The Bristol indie bookshop events to enhance your summer reading

As we near the halfway point of the year, the local literary calendar is bursting at the seams.

Bristol’s indie bookshops continue to announce regular in-store events, as well as plenty in much larger venues, to accommodate the high demand.

We take a look at some selected highlights to inspire your summer reading in 2023.

Heron Books

Doreen Cunningham: Soundings: Journeys in the Company of Whales
In store, June 3, 5pm

Cunningham’s memoir is a feminist hymn to whales, the ocean, and single mothering in a time of unprecedented change.

Along with her young son Max, it charts her journey by bus, train and ferry from Mexico to the Arctic, following grey whale mothers, and their calves.

This event is free to attend, and will feature a talk, as well as questions, conversation and book signing.

Doreen Cunningham, Soundings – photo: courtesy of Heron Books

The Small City Bookshop

Sadia Azmat: Sex Bomb
In Store, June 2, 7pm

Azmat describes herself as both “a comedian who loves sex” and “a hijab-wearing Muslim woman”, reflecting that “the two are in a lifelong relationship, but it’s complicated”.

From rejecting an arranged marriage to embracing her sexual awakening, Sex Bomb is a joyfully candid memoir that documents one woman’s quest to find harmony within herself.

Sadia Azmat, Sex Bomb – photo: courtesy of Small City Bookshop

Andrew Boyd: I Want a Better Catastrophe
In Store, June 14, 7pm

A lifelong activist and humorist, Boyd brings his ‘stand-up tragedy’ about the climate crisis and what we can still do about it to his new book, I Want A Better Catastrophe.

Along the way, he navigates through what he deems the five stages of climate grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and the sixth stage: gallows humour.

He will be talking the audience through his “existential manual for tragic optimists, can-do pessimists, and compassionate doomers”.

Andrew Boyd, I Want A Better Catastrophe – photo: courtesy of Small City Bookshop

Jen Reid: A Hero Like Me
In Store, June 17, 11am

On June 7 2020, a mass protest in Bristol city centre resulted in the toppling of the Colston statue. Less than a week afterwards, a second statue was placed on the empty plynth.

Marc Quinn’s A Surge of Power marked the moment when Reid had briefly stood in the space once occupied by Colston, raising her fist aloft in protest. The statue was removed by Bristol City Council within 24 hours, but the historic moment has since been immortalised in a Stokes Croft mural by Mr Cenz.

Reid’s picture book A Hero Like Me retells this story through the eyes of a young girl. This event is an interactive and creative workshop for children of all ages, and their families, who will have the opportunity to learn more about the event, and to make their own protest posters.

Jen Reid, A Hero Like Me – photo: courtesy of The Small City Bookshop

Max Minerva’s

Diana Evans: A House for Alice
St Paul’s Learning Centre, June 21, 6.30pm

Evans is the award-winning and bestselling author of The Wonder, 26a and Ordinary People, to which A House for Alice is the acclaimed follow-up.

The narrative centres on Alice, who has lived in London for half a century, and wants to move to the land of her birth in her twilight years, but meets with division from her children Melissa, Michael and Nicole.

There will be 20 free tickets made available for members of the SPLC community.

Diana Evans, A House for Alice – photo: courtesy of Max Minerva’s

Kirsty Loehr: A Short History of Queer Women (Bristol Pride event)
17 Midland Road, Old Market, June 26, 7pm

A writer and English teacher, Loehr has penned a celebratory exploration of “women who have loved other women through the ages”.

Featuring Mary Read and Anne Bonny, who disguised themselves as pirates and sailed away together, to Megan Rapinoe, the captain of the US football team who announced “you can’t win a championship without gays on your team”, the book promises to take in literary salons and tuxedos along the way.

Loehr will be joined in conversation by Noreen Masud, author of A Flat Place.

Sophie Pavelle: Forget Me Not
The Eastfield Inn, Henleaze, July 13, 7.30pm

Forget Me Not documents writer and science communicator Pavelle’s low-carbon odyssey around the UK, on the hunt for 10 rare native species that are in danger of becoming extinct by 2020 – should current trends in habitat reduction continue.

Travelling by foot, bicycle, train, electric car, or even kayak, she writes an impassioned but often very funny call to action, inspiring readers to join together in addressing the existential threat of climate change.

Sophie Pavelle, Forget Me Not – photo: courtesy of Max Minerva’s

Information on all forthcoming literary events, as well as new releases, pre-orders and reading subscriptions at Max Minerva’s can be found at www.maxminervas.co.uk.

Gloucester Road Books

Kieran Yates: All The Houses I Have Ever Lived In
Future Leap, Gloucester Road, June 8, 7pm

A London-based journalist, broadcaster and editor, Yates has been writing about culture, technology and politics for over a decade. This book is at once her “a rallying cry for change, a gorgeous coming-of-age story and a love letter to home in all its forms”.

In it, she charts the eye-watering number of places she’s called home – by the age of 25, that number is close to one for every year of her life.

For this special event, Yates will be in conversation with Bristol24/7 Editor, Martin Booth.

Kieran Yates, All the Houses I Have Ever Lived In – photo: courtesy of Gloucester Road Books

Matt Majendie: Big Wave Surfers
In Store, June 21, 7pm

Acclaimed sports journalist Majendie has spent time following some of the world’s most accomplished big-wave surfers, documenting their jaw-dropping achievements, as well as their terrifying near-death experiences.

In this book, he follows a group of leading surfers in Nazaré, the small fishing village on Portugal’s Costa de Prata (the Silver Coast) for a season as they ride the 100 foot wave for which the village is known all over the world: the so-called ‘Everest of the ocean’.

