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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FeaturesThe Skinny's Favourite Books of 2025
We asked The Skinny book team to name their favourite book of 2025 – it's not too late to make your reading goals for the year Read more »| 05 Dec 2025 -
Book ReviewsTerry Dactyl by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore's transcendental novel explores the twin crises of AIDS and COVID-19 as lenses through which to explore the queer experience Read more »| 04 Dec 2025 -
FeaturesThe Skinny on... Michael Pedersen
Ahead of his annual Christmas show and New Year's Day appearance with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the incumbent Edinburgh Makar takes on our Q&A Read more »| 02 Dec 2025 -
Book ReviewsPalestine -1, ed. by Basma Ghalayini
In Comma Press's latest anthology, 12 writers imagine the year leading up to the Palestinian Nakba Read more »| 28 Nov 2025 -
FeaturesExpress Yourself: Jay Mitra on punk poetry
We chat with poet and multi-slam champion Jay Mitra about the role of punk in poetry ahead of their appearance at Push the Boat Out Festival Read more »| 12 Nov 2025 -
Book ReviewsBad Language by So Mayer
So Mayer's manifesto-memoir Bad Language explores words as weapons of oppression and resistance Read more »| 12 Nov 2025
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Book ReviewsIn Love With Love by Ella Risbridger
Ella Risbridger's warm and witty In Love With Love is an intimate and thought-provoking love letter to romance literature Read more »| 06 Nov 2025 -
FeaturesDalia al-Dujaili on her memoir Babylon, Albion
We chat with author Dalia al-Dujaili about her migration memoir Babylon, Albion ahead of her appearance at Edinburgh's Radical Book Fair Read more »| 04 Nov 2025 -
Book ReviewsNoopiming: The Cure for White Ladies by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Anishinaabe author Leanne Betasamosake Simpson articulates the enduring spirit and colonial struggles through which their characters operate Read more »| 04 Nov 2025 -
Book ReviewsThe Wax Child by Olga Ravn
International Booker Prize-shortlisted author Olga Ravn returns with a new novel that's by turns delicate and visceral, pleasurable but disjointed Read more »| 03 Nov 2025 -
EventsScottish Books Events: November 2025
Two big festivals – Push the Boat Out and Edinburgh's Radical Book Fair – return to Edinburgh this month. Elsewhere, there's book launches aplenty in Porty and Glasgow Read more »| 31 Oct 2025 -
Book ReviewsThe Hajar Book of Rage, ed. Farhaana Arefin
The first in Hajar Press' new elements anthology series, this book takes as its subject the power and politics of fiery rage Read more »| 27 Oct 2025 -
FeaturesTrue North: Scottish International Storytelling Festival returns
Storytellers Tom Muir and Eileen Budd and programmer Daniel Abercrombie introduce the 36th Scottish International Storytelling Festival, which looks to the folklore, myths and fairytales of the Nordic region, Scotland and Northern Europe Read more »| 09 Oct 2025 -
Book ReviewsThe Four Spent the Day Together by Chris Kraus
Expansive, self-reflective look at contemporary America from I Love Dick author Read more »| 07 Oct 2025 -
Book ReviewsLa Lucha ed. Carolina Orloff
Charco Press's latest is an incredible collection of essays destabilising traditions of Western feminism through transformative radical ideas Read more »| 07 Oct 2025