One For The Trouble (Book Slam‪)‬

‘Book Slam has single-handedly dragged the London literary scene into the 21st century.’ Hari Kunzru


‘Book Slam is an amazing and unique phenomenon — an incredible boon for readers and writers — we’re all very lucky to have it in our world.’ William Boyd


One For The Trouble – Book Slam Volume One is the first publication from the UK’s premier literary event. Editor Patrick Neate approached eighteen Book Slam alumni, from household names like Irvine Welsh and William Boyd to newcomers like Kate Tempest and Sophie Woolley, to take a song title for inspiration for a new short story or poem. Simon Armitage’s poem, for example, reflects hauntingly on the suicide of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, while award-winning young adult author, Patrick Ness, stretches his skills with a darkly comic take on ‘Let Me Entertain You’. The resulting collection is unique, diverse and thoroughly entertaining. One For The Trouble provides a perfect snapshot of the very best contemporary British writing (www.bookslam.com). 


Full Contents:


1. Grave Architecture

(Pavement, 1995)

Richard Milward


2. New Gold Dream

(Simple Minds, 1982)

Hari Kunzru


3. New Dawn Fades

(Joy Division, 1979)

Simon Armitage


4. Comeback Girl

(Republic Of Loose, 2005)

Irvine Welsh


5. I'm Going Slightly Mad

(Queen, 1991)

Bernardine Evaristo


6. The Bed's Too Big Without You

(Sheila Hylton, 1981)

Kate Tempest


7. When I'm Sixty-Four

(The Beatles, 1967)

Joe Dunthorne


8. Tears Of A Clown

(Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1967)

William Boyd


9. The Message

(Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five, 1982)

Paul Murray


10. Ascension

(John Coltrane, 1966)

Roger Robinson


11. Violet Stars Happy Hunting!

(Janelle Monáe, 2007)

Helen Oyeyemi


12. I Read My Sentence …

(Radka Toneff, 1986)

Don Paterson


13. Let Me Entertain You

(Robbie Williams, 1998)

Patrick Ness


14. Bank Holiday

(Blur, 1994)

Luke Wright


15. I Am The Walrus

(The Beatles, 1967)

Sophie Woolley


16. That Summer Feeling

(Jonathan Richman, 1984)

Jon Ronson


17. Underground

(Ben Folds Five, 1995)

Tim Key


18. Endless Art

(A House, 1992)

Jon McGregor