Durham Book Festival
It seems ages ago now but I haven’t had time to write about it. First I went to hear Kate Mosse speak, and read from her new novel, because I enjoyed Labyrinth, which is an adventure story that slips between two different protagonists in different eras. She comes across as warm and professional, reads a lot, does meticulous, time-consuming research, and is supportive of other women writers.
The following evening at the Town Hall I heard Linda France, Ellen Phethean, Pippa Little, Maureen Almond and Cynthia Fuller read their poems before the new Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, came on stage. It was great to hear all the contrasting voices and styles. Carol Ann Duffy read quite a few poems from The World’s Wife, which I know because I bought it for my daughter; her timing and presentation made them extra funny.
On the Saturday I heard some more novelists: Tommy Wieringa and Richard Milward talked to Sam Garrett about writing and about bildungsroman; they read short extracts. Richard Milward was hilarious. Sean O’Brien and Jacob Polley read from their novels and talked about the differences between writing and publishing poetry and novels.
At film festivals when I was younger I used to watch about five movies a day. I don’t know if it’s age or a different approach, but at the moment I prefer to go to one event and have plenty of time to reflect.
