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 ReviewsThe Deadman's Pedal by Alan Warner
In The Deadman's Pedal Alan Warner returns to the Port, a fictionalised version of Oban and the setting of his acclaimed debut Morvern Callar. This new novel... Read more »| 01 Jul 2012 -
Book ReviewsSlinky Espadrilles by Ash Dickinson
Don’t be put off by the strange name – this is an extremely accessible, enjoyable collection of poetry. It’s the debut collection in print ... Read more »| 01 Jul 2012 -
Book ReviewsThe Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus
The Flame Alphabet’s dust jacket describes Marcus as the ‘most maniacally gifted writer of our generation’ (Hark! Hyperbole!) and is laden ... Read more »| 01 Jul 2012 -
Book Reviews
The Dream of the Celt by Mario Vargas Llosa
The Dream of the Celt is a re-imagining of the life of Irish nationalist Roger Casement. As a young man Roger believed in the ideals of the British Empire ... Read more »| 27 Jun 2012 -
Book Reviews
CLiNT #2.1 by Mark Millar, et al.
An early relaunch for the Mark Millar-produced comic anthology magazine CLiNT, tightening up here and there. Millar handles half of the writing in this issue... Read more »| 30 May 2012 -
Book ReviewsThe Antidote by Oliver Burkeman
“Closure is bullshit,” said crime writer James Ellroy. This book would agree, although it puts it more politely. The Antidote looks at how variou... Read more »| 30 May 2012
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Book Reviews
Harry Lipkin, P.I. by Barry Fantoni
Barry Fantoni is a veteran contributor to Private Eye (the magazine), and this book is about a Private Eye (the actual job). Harry Lipkin P.I is a detective ... Read more »| 29 May 2012 -
Book Reviews
Ninety Days by Bill Clegg
The drug addiction memoir has become quite a common form, but this is one of the better written ones. Bill Clegg is a literary agent, so knows somethin... Read more »| 24 May 2012 -
Book Reviews
I'm Never Coming Back by Julian Hanshaw
The genesis of Julian Hanshaw's latest graphic novel I'm Never Coming Back began with Sand Dunes and Sonic Booms, the 2008 winner of The Observer/C... Read more »| 07 May 2012 -
Book Reviews
March Was Made of Yarn by Various
On March 11 2011, Japan’s north-east coast was hit by a massive earthquake, followed minutes later by a fifty-foot tsunami. The subsequent meltdown at ... Read more »| 02 May 2012 -
Book Reviews
The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan
Anais Hendricks is a fifteen year old orphan who is taken to the Panopticion, a home for chronic young offenders, after she is suspected of putting a policew... Read more »| 02 May 2012 -
Features
Ewan Morrison: Interview From a Mall
Ewan Morrison is the acclaimed author of a trilogy of novels – Swung, Distance and Menage – about alternative sexuality. And so naturally he's followed these up with an examination of the way we shop. Let's go to a mall with him and see what happens. Read more »| 30 Apr 2012 -
Features
Jonah Lehrer: The Science of Creativity
Jonah Lehrer is a writer and neuroscientist whose work bridges the gap between art and science by exploring creativity through science Read more »| 26 Apr 2012 -
Book Reviews
The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey
The Chemistry of Tears is fresh from the pen of Peter Carey, the guy who did more for Ned Kelly than Ned ever did for himself. This time Carey does the same ... Read more »| 22 Apr 2012 -
Book Reviews
Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer
First, the good news: there’s no such thing as a creative type. Next, the best news: we’re all creative types. As modern science uncovers t... Read more »| 06 Apr 2012