Is the interest in global literature evidence of a rootless cosmopolitanism, hostile to the influence of the social and political realities of a particular author’s nationality and cultural background? Are we kidding ourselves we even understand works in translation? Is great national literature universal because it is great, or great because it is universal?

These questions and more will be debated by the speakers, but let us know your own thoughts on the matter – do you read literature in translation? Does an author’s nationality affect how you read their work?

The New International? Literature in an age of ‘globish’

Thursday 20 October, 7.00pm until 9.00pm

Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA

£7.50/5: buy online or by calling 0207 269 9220

Other highlights include ‘Jane Austen, Bronte and Love’, a talk by Elizabeth Williams about two of Britain’s best-loved authors, which takes place at 2.30pm on Thursday in Bebington Central Library, and the Bookfest Bookswap at the Pyramids Shopping Centre in Birkenhead, where you can bring along your old books and swap them for new (second-hand) books that you’ve been dying to read! (Friday 10am-3pm).

So, whether you’re a keen reader, or haven’t been to your library for a while, head along to this year’s Bookfest, where you’re sure to find something to fire your imagination!

For more information call 0151 606 2665 or visit http://www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/leisure-and-culture/libraries/bookfest-2011.

As Lisa mentioned earlier, today is World Mental Health Day and for the third year running, we have teamed up with Mersey Care NHS Trust and the Bluecoat running to bring the Chapter and Verse literature festival to users of local mental health services this week.  The three-way partnership began in 2009, when we brought Brian Keenan, who was appearing at the festival, to Ashworth special hospital – one of the most moving events I have experienced in my time with The Reader Organisation.  We have hosted poetry workshops, author readings (Brian Patten sharing his memories and poetry with seniors at Waterloo Day Hospital last year was another high point) and even a jazz-poetry jam, with sax and a double bass.

Hard acts to follow, but this year’s line up is looking good.  On Thursday 13^th October  Reader-in-Residence Eleanor McCann and our Events and Publications Manager Maura Kennedy will be bringing John Healy to the Kevin White unit.  Healy is the author of The Grass Arena, a story of alcoholism and redemption which is acclaimed in the recovery movement.  The Kevin White is Mersey Care’s drug detox inpatient unit, which has hosted one of our longest standing reading groups, so it is an interesting fit.

At the same time, Colin Grant who wrote a biography of Bob Marley, will be talking and playing tracks at Ashworth Special Hospital.  A patients’ music group will also be there to play him out.  Events at Ashworth always take a lot of organising, and Cath McCafferty, who manages Mersey Care Reads within the Trust, will be behind the scenes dealing with it all.  This is the one I’m looking forward to most of all, not only for the music, but because the patients always respond so eagerly to artists who are willing to come into their rather circumscribed world.

On Friday afternoon Sarah Hall will be talking to community reading group members from Southport and Kirby about her new collection of short stories The Beautiful Indifference.

One thing will be different this year:  we have recently welcomed Maura Kennedy into our team at the reader as our Events and Publications manager.  Equally at home in the sophisticated world of the arts and in the down to earth settings we work in, she’s  going to be a big presence in the organisation, and it looks like we may be able to look forward to a many more events like these, right across the country!

Our Read went down to the Just So Festival in Staffordshire last Friday to share the magic of The Unforgotten Coat.  The Just So Festival kindly invited the project to come along and run shared read aloud sessions throughout the day, and they even gave us some free tickets so we could bring two of the young people we work with to the festival. Jessica and Tina had a lovely day exploring the festival site and all it had to offer - they made clay faces, origami penguins, played in the Just So Festival beach, watched live music, and helped us spread the reading revolution by taking part in our group reading sessions and giving out copies of The Unforgotten Coat to people around the site.

The Yurt that we were going to run the reading sessions in was unfortunately out of action…

However it didn’t dampen our spirits, and the glorious sunshine and woodlands made a perfect setting to read in. 

We were hoping that we would see some exciting wildlife in the woods, and we did see a rabbit during one of our walks around the site, but our main wildlife experience was an unusual amount of wasps which enjoyed dive-bombing me… I think my reaction of running away as fast as my legs would carry me kept lots of people entertained.

We all had a really lovely day, and met lots of people who enjoyed sharing the book with us and hearing more about the project - hopefully Our Read will be invited back again next year!

