Jamie Harris: Sales Coordinator, UK & Export

Currently Reading: The Smartest Guys in the Room

This is a bit of a departure for me, as I’m usually an avid sci-fi and fantasy reader, but I’ve recently been getting into a lot of white-collar and corporate crime documentaries. The Smartest Guys in the Room tells the frankly insane story of the collapse of energy giant Enron, and has been on my reading list for a while. It’s really interesting (and more than a little horrifying!) to see what goes on behind the scenes in corporate America.

My top reading spot is normally installed on my couch first thing in the morning, with a full pot of coffee. Either that, or in a nice sunny beer garden.

Ann Landmann: Sales Rep

Currently Reading: Rewitched | The Man on the Endless Stair

I always have at least two or three books on the go. For my job I spend a lot of time in the car and listen to audio books (free from the library!). In print, I am reading Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood, a debut Romantasy. I am excited to be chairing her event later this month at the Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival. 

And on the iPad I am reading the first proof of The Man on the Endless Stair by Chris Barkley, which we are publishing in 2025. As anyone working in publishing, getting my hands on early copies of is one of my favourite things about the job.

Kathryn Haldane: Publicity and Marketing Assistant

Currently Reading: Caledonain Road

I have recently started reading Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan. I was keen to read this one as I really enjoyed his previous novel Mayflies, and I was intrigued by the premise of this political fiction about different social classes in London.

My favourite reading spot would be in the blazing sun on a beach, but considering we live in Scotland, my more realistic reading tendency is curled up on my chair with a cup of tea.

Laura Esslemont: Production Manager

Currently Reading: Assembly

I’m a Production Manager at Birlinn and I’m reading Assembly by Natasha Brown, a novella exploring class in modern Britain. I was intrigued by the 42 (!) quotes on the cover, inside cover and flaps – it’s an achievement just to fit them all on there.

Most of my reading happens either on the No.3  bus or before I go to sleep at night and I am a die-hard print book advocate – ebooks just don’t hit the spot in the same way for me.

Jennifer Andreacchi: Publicity & Marketing Officer

Currently Reading: The Familiar

I am currently reading The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, a new historical fiction fantasy which takes place in Medieval Spain and follows the life of Luzia, a servant in a manor house in Madrid hiding two serious secrets which could put her life at risk during the Inquisition– her ability to create miracles and her Jewish identity.

A fun fact about my reading habits is that I am a chronic re-reader. If I adore a book or series, sometimes I start re-reading it right after I have finished it. I have in fact read the entire Lord of the Rings series seven times!

Edward Crossan: Editor, Polygon: Poetry, Fiction and New Writing

Currently Reading: So Late in the Day | Time is a Mother

I’m listening to The New Yorker fiction podcast a lot at the moment; it’s influenced much of my reading lately. I’ve just finished So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan, one of my favourite fiction writers. It was first published in The New Yorker and featured in their podcast chosen by the equally brilliant George Saunders. I’m also reading Time is a Mother, Ocean Vuong’s heartbreaking and powerful second collection.

There’s a café in North Berwick called Steampunk with outside tables and chairs; their coffee is excellent. That’s where I’d like to be with both books, sitting in the warm September sunshine.

Alison Rae: Senior Editor, Polygon

Currently Reading: On Chapel Sands | James | The Penguin Guide to Punctuation

I always have at least three books on the go. Right now On Chapel Sands by Laura Cumming (a mystery memoir masterpiece about a kidnapped child), James by Percival Everett (I’m working my way through everything he’s ever written as he is so genre-bustingly hilarious and horrific) and the Penguin Guide to Punctuation (keeps me right about those pesky commas). 

I like to be horizontal when I read, preferably under a blanket on my sofa, whatever the weather.

Deborah Warner: Editor

Currently Reading: Rise of the Ultra Runners

I’ve had this on my ‘to read’ pile for ages, and now I’ve started I’m loving it. Ultra-running is my thing, and while there is loads of brilliant detail in Adharanand’s writing about running celebrities, famous races, people running further and faster, he also looks at the human experience: why we run, what we do when we reach our limit, if there is a limit. It’s full of great storytelling (it’s basically Adharanand’s journey to get to the UTMB), so easy and fun to read, and I’ve found it to be a really inspiring book.

I’m usually browsing the fiction shelves in a bookshop, but this has made me think about branching out, so my next read is Good for a Girl by Lauren Fleshman.

Ellen Cranston: Events Coordinator and Campaigns Assistant

Currently Reading: Down Girl | Outline

I’m an avid non-fiction reader and I’ve been engrossed in Kate Manne’s accessible work of feminist philosophy that debunks many common misconceptions. I’ve been recommending Down Girl to everyone since I started reading it.

I usually have a fiction book on the go as well – at the moment it’s Outline by Rachel Cusk. So far I’m loving the lucid prose and I’m looking forward to learning more about the narrator.

Abigail Salvesen: Digital Designer

Currently Reading: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

I’m currently reading Murakami’s Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.

Why? Because I love a weird, introspective read. I’m a fan of surrealist fiction (surrealist anything, really) and this delivers all the dreamy, bleak, philosophical goods I’m after. My copy is chewed at the corner because my dog likes it just as much as I do.

Generally I listen to audiobooks while I’m sketching or walking the dogs! It’s pretty rare these days that I read a physical book.