Books
Scottish writers turn back time to their childhoods
What’s the story? Acclaimed best-selling romantic comedy novelist Jenny Colgan, from Prestwick, and award-winning TV writer/producer Steven Moffat, from Paisley, have turned back the clock to their childhoods. The pair, both committed Doctor Who fans, have written novelisations of TV episodes in the style of the classic Target books of the 1970s and 80s. They’ve…
Read MoreWhisky – The Connoisseur’s Journal
What’s the Story? The Whisky Journal provides readers with a well organised and attractive way to record information from tasting notes to ages. With the inclusion of extensive whisky knowledge, invites amateur drinkers to connoisseurs to learn more about how to drink whisky in the ‘correct’ manner or how to store the drink accordingly. Traveling…
Read MoreBook review: The Aberdeen Line by Peter H. King
What’s The Story? Captain Peter H. King — with more than 60 years experience in the merchant shipping industry explores the history of one of the world’s long forgotten shipping lines. Founded in 1825 by the 21-year-old George Thompson Jnr, the Aberdeen Shipping Company developed over 100 years to become one of the most highly…
Read MoreBook examines returning wild lynx to Scotland
A new publication is looking at pros and cons of reintroducing lynx to Scotland. Published by Scotland: The Big Picture, it looks at what thing could be like if the Eurasian lynx returned to Scotland. The Lynx and Us – by ecologist Dr David Hetherington, with stunning photography of wild lynx from Laurent Geslin –…
Read MoreBook review: Japanese Whisky by Brian Ashcraft
What’s the story? Japanese whisky has been around for less than a century, and this book by Brian Ashcraft, with Idzuhiko Ueda and Yuji Kawasaki, highlights the rapid growth in the industry, revealing the secrets of the master distillers of the Far East. It features never-before-published archival images and interviews chronicling the forgotten stories of…
Read MoreThe life of Thomas Telford to be marked at festival
Thomas Telford is one of the most influential Scots of the last couple of hundred years – and yet he’s largely anonymous in the land of his birth. Many may know and recognise his name, but his contribution to not just Scotland, but the rest of the UK, often passes under the radar. A civil…
Read MoreRockpools and Daffodils by George Mackay Brown
What’s the story? Rockpools and Daffodils is a collection of diary entries by the celebrated Scots poet George Mackay Brown, written weekly for The Orcadian newspaper. These writings detail daily life on Orkney and Mackay Brown’s pondering of the goings on in the islands. Written in his distinctive style, unique to his native Orkney the…
Read MoreBook review: Flodden by Gary Mill
What’s the story? Flodden is a fantastic mixture of Scottish history and thoughtfully constructed fiction. The novel focuses on the epic battle between Scotland and England which took place on the slopes of Branxton Hill in Northumbria in 1513. It tells the story of King James IV of Scotland and a young arrow maker named…
Read MoreAppointment in Arezzo: A Friendship with Muriel Spark
What’s the Story? Alan Taylor, who has been a journalist for over 30years in Scotland, struck up a close friendship with Muriel Spark the world renowned writer after a 1990 interview in Arezzo, Italy. The book discusses Spark’s successes over her inspiring career and also addresses many of the controversies which Sparks often shied…
Read MoreBook review: The Edinburgh Quiz Book
What’s the story? Celebrating Edinburgh’s diverse riches, this quiz book invites you to come on a wide-ranging exploration of Scotland’s hilly capital. Peel away its many layers in the company of one of Edinburgh’s top Blue Badge tourist guides. Highlights The book benefits strongly from John A Duncan’s familiarity with the capital – after all,…
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