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 Table of Less Valued Knights by Marie Phillips
Everyone’s heard of the Knights of the Round Table, but tucked away in the draughtiest corner of Camelot’s hall is the rarely-mentioned Table of ... Read more »| 06 Aug 2014 -
FestivalsShattering the Myth: Gruff Rhys on his American adventure
Gruff Rhys talks about setting the story straight on John Evans, a legendary 18th-century Welsh explorer and political radical, in his new multimedia project American Interior. He'll speak about his own adventures at Edinburgh Book Festival this month Read more »| 06 Aug 2014 -
Festivals
Take a Long Hard Look at Your Shelf: Anneliese Mackintosh
Anneliese Mackintosh, author of the wonderful début story collection Any Other Mouth, performs on 13 August with Vic Galloway & Friends at Jura Unbound. Read more »| 06 Aug 2014 -
FestivalsThe Moth: Drawn to the Flame
As The Moth spread their wings and head for Edinburgh, The Skinny speaks to both founder George Dawes Green and director Catherine Burns to hear of the origin, not only of their storytelling phenomenon, but of storytelling itself Read more »| 05 Aug 2014 -
Events
The Saltire Speakeasy comes to the Fringe
As the Saltire Society enters the Fringe with its Saltire Speakeasy series of events from 4-7 Aug, The Skinny takes a look at a diverse and international lineup of poetry, music and spoken word Read more »| 04 Aug 2014 -
Book Reviews
The Moth: This is a True Story edited by Catherine Burns
Taken from the US phenomenon that consists of a single person, standing on a lit stage, telling a true story from their life, these are brave and revealing m... Read more »| 04 Aug 2014
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Book Reviews
What Ends by Andrew Ladd
In his debut novel, Andrew Ladd explores what ends when an island community disintegrates. Set on East Fior, a fictional but no less Hebridean isle, the narr... Read more »| 01 Aug 2014 -
Book Reviews
The Book of Gaza: A City in Short Fiction Edited by Atef Abu Saif
Here is the latest in Comma Press’s The Book of… series, a cycle that’s taken in cities as geographically and culturally disparate as Toky... Read more »| 01 Aug 2014 -
FestivalsTake a Long Hard Look at Your Shelf: Aidan Moffat
Musician, poet and storyteller Aidan Moffat tells us what's on his shelf ahead of his performance at the Neu! Reekie! event during Jura Unbound on 14 Aug Read more »| 31 Jul 2014 -
FeaturesMark Z. Danielewski – Paper at the Cutting Edge of Fiction
Visionary writer Mark Z. Danielewski on stitching narrative threads, the joy of collaboration, why you'll never read an e-book of his work, and the loneliness of the young novelist Read more »| 10 Jul 2014 -
Festivals
Hero's Return: James Yorkston
James Yorkston is becoming something of a fixture in the Jura Unbound programme. Fife’s finest takes up residence for the Edinburgh launch of his new a... Read more »| 03 Jul 2014 -
Festivals
Unbound 2014: What's On
Unbound, at a glance Read more »| 03 Jul 2014 -
Festivals
100% Proof: Spirits in the Spiegeltent
Séance master E.O. Higgins (or is that Laars Head?) talks about breaking on through to the other side, in both publishing and psychic matters Read more »| 03 Jul 2014 -
Festivals
Sticks & Stones: Interview with Page Match organiser Dan Cockrill
As opposing poets get into character and enter the ring (no literary metaphor – an actual wrestling ring), we find that names can and will definitely hurt you Read more »| 03 Jul 2014 -
Festivals
Luke(y)-likey: An interview with Luke Wright of Nasty Little Press
With Nasty Little Press co-founder Luke Wright bringing a full programme of spoken word to the Book Festival under the banner of Babble On, we arranged a tête-à-tête with his fellow poet, pal and Jura Unbound performer Read more »| 03 Jul 2014