BOOKSHOPS UNITE FOR MARTIN AMIS

Monday sees an unusual partnership between two bookshops to mark Martin Amis' last few months in Manchester.

At Amis' final public event at Manchester University's centre for music and drama, the Oxfam shop on Oxford Road will run a joint bookstall with Blackwell Manchester. There will be plenty of discounts on the night.

Martin Amis will explore themes of American independence with special guests, author Will Self and Times literary editor Erica Wagner. You can find more about Monday's event here.

Booker-nominated Colm Tóibín will succeed Amis as professor of creative writing in September.

• Oxfam, meanwhile, launch the Oxfam Bookfest at the weekend. One of the events will be the Bad Language reading night on July 17th, 7.30pm at Apotheca, Thomas Street. It will feature, among others, booksellers from Blackwell Manchester. We love it when a plan comes together.