Too Much Too Young (Book Slam)

Following the success of their first short story annual, London’s leading literary shindig, Book Slam, publish the hotly anticipated sequel, ‘Too Much Too Young – Volume 2’. Again, this collection of specially commissioned, exclusive new stories from the event’s alumni includes household names, rising stars and exceptional new talent, with stories from David Nicholls, Diana Evans, Jeremy Dyson, Marina Lewycka, Emylia Hall, Nikesh Shukla, Jesse Armstrong, Jackie Kay, Craig Taylor, Patrick Neate, Salena Godden and Chris Cleave.

Each short story is inspired by a song title – a nod to Book Slam’s championing of the best live music – and, though twelve very different worlds are imagined, ‘Too Much Too Young’ becomes a unifying theme with many authors touching on youthful experience and nostalgic (and not so nostalgic) reminiscence. Jackie Kay’s beautifully moving story, ‘Every Time We Say Goodbye’, documents a couple in the last throes of love, while ‘Have Some Madeira M’Dear’, Jeremy Dyson’s witty tale inspired by the Flanders and Swan song, explores a young boy thrust into an adult world. Chris Cleave’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ is a heartbreaking portrayal of dementia, while Diana Evans’s ‘Saturday Night’ records a woman’s encounter with an old lover, which allows her to re-imagine how life might have been …

Book Slam is the UK’s leading regular literary event, created by writers for writers to showcase the very best contemporary storytelling. The move into publishing has, therefore, been a natural progression, cementing the organisation’s position as ‘a force for literary good’ (The Guardian).

‘Too Much Too Young’ will be available in print, digital and audio editions. As Book Slam’s founder, award-winning novelist, Patrick Neate, comments: ‘Doing something a second time is arguably harder than the first, so we’re hugely proud to publish such an excellent, diverse collection that accurately reflects the Book Slam ethos – twelve authors, some you will have heard of, some not, and each writing at the very peak of their powers.’

Full Contents:

1. A Little Soul
(Pulp, 1998)
David Nicholls

2. Another Saturday Night
(Sam Cooke, 1963)
Diana Evans

3. Madeira, M’Dear
(Flanders & Swann, 1963)
Jeremy Dyson

4. Not Exactly
Marina Lewycka
(Deadmau5, 2008)

5. Me And Bobby McGee
(Janis Joplin, 1971)
Emylia Hall

6. Safe From Harm
(Massive Attack, 1991)
Nikesh Shukla

7. Life During Wartime
(Talking Heads, 1979)
Jesse Amrstrong

8. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye
(Ella Fitzgerald, 1956)
Jackie Kay

9. Master Of Puppets
(Metallica, 1986)
Craig Taylor

10 Weaves And Magazines
(Netsayi, 2009)
Patrick Neate

11. Milord
(Edith Piaf, 1959)
Salena Godden

12. We’ll Meet Again
(Vera Lynn, 1939)
Chris Cleave

About Book Slam:
“Book Slam has almost single-handedly dragged the London literary scene into the twenty-first 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

"You can catch writers yakking about their books just about everywhere. The great thing about Book Slam is that readers come to hear the words. It's like a nightclub for literature."
Howard Jacobson