We’ll be bringing along two children from the Wirral to read with us and share the experience, and we want as many people as possible to enjoy the story so if you’re planning on coming then make sure you pay us a visit - you can pick up a free copy of the book and maybe even try reading aloud to the rest of the group! We’ll be doing readings at 1.30, 2.30 and 3.30pm so there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved or just sit back and enjoy a good story.

The festival runs from the 19th-21st of August and takes place in the woodlands of Barnswood, near Leek. It’s aimed at children and families and includes a number of creative activities and performances from across the arts, taking in music, cinema, dance and literature. We hope to see you there!

Liverpool Irish Festival are looking for new storytellers, as part of their  ‘Discovering the Liverpool Irish’ project, who are keen to discover more about traditional Irish storytelling. Using traditional Irish stories, you will take part in a series of professionally led workshops, learning more about Irish history and traditional culture along the way. You will hone your storytelling skills and will have the opportunity to take part in the ‘Mouth of the Mersey’ storytelling event at the end of August.

It is then planned that you will also share your stories with school children, during a series of school visits in the Autumn Term. Dates: approximately 6 workshop sessions, from now until the end of August. There will be a total of approximately 8 school visits, from 5^th September up until half-term (24th October) – although you would only be required for 2 of these visits.

You would also be part of the Celebration Event on Saturday 29th October.

No previous experience necessary! Just an active interest in Irish traditions and culture, and an ear for a good yarn! And by the way, this is all absolutely FREE!

If you would like to take part or find out more information please contact Rebecca Sharp at rjoysharp@hotmail.com or Cathy Butterworth at cathyliverpoolirishfestival@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 07949 025 884.

For more information and updates about the ‘Discovering the Liverpool Irish’ project go to www.liverpoolirishheritage.co.uk and if you would like to find out more about Liverpool Irish Festival events in October go to www.liverpoolirishfestival.com

11.30 am – 7.00 pm

 The third annual Out of the Blue Music Festival is set to take place this weekend, on Saturday 2^nd July in Everton Park, showcasing the talent of musicians from the Everton area and across the city. Headlining the event will be Johnny O’Connell, the Stan Smith Band and children from In Harmony, along with the Bo Weevils, Hope Jazz Workshop, Samba Beat, and many more. The festival also offers a whole host of family-friendly activities, including zumba, football skills, alternative therapies, craft making and drumming workshops, so there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.

The whole day kicks off at 11.30 am with the Blue Run, a family fun run for all ages. Entry costs £1 or £2 if you’d like a Blue Run t-shirt to wear with pride! The run is a mile long, or 2 miles for those over 16 years old and brave enough to take on the challenge. If you’d like to take part, contact Kate or Paul at WECC on 0151 282 0303, as soon as possible.

Why not come along for a fun filled festival which will see a section of Everton Park packed with a lively array of creative arts, drumming, music and performances. A day not to be missed!

For further information, contact Paula Kearns at WECC on 0151 282 0303.

The Reader’s Angela Macmillan will appear at Malfest, the first Malpas Arts and Literary Festival, this Friday (20^th May), to discuss The Art of Reading Aloud. Malfest launches on Thursday 19^th May, and will feature an exciting selection of performing arts, concerts, exhibitions and speakers. Jimmy McGovern, Britain’s leading television dramatist will open the festival and a whole host of big names from the worlds of art and literature will be involved.

Angela will be appearing on Friday 20th May from 12pm.

For further information about Malfest and to book tickets, visit the Malfest website.

Liverpool’s annual Writing on the Wall Festival, perhaps better known as WOW, returns in May, taking the city’s radical reputation as its theme. The festival, which runs from 3^rd – 28^th May, brings together artists, writers, musicians and historians to celebrate writing, tolerance, storytelling and diversity. This year’s highlights include the return of Pulp Idol, WOW’s unique writing competition for budding novelists, and Rioting on the Wall, an all day and night commemoration of the Toxteth Riots of 1981, which will include a photography exhibition, a discussion of the significance of the 1981 events today, and afternoon coffee with Bonnie Greer. As part of this celebration of radicalism, WOW has also launched its own Little Red Book Clubs, which have been reading Robert Tressell’s “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist” throughout April.

With the re-emergence of radicalism, seemingly worldwide, with revolutions in the Middle East and rioting in the streets, there has never been a better time to discuss, debate and even rant about radicalism. Why not get involved with WOW this year and make sure your voice is heard?

Visit WOW’s website for full programme listings for this year’s festival and to find out more about how you can get involved.