Wimbledon Bookfest 2011

Posted on October 11, 2011 in Uncategorized

Having just moved into the area I thought it would be a good idea to get stuck in and meet new booky folk at the Bookfest which ran from 1-9 October. I had a whale of a time and met some really lovely people who I will definitely stay in touch with and I will certainly volunteer again next year. Stewarding meant that I not only got to meet like-minded people but I often got to listen in on the talks being held around Wimbledon which was such a bonus! There were lots of other authors and speakers that I didn’t get to see but here are a few summaries of the talks I attended during Wimbledon Bookfest.

Claire Tomalin on Charles Dickens

With her recent biography Charles Dickens: A Life just being released it was the perfect start to the week. She not only talked about what she had learnt from researching Dickens but she also talked about the importance of his writing and also discussed her own writing techniques which I always find really interesting – especially with a biographer who has to fill so many gaps between dates and names.

Michelle Paver on her new novel Dark Matter

Michelle’s event was held at Southside House which is an incredible period house just off Wimbledon Common. An eclectic group of people reside in the flats both in the attics and in the basement and it is open for tours from Easter. With its Gothic sweeping driveway and heavy oak doors it was the perfect setting for Michelle to discuss her new ghost story set in the Arctic tundra.

Anne Sebba on Wallis Simpson

Held in the Collyer Hall Theatre at Kings College School, Anne Sebba gave us a wonderful and eye-opening glimpse into the real events of Wallis Simpson’s life taken from her new biography That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. Focusing on the woman herself rather than her royal connections, I got the feeling that she was a flirt who had gone a step too far and had found herself trapped with an arguably mentally unstable man. Anne Sebba hinted that the Edward had infact been anorexic and had threatened suicide if Wallis ever left him. She also explored the letters from Wallis to her previous husband which detail her true feelings of loss and loneliness. This talk was brilliant and although I’m not usually a fan of biographies, I’m looking forward to reading this one.

Susan Hill at The Study Preparatory School

This talk was wonderfully intimate and informal. Susan Hill started by addressing the younger members of the audience (boys) who may or may not have been dragged along by their parents. She spoke of the importance of reading to both girls and boys and declared that reading was most certainly not a ‘girly’ thing to do although statistically girls do read more than boys. I thought this was brilliant as I think boys do often (especially YA boys) need encouraging, even if it is the just the first nudge that gets them hooked on a series. Susan then read us an excerpt from her new addition to her detective series, The Betrayal of Trust, after which she opened the floor for a really worthwhile Q&A session. I did of course get a book signed and was very chuffed that she was a lovely as I’d always thought she would be.

Carol Ann Duffy at the Big Tent

Held on the Common in a vast marquee with carpet and chandeliers(!!)on National Poetry Day, Carol Ann Duffy read from her new collection of poetry entitled The Bees. Her first collection since becoming poet laureate two years ago, she gave a stonkingly good performance and swiftly moved the crowd from laughter to tears and back to laughter again. She has a fabulous stage presence and is not only a poet but a true performer. Her poetry comes alive when she reads it and I always think it is great to see how a poet inserts pauses in their lines where we would normally trot on to the next line. After a huge applause from the audience at the end, Carol Ann then had to shoot off to Sheffield for another reading, well, it was National Poetry Day after all!

Terry Jones on Animal Tales

Reading to a mixed audience (adult – Monty Python fans and children -animal story fans) Terry Jones was interviewed by the wonderful David Wood OBE. Joined onstage briefly by his confident two-year old daughter Siri, he whipped the audience into whoops of laughter as his animal characters came to life.

The Wombles story-telling

Joined by Womble Uncle Bulgaria, local singer, songwriter and musician, Julian retold classic Womble stories and sang fabulous Womble-friendly songs in the Big Tent. Sitting on cushions and blankets, children were encouraged to sing-along and learn all about how Wombles like to keep the Common clean and green.

Maureen Lipman, I Must Collect Myself

Maureen performed a series of monologues from her new book entitled I Must Collect Myself. Seamlessly moving from one character to the other, Maureen pulled the audience in to her most intimate thoughts and discussed how she has dealt with the loss of her husband, Jack. An inspiring actress and comedienne it is no wonder the tent was so full and everyone came out beaming.

Robert Harris interviewed by James Naughtie

Former political journalist Robert Harris was interviewed in the closing event of Wimbledon Bookfest by radio presenter James Naughtie as he discussed his new book The Fear Index. Covering a broad range of topics from the recent coalition, to the current economic climate and hedge-funds, Robert and James opened to floor to a very interesting Q&A session which cleared up a lot of the mythologies surrounding hedge-funds and investments.

Overall I had a great, packed week and would recommend stewarding to anyone who wants to get involved with their local area. Not only do I now know a few more friendly faces, but I’ve also learnt how to navigate my way around a new area and I’ve had the added benefit of meeting some of the most inspiring authors and poets I could possibly hope to meet. It looks fab on your CV and it is a great networking oppurtunity. Book festivals are popping up all over the country, so find your nearest one and get involved! Thank you Bookfest!