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 ReviewsShamiso by Brian Chikwava
An intimately told, raw love story between a Zimbabwean girl and a gender-fluid British person marks author Brian Chikwava as one to watch Read more »| 25 Aug 2025 -
Book ReviewsDiscontent by Beatriz Serrano
Read this book if you want to spend even more time hating your job than you already do Read more »| 20 Aug 2025 -
Book ReviewsLoved One by Aisha Muharrar
Two women try to piece together the life of a loved one in this sweet and funny take on grief and intimacy by Parks and Recreation writer Aisha Muharrar Read more »| 14 Aug 2025 -
FestivalsSimone Seales and Mele Broomes on poetry performance Dearest
We chat with cellist and writer Simone Seales and dancer and choreographer Mele Broomes about Dearest, Seales' poetry album and zine being performed collaboratively at this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival Read more »| 07 Aug 2025 -
FeaturesLost Boys: Chris McQueer on His Debut Novel Hermit
We chat with Glasgow author Chris McQueer on his debut novel Hermit ahead of his appearance at the Govanhill International Festival Read more »| 30 Jul 2025 -
EventsScottish Books Events: August 2025
So many festivals! Govanhill International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Book Fringe all bring books centre stage, alongside a handful of other launches and workshops Read more »| 29 Jul 2025
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FeaturesLaura C. Forster and Joel White on Friends in Common
We chat with Laura C. Forster and Joel White about their book Friends in Common, the intersection between friendship and organising, and why our intimate lives are political Read more »| 28 Jul 2025 -
Book ReviewsNight of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty
A curious formalistic work, Morgan Talty's collection of short stories reads more like a novel as it traces a community living on the Penobscot Indian Reservation Read more »| 28 Jul 2025 -
FeaturesSaima Begum on her debut novel The First Jasmines
In her debut novel The First Jasmines, Saima Begum gives voice to a long-silenced period of Bangladeshi history, exploring how history and literature construct gaps in the record Read more »| 22 Jul 2025 -
FeaturesResident Advisors: Claire Heffernan, Superpower Agency
We get some Edinburgh recs from Claire Heffernan, Managing Director at the Super Power Agency – a youth writing charity based in Edinburgh Read more »| 21 Jul 2025 -
Book ReviewsChilco by Daniela Catrileo
The latest from Latin American-focused indie press, Chilco is a blistering exploration of difference and belonging Read more »| 10 Jul 2025 -
Book ReviewsDeath and the Gardener by Georgi Gospodinov
Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov tackles the immensity of grief in his latest book Death and the Gardener, an exploration of his relationship with his dying father Read more »| 08 Jul 2025 -
Book ReviewsSongs of No Provenance by Lydi Conklin
A singer has to reckon with their pieces of their life after a sexually explicit moment on stage in this punk examination of fame and sexuality Read more »| 08 Jul 2025 -
Book ReviewsModeration by Elaine Castillo
In her sophomore novel, Elaine Castillo explores ideas of innovation and ethics through a subtle speculative narrative Read more »| 01 Jul 2025 -
FeaturesSasha Debevec-McKenney on her poetry collection Joy Is My Middle Name
In her poetry collection Joy Is My Middle Name, American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney navigates the tragedy and comedy of both past and present Read more »| 30 Jun 2025