Books
Extensive look at the history of Scots clans
The Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia is an expansive and detailed look at the history of Scottish clanship. This is a hefty hardback reference book which features an impressive selection of respected contributors. For those interested in Scottish history this tome is an excellent chronicle of one of its most important facets, the clans. However,…
Read MoreAnother warm, funny read from Alexander McCall Smith
Food writer Paul Stuart is struggling to write his latest book, so his cousin Chloe suggests he should spend the summer in France with her. A simple set up and a no-fuss plot allows McCall Smith to focus on his characters – all of whom are used as vehicles for the author’s sharp wit. This…
Read MoreA celebration of 1000 Scots words and phrases
Cauld Blasts and Clishmaclavers: A Treasury of 1,000 Scottish Words details a huge array of Scottish words and phrases, in what is a joyously eclectic mix. From the ‘airt o’ the clicky’ to ‘yowe trummle’, it is by no means an exhaustive collection of tropes – rather the author has handpicked some of his favourites.…
Read MoreTaking the plunge to enjoy the power of wild swimming
Heart-warming and fascinating, Taking the Plunge: The Healing Power of Wild Swimming for Mind, Body & Soul is fantastic. Written by two women who formed a bond through their love of wild swimming, reading this book feels like having a conversation with old friends. Deacon and Allan detail the lives of wild swimmers, showing how…
Read MoreBill Paterson narrates a history of ships and shipping
Scottish actor Bill Paterson has narrated the funny, sad and enlightening Hurricane Hutch’s Top 10 Ships of the Clyde. First published in 2013 this book is as much a social history as it is about ships and shipping. Bill Paterson’s uniquely recognisable voice brings a gentleness and authority to the storytelling, bringing alive Captain Robin…
Read MoreHave fun with a more wholesome Trainspotting
This novel reads like a slightly more wholesome version of ‘Trainspotting’. Set around the Spey Bay Viaduct in Moray, Bennett charts the adventures of ‘The Summer Crew’, a fictional 1980s crew – led by skipper Sandy Geddes – who start fishing on the River Spey. The book oozes personality, thanks mainly to the fact it’s…
Read MoreContrasting life in South Africa and a Scottish island
Ardnish is the third in Angus MacDonald’s trilogy. It follows the final days of old veteran Donald John Gillies as he lies on his deathbed with pneumonia, reflecting on the hardships he faced during the Boer War. Much time is spent flitting between South Africa in the 1900s and Ardnish in 1944, where an unexpected…
Read MoreThe hills are in this author’s blood
Born in Bonnybridge, author Ian McNeish is an unlikely climbing enthusiast, but the hills are in his blood. This endearing memoir details the lifelong love aff air with the mountains enjoyed by this self-confessed ‘dedicated amateur’, yet there is much to like about this book. While its production values are weak and it could do…
Read MoreMurder mystery in Inverness is a change
The Blood is Still is a crime thriller set in Inverness, a refreshing change from Glasgow or Edinburgh. After a body clothed in 18th-century Highland dress is found on Culloden battlefield, young reporter Rebecca Connolly begins following the story, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. The author’s background as a journalist/investigator adds a layer…
Read MoreA celebration of Scotland in photographs
Well-known Dundonian photographer Shahbaz Majeed has assembled a dizzyingly diverse range of 126 landscape images from every corner of Scotland. Presented in landscape format, they act as a lovely aide memoire for our wilder areas – whether it’s Portencross, Glencoe or Loch Awe, there were classic shots of places many of us will know and…
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