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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FestivalsRabble-rousing: Writing on the Wall 2014
Liverpool literary festival Writing on the Wall returns this month with a focus on the First World War. Festival director Madeline Heneghan and this year's ‘rebel ranter’, Owen Jones, tell us more Read more »| 29 Apr 2014 -
Features
Ladies Who Lunge: Emma Jane Unsworth in interview
Emma Jane Unsworth discusses he second novel, “a filthy, funny story of friendship, love and animal instincts” set against a Rainy City backdrop Read more »| 29 Apr 2014 -
Book ReviewsFive Came Back by Mark Harris
According to Mark Harris, Frank Capra once made Oscar nominees stand on the stage together before he announced the winner. The five film directors that ... Read more »| 29 Apr 2014 -
FeaturesA Life of Letters: Alasdair Gray Returns
Alasdair Gray is back with a new autobiography, Of Me & Others, and his to-do list is still more impressive than yours Read more »| 28 Apr 2014 -
Book ReviewsOther People’s Countries: A Journey into Memory by Patrick McGuinness
Far removed from the current trend in celebrity biographies, Patrick McGuinness’ memoir is an unusual and striking foray into the past. The book is a collection of Proustian pieces, varying in length from a paragraph to a few pages Read more »| 02 Apr 2014 -
Book Reviews
Gutter 10
Scotland’s leading literary magazine has marked its fifth birthday with a new layout, another fine selection of new Scottish writing, and an interview with Alan Bissett Read more »| 02 Apr 2014
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Book Reviews
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
Boy is a beautiful, contrary young woman who runs away from her abusive rat-catcher father in New York and ends up at the end of the line in Flax Hill, an idyllic town where everyone is a specialist – whether that be in cake-making, jewellery or teaching Read more »| 02 Apr 2014 -
Features
A Walk on the Wild Side: We meet the Wild Writers
How do you enliven a short story recital? Liverpool literary collective the Wild Writers have a solution, and it involves Mexican wrestling Read more »| 02 Apr 2014 -
Book Reviews
Indecent Acts by Nick Brooks
Opening Nick Brooks’ third acclaimed novel, Indecent Acts, you are immediately struck by the fragmented patois on the page. These are the semi-illiterate ramblings of Grace, the lovable yet simple protagonist and narrator of this novel Read more »| 02 Apr 2014 -
News
Books News: Gruff Rhys to headline Dinefwr Literature Festival, plus the latest news from the world of literature
A round-up of books news and events, including Gruff Rhys headlining the Dinefwr Literature Festival, and events in Edinburgh, Manchester and beyond featuring comics writer Alan Grant, novelist Louise Welsh, and performance poet Ben Mellor Read more »| 01 Apr 2014 -
News
Books News: Scottish Book Trust launches Scotland's Stories of Home
A brief round-up of books news – the Scottish Book Trust launches a new writing initiative on the theme of 'Scotland's Stories of Home.' Plus – poet Kevin P. Gilday heads out on tour Read more »| 25 Mar 2014 -
News
Competition: Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival launch new Awards for writing
Details of a new writing competition set up by the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival and Bipolar Scotland, looking for entries from poets, authors, journalists, bloggers, diarists and letter-writers Read more »| 19 Mar 2014 -
News
Books News: The Independent rejects 'gender-based' children's books, Carnegie Medal shortlist announced
A round-up of the latest books and publishing news, including The Independent's decision to no longer review 'gender-based' books for children, the shortlist for the Carnegie Medal, Doug Johnstone's new book launch, and more Read more »| 18 Mar 2014 -
Book Reviews
Trying Not to Try by Edward Slingerland
Though marketed as broad Gladwell-ish pop psychology – with some self-help thrown in – Trying Not to Try is actually a lot narrower and deeper th... Read more »| 17 Mar 2014 -
News
Books News: Big changes at Cargo Publishing, George Saunders wins Folio Prize, and more
A round-up of news from the world of literature and publishing, including news of Cargo Publishing's new directors, the winner of the inaugural Folio Prize, and Glasgow League of Writers new project, reviving old superheroes from the DC Thomson archives Read more »| 11 Mar 2014