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, England and beyond.
-
Book ReviewsGods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia beautifully weaves the glamour and possibility of the Jazz Age with Mexican folklore, crafting a lush, enthralling coming of age fairytale Read more »| 25 Jul 2019 -
Book ReviewsThe Unmaking of Ellie Rook by Sandra Ireland
Sandra Ireland's new novel tries to fit a lot into its short length, but it's a well-crafted narrative blending fantastical folklore and bleak domestic reality Read more »| 25 Jul 2019 -
Book ReviewsMy Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams
Rachel DeLoache Williams' tale of her relationship with fraudster Anna Delvey is an intimate, methodical look at the pair's relationship Read more »| 23 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsThe Other Side of Freedom: DeRay Mckesson interview
Ahead of his visit as a guest selector at 2019's Edinburgh International Book Festival, DeRay Mckesson speaks to The Skinny about his book – On the Other Side of Freedom – the power of language, and his brilliant events at Charlotte Square Gardens Read more »| 22 Jul 2019 -
Book ReviewsThe Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan
Alix Nathan's latest is an impressively-written novel let down by a lack of focus on the heart of its intriguing premise Read more »| 18 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsEdinburgh Book Festival 2019: The Skinny's Highlights
Our books editor picks out five highlights from this year's Edinburgh Book Festival programme Read more »| 15 Jul 2019
-
FeaturesLara Williams on her debut novel Supper Club
Lara Williams' debut novel is about taking up space, particularly bodily space, subverting the expectation that women need to shrink themselves down. We speak to Williams about writing Supper Club, gross food and abject bodies Read more »| 04 Jul 2019 -
Book ReviewsWater Shall Refuse Them by Lucie McKnight Hardy
Water Shall Refuse Them is a vaporous exploration of malice and teenage angst Read more »| 03 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsUnbound: Introducing the 2019 programme
Unbound with Edinburgh Gin is a free, informal and fun programme of night-time events at Edinburgh Book Festival; Roland Gulliver introduces the programme Read more »| 01 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsBeyond Unbound
While the Unbound programme takes over the Spiegeltent every night at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, it's the cherry on top of the day, each packed full of amazing authors from across the globe Read more »| 01 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsUnbound: Inua Ellams' R.A.P Party
Poetry and hip-hop combine at R.A.P Party. Inua Ellams tells us more Read more »| 01 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsUnbound: Outriders Africa
We meet Donna Ogunnaike, one of the writers taking to the stage as part of the new Outriders Africa project Read more »| 01 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsStinging Songs: Armellodie Records at Unbound
Scottish record label Armellodie presents three bands and three authors inspired by the Irish Literary Magazine The Stinging Fly Read more »| 01 Jul 2019 -
FestivalsUnbound: Finding Home
Poets and performers come together around Finding Home, an event that will explore traditional ideas of home and place, as well as timely political barriers to finding a home, such as borders, nationality and xenophobia Read more »| 01 Jul 2019 -
NewsScottish Poetry News: July 2019
Our guide to the best literary and spoken word events taking place across Scotland this month Read more »| 28 Jun 2019