While I’m at it, here are two terrific recent reviews for THE DEAD BEAT.
First one is on the excellently named What Are You Reading For? blog, an in-depth look at the book from someone who really seems to get what it’s about.
And there’s also a wonderful review in Northwords by Paul Cockburn, equally perceptive and very flattering it is too.
Enjoy!
Dx
And another review, this time in the Independent on Sunday, of the very interesting Summer House with Swimming Pool (Atlantic) by Dutch writer Herman Koch. Uncomfortable reading, sometimes meandering, but intriguing nonetheless.
illustration by Mitch Blunt
…and here are my reviews of Mother Island by Bethan Roberts and Thirst by Kerry Hudson, both published by Chatto & Windus. Two writers with a lot of humanity and empathy.
illustration by Mitch Blunt
Bit slow getting this stuff up, summer holidays and all that. Anyway, here are my Big Issue reviews of Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (Faber) and The Silent History (Jonathan Cape) by Eli Horowitz, Matthew Derby and Kevin Moffett. The first is a terrific horror graphic novel, the second a weird, alt-future piece of oral history. Enjoy!
Another day, another brilliant book. Here’s my review of Any Other Mouth (Freight) by Anneliese Mackintosh, which ran in the Independent on Sunday at the weekend there. A terrific debut collection of stories, it’s easily one of my books of the year. Read it!
Dx
I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be taking up the position of Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh from September. That’s the shiny new campus pictured above. The position involves giving one-to-one feedback to students from across the whole university on any writing issues they have with their coursework.
Good times!
Dx
Rounding up this stuff here, so I don’t forget it, basically. What I mean to say is, amazing new press coverage!!!!! Yay!!!!! Have a read:
First up, a rave review over at Raven Crime Reads. ‘A reading experience that went far beyond the average thriller,’ no less.
Here’s an interview I did with the lovely Ceris Aston at The Skinny, where I talk about grabbing you, yes you, by the balls. Metaphorically speaking.
And here’s a thing I did for The Courier called Hello Me. It’s basically a letter to my younger self, where I mostly talk about football. There’s a cute picture of me in a Scotland top. And on the same page there’s a Courier offer for heuchera which, as everyone knows, are famed for their spectacular foliage. Worth checking out that foliage.
I’m delighted to announce that my next novel, THE JUMP, is being published by Faber & Faber in the summer of 2015. It’s set in and around South Queensferry, in the shadow of the Forth Road Bridge. That’s all the info you’re getting for now. This will be my fifth novel with Faber in five years, and my seventh book overall. Good times!
Dx
So here’s my review of Megan Abbott’s The Fever, which ran in yesterday’s Independent on Sunday. It’s the best novel I’ve read this year. Clickety-click to find out more.
Doug Johnstone 