Jenni Fagan

Aug 14, 2024 | scotsman.com | Susan Mansfield |Jenni Fagan

"It was not cathartic, it was incredibly traumatising," says acclaimed novelist Fagan of revisiting her dark past to write Ootlin – a book of political as well as personal importanceMANY writers have a book-not-written, a literary pipe dream kept on the back burner till the time is right. But how many have a book they know they never want to write? This is how Jenni Fagan felt about her memoir Ootlin, the story of her life in the care system up to the age of 16.

Aug 1, 2024 | literaryreview.co.uk | Jenni Fagan

This is an extraordinary book, depressing and enraging by turns. Jenni Fagan’s memoir of her troubled childhood was first bashed out twenty years ago in a white heat, as she desperately compressed the experience of being in the Scottish care system from birth to the age of sixteen. Once completed, the typescript was locked away; she considered it not just unpublishable but unshareable too.

Dec 10, 2023 | heraldscotland.com | Ian Rankin |Jackie Kay |Jenni Fagan |Denise Mina

Twenty-five years is a long and a short time in the life of the written word. Since Scottish Book Trust was founded in 1998, hundreds of Scottish novels have sought readers. Listed here are some that have stood the test of time. It is one of our greatest privileges as a charity to support the emergence of some incredible writing talent in Scotland through our New Writers Awards and Next Chapter Award. Many of those alumni are featured here.

Aug 12, 2023 | theguardian.com | Jenni Fagan

The car windows are tightly closed. A cardboard lemon spins under the mirror. I only want two things in this life. Hair long enough to put it into bunches with bright coloured hairbands and the Incredible Hulk to rip this car roof off and save me. He is my only hero. There is a click-click of an indicator light. I kick tiny brown scuffed shoes against the front seat until the person driving tells me to stop. The world is very fast outside. It runs away from the car.

Jun 6, 2023 | booksfromscotland.com | Jenni Fagan

By (author) Jenni Fagan ‘A phenomenal memoir. I am in awe’ AMY LIPTROT‘Beautiful, deep, dangerous, transfixing . . . it will burn a home in your heart, it has in mine. Read every word of every page. Turn them carefully. Jenni Fagan is made of fire and spirit. From start to finish I could not put it down. Close the door. Sit down now. Read Ootlin. Read’ LEMN SISSAY‘Essential reading, life changing, I couldn’t stop reading once I started . . . Unbelievably brave. Beautiful , earth shattering and unforgettable.