Doug Johnstone

Very excited to be appearing at the Ullapool Book Festival this Friday evening with pal Helen FitzGerald. It’s a brilliant festival, see the full weekend programme here.

illustration by Dom McKenzie

Trying to keep more up to date with my review column in Big Issue, so here’s the latest, reviews of novels by Neil Mackay and Lucy Ribchester. Enjoy!

So yesterday was my last day as Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Queen Margaret University. I was there for two years, helping students and staff with all aspects of academic writing. I’m still going to be working with the RLF on other projects, but that’s my time up at QMU. I’ll miss the students, staff and cool campus (see pic) – good luck to all with their studies!

Doug

It’s the book that keeps on rolling. Here’s a brand new lovely review of Gone Again by Sarah Hardy over at By The Letter blog. Thanks, Sarah!

illustration by Dom McKenzie

Here are a bunch of new book reviews that I wrote for The Big Issue. Enjoy!

In Her Wake (Orenda) by Amanda Jennings

The Sunlight Pilgrims (William Heinemann) by Jenni Fagan

Dodgers (No Exit) by Bill Beverly

Patience (Jonathan Cape) by Daniel Clowes

Dog Run Moon (Granta) by Callan Wink

Treats (Freight) by Lara Williams

Quicksand (Harvill Secker) by Henning Mankell

Nobody Told Me (Blackfriars) by Hollie McNish

So after nine years of writing for them, this is likely my last book review in the Independent on Sunday. A lovely and very funny novel by Kevin MacNeil. Enjoy!

Dx

I’ve reviewed six books in The Big Issue recently. Namely:

The North Water by Ian McGuire

The Ex by Alafair Burke

Dinosaurs on Other Planets by Danielle McLaughlin

Shame and Wonder by David Searcy

Cut Me In by Ed McBain

If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes

So while I’m in an info-dump kind of mood, here’s my Indy on Sunday review of Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins, a dystopian doo-dah I didn’t really dig.

I’ve been insanely busy recently, and only just spotted this amazing review for THE JUMP over on Lizzie Hayes’ Promoting Crime Fiction blog. The review was written by Marsali Taylor: ‘A strong psychological thriller with characters whose emotions haunt you long after you’ve finished reading.’ Thanks!

Dx