Chapter & Verse BlogChapter & Verse Blog

The Manchester Literature Festival Blog

  • the experimental author Mark Z Danielewski

    Review: Mark Z Danielewski at the Burgess Foundation

    Thursday 12th June 2014 1.45pm

    Sarah Jasmon enjoys an evening of readings and weighty literary discussion with experimental novelist Mark Z Danielewski

  • author ben marcus

    Review: Ben Marcus at the Burgess Foundation

    Monday 14th April 2014 2.00pm

    Adrian Slatcher spends an enlightening evening with American writer Ben Marcus.

  • Richmond Fontaine frontman and novelist Willy Vlautin plays his guitar and sings at the Burgess Foundation in Manchester

    Review: Willy Vlautin at the Burgess Foundation

    Thursday 13th February 2014 11.00am

    Musician and author Willy Vlautin brought his humble ballads of everyday Americans to Manchester with a reading from new novel, The Free. Emma Nuttall enjoyed the show.

  • A photo of MLF Board Member Punam Ramchurn

    Meet the MLF Team: Punam Ramchurn

    Thursday 31st October 2013 11.30am

    We catch up with MLF board member Punam Ramchurn

  • Author Neil Gaiman reads from new book Fortunately the Milk at MLF13

    Review: Neil Gaiman at The Dancehouse

    Thursday 24th October 2013 11.40am

    MLF Blogger Kate Feld enjoys an entertaining afternoon in the company of pirates, wumpires and intergalactic dinosaur police.

  • Author Joanna Trollope in conversation with Jenni Murray during MLF13

    Review: Joanna Trollope at the Royal Exchange

    Wednesday 23rd October 2013 1.40pm

    Festival Blogger Catherine Marsall enjoys hearing the author talk about modern life and updating Austen.

  • cover of sylvia plath's the bell jar

    Review: I am, I am, I am at The Martin Harris Centre

    Thursday 17th October 2013 3.30pm

    Rachel Barker is transfixed by a revelatory evening spent exploring Sylvia Plath's poems with Jackie Kay and Ali Smith.

  • Chris Killen reads from his short story A Short Guide to the Future at the 2013 Blog North Awards

    Review: The Blog North Awards at Gorilla

    Tuesday 22nd October 2013 11.50am

    MLF blogger Rachel Barker is surprised by the range and diversity of voices at an event celebrating British blogging.

  • Lamn Sissay onstage at Manchester Town Hall

    Review: I Have a Dream at Manchester Town Hall

    Wednesday 23rd October 2013 1.30pm

    MLF Blogger Fran Slater is captivated by Lemn Sissay's tribute to MLK and the music of Manchester Camerata.

  • Writer and Dancer Carlos Acosta smiling onstage at The Lowry during MLF13

    Review: Carlos Acosta at The Lowry

    Wednesday 23rd October 2013 1.00pm

    Claire Ramtuhul is charmed by the Cuban dancer-turned-writer and his stories from a Cuba that may no longer exist.

  • Author lionel shriver delivers the 2013 Manchester sermon

    Review: The Manchester Sermon at Halle St Peter's

    Tuesday 22nd October 2013 2.30pm

    MLF Blogger Fran Slater enjoys Lionel Shriver's "Anti-Sermon" Sermon.

  • Author Iain Sinclair onstage  at MLF13

    Review: Iain Sinclair at the Burgess Foundation

    Tuesday 22nd October 2013 2.10pm

    MLF Blogger Frank Collins spends a fascinating evening considering The Beats with legendary walker, talker and writer Iain Sinclair.

  • writers at our passion for sport event during MLF13

    Review: A Passion for Sport at The Green

    Tuesday 22nd October 2013 1.45pm

    Festival Blogger Chris Ogden finds much common ground between writing and sport at a rare event joining these two worlds.

  • Tea at the Modland Hotel with Rachel Cooke during MLF13

    Review: Tea at the Midland with Rachel Cooke

    Tuesday 22nd October 2013 12.20pm

    MLF Blogger Sarah Jasmon gets her tea and a lot more out of an afternoon spent talking about the women of the 1950s.

  • Walter Mosley author of Litte Green standing in front of Cornerhouse

    Review: Walter Mosley at Cornerhouse

    Tuesday 22nd October 2013 12.00pm

    Festival Blogger Jennie Shorley Carling is won over by author Walter Mosley's spare, direct way of doing things.

