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Book Week Scotland – favourite reads will be on the map

November 15, 2021 7:20 am

Today is the start of the tenth Book Week Scotland when reading and writing are celebrated all over the country.

The national charity has joined with its partners and has set up an online and in person events programme for everyone to join in, including an interactive reading map revealing the nation’s reading habits. There will be books to give away and games to join in during the week.

Philippa Cochrane, Head of Reading Communities at Scottish Book Trust, said: “It is so exciting to be celebrating the 10^th Book Week Scotland. Over the last decade Book Week Scotland has grown to become a joyful, inclusive week in Scotland’s book calendar. Once again Book Week Scotland is delivered with fantastic partners – libraries, community organisations, charities, schools and many more – across the country and offers a riotous collection of events and activities. We hope everyone in Scotland feels welcomed to the party and celebrates Book Week Scotland’s 10^th anniversary by reading, gifting, discussing and celebrating the books they love.”

Members of the public are encouraged to plot their location and current book of choice on the interactive map via Scottish Book Trust’s website.

The second theme of this week is #ILoveMyLibrary, a week long focus on libraries encouraging the public to join in and share their memories of their favourites. Top authors will also share their own favourites and all of these anecdotes will be displayed on a dedicated social wall on Scottish Book Trust’s website.

Music lovers are not forgotten and there is an opportunity to suggest song titles which will be woven together to create a playlist poem.

Poet Nadine Aisha Jassat and author Harry Josephine Giles have contributed their own #BookWeekScotlandPlaylistPoem, which can be viewed here.

50,000 free copies of a new book, Celebration, which includes real life stories from people around the country, will be available from libraries and other community venues during Book Week Scotland. The book includes 22 stories selected by a panel, plus commissioned pieces from Courtney Stoddart, Elle McNicoll, Eòghan Stewart, Mòrag Law and Ross Sayers.

Event highlights of Book Week Scotland include:

Award-winning author Denise Mina kicks off the celebrations at Glasgow Women’s Library, where she filmed a new documentary:The Women Writers of Garnethill with tour guide Melody House.The film explores the contribution women writers have made to the area, and the city of Glasgow. It will premiere on YouTube on Monday 15 November at 12.30pm.
On Monday evening, for those who wish to join Book Week Scotland from the comfort of their own homes, there will be a downloadable role-playing game written by visual artist Adrian Barber. A star-studded line-up will play through the game, featuring: Marvel comic writer Kieron Gillen; bestselling author Val McDermid; DC Comics writer Ram V; Marvel comic writer and bestselling novelist Marjorie Liu; and award-winning comic artist and author Hari Conner.
On Wednesday 17 November at 12.30pm, Book Week Scotland will premiere a new documentary with former Makar Jackie Kay on her first novel, Trumpet. The film will offer exclusive insight to the inspiration and writing of the bestselling book.
On Thursday 18 November at 11am, there will be an Authors Live event: a panel on Young Scottish Voices featuring Nadine Aisha Jassat, Chris McQueer and Cat Hepburn. They will showcase their writing and share how young people can use their own voices and experiences in writing and storytelling.
On Thursday evening, the Damian Barr Literary Salon will team up with Book Week Scotland to bring an unmissable event starring Baggage author Alan Cumming in conversation with Damian Barr, and poetry performances from the ascendant talents of Lennie Pennie and Courtney Stoddart. The event will run online Thursday 18 November at 7pm and tickets are available to buy here.
In the year of Scottish coastlines and waterways, Harry Josephine Giles, Evie Wyld and Raman Mundair will join Book Week Scotland for a Celebrating Island Literature panel, chaired by Pàdraig MacAoidh. The event will premiere on Saturday 20 November at 4pm on YouTube.