Books
Celebrating the capital’s buildings in Exploring Edinburgh
Featuring around 300 of Edinburgh’s most iconic buildings, Exploring Edinburgh captures the timeless beauty of Scotland’s magical capital and its rich architectural landscape. From medieval gems of the Old Town, to dazzling modern landmarks, Ward – an architect and critic born and raised in Glasgow – can convince even the more passive admirer of architecture…
Read MoreA fascinating look at The Philosophy of Gin
Few spirits have boomed in the way gin has in the last decade. Exploring the history, chemistry and surprising cultural significance of our great love, Mother’s Ruin, The Philosophy of Gin offers an insight into this juniper-fuelled world which is said to have begun in Holland. An expert in top tipples, Peyton dives into gin’s…
Read MoreBook festival to welcome audiences back to Wigtown
Wigtown Book Festival is to welcome audiences and authors back to Scotland’s National Book Town this autumn, following last year’s digital-only event. Taking as its theme, Hello Stranger, the 2021 festival (22 September to 4 October) will be two days longer than in previous years, with more than 140 events for adults and young people,…
Read MoreThe relaxing power of going fishing
Award-winning novelist and journalist David Profumo’s latest book centres around the restorative power of being at one with nature, particularly while fishing. Those with a passion for fishing often talk of its therapeutic qualities, all-too-often triggering an eye-roll from those less enamoured of the pastime. Profumo, however, convinces even the most hesitant reader to acquaint…
Read MoreOne young man’s musical hopes and dreams
The Lighthouse Keepers is a moving story of a young man, Max Bruford, who, against his parents’ wishes, wants to have a career as a musician – aiming to become the best in the world. After a bad reaction to the news of his aspirations, Max comes across two lighthouse keepers, who are swallowed with…
Read MoreLooking to fight back against global warming
With a title that relates to the classic song Riders on the Storm by the Doors, this book immediately had my attention. However it is far from fun and games as it presents the seriousness of our situation and our rather pathetic fight against global warming. Despite the Coronavirus, Alastair McIntosh still deems global warming…
Read MoreQuestions for humanity’s future through verse
Born in Ireland in 1970 and currently teaching at Aberdeen University, David Wheatley is a well-known Irish poet. His work has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry. With many prizes and awards under his name, The President of Planet Earth is no exception to his successful streak. Wheatley brings us…
Read MoreA thriller taking a look at the Scottish oil industry
If you are interested in the pursuit of equality in the workplace but also have a mind for dark thrillers, political corruption, and corporate cover ups, this is the golden nugget. Black Blood follows the story of Danni, a corporate lawyer completing her traineeship before circumstances circling around an abusive partner force her out of…
Read MoreFirst love affair in the 1970s is remembered
The Way We Were entails the love affair of author Peter Hoffman in the early 1970s, from age 16 all the way to 20. Hoffman was educated at Hunter’s Tryst School in Oxgangs, Edinburgh, and spent secondary school at Boroughmuir (more or less) and graduated from Edinburgh University, twice, the second as a post-graduate. He…
Read MoreThe Scot who took ten children to safety
Marjorie Anderson Marnoch was a remarkable woman – and her story is one that deserves to be told. Around 1980, she wrote a 28-page letter giving an incredible account of how, against the backdrop of World War II, she took ten children by ship through the waters of the Atlantic from Scotland to South Africa,…
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