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.
-
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 -
Book ReviewsAnd 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 -
FeaturesJenni 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 Reviews
The 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 -
Book Reviews
Treats by Lara Williams
'They go back to hers. She has an HDMI cable and Netflix and two thirds of a bottle of wine.' It's 2016 and love is still a battlefield, but its ordnance is ... Read more »| 01 Mar 2016 -
Features
Begbie’s Back: An interview with Irvine Welsh
Begbie is back, with the April publication of The Blade Artist and Danny Boyle's sequel to Trainspotting filming in May. Ahead of his promotional tour, we ge... Read more »| 29 Feb 2016 -
Events
Aye Write!: Top picks for Glasgow's Book Festival
Glasgow’s book festival Aye Write! returns from 10-20 March with its usual packed programme of the best that literature has to offer Read more »| 29 Feb 2016 -
News
Irvine Welsh & Robert Carlyle set for Edinburgh Q&A
Irvine Welsh will launch his new novel The Blade Artist in conversation with Robert Carlyle at an event in Edinburgh in April. The Blade Artist reprises the... Read more »| 25 Feb 2016