The evening will include an introductory talk, a Q&A, and a signing event.

All upcoming literary events from Gloucester Road Books will be listed at www.gloucesterroadbooks.com and on @gloucesterroadbooks.

Bookhaus

Josie Long: Because I Don’t Know What You Mean and What You Don’t
In store, May 31, 7pm

The fiction debut from a celebrated UK standup and broadcaster, this short story collection sees Long writing from a gloriously anarchic range of starting points.

A woman defaces a local billboard. A bored landlord tries to influence his son’s best friend. A cul-de-sac WhatsApp group discusses eggs at length. A heavily pregnant woman finds a way to time travel and a girl discovers joy on a stolen bicycle.

For this special launch event, Long will be in conversation with Nikesh Shukla.

Josie Long, Because I Don’t Know What You Mean and What You Don’t – photo: courtesy of Bookhaus Bristol

Richard Morton Jack: Nick Drake – The Life
In store, June 7, 6pm

Morton Jack has written the only biography of the late and much-loved singer-songwriter to be given the blessing of the Drake Estate, and is consequently the most authoritative account of his short life released to date.

The book draws on many rare or previously unseen interviews, archive material and photographs, including Drake’s fathers diaries and essays.

It also features a foreword from Gabrielle Drake, Nick’s sister.

Richard Morton Jack, Nick Drake, The Life – photo: courtesy of Bookhaus Bristol

Chris Nineham: Radical Chains: Why Class Matters
In store, June 20, 6pm

A founder member of the Stop the War Coalition, for whom he is currently a vice chair, Nineham was an integral part of organising the 2 million strong demonstration against the Iraq war in London in 2003.

His new book argues the role of class, or more specifically denial of class, in perpetuating societal inequalities.

For this launch event, Nineham will be joined in conversation by Dave Randalls, musician and author of Sound System – The Political Power of Music.

Chrie Nineham, Radical Chains – photo: courtesy of Bookhaus Bristol

For poetry, fiction and non-fiction favourites and news about upcoming events at Bookhaus, visit www.bookhausbristol.com.

Stanfords

Patrick Barkham: The Swimmer – The Wild Life of Roger Deakin
In store, June 12, 6.30pm

Fans of wild swimming and forest bathing may well know the beauty lyricism of the late Deakin’s classic paeans to those respective natural pursuits, in Waterlog and Wildwood.

Author, naturalist, campaigner and the natural history writer for The Guardian, Barkham has written what he terms “a creative biography” of Deakin, much of which is told in his own words, along with support from “a chorus of friends, family, colleagues, lovers and neighbours”.

Like Deakin, Barkham lives in East Anglia. He is the prize-winning author of five books, including The Butterfly Isles, Badgerlands and Wild Child.

Patrick Barkham, The Swimmer – The Wild Life of Roger Deakin – photo: courtesy of Stanfords Bristol

Moderate Becoming Good Later: Katie Carr on Sea Kayaking The Shipping Forecast
In Store, June 14, 6.30pm

Facing the death of his brother, intrepid adventurer and sea kayaker Toby Carr set out to kayak all 31 of the sea areas that make up The Shipping Forecast – beloved of many not only as a guide to seafarers but as a comforting source of stability in an ever-changing world.

When he himself died in 2022 following a battle with cancer, his sister Katie decided not only to write the book that he had mapped out, but to finish his kayak journey in his name.

She is an author, artist, educator and coach, who has also trained in expressive arts therapy. On the night, she will be reading excerpts from the book, reflecting on its creation, and participating in a Q&A session.

For more details and to keep informed of all upcoming events at Stanfords Bristol, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Storysmith Books

Brandon Taylor: The Late Americans
The Station, Silver St, June 21, 7.30pm

Taylor’s much-anticipated second novel comes after the Booker-Prize shortlisted Real Life and his award-winning short story collection, Filthy Animals.

The story follows a group of friends and lovers in a university town in the American Midwest, and the complex entanglements that bind them.

Seamus, Fyodor, Ivan, Noah and Fatima navigate the question of authentic connection, and how to fix upon the fulcrum of their lives to come.

Brandon Taylor, The Late Americans – photo: courtesy of Storysmith Books

Isabel Waidner: Corey Fah Does Social Mobility
In Store, July 13, 6.30pm

Waidner made waves in literary circles with Sterling Karat Gold – the Goldsmiths Prize-winning novel which Ali Smith dubbed “a piece of winged originality”.

This follow-up takes its protagonist, writer Corey Fah, on a time-looping journey of self-discovery, through childhood history, TV, and the tantalizing promise of a windfall.

Isabel Waidner, Corey Fah Does Social Mobility – photo: courtesy of Storysmith Books

Colson Whitehead: Crook Manifesto
The Mount Without, August 16, 7.30pm

Raised in New York, where he still lives and works today, the multi-award winning Whitehead has countless accolades to his name, and is demonstrably amongst the most important American contemporary authors.

In a hugely impressive boon for Storysmith, the double Pulitzer Prize-winning author and essaysist will be in conversation with Nikesh Shukla to discuss the second volume in his Harlem Trilogy (following on from 2021’s Harlem Shuffle).

Crook Manifesto is billed as “a kaleidoscopic portrait of Harlem, and a searching portrait of how families work in the face of indifference, chaos and hostility”.

https://twitter.com/nikeshshukla/status/1658131656237101059?cxt=HHwWhsC9jZn97oIuAAAA

For tickets and further information about all upcoming events at Storysmith, go to www.storysmithbooks.com. Tickets to all evening events will include a glass of wine, and copies of the novels can be pre-ordered for a discounted price, to collect on the night.

Main photo: Martin Booth

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