  • books at portico library

    Review: First Editions and Rarities Walking Tour

    Friday 18th October 2013 1.00pm

    On a ramble through the city, MLF blogger Catherine McGee learns the secrets of three Manchester libraries.

  • manchester crime scene event during the 2013 festival

    Review: Manchester Crime Scene at Manchester Town Hall

    Friday 18th October 2013 4.40pm

    MLF Blogger Liz Gregory hears three different perspectives on crime writing in the Rainy City with Val McDermid, Cath Staincliffe and Tom Benn.

  • A picture of author Helen Fielding reading at the 2013 festival

    Review: Helen Fielding at the Royal Exchange

    Friday 18th October 2013 3.00pm

    Festival blogger Lauren Binnie mourns Mr. Darcy, but finds some solace in a lively afternoon in the company of the Bridget Jones author.

  • Close-up of poet Rebecca Goss

    Review: Open the Windows at Manchester Museum

    Thursday 17th October 2013 3.15pm

    Festival Blogger Chris Ogden is moved by a surprising and powerful blend of poetry, music and medicine.

  • authors in the portico library at MLF Barbara Pym event

    Review: Barbara Pym event at The Portico

    Thursday 10th October 2013 10.30am

    MLF Blogger LJ Spilane heads to The Portico Library to celebrate the centenary of a most excellent woman.

  • Image from The Raven Girl by Audrey Niffenegger

    Review: Audrey Niffenegger & Jeanette Winterson at The Martin Harris Centre

    Thursday 17th October 2013 2.40pm

    At an evening with author Audrey Niffenegger, MLF Blogger Cat Lumb learns about creativity and the importance of hanging on to your native sense of wonder.

  • Acclaimed author Tony White dressed in a smart shirt and blazer jacket infront of a historic, literary building.

    Review: Shackleton's Man Goes South at Manchester Museum

    Thursday 17th October 2013 2.00pm

    MLF Blogger Joely Black is moved by Tony White's new book, a novel that delivers a powerful warning about the fate of the Earth.

  • A picture of Malorie Blackman sitting at a table during a book signing talking to a young fan

    Out and About With Our Young Digital Reporters

    Thursday 17th October 2013 12.25pm

    Each year we work with a group of young people aged 15 to 25 to support them to develop their skills as digital reporters, documenting festival events from their perspective.

  • MLF blogger Nanette Thompson stands next to writer Xiaolu Guod

    Review: Xiaolu Guo at The Burgess Foundation

    Tuesday 15th October 2013 2.00pm

    Festival blogger Nanette Thomspon enjoys learning about author Xiaolu Guo

  • A drawing of writer Thomas de Quincey

    Review: David Morrell at John Rylands Library

    Tuesday 15th October 2013 3.30pm

    MLF Blogger LJ Spillane hears about a potent tale of murder and drug addiction that's an intriguing blend of fact and fiction

  • Jazz Band Alligator Gumbo in perfromance

    Review: The Great Gatsby Uncovered at Matt & Phreds

    Tuesday 15th October 2013 2.30pm

    Festival Blogger Lucy Rock is seduced by visions of a jazz age darker and more complex than we might believe.

  • Atmospheric black and white photo of author A.L Kennedy

    Review: Northern Lights Writers Conference at Sale Waterside

    Tuesday 15th October 2013 1.30pm

    Our blogger Desmond Bullen enjoys a day spent talking about writing and publishing in Sale

  • A paintng of the sea near Scotland by Henry Moore

    Review: A Highland Romance at Manchester Art Gallery

    Tuesday 15th October 2013 11.15am

    Festival blogger Lucy Rock goes on a rewarding journey to the Scottish Highlands with poet Jen Hadfield

  • Author Patrick Ness giving a reading at Manchester Town hall during the 2013 festival

    Review: Patrick Ness at Manchester Town Hall

    Thursday 10th October 2013 2.00pm

    Festival Blogger Desmond Bullen is impressed by Patrick Ness.

  • Author James Wheatley with light shining on his golden hair

    Review: Fiction Debuts at Waterstones

    Thursday 10th October 2013 1.30pm

    MLF Blogger Cat Lumb finds common threads among three very different perspectives at our Fiction Debuts event.

  • Kate Feld

    Meet the MLF Team: Kate Feld

    Wednesday 9th October 2013 2.20pm

    In this week's installment in our Meet the Team series, we meet Digital Marketing Assistant Kate Feld

  • Review: Graphic Novels at the Burgess Foundation

    Tuesday 8th October 2013 2.00pm

    Festival blogger Joely Black enjoys an ideal introduction to the world of Graphic Novels during MLF13

  • Poet and childrens author Dominic Berry aka Dommy B in a stripey tee-shirt

    Five minutes with... Dominic Berry

    Monday 7th October 2013 12.00pm

    We catch up with the enormously entertaining poet Dominic Berry (aka Dommy B) ahead of his upcoming appearance at our Family Reading Day October 20.

  • MLF Director Cathy Bolton reading a colurful picture book

    Meet the MLF Team: Cathy Bolton

    Tuesday 1st October 2013 12.00pm

    In the latest of our series of posts getting to know the MLF team, we meet Festival Director Cathy Bolton...

  • A picture of the musical trio the bookshop band reading a book

    Five minutes with...The Bookshop Band

    Tuesday 24th September 2013 10.40am

    In advance of their upcoming gig at our Patrick Ness event on 8 October, we talk to Ben Please of The Bookshop Band, a unique musical trio who write and perform songs inspired by particular books.

  • MLF board member stands with poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy in a library

    Meet the MLF Team: Jane Mathieson

    Thursday 19th September 2013 12.20pm

    In our latest Meet the Team post, we get to know Jane Mathieson, who has been a member of the Manchester Literature Festival board since its inception, and has helped develop and maintain strong links between the festival and libraries in the region.

  • Norwegian crime author Jo Nesbø

    Jo Nesbø at Manchester Town Hall

    Tuesday 17th September 2013 11.00am

    MLF Blogger Sarah Jasmon on the seductive charms of Jo Nesbø, who got MLF 2013 off to an early start at Manchester Town Hall on 13 September. In a wide-ranging conversation with writer Barry Forshaw, the bestselling Norwegian author discussed the Scandi crime phenomena and what it's like to immerse himself in the dark world of detctive Harry Hole.

  • A picture of MLF Children and Young People's Coordinator Liz Postlethwaite sitting in a field, smiling, wearing headphones

    Meet the MLF team: Liz Postlethwaite

    Friday 13th September 2013 12.45pm

    In the latest post in our "Meet the MLF Team" series, we get to know MLF's Children and Young People's Programme Coordinator Liz Postlethwaite.

  • David Peace reads his book Red or Dead on stage at national football museum

    Up Close with David Peace

    Tuesday 3rd September 2013 4.31pm

    In a preview event for this autumn’s Manchester Literature Festival, David Peace visited National Football Museum to talk to author and DJ Dave Haslam about his latest novel, Red or Dead, which follows the life of Liverpool FC managerial legend, Bill Shankly. Blogger Jason Cooke was there to cover the event for Chapter & Verse.

  • MLF Sign

    Meet the MLF team: Jon Atkin

    Friday 16th August 2013 2.30pm

    We work hard to bring you the finest festival we can every year. But who is this shadowy team of book lovers labouring away on Oak Street? To introduce MLF’s cast of characters and shed a little light on what exactly it is that we do all day, we’re starting a series of posts about, well… us. First up is Festival Coordinator (on sabbatical) Jon Atkin.

  • Mark Lester of Manchester design studio MARK

    Meet the designer: Mark Lester

    Wednesday 14th August 2013 3.30pm

    Mark Lester and his award-winning Manchester design studio, MARK, are responsible for all of the festival’s design and brand work. This year’s designs, which look at the 2013 festival programme through the medium of word puzzle books, are possibly the most intriguing yet. We caught up with Mark to talk about his work for the festival and where those ideas come from.

  • picture of an antique black remington typewriter

    Blogging the 2013 Festival

    Thursday 8th August 2013 12.14pm

    What you’re reading is Chapter & Verse, the brand new Manchester Literature Festival blog. In the weeks to come, we’ll be using this space to go deeper into the books, authors and ideas that figure in this year’s festival...

  • John Robb performs in The Membranes at The Universe Explained

    The Universe Explained

    Friday 26th July 2013 2.54pm

    Picture a Venn diagram with one circle labelled 'into punk rock' and the other labelled 'interested in science'; the bit where the two circles overlap looked like the audience at Gorilla the other night for geeky gig The Universe Explained...