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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Book ReviewsBear Witness by Mandy Haggith
One of the central themes of this novel – Mandy Haggith’s second with a bear in the title – is independence. It’s dealt with on a sli... Read more »| 22 May 2013 -
Book ReviewsGutter 08
Gutter is a leading Scottish journal of prose, poetry, and review. The latter comprise a small wedge in the centre of the magazine, offering a nice round-u... Read more »| 21 May 2013 -
FeaturesIain Banks: Till The Space Cows Come Home
Following the tragic news that Iain Banks has terminal cancer, we asked Andrew Wilson, who has known Banks for over 20 years, to reflect on the life and work of one of Scotland's greatest authors Read more »| 09 May 2013 -
Book Reviews
Granta Best of Young British Novelists 4
Once a decade, since 1983, Granta has compiled a list of the 20 best British novelists under the age of 40. Accompanying the announcement is a volume featuri... Read more »| 03 May 2013 -
Features
Hassan Blasim: Once Upon a Time in Iraq
Hassan Blasim is touring the UK to promote his new collection of short stories, The Iraqi Christ. He talks to us about censorship, the surreal and violent imagery in his work, and the future of Arabic literature Read more »| 02 May 2013 -
FeaturesNed Beauman: Granta Best of Young British Novelists
We sat down with Ned Beauman, the youngest author on Granta's once-a-decade Best of Young British Novelists list and chatted about inclusion, his work and the international appeal of 'coke rap' Read more »| 01 May 2013
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Features
Writing on the Wall: Pressure Points
Tackling issues of class, division, and protest, this year's Writing on the Wall literature festival combines a timely theme with opinionated speakers Read more »| 01 May 2013 -
Book ReviewsIndian Nocturne by Antonio Tabucchi
Indian Nocturne follows a nameless man as he searches for his lost friend Xavier among the squalid streets and luxury hotels of India. At just over a hundred... Read more »| 01 May 2013 -
Book Reviews
Hawthorn & Child by Keith Ridgway
It begins with a shooting in North London, with detectives Hawthorn and Child trying to work out what’s happened. Early on, though, Ridgway derails the... Read more »| 01 May 2013 -
Book Reviews
The Humans by Matt Haig
Any writer who can fuse maths and peanut butter in his opening paragraph is a certified genius in his own right. In his book, Matt Haig introduces us to a ch... Read more »| 01 May 2013 -
Features
William McIlvanney: Laying Down The Law
As Canongate prepare to re-publish the complete works of William McIllvanney, starting with his Jack Laidlaw detective novels, we talk to “the Clark Gable of Scottish crime fiction” about inspiration, influence, and the importance of imagery Read more »| 01 May 2013 -
Book Reviews
Drugs 2.0: The Web Revolution That's Changing How the World Gets High by Mike Power
Like its subject matter - at least as self-confessed popper Mike Power would have us believe - Drugs 2.0 is a stimulating read, providing a timeline of chemi... Read more »| 01 May 2013 -
Features
Better on Paper: Victoria Baths Fanzine Fair
The upcoming Victoria Baths Fanzine Fair is just one of an ever-increasing number of events in the Northwest celebrating and encouraging self-publishing. We speak to some of its participants about the apparent resurgence of independent media Read more »| 30 Apr 2013 -
Features
Granta Best of Young British Novelists: Jenni Fagan
Jenni Fagan is the sole Scottish writer included in Granta's once-a-decade Best of Young British Novelists list. We catch up with her shortly after the announcement to discuss dancing celebrations, her new novel and the future. Read more »| 29 Apr 2013 -
Features
(New)man vs Establishment: Rob Newman on his new novel
In which we try to discover what a politically-charged comedian like Rob Newman is doing writing a swashbuckling, historical adventure novel Read more »| 29 Apr 2013