Hay Festival Adventures 2024

The 15-Minute Book Club

The Hay Festival is an annual literary festival in the town of books, Hay-on-Wye, in Wales. I spent 10 days at the festival this year taking in all the incredible energy. In total I attended about 20 events, each one packed with things to think about.

Day 1 mentions:

• Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

• For Ian Charleson by Ian McKellen

• Bibliomaniac by Robin Ince

Day 2 mentions:

• BBC Radio 4 Podcast You’re Dead to Me: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07mdbhg

• Eat Your Words - Oyster mushroom grow kits: https://superfungi.co.uk/store/p/mushroomgrowkit

• Shelterbox Book club: https://shelterbox.org/book-club/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu8uyBhC6ARIsAKwBGpRda82E9BICGEGd_p49goVogFYXUloiVdnU9VXmaEpv73U-7D6uWasaAhMfEALw_wcB

• Field & Found: https://www.fieldandfound.com/

• Happy Maki: https://www.happymaki.co.uk/

• Shepherds Ice Cream: https://www.shepherdsicecream.co.uk/

• La Bonne Crepe: https://www.facebook.com/LaBonneCrepeBristol/?locale=en_GB

Day 3 mentions:

• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

• The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

• After Me Comes the Flood by Sarah Perry

• Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

• The Morningside by Tea Obreht

• Taste Tibet by Julie Kleeman and Yeshi Jampa

• Taste Tibet: https://tastetibet.com/

• Lauren Silver Boutique: https://www.laurensilverboutique.com/

Day 4 mentions:

• Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown by Anais Mitchell

• Oakchurch Farm Shop: https://www.oakchurch.net/

• Two Farmers Hand Cooked Crisps: https://twofarmers.co.uk/

• Skittery Apple Juice: https://www.jusapples.co.uk/

• Cradoc's Savoury Biscuits: https://cradocssavourybiscuits.co.uk/

• Why We Build the Wal by Anais Mitchelll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBGUqMyyvnI

Day 5 mentions:

• We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

• Mania by Lionel Shriver

• Lionel Shriver talks to Stephanie Merritt: https://www.hayfestival.com/p-21851-lionel-shriver-talks-to-stephanie-merritt.aspx?skinid=16#:~:text=Hay%20Festival%202024%2C%20Tuesday%2028%20May%202024&text=What%20if%20calling%20someone%20stupid,qualification%20to%20be%20a%20doctor

• The Self-Sufficiency Garden by Huw Richards and Sam Cooper

• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

• Our Little Farm by Peter and Miriam Wohlleben

Day 6 mentions:

• Meat & Greek: http://www.meatandgreek.co.uk/

• Coal Town Coffee: https://www.coaltowncoffee.co.uk

Day 7 mentions:

• Killing for country by David Marr.

• Hay Cinema Bookshop: https://www.haycinemabookshop.co.uk/

• The Beefy Boys: https://thebeefyboys.com/

Day 8 mentions:

• Eve by Cat Bohannon

• Womb by Leah Hazard

• What about Men? By Caitlin Moran

• My Octopus Teacher documentary: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81045007?trackId=14277281&tctx=-97%2C-97%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C81045007%2CVideo%3A81045007%2C

• Amphibious Soul by Craig Foster

• Lola’s Fish and Chips: https://modern-amusement.com/lolas-ethical-seafood-sustainable-fish-and-chips-at-music-festivals-and-events-across-the-uk

Day 9 mentions:

• Matrescence by Lucy Jones

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• The Fritter Shack: https://thefrittershack.co.uk/

• P&G Hats: https://www.pandghats.co.uk/

Day 10 mentions:

• Less by Patrick Grant

• Community Clothing: https://communityclothing.co.uk/

• A Very Private School by Charles Spencer