Books
Sir Ian Rankin shortlisted for major crime writing award for latest Inspector Rebus book
Sir Ian Rankin has been shortlisted for major crime writing award the McIlvanney Prize for his latest book featuring Inspector John Rebus. Previous winners Callum McSorley, Denise Mina and Liam McIlvanney also make the shortlist. The winner is due to be announced as part of the Bloody Scotland festival in Stirling on 12 September. Making…
Read MoreThe Good Books, L. V. Matthews: ‘Charlotte’s Web had a deep impact on me, it posed such a big moral issue from the opening chapter’
L. V. Matthews on the best book she has read this year, the novel she always recommends and her biggest writing inspiration. The first book I remember reading: I remember reading Charlotte’s Web as a child and it having a deep impact on me. I suppose it’s because it posed such a big moral…
Read MoreMilldust and Dreaming Bread: Inside the magical world of Scottish folk tales
Scotland is a nation rich in history, folk tales and folk magic. Author Scott Richardson-Read spent many years collecting and investigating these tales and traditions, compiling his thoughts and findings into the wonderful Milldust and Dreaming Bread. From the moment you open the book you are presented with pages rife with folk belief, witches,…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Chris Barkley: ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea is the first book I remember reading’
Chris Barkley on the book he is most looking forward to this year, the author who has inspired him and Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. The first book I remember reading: The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. I suppose this book taught me that no matter how tigery the guest, they…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Neil Ansell: ‘It was a revelation to discover that nature writing could also be literature’
Neil Ansell on the books of his childhood, the best book he has read this year, and the book that has been his ‘north star’ ever since he discovered it. The first book I remember reading: The earliest reading experience I can clearly recall is of a Dr Seuss book, The Cat in the…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Kristie De Garis: ‘If I like the sound of a book I’ll either buy it in the next six minutes or not at all’
Drystone waller Kristie De Garis on the books of her childhood, her love of O’Brother by John Niven and why life is too short to keep reading the books you don’t enjoy. The first book I remember reading: Slugs by David Greenberg. A children’s book that could only have been published in the 80s.…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Natalie Jayne Clark: ‘I raced through Lessons in Chemistry, it’s sobering the amount of discrimination women still face today’
Perthshire author Natalie Jayne Clark on the book she’s most looking forward to, her love of Iain Banks and why Lessons in Chemistry is the best novel she’s read this year. The first book I remember reading: There were many beautiful picture books that I spent hours lost in, tracing all the details, like…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Alessandra Thom: ‘Daphne Du Maurier is a master of tension and atmosphere’
Aberdeenshire author Alessandra Thom talks her books of the year, the authors who have inspired her and the books of her childhood. The first book I remember reading: I remember being about five and reading a Biff, Chip and Kipper book out loud, and realising I could read. But the first novels I really…
Read MoreThe Good Books, V. E .Schwab: ‘I’m a very reluctant DNF-er when it comes to reading’
Best selling author V. E .Schwab was born in California and currently splits her time between Denver, Colorado and Edinburgh. She got her masters in depictions of monstrosity in medieval art at the University of Edinburgh. She chats to us about her favourite authors, what she’s reading now and why she always likes to finish…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Foday Mannah: ‘I always recommend Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stewart, it’s a stunning novel’
Foday Mannah on reading as a child, the author who has inspired him, what he’s reading now. The first book I remember reading: Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat comes to mind as do the Hardy Boys detective novels written by Franklin W. Dixon. But the standout from childhood has to be…
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