CITY Issue 52

Book Slam fans come out in droves to listen to writers like novelist Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting, If You Liked School You’ll Love Work), right. Monica Ali, and Nick Hornby (“so charming”) packed in the literarily aware and other curious onlookers. Since then, Book Slam’s reputation as the thinking man’s preferred way to unwind has been confirmed, as much by imitation as by repeat attendees. People are attracted to the sense of potential that pervades the event. Poets and novelists and musicians may not create their work in situ, but they’re certainly creating community, a place of unabashed appreciation of quality, a resistance of all that is People and Hello. “What I love about performing is the rapport, the feeling of connecting people, and when people get into it and come up after and tell you what they liked,” Mannix says. “Poetry for so long has been so difficult and pretentious, anything that makes it seem like, ‘Yeah you know what, this could be entertaining’—and entertaining doesn’t mean shallow—is a good thing.” But there’s more to this event, Neate says, than a trendy sort of workshop for performers he deems vital and relevant. Every event, he insists, is another step in the battle against “the homogeneity of culture”—the fight against prominent window displays for novels “written” by near illiterates and airport vending machines that dispense The Da Vinci Code and the book version of High School Musical. “There’s a politics to it.… It’s important to challenge publishing and books that are being published. The fact that [topless model] Jordan is in the window of Books Etcetera bothers me,” Neate says, grimacing. “I hope it bothers enough people to keep challenging that.” Back at Book Slam, the mellow hip hop playing during a break almost drowns out the whoosh-whoosh of cars on the overpass/roof. In this cave, surrounded by red velvet curtains, exhaust pipes, and purposely distressed projections of typewriters and books, somebody has thought to order Thai food. The number of picnickers increases after the second segment, as dozens of people carry in bags of food for friends. Thin girls lean over the free evening papers they use as lap protectors, catching chopsticks full of noodles in their mouths. “It’s culturally enlightening, really,” says Leon Betsworth, a modernist literature Ph.D. student, with as much sincerity as he can muster. “It’s better than the banality of the normal club scene. Here, you feel like you’re engaging with culture in a real way.” For now, Neate and the Book Slammers will continue to challenge the mainstream publishing industry from this basement club. They’ve started producing podcasts (of course), and may soon move into commissioning work for publication á la Book Slam alum Dave Eggers’ 826/ McSweeney McSweeney’s projects. But it all comes back to the original formula: 15 minutes at a time (Andy would be proud) for a taste of something different. “It’s got to feel like you’re joining something,” Neate says, “so that when you come, you should feel like you’re joining me and my, well, what I fancy is a nice world where people are interesting.” 54 CI T Y

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CITY Issue 52

CITY Issue 52 Contents Letter from CITY Our Friends Action Wanted City Moment In Rogue Fit The Amused Bouche Fast Food Must Haves Hot Wheels Idol Handlers Design Public Affairs Pluck of the Draw Novel Ideas Monster's Belle Not Guilty The Understudies The Hunger Elastique Where to Buy It Socials Icon

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