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 Dead Beat by Doug Johnstone
Martha Fluke has just been assigned to the 'dead beat' – the obituaries desk of an Edinburgh newspaper in decline, and her dead father's former pl... Read more »| 02 Jun 2014 -
FeaturesCharacter Driven: Laura Marney on For Faughie's Sake
Laura Marney returns this month with For Faughie's Sake, a wryly-observed political comedy about the referendum, sustainability, and American imperialism. Here, she tells us why the Yes campaign need to get “wee bingo ladies” on side Read more »| 02 Jun 2014 -
NewsBooks News: Neu! Reekie! in NYC; CoastWord Literary Festival returns
In today's Books News, we take a trip to NYC with Neu! Reekie!; have a look at the programme for Dunbar's literature festival Coastword; and pick out some highlights from May's literary events calendar Read more »| 14 May 2014 -
Book Reviews
The Wherewithal by Philip Schultz
Henryk Wyrzykowski, 'Head Clerk of Closed Files' at a San Francisco welfare office, is translating his mother's diaries while evading the Vietnam War. An acc... Read more »| 07 May 2014 -
News
Books News: Will Self on the death of the novel; Literature at Solas Festival
Will Self announces the death of the novel, and this time it's serious; Liz Lochhead and Alasdair Gray among the writers to debate independence at Solas Festival; plus a round-up of events, news and opportunities from the world of literature Read more »| 06 May 2014 -
Book Reviews
The Quick by Laura Owen
Lauren Owen’s debut novel is an enjoyable and sometimes gripping read, set against the Gothic backdrop of Victorian England. The story begins at a... Read more »| 05 May 2014
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Book Reviews
Caught by Lisa Moore
Lisa Moore turns the law on its head, inviting us to empathise with David Sanely, a criminal on the loose. Her novel Caught is an elaborate cat and mouse cha... Read more »| 05 May 2014 -
Book ReviewsLexicon by Max Barry
Great sci-fi has often traded on the genre’s potential for making abstract ideas real: Philip K Dick made the question of ‘what makes us human?&r... Read more »| 02 May 2014 -
News
Scottish PEN launches literary events across Scotland
Scottish PEN have this week announced a series of readings and literary events at venues across Scotland, featuring writers, poets and publishers such as Kevin Williamson, Ken Macleod, Linton Kwesi Johnson Read more »| 01 May 2014 -
Book Reviews
Sally Heathcote: Suffragette by Mary M. Talbot, Kate Charlesworth and Bryan Talbot
The latest venture from Costa Award-winning scholar and graphic novelist duo Mary and Bryan Talbot, Sally Heathcote: Suffragette is a fast-paced romp through... Read more »| 01 May 2014 -
Book Reviews
Who is Tom Ditto? by Danny Wallace
What did Danny Wallace’s Shortlist paymasters think of his swipe here at damagingly aspirational men’s mags?It’s one attempt of many to ske... Read more »| 01 May 2014 -
Book Reviews
Leaving the Sea by Ben Marcus
The human condition is too grand and vague, so Ben Marcus writes about the human disease instead. Many of the characters in these short stories are sick, or ... Read more »| 01 May 2014 -
Features
Incarcerated Words
As the battle over Chris Grayling's book ban rages on, The Skinny looks at prison prose and a selfish reason for allowing access to literature on the inside Read more »| 30 Apr 2014 -
News
Books News: New monthly award for self-published authors, plus events and opportunities for writers
The Guardian and Legend Times launch new monthly award for self-published authors; opportunities for writers with Freight Books, Philanthrobeats and others; Doug Johnstone launches his new novel; plus literary events, launches and opportunities near you Read more »| 29 Apr 2014 -
Festivals
Rabble-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