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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FeaturesAuthor Yuri Herrera on 'the American problem that Mexico is suffering'
The literary voice of Mexican author Yuri Herrera transcends his native land and tongue, crosses the U.S. border – so significant in his writing – and forces the wider world to listen. We chat ahead of his date with Edinburgh International Book Festival Read more »| 30 Jul 2015 -
FeaturesRhyme and Reasons: Poetry picks for Edinburgh Festival
Looking through the 2015 Festival line-up – including a Skinny sponsored Kate Tempest event – 2015 StAnza Poet in Residence Clare Mulley ponders that elusive theoretical point on the arts spectrum between 'poetry' and what is now known as 'spoken word' Read more »| 30 Jul 2015 -
EventsNorthwest Book Highlights – August 2015
As August brings the last of the summer’s festivals, this month’s literature picks focus on all things musical, plus David Mitchell makes an appearance in Liverpool Read more »| 30 Jul 2015 -
Features
No Definition Required: Janice Galloway on Jellyfish
Prior to her appearance at Edinburgh International Book Festival, award-winning writer Janice Galloway talks to The Skinny about 'sex and love and parenthood'. All contained in Jellyfish, her dazzling new short story collection. Read more »| 30 Jul 2015 -
Book Reviews
The Bride Stripped Bare by Rachel Kendall
In the second of the 23 short stories of Rachel Kendall’s debut collection, a group of horror enthusiasts who have met on the internet gather to watch ... Read more »| 29 Jul 2015 -
Features
Spoken word nights around the UK and abroad: Live Wire
With the tally of live literature nights growing ever bigger and seeming to cater for every literary taste, the host of Saboteur Award-winning spoken word night Bad Language picks some of the best at home and abroad Read more »| 28 Jul 2015
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Book Reviews
Diary of a Hyperdreamer Vol. 2, by Bill Nelson
A musician’s autumn years are seldom as interesting as their first flush of success, with all the pitfalls that go with it. Now that Bill Nelson, maste... Read more »| 28 Jul 2015 -
Book ReviewsSilma Hill by Iain Maloney
Following the well received First Time Solo, Iain Maloney’s second novel Silma Hill centres on a remote Scottish village during the 18th century. When ... Read more »| 13 Jul 2015 -
Events
Poets Assemble: New Scottish poetry collective SHIFT/
We update you on the exciting new Scottish spoken word collective SHIFT/; a gang of seven performing an individual show for each night of the week during the Edinburgh Fringe this August Read more »| 10 Jul 2015 -
Tech
Ready Novel Two: Ernest Cline on Lucas, Spielberg and Armada
Ahead of his second novel Armada, we spoke to author Ernest Cline about back-slaps from George Lucas, competing with Adam Sandler and pissing off Steven Spielberg Read more »| 09 Jul 2015 -
Features
Simon Napier-Bell on the unscrupulous history of the music business
The ultimate observer of the music business, Simon Napier-Bell talks us through its pharmaceutically fuelled history as chronicled in his all-encompassing book Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay Read more »| 03 Jul 2015 -
Festivals
White Van Man: John Darnielle brings his novel to Jura Unbound
John Darnielle, the mind behind The Mountain Goats, graces Jura Unbound under his novelist guise – with Mull Historical Society's Colin MacIntyre adding melody. We ponder the gaps his work explores: between childhood and adult life; reality and fantasy. Read more »| 02 Jul 2015 -
Festivals
The Skinny is Ten: Theremin Lies the Truth
Over ten years The Skinny has grown into Scotland’s cultural barometer, so we will throw our hands in the air and throw a party. Author Sean Michaels witnessed our very beginnings so brings his magical and melodious new novel to our gathering Read more »| 02 Jul 2015 -
Festivals
Poetic Justice: Spoken Word takes Centre Stage at Jura Unbound
Find out how and where to get your word fix on these upcoming summer nights Read more »| 02 Jul 2015 -
Festivals
Jura Unbound: From Cutting Teeth to Cutting Edge
Six years ago, the improper child of the Book Festival proper was born. So to celebrate an eventful journey and introduce 2015, we share some wine and words with Roland Gulliver, the man we must all thank and blame Read more »| 02 Jul 2015