Lemn Sissay walk this Sunday
Celebrating Black History Month with this powerfully moving memoir
Dear walking book clubbers,
What an amazingly powerful book this is! Even if you can’t come on the walk, do read it.
Lemn Sissay’s story is a potent tale of overcoming impossibly hard circumstances. Heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, anger-inspiring … This is a journey through our country’s utterly flawed care system and endemic racism, and coming out the other side thanks to sheer determination - and the enduring pull of poetry. Warning: this book is not for the faint-hearted … but then I don’t think any of you are faint-hearted readers!
Please scroll down to find links to book your tickets; some EXCITING news about BBC’s Inside Culture filming on Sunday’s walk; more about Lemn Sissay; and details of our November walk.
Book your tickets
Looking forward to seeing those of you who can make it to the Heath this Sunday, or on Zoom on Monday. Here are the links to book your tickets:
NB. If you have any problems connecting to Zoom via Eventbrite, here are the details:
Zoom link HERE
Meeting ID: 794 283 0825
Passcode: 065827
A reminder that you can buy the book here via Daunt and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout (or just tell them you are in the group, if you’re in the shop).
BBC Inside Culture
I hesitate to announce this, as the world of broadcasting is so changeable - so who knows if this will in fact happen?! - but rather thrillingly it looks like BBC Two’s Inside Culture will be joining us to film on Sunday’s walk. Their next episode is all about reading, and they thought a very immersive way to open the programme would be by filming with our walking book club. What an honour!
We’ll be joined on the walk by their host that week, Shahidha Bari (not Mary Beard). The Beeb says they are going to do everything possible to minimise disruption to our walk and discussion. I asked them what could anyone screen-shy do if they are rather put off by the idea of cameras etc, and they assured me that if you don’t want to be on screen, then fear not, you just need to say so beforehand and then they can keep you off camera, no problemo. In any case, I get the impression we will be more background than foreground …
This is really exciting news! Hopefully it will be an opportunity to spread the word about Lemn Sissay’s wonderful book, and also about the joyful combination of walking while talking about books. Hasten to book your tickets… Any questions or concerns, just drop me a line in reply to this - I’m sure we can make it work.
More on Lemn Sissay
There is a wealth of material online, but here are a few links to pieces that feel extra special to me.
Do watch the BBC Imagine episode in iPlayer. They’ve tracked down so many people from the book - wonderful to see and hear them all. And I loved watching the footage of Lemn Sissay performing in the 1980s - electric!
Here is Lemn Sissay on Desert Island Discs, in which he comes across especially inspiringly.
This seems to be a particularly insightful book review in the New Statesman - I like the way they contrast the click clack of the typewritten reports with his poetry.
I’m ashamed to say that before reading My Name is Why, I didn’t know many of Lemn Sissay’s poems. I love them - so simple, so strong. Here is a short one to keep us going:
***A reminder that this newsletter will always be free for those who need it to be, but if you are able to support Emily’s walking book club by paying £20/year to subscribe, or £50/year to include a bespoke reading consultation with me, then please do so. ***
November
I’m excited to share a tiny bit of Italy with this beautiful, haunting novella, A Girl Returned, by Donatella di Pietrantonio, translated by Ann Goldstein (of Elena Ferrante fame). More info to come in the next newsletter.
Tickets are now on sale, and my apologies if the date change to 21st (walk) / 22nd (zoom) November has caused any confusion:
Buy your book via Daunt here and get 10% off using the code WBC at checkout.
Happy reading, and hope to see you on Sunday / Monday!
Emily