I was delighted with the review of Skin, Paper, Stone in today’s Galway Advertiser, particularly as it was written by the inimitable Kevin Higgins. Coincidentally, Kevin’s first review for the Advertiser was published 16 years ago today so — Happy Anni-review-sary, Kevin! (I realise that was terrible. I REGRET NOTHING.)

“Robinson’s contemporary Galway is as intricately drawn as Saul Bellow’s Chicago, Irvine Welsh’s Edinburgh, or Zadie Smith’s North West London: “Joe Kavanagh turned into Buttermilk Lane. A busker’s tune floated up and reverberated off the high buildings, bouncing back to his ears, plaintive and sweet. Even though it was just some cheesy guy with a tin whistle…” They are all here, in Robinson’s all too real Galway: the buskers, beggars, and “degenerates of every persuasion”.”

You can read the review in full here. (Although, if you haven’t read the book yet, maybe skip the last paragraph if you want to keep the ending a surprise.)

Also, I’m off to Belfast next week for an event with fellow New Island novelists Gerard Lee and Doreen Finn. I’m so looking forward to it. Do come along if you’re in the area. Or, you  know, even if you’re not in the area. (ROAD TRIP!) Tickets are available here.