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 ReviewsSwallowing Mercury by Wioletta Greg
Wioletta Greg's Swallowing Mercury (beautifully translated by Eliza Marciniak) captures the almost dreamlike quality of childhood memories. Following th... Read more »| 01 Feb 2017 -
FeaturesDavid Keenan on This is Memorial Device
Author Andrew O'Hagan suggested he wouldn't like anyone who doesn't love it, claiming it 'the sound of young Scotland distilled' – This is Memorial Dev... Read more »| 30 Jan 2017 -
Book ReviewsPerfect Remains by Helen Fields
One of Scotland's most popular literary genres, Helen Fields' new novel, Perfect Remains, brings new possibilities for narrative style and plot to ... Read more »| 26 Jan 2017 -
Features
Australia Day: A New Narrative
As the troubled narrative of Australia Day continues, let's use this opportunity to provide an introduction to five Indigenous writers whose outstanding works are too often marginalised Read more »| 26 Jan 2017 -
Features
Kapka Kassabova on borders: "A powerful political tool"
Kapka Kassabova captures cold war history and the current refugee crisis on the blurred borders of the Balkan peninsula. The poet and travel writer's beautiful, tragic and universal new book may just be the most important you read in this year of Brexit Read more »| 23 Jan 2017 -
FeaturesDavid Keenan on writing & writers
The Skinny caught up with author David Keenan in a Glasgow bar to discuss his new novel This is Memorial Device, a hugely impressive debut whose subtitl... Read more »| 20 Jan 2017
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Book ReviewsLittle Deaths by Emma Flint
As a single mother, cocktail waitress and incorrigible man-eater, Ruth Malone is the epicentre of neighbourhood gossip. But when her two young children go mi... Read more »| 09 Jan 2017 -
Book Reviews
The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker
Watching lines on paper come to life is a magic trick that never fades, the simple and infinite pleasure of animation. Sharon and Mel arrive at art school in... Read more »| 09 Jan 2017 -
Features
How to Get Published: Writing groups in the North
If your New Year's resolution is to finally finish your debut novel, publish your work or simply get feedback from others, these writing groups will help you on the way Read more »| 06 Jan 2017 -
Features
Keith Hutson on debut poetry collection Routines
Our poetry columnist begins 2017 by speaking with emerging poet Keith Hutson about his debut collection of 31 sonnets, Routines, writing habits, influences and resolutions for the new year Read more »| 06 Jan 2017 -
Features
Amy Stewart on her Kopp Sisters novels
Lady Cop Makes Trouble picks up the story of the three Kopp sisters after their debut in Girl Waits With Gun. Amy Stewart talks about filling the holes in fa... Read more »| 06 Jan 2017 -
Book Reviews
Severance/Intercourse by Robert Olen Butler
This is a tale of two books, bound together as one. The reader need only flip and reverse to move between a collection of vignettes describing moments of int... Read more »| 05 Jan 2017 -
Features
Poetry Slams, Am-drams & Bellyaches
Competition in art: a flawed concept surely? Scottish Poetry Slam champ Iona Lee argues that two separate beings, two lives of experience with opposite tastes and talents should not be graded or pitted against one another. In art there's no correct answer Read more »| 05 Jan 2017 -
Book Reviews
Montpelier Parade by Karl Geary
A cold, wet spring in Dublin. Sonny sees Vera for the first time while he’s working in her garden with his da. She walks down the path towards him and ... Read more »| 04 Jan 2017 -
Features
Introducing Storyhouse, Chester's new arts centre
Chester's brand-new arts centre, Storyhouse, opens in May 2017. A major renovation and extension of the city's old Odeon building, it houses two state-of-the... Read more »| 20 Dec 2016