Short stories and varied lives in The Way Out

