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 Human Part by Kari Hotakainen
In its opening paragraph, The Human Part’s octogenarian protagonist Salme dismisses the world of fiction in its entirety. Fiction means lies, lies are ... Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Book ReviewsThe Sorrow of Angels by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
Longlisted for the European Prize for Literature, The Sorrow of Angels is the second book in the tragi-comic trilogy from Icelandic author Jón Ka... Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Features
The Art of Science: Jane Rogers & Ailís Ní Ríain
Ahead of their performances at Manchester Literature Festival, we talk to writer Jane Rogers and playwright and composer Ailís Ní Ríain about their recent work and the relationship between science and art Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Book Reviews
The Guts by Roddy Doyle
Since we first encountered Jimmy Rabbitte, the godfather of The Commitments has acquired a wife, four kids, a dog called Messi and bowel cancer. Characterist... Read more »| 02 Sep 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Grant Morrison
Ah, Grant Morrison. Ever since we saw you coming up on ecstasy and talking about sigil magic at DisinfoCon in 1999, we've loved you. No, scratch that. Ever s... Read more »| 01 Sep 2013 -
Book Reviews
Flesh Wounds by Chris Brookmyre
With Flesh Wounds, Brookmyre returns to the more emotionally nuanced Glasgow crime world of Where the Bodies are Buried and When the Devil Drives (signalled,... Read more »| 30 Aug 2013
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Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Joanne Harris
Another sell out event in the Baillie Gifford Theatre, this time welcoming the enormously popular Joanne Harris in conversation with Steven Gale. Harris is p... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
FestivalsEdinburgh International Book Festival: DBC Pierre
“Day by day, I think we’re fucking doomed.” DBC Pierre’s verdict on the future of humanity is typical of the cynical humour that char... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Will Gompertz
As the BBC’s Arts Editor, Will Gompertz is undoubtedly an expert on the subject. But, the decision in 2009 to appoint him as the new artsy one for... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Robert Peston
The BBC’s Business Editor Robert Peston, who has also been a stockbroker, certainly knows a thing or two about money. He reported extensively on the ba... Read more »| 29 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Neil Gaiman with Charles Fernyhough
Best-selling fantasy author Neil Gaiman is often described as "the most loved living writer," and the excited cheers that welcome him to a crowded Baillie Gi... Read more »| 28 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: 50 Years of Doctor Who
Given Doctor Who's current mainstream success and the likely geekfest around this November's 50th anniversary celebrations, it's important to remember there ... Read more »| 28 Aug 2013 -
FestivalsEdinburgh International Book Festival: Will Morris & Edward Ross
In terms of both visual style and subject matter, Will Morris and Edward Ross are pretty different as comic creators: Morris with his heartfelt coming-of-age... Read more »| 28 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Ben Aaronovitch & Paul Cornell
Ben Aaronovitch and Paul Cornell both have "previous" when it comes to writing Doctor Who, on television and in novels. However, as chair Stuart Kelly points... Read more »| 28 Aug 2013 -
Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival: Fifty Shades of Feminism
Unusually the chair of this event Kate Mosse, author and co-founder of the Women’s Prize for Fiction is also one of the contributors to the book under ... Read more »| 28 Aug 2013