27th March Newsletter
What’s On At Veranda
Welcome, welcome! Midweek snow flurries notwithstanding, we’re already thinking ahead to sunnier days, long evenings and the joys of jetting off to warmer climes. Our fiction tables are laden with exciting new releases, books chosen for their compelling plots, fascinating characters and writing that sparkles. When the weather (and life!) is unpredictable, we’re all yearning for books that will grab you from page 1, and keep you spellbound – calming, comforting, distracting…books can do all of this and so much more. Come and see us soon, we’d be delighted to recommend your next great read!
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This week’s event…
Ways in to Chinese literature
- The University of Leeds is home to the Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing, an amazing resource for anyone interested in fiction, poetry, writers, translators and all things literary from China. Click on the link below to find out more
- See also Paper Republic, a network of publishers, translators and readers which aims to promote Chinese literature in translation. Frequent collaborators with the Leeds Centre, and another good (if slightly less up-to-date) resource
- Look out for Chinese translations from the following publishers, who we really rate:
- Fitzcarraldo Editions – home to Dorothy Tse, Hong-Kong author of Owlish and the newly-published, City Like Water
- Comma Press – we love their Reading The City series, collections of writings from local writers, and a great ‘way in’ to a country’s literature. Try The Book of Beijing (Shangai also available)
- Sinoist Books – established in 2016, and frequent recipients of PENTranslates grants, Sinoist specialise in “diverse narratives from Sinophone communities around the world” and are at the forefront of bringing great, contemporary Chinese writing to the UK
Now Booking
Ben Faccini in conversation
Our Recommended Reads
Repetition by Vigdis Hjorth (tr. Charlotte Barslund)
Emily’s pick this week is Norwegian writer Vigdis Horth’s latest, a coming-of-age story which chronicles a year of firsts for our teenage protagonist. The book documents the horrors and joy of being a 16-year-old girl, all while being watched over by an overbearing mother and distant father. Decades after an unspoken decision by her parents, she is confronted by these memories after seeing another young woman being berated by her mother. This brilliant book explores the parts of childhood that resonate all the way into adulthood. Written in raw and concise prose, this short, punchy book draws the reader in right until the last page.
Rasputin and the Fall of the Romanovs by Antony Beevor
Alison has had a rummage in the non-fiction dept this week to bring you a recommendation: this cracking new book by Antony Beevor. Mainly known for his military histories, this time, Beevor has succumbed to the dubious charms of a mesmerising Siberian peasant – and he’s not the first one! While he may not have single-handedly destroyed the Russian empire, Rasputin’s disastrous influence over the tragically flawed Russian royals is undisputed. It’s a fascinating story, brilliantly told by the UK’s finest narrative historian.
What we’re loving this week…
After a 4am wake up (thank you Sonny!). Emily ummed and aahed but eventually went to a coffee tasting at Kiss The Hippo in Soho. Who knew there was so much to learn about coffee?! After sitting through a presentation about roasting and cupping, eventually the tasting got underway! Ranging from chocolatey to fruity (with notes of pomegranate and melon), what started as quite academic turned into a fun evening of caffeinated chat.
Leo has been engrossed in the first few episodes of The Secret World of Roald Dahl on iHeartPodcasts. It feels as if Roald Dahl has been in the news a lot over the past few years, but this reveals a fascinating insight into his early life as a secret British agent in Washington DC at the start of WW2, and how this may have informed the eventual creation of those rather less under-the-radar children’s stories he became famous for.
Alison spent a fantastic Wednesday evening at the Hammersmith Apollo listening to Geese, arguably the biggest band in the western world right now. Fronted by Mr Charisma, Cameron Winter (see also his solo album Heavy Metal), they thrilled the 5.000-strong crowd with their boisterously groovy, noodly racket.
And making Geese look like the runners-up at a 6th-form talent show, South Korea’s BTS are back from their military service with mega-album Arirang, pure pop pleasure (no guilt required!)
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