Books
Maps are the forgotten weapons of war
The basis of A History of the Second World War In 100 Maps is that maps are ‘indispensable instruments of war’. If anyone can convince us of this it is world-leading military and cartographic historian Jeremy Black, who has studied a huge range of maps from the Second World War in minute detail. In this…
Read MoreThe hunt for witches in the Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders in the 17th century was awash with unrest. The destruction of the monarchy, civil war and the plague all bubbled together to create the perfect potion for a witch hunt – and it’s not all pointy hats and black cats. As well as delving into the details of some brutal witch trials…
Read MoreA pure dead brilliant take on the Gruffalo’s Child
If you are a parent or a grandparent, the chances are that you will be able to quote, at length, whole sections of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s book The Gruffalo. Or, indeed, you may know its sequel, The Gruffalo’s Child, and be able to spout sections of verse from it too. Just when you…
Read MoreDiscover life in the Granite City in wartime
A comprehensive historical treasure chest is what awaits in Craig Armstrong’s Aberdeen at War 1939-45. Black and white photographs are interspersed with detailed explanations of life in Aberdeen during World War Two. This is an interesting read for anyone from the north east. Armstrong successfully transports readers back in time in this poignant ode to…
Read MoreBlasted Things is more than a historical novel
The 16th novel from award-winning Edinburgh author Lesley Glaister, Blasted Things deserves to be read by all. Set just after World War One, not only are we expertly transported to a different era, but the characters we meet along the way are both alluring and peculiar, as is her genre. Blasted Things straddles the categories…
Read MoreA strange tale which will have you gripped
From an author whose favourite TV shows include Twin Peaks, it is no surprise that Happiness is Wasted on Me is a strange book. But, it is an undoubted page turner at same time. Spanning a decade of 11-year-old Walter Wedgeworth’s life around Cumbernauld in the 1990s, the setting harks back to a time long…
Read MoreCorrie’s Capers books help feed starving children
Alison Page, a children’s author and Isle of Arran resident, published her first picture book “The Westie Fest” three years ago. It was reviewed by Scottish Field at the time, in January 2019 and awarded a 5 * Book Review. The review said: ‘A beautifully illustrated book with lots of information about things to see…
Read MoreFinding solace in fishing during cancer battle
Cancer and fishing sounds like an odd pairing, but after a few pages, I was hooked. Mick May’s autobiographical journey makes total sense. This is a heartfelt story of surviving cancer against the odds and finding solace in fishing. May’s writing is full of soul and sharp wit. Not a fishing fan? You will still…
Read MoreSome holistic ponderings about life in new book
On opening this book, it becomes clear that the title, A Quiet Wife, gives away nothing about the nature of our protagonist. And thank God for that. The opening sentence – ‘Sheila enjoyed her reputation as a ruthlessly efficient PA’ – is far more fitting. Sheila is 60, newly retired and dissatisfied with her self-indulgent…
Read MoreStories from the people who live in Blair Atholl
As most Scots will know, Blair Atholl is a pretty patch. This book compiles stories of Atholl from the people who inhabit it, although this is not just a book for Atholl residents – the stories have such a touching humility to them, it would be a shame for them not to receive a wider…
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