Top 5

Events at London bookshops in November 2010

Mike Pollitt | Tuesday 2 November, 2010 10:06

Books books books books books books books books. Snipe likes them. If Top 5 had its way, every Top 5 would be about books. Alas, this cannot be. Instead, here is a quick pick of five shops hosting enticing events in the coming months. Let us know of any cool things that we’ve missed.

Peckham Literary Festival
Co-hosted by the Review Bookshop and Persepolis, this eclectic series of events runs from 16-25 November. Click through for the full list. Most eye catching to Snipe (for obvious, and deeply shallow, reasons) is the Sheherazade Evening on 19th November, which promises music, dancing, and tales from the 1001 Nights. Ah Sheherazade, what a beguiling literary character you are – as bewitching as you are difficult to spell.

Pages of Hackney
Loads of events, Snipe is particularly taken by the sound of Jonathan Kemp’s talk on his temptingly-titled book London Triptych. To quote from the publicity: “Three men, three lives and three eras sinuously entwine in a dark, startling and unsettling narrative of sex, exploitation and dependence set against London’s strangely constant gay underworld.” Some good words in there. Our interest is piqued.

Big Green Bookshop, Wood Green
Loads of stuff coming up at the link above, check them out. Most exciting by far is the Knitting Club this Sunday, Nov 7th. It’s illustrated on their site with a knitted pink motorbike. Good work guys.

Stoke Newington Bookshop
On the 18th November there’s a talk on a book about a hunt for all 59 species of British butterflies. Could be either a charming account of the changing face of the British landscape, or else a grotesquely disturbing bit of Buffalo Bill style lepidoptery.

Broadway Bookshop, Broadway Market
This is a nice little bookshop, which gets bonus points for being next door to the Dove pub, the candle lit mood of which alone is worth a visit. There’s a talk on Asian travel at the bookshop tomorrow, Nov 3rd. (As an aside, there’s going to be a Top 5 on London pubs with the best ambient lighting pretty soon – Snipe is getting obsessed. All tips gratefully received).

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