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.
-
FeaturesThe Prime of Muriel Spark
As we begin the year of Muriel Spark's centenary celebrations, writers share how she influenced them, making a case for her placement as Scotland's great writer Read more »| 10 Jan 2018 -
Book ReviewsBloody January by Alan Parks
From the moneyed elite to groupies, and the brutal gangs of an urban wasteland, Bloody January navigates the underbelly of 1970s Glasgow. Read more »| 08 Jan 2018 -
Features
Scottish Poetry News: January 2018
A whirlwind tour of the poetry happenings for January through Rabbie Burns and beyond Read more »| 05 Jan 2018 -
Book Reviews
Goblin by Ever Dundas
Ever Dundas' debut novel is an enchanting, genre-defying read Read more »| 05 Jan 2018 -
Features
Paper View: Stephen King's Novels on Screen
Few authors have seen as much of their work take the page-to-screen path as Stephen King; we assess the best and worst King adaptations, and look at what could be in store in the future Read more »| 06 Dec 2017 -
Features
Wreath All About It: Books Gift Guide
As a celebration of Christmas, here are a handful of Scottish books from 2017 that are timely, transformative and begging to be cracked open on a cold winter’s evening Read more »| 04 Dec 2017
-
EventsRhyme Watch: Scottish Poetry News – December 2017
As we come towards the festive season and everything begins to tie up for the end of term, news on the poetry front becomes less intense in terms of competitions and personal soapboxes Read more »| 01 Dec 2017 -
FeaturesEd ‘Foots’ Lipman: San Quentin’s Forgotten Prison Poet
The story of how a Scottish poetry lover has come to re-publish the work of Ed ‘Foots’ Lipman, the American prison poet it seems everyone had forgotten Read more »| 16 Nov 2017 -
Book Reviews
Classic Ghost Stories
'I can assure you,' said I, 'that it will take a very tangible ghost to frighten me.' And I stood up before the fire with my glass in my hand.'It is your own... Read more »| 07 Nov 2017 -
Book Reviews
The Alarming Palsy of James Orr by Tom Lee
Tom Lee shows plenty of skill in his debut novel, but fails to elevate the book beyond other cleanly told tales of middle-class life Read more »| 03 Nov 2017 -
Book Reviews
Translation as Transhumance by Mireille Gansel
A remarkable and illuminating memoir by French translator Mireille Gansel, faithfully rendered in English by Ros Schwartz Read more »| 02 Nov 2017 -
Features
Scottish Poetry News: November 2017
Our poetry columnist looks at the T.S. Eliot prize shortlist and an exciting announcement from StAnza Read more »| 02 Nov 2017 -
Book ReviewsDemi-Gods by Eliza Robertson
A gripping debut novel by Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner Eliza Robertson Read more »| 02 Nov 2017 -
Features
In Defence of Knausgaard's Seasons Quartet
Critics turned on Karl Ove Knausgård after Autumn, the first of his seemingly self-indulgent Seasons Quartet. We never like to see a poor literary superstar bullied, so Scandinavian Correspondent Dominic Hinde throws him a lifeline as Winter publishes Read more »| 01 Nov 2017 -
Features
Jarett Kobek: Trump, Twitter & Club Kids carnage
Bret Easton Ellis takes issue over Bobby Brown, bodies are chopped up in bathtubs and Donald Trump is saviour, of Twitter at least. I Hate The Internet autho... Read more »| 30 Oct 2017