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 Bricks that Built the Houses by Kate Tempest
Kate Tempest’s debut novel The Bricks that Built the Houses begins with a quote from William Blake, and the shadow of this great London poet lingers ov... Read more »| 05 Apr 2016 -
Book ReviewsThe Cauliflower® by Nicola Barker
Who is Sri Ramakrishna? 'Is he man or child? Leader or follower? Idiot or genius? A god, a god-man, or just too, too human?' In a world where spirituality se... Read more »| 04 Apr 2016 -
Events
Northwest Book Highlights – April 2016
Kate Tempest returns to the Northwest this month with her first novel in hand, while crime fiction, Shakespeare and uncertainty are also up for discussion Read more »| 01 Apr 2016 -
Book Reviews
The Wolf Trial by Neil Mackay
The premise is intriguing: in a small town in 16th century Germany, a serial killer is captured and tried as a werewolf. There are moments of gory, shocking ... Read more »| 31 Mar 2016 -
FeaturesPoetry News – Scotland, April 2016
We weigh up the announcement of new Makar Jackie Kay, from both the poetry world and general public – also the published works of four Faber New Poets and our picks of the live poetry events in Scotland this month. Read more »| 31 Mar 2016 -
Book ReviewsWhat I Learned from Johnny Bevan by Luke Wright
With its cute couplets and wry nods to Twitter and twerking, What I Learned from Johnny Bevan reads at first like a piece from a poetry night at a good ... Read more »| 30 Mar 2016
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Book Reviews
And The Weak Suffer What They Must? by Yanis Varoufakis
Last January, Yanis Varoufakis was catapulted from a quiet life as an economics professor into the centre of the eurozone crisis, as finance minister in Gree... Read more »| 30 Mar 2016 -
Features
Jenni Fagan on The Sunlight Pilgrims
The Sunlight Pilgrims deals with those living on "the fringes of the fringes" – of geography, gender and society. Jenni Fagan, among Scotland's mo... Read more »| 24 Mar 2016 -
Features
Matters of Life & Death: Sara Nović on Girl at War
Sara Nović pours herself into her central character in Girl at War: the ten-year-old Ana, caught up in the atrocities of the Balkan conflict. We speak t... Read more »| 18 Mar 2016 -
Book ReviewsThe Hormone Factory by Saskia Goldschmidt
This novel, newly translated from German, weaves a narrative of sibling rivalry, discovery and power. The Hormone Factory tells the story of two brothers, Mo... Read more »| 17 Mar 2016 -
Features
Ten of the Best Book Podcasts and BookTubers
In need of a quick dose of fiction on the go? Fancy some in-depth book club discussions without the reading schedule? Behold, our guide to some of the best book podcasts and literary YouTubers (or 'BookTubers', don'tchaknow...) Read more »| 03 Mar 2016 -
Book Reviews
Martin John by Anakana Schofield
'Caitlin might call him MJ if they were ever on speaking terms. He doesn't think much of her harping on about her boyfriend trouble and her wine glasses... Read more »| 03 Mar 2016 -
Features
Poetry News – Scotland, March 2016
This month brings one of the most anticipated events in the Scottish literary calendar – now a growing fixture on the UK and global poetry scene. It could only be StAnza Festival. Read more »| 02 Mar 2016 -
Events
Northwest Book Highlights – March 2016
Taking a road trip is high up the literary to-do list this month, as poetry takes centre stage across the Northwest Read more »| 02 Mar 2016 -
Features
Lara Williams: Tales from the Aftermath
In her debut short story collection, Treats, Lara Williams finds beauty and poetry among the debris of relationships. The Skinny's literary discovery of 2016 so far, it may well remain so by year's end. Williams discusses her conversion to the short form Read more »| 01 Mar 2016