My review of A Beautiful Truth by Colin McAdam for Independent on Sunday

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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Here’s my review for the Independent on Sunday of A Beautiful Truth (Granta) by Colin McAdam. It’s a novel about chimps. I really liked some of it, but really didn’t like some of it. That’s the way it goes sometimes, eh? Great cover, though.

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My review of Strange Bodies by Marcel Theroux for Independent on Sunday

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

 

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Like I keep saying, been slack at putting these up here, so just posting this review now of Strange Bodies (Faber) by Marcel Theroux that ran in Independent on Sunday a while back. I really loved this book – a very smart and genuinely chilling literary thriller. Review here.

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My review of Apocalypse Baby by Virginie Despentes

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

 

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Been a bit slow getting my journo stuff up here recently, but here’s my Independent on Sunday review of Apocalypse Baby (Serpent’s Tail) by French author Virginie Despentes, best known for Baise-Moi. An interesting piece of transgressive fiction, but it fell apart a bit in the final third, I thought.

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Great Spinetingler review

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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Aye so, been a while since the last review for Gone Again, so was well chuffed to see the inimitable Nerd of Noir giving it the once over on Spinetingler. And he rates it very highly. Very cool.

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Holy crap, I’m off to Melbourne

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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The Melbourne Writers Festival just announced their programme, and I’m only in it! Exciting stuff. In fact, I’m doing SIX events about all sorts of things, from tartan noir to The Doors. Really. All squeezed in between 23rd – 26th August. If you happen to be in the area, drop by and say hello. All my events are here, but you should of course check out the whole festival which looks amazing, despite right-wing buffoon Boris Johnson giving the opening keynote address.

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Me talking shite in Geekzine

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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A while ago I did a Q&A with Geekzine’s editor Andy Jamieson. Then I forgot about it. Now it is online. If you can’t be arsed clicking, I’ll summarise: Gestation, character, real life, three months, hate.

Dx

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Edinburgh is go!

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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The totally excellent Edinburgh International Book Festival just launched its thirtieth programme this morning. I couldn’t go to the launch, had to go to my daughter’s primary one induction. That’s me all over – writer? Dad? Juggle, juggle. La-dee-da.

Aaaanyway, great programme as always. Check it all out here. I’m thrilled to be appearing on Thursday 15th August with none other than Laura Lippman – wowzer!

One thing I noticed from the programme is that they’re working Ian Rankin hard, aren’t they? As well as two of his own events he’s interviewing Peter Hook, Tim Burgess, Margaret Atwood and Maj Sjowall, as well as taking part in a celebration of Iain Banks’s life and work. Which I’m gutted I’m going to miss, cos I’m going to be in Australia (more of which in another blog).

Anyhoo, hopefully see y’all in Charlotte Square!

Dx

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My review of The Quarry by Iain Banks

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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For folks who might’ve missed it over the weekend, here’s my review in The Independent on Sunday of The Quarry, the latest (and last) novel by Iain Banks. As you’ll see from the review, I didn’t bother pretending to be objective. Iain has been a role model for me for a long time and he’ll be sorely missed.

Dx

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Faber & Faber, how come you are so good?*

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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This is going to sound like total brown-nosing (ass-kissing to my American friends), but most of my favourite books of this year so far have been published by Faber & Faber. My publisher.

Seriously, here’s a list of fantastic novels:

Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran
Tampa by Alissa Nutting
Graveland by Alan Glynn
Strange Bodies by Marcel Theroux
And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman
The Cry by Helen FitzGerald

You should definitely check them out. They are all FUCKING AMAZING.

And I have a pile of other Faber titles that I’m dying to get into as well. For the sake of balance, I should point out I’ve loved a few non-Faber books too, notably Ruth Ozeki and William McIlvanney (both Canongate) and the new John Niven, Straight White Male, published by William Heinemann. But generally, Faber are the dog’s bollocks.

That brown-nosy enough for you?

Dx
*Bonus point to anyone who spots the obscure Scottish football reference in the headline.

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A FREE Event at Clydebank Library on Wednesday

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

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Hey folks, been a wee while since I’ve gigged but I’m thrilled to say I have a FREE event at Clydebank Library on Wednesday 22nd May, kicking off at 7.30pm. It’s part of West Dunbartonshire Libraries’ Booked! Festival, and there are a few tickets left. Check out more details here. I’ll be reading from Gone Again and chatting and playing a few tunes if folk will let me.

Worth checking out the whole festival, cos the likes of Kerry Hudson, William McIlvanney and Tom Devine are all still to appear. Great stuff.

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