June 2017 Newsletter

Next Meeting:

Friday 16 June 2017 at 7 for 7.30pm

in the Lower Court Hall

Stories of Russian London by Vesna Goldsworthy

Vesna Goldsworthy is a Serbian-born writer and poet. Her books include Chernobyl Strawberries, Inventing Ruritania and The Angel of Salonika (2011).  In 2010 she presented a BBC Radio 4 programme on finding one's voice in a foreign land. Her first novel Gorsky was published in 2015, inspired by The Great Gatsby.

Other Forthcoming Events:

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Co play The Commercial Traveller takes place at St Thomas' School playing field on Sunday 18 June at 7.30pm.  Bring low chairs and rugs and dress for British weather!  Gates open for picnics from 6pm. Tickets available online or from Hilary or the Farm Shop or on the door (but there is a maximum capacity).

Summer garden party, with the theme of Blithe Spirit to take place at Howard's on Friday July 21st at 6.30pm.  Bring a plate of food, savoury or sweet, drinks (some bottles of wine will be available at cost), a reading inspired by the theme and maybe some fancy dress or accessory.

Forthcoming Radio Programmes of interest (by Gillian Southgate) :

On Sundays there is often an afternoon feature on Radio 3 at 6.45pm. This week it was writers involved in Second World War propaganda.

Mondays.  Radio 4 9.45.  Book of the Week. A 15 minute reading of quality fiction, non-fiction and memoir.

10.45pm. Book at Bedtime. Content as above.  Radio 3. 10.45. The Essay. Many of these are on fiction or personal reflections. This week for example, it comes from the Hay Festival.

Tuesdays. Book of the week as above. 4.30pm Great Lives. Matthew Parris frequently discusses the lives of writers. Book at Bedtime and the Essay as above.

Wednesdays. Book of the week as above. Book at Bedtime and The Essay as above.

Thursdays. As Wednesday, but includes Open Book at 3.30. Discussion of literature with the author and Mariella Frostrup. Book of the Week, and The Essay as above.

Fridays. As Wednesday, except for Open Book.

Also, right through the week, each day at 2pm, a book is read on Radio 4 extra, with another one at 2.30 and 3pm. All 15 minute reads recorded some years ago, when diction was important, so none are difficult to hear, and they make a soothing listen when you are doing the ironing or some other chore.  This week the books are Mrs Miniver, The Forsyte Saga, and The Count of Monte Cristo.  They change each week – not all are fiction, but all are worth listening to.

June events at the Rye Bookshop

Saturday 10th June at 6pm - Anwesha Arya, reading from and discussing 'Janani: Mothers, Daughters, Motherhood'

Anwesha is a writer and academic, daughter of the famous Indian film-maker Basu Bhattacharya and the journalist Rinki Bhattacharya. 'Janani' is an extremely moving anthology of pieces by various authors, academics and artists detailing their experiences of being mothers and daughters.

Thursday 16 June 6pm to 7 pm Vesna Goldsworthy will be in the Rye Bookshop,  Vesna is speaking the next day at the Literary Society meeting, (see above)

Saturday 17th June at 6pm - Judith Thomson, reading from and discussing 'The Orange Autumn'

Judith Thomson's fascinating novel is an inspired retelling of one of the most turbulent periods of English history. It reveals the story of the political intrigue and dramatic events leading up to the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688.

 Saturday June 24th, 2pm onwards - our birthday party!

Please join us to celebrate The Rye Bookshop's second birthday! We're still hammering out the finer details but there will be drinks and nibbles, and hopefully a local author or two, as well as some children's craft events. On a personal note, it will also sadly be my last day at The Rye Bookshop as I'm off to pastures new* in July, so it would be lovely to say goodbye to everyone and introduce you all to the new manager.

(*Lizzie is going to London to work at Daunt Books. Best wishes for her future, and thanks from the Literary Society for the help and cooperation Lizzie has given us over the past two years, including her talk at one of our meetings last year.)