Live music every Thursday night
Starting this Thursday (6th July), we’ll have live music every Thursday night at Backstory throughout the summer. It’s free and unticketed. Just turn up, have a neb at the books, grab a drink and then perch at our bar and take in the show. It starts at 6pm and we’re open to 9pm. (We’re also open til 9pm on Fridays for chilled evenings at our bar with a summery gin cocktail or a glass of rosé.)
Get your event tickets
Kenan Malik in conversation with Stephen Bush - Not So Black and White
Wednesday 5th July, 7.30pm, Backstory
Writer and lecturer Kenan Malik talks to Stephen Bush, FT columnist and ex-New Statesman newsletter writer, about today's heated debates on race, culture, whiteness and privilege.
Sophie Mackintosh - Cursed Bread
Tuesday 11th July, 7.30pm, Backstory
The Booker-longlisted author of The Water Cure joins us to talk about her new novel, Cursed Bread, an intoxicating novel about a baker’s wife poisoned with desire.
Thursday 20th July, 7.30pm, Backstory
Visiting from across the pond, Booker-shortlisted author Karen Joy Fowler talks about Booth, which tells the story of the ill-fated Booth family and their attachment to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
COLIN WALSH IS GOING TO BE BIG. You heard it here first.
Kala, his debut novel, is officially published this coming Thursday but is already flying off the shelves at Backstory, where we’ve made it our book of the month for July.
It’s a pacy but stylish page-turner about a group of friends growing up together in small-town Ireland. At the centre of this group - and everyone’s attention - is Kala, at least until she goes missing.
Fifteen years on, the remaining friends are back in town when old secrets come out of hibernation and the truth about what became of Kala slowly emerges.
It’s a riveting summer read, so make room for it in your suitcase.
I could say a lot more, but instead I thought I’d hand you over to Colin himself, who has very kindly summarised his novel for us in the short video above. Just hit play (it’ll take you to this page on Substack, where you have to hit play again, annoyingly…).
If you like the sound of it, order a copy with free delivery anywhere in the UK or click & collect at the shop.
Have a lovely week,
Tom
We could rave about this debut novel