Smith on Glyph

Instead of queuing for Bop or downing drinks at the pub, I spent a rainy Friday night nestled among the literarily inclined at Toppings & Company. Although not on my typical agenda, Toppings was hosting an exciting guest. So pints were put aside, as I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear from renowned Scottish author Ali Smith discussing her newest novel, Glyph. 

Author of works such as How to Be Both and the Seasonal Quartet (Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer), Glyph is Smith’s fifteenth novel, and sister to Gliff, published in 2024. Her works have been translated into 40 different languages, not 30 like the Toppings employee who gave the introduction, suggested – much to Ms Smith’s chagrin.   

Such a distinguished author attracted hordes of sweater-clad connoisseurs of the written word.  When I arrived at this event, the bookstore was bustling with anticipation, and all seats were filled. I was graciously ushered to a ‘reserved’ seat near the back of the store by a cheerful Toppings employee, who jokingly assured me it was reserved for ‘press.’ How official – I would definitely be calling my mom about this after. 

With heads craned to get a glimpse of this literary legend, Ali Smith began her talk. She discussed the inspiration behind Glyph before reading aloud a short excerpt from the novel, then answering questions from the audience. Behind her sharp prose is an even sharper mind, as her wit carried her audience through even the most dreary of evenings weather-wise. Although one woman behind me did doze off during the read-aloud, I was thoroughly engaged. 

A perennial theme in both Glyph and Ms Smith’s talk is the idea of flattening. She shared that ‘glyph’ has multiple meanings, denoting both a singular character or symbol and a carving or groove. Glyph, therefore, is a minuta, the smallest unit of meaning, but also an indentation that makes the flat dimensional. Therefore, a glyph resists flattening as it is both multitudinous and complicated. Smith shared that she was inspired by this metaphor of flattening and wanted to explore the ways we, as individuals and as a collective whole, can resist being reduced and compressed. 

Glyph is in part a response to incomprehensible horrors and atrocities that flatten our world, and through language gives its readers a method of inhabiting multiplicities. Ms Smith spoke about how we shouldn’t be desensitised to violence and instead seek to comprehend it – through reading, writing, and thinking critically; we can visualise a model of complex solutions to complex issues. 

Powerful stuff! As a student studying the humanities, I often take for granted that I have the privilege of discussing texts and ideas at length, so I applaud Ali Smith for opening this dialogue to the community and her readers at large. 

Although Ali Smith’s wit was often humorous and refreshing, it was at times directed at eager audience members or the poor student reading the (albeit factually incorrect) introduction. There is a time for sharp jabs and sarcastic comments, but hopefully not at the expense of the well-intentioned supporters of your work. 

Surprisingly, for a student-centred town, I was one of the very few students in the audience. I understand that this was a sold-out event, but perhaps, when available, discounted tickets could be set aside for the literarily inclined youth. In any case, the Toppings employees and volunteers were incredibly kind and ensured that each attendee felt welcomed – especially to the ‘press.’ Whether for an evening with a visiting author or a quick perusal between lectures, Toppings is undoubtedly a delightful refuge for the bookish.

I left elucidated, buzzing with ideas and conflicting opinions. It’s the kind of intoxicating feeling gained after the most engaging seminars and fruitful tutorials. 

Or, it could have been the complementary glass of wine.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons