Rooms in the County Buildings with a bunch of feisty women.