If you're reading this column, chances are you're fond of books. How fond you are of them probably determines how many of them are lurking in various parts of your residence. One thing is sure: a book-lover always wants more examples of the species, and Christmas is a good opportunity to add to the stack. This Thursday sees the last of Waterstone's special Christmas Shopping Evenings in its two Dublin branches, with 10 per cent off all books from 5 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. In the Dawson Street shop, you'll be serenaded by a string quartet and feted with wine and mince pies to ease the passage of money from your poca. The Jervis Centre shop, however - Bah, humbug! - is only offering coffee and mince pies, so you'd better bring your own hip-flask for a bit of DIY doctoring of said coffees.
It's the season when every newspaper (including this one) publishes lists of favourite books read over the previous 12 months by the famous and infamous. One British Sunday paper last weekend took a slightly different tack on this annual forensic investigation of reading habits by asking ordinary punters what books they had most enjoyed.
The said punters were all members of local reading groups, who get together over dinner once a month to discuss the book they've all agreed to read for that month. The refreshingly frank comments included this from a North London group: "Lady Chatterley's Lover generated debate - mainly because we couldn't believe how bad it was." Gathering laurels from a west London group was our own man, John Banville, whose The Un- touchable "stood out. The arrogance of the characters takes your breath away." Sadbh would be interested to hear by email or post what books any similar style reading groups around this country have enjoyed reading in the course of the year. Or do we prefer discussions about books over pints in pubs rather than the pasta and wine gatherings of our neighbours across the water?
Take a break from your Christmas shopping on Friday and stop off at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre at College Green for a bit of rest and culture. At 1.15 p.m., Dardis Clarke will be reading poems by his father, the late Austin Clarke. This is the 25th anniversary of Clarke's death. The unusual moniker of Dardis "is an old family name", explains its owner, the youngest son of the poet. Among the poems Dardis Clarke will be reading are Planter's Daughter, Martha Blake and Miss Rosanna Ford. Entrance is free, as it is to all the Bank of Ireland's Out to Lunch readings.
More competitions. Cut out and keep this bit of paper, as it's unlikely you'll have the opportunity to sit down for hours and hours and pen stories, poems, and three-act plays between now and the next century. Listowel Writer's Week probably has the most inclusive list of literary competitions in the country, with eight sections for adults, and five for children and young people up to the age of 18. Among the competitions are the Bryan MacMahon Short Story Award (max 3,000 words) with a meaty £1,500 first prize; the Eamon Keane Full Length Play Award also for £1,500; and a poetry competition with a £500 prize for the best single poem and also £500 for the best collection of poems. Collection here meaning between six and 12 poems, from a poet who has yet to publish their own book. The closing date for all competitions is March 1st. Details of entry fees and rules can be obtained by sending an SAE to The Administrator, Writers' Week, P.O. Box 147, Listowel, Co Kerry.
Crime writer John Connolly is pictured cosying up to a skeleton in this week's Bookseller, as he talks about his second novel, Dark Hollow. The book is due out on January 6th, officially the last day of Christmas, so you might just get away with asking for it as your last Christmas gift of the season. This book also features Charlie Bird Parker, and publishers Hodder and Stoughton will be hoping it will sell by as many truckloads as his first book, Every Dead Thing has done.