Books
The Skinny book guide – bringing you book reviews, features, events, reviews and author interviews. Find previews and on the ground reporting from festivals of literature and poetry in Scotland and beyond.
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Features
Paradigm Shift: Now Turn the Page
Of all the industries going through the current paradigm shifts driven by technological change, the book publishing industry is perhaps the most affected, and the most threatened Read more »| 06 Sep 2013 -
Features
Real Imagined Things: Adam Marek on The Stone Thrower
Prize-winning author Adam Marek talks about The Stone Thrower, exploring parenthood and childhood through a series of dystopian, near-future worlds Read more »| 03 Sep 2013 -
Features
Word on the Street: Live Literature in Edinburgh & Glasgow
One of the richest and most diverse spoken word scenes in the UK is waiting in Glasgow and Edinburgh for you to explore... Read more »| 03 Sep 2013 -
Features
The Future of Storytelling: Canongate's 40
Canongate celebrate their 40th by showcasing 40 contemporary Scottish storytellers whose work will define the next four decades of the nation's culture Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Book Reviews
The Human Part by Kari Hotakainen
In its opening paragraph, The Human Part’s octogenarian protagonist Salme dismisses the world of fiction in its entirety. Fiction means lies, lies are ... Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Book Reviews
The Sorrow of Angels by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
Longlisted for the European Prize for Literature, The Sorrow of Angels is the second book in the tragi-comic trilogy from Icelandic author Jón Ka... Read more »| 02 Sep 2013
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Features
The Art of Science: Jane Rogers & Ailís Ní Ríain
Ahead of their performances at Manchester Literature Festival, we talk to writer Jane Rogers and playwright and composer Ailís Ní Ríain about their recent work and the relationship between science and art Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Book Reviews
The Guts by Roddy Doyle
Since we first encountered Jimmy Rabbitte, the godfather of The Commitments has acquired a wife, four kids, a dog called Messi and bowel cancer. Characterist... Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Grant Morrison
Ah, Grant Morrison. Ever since we saw you coming up on ecstasy and talking about sigil magic at DisinfoCon in 1999, we've loved you. No, scratch that. Ever s... Read more »| 01 Sep 2013 -
Book Reviews
Flesh Wounds by Chris Brookmyre
With Flesh Wounds, Brookmyre returns to the more emotionally nuanced Glasgow crime world of Where the Bodies are Buried and When the Devil Drives (signalled,... Read more »| 30 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Joanne Harris
Another sell out event in the Baillie Gifford Theatre, this time welcoming the enormously popular Joanne Harris in conversation with Steven Gale. Harris is p... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: DBC Pierre
“Day by day, I think we’re fucking doomed.” DBC Pierre’s verdict on the future of humanity is typical of the cynical humour that char... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Will Gompertz
As the BBC’s Arts Editor, Will Gompertz is undoubtedly an expert on the subject. But, the decision in 2009 to appoint him as the new artsy one for... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Robert Peston
The BBC’s Business Editor Robert Peston, who has also been a stockbroker, certainly knows a thing or two about money. He reported extensively on the ba... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Neil Gaiman with Charles Fernyhough
Best-selling fantasy author Neil Gaiman is often described as "the most loved living writer," and the excited cheers that welcome him to a crowded Baillie Gi... Read more »| 28 Aug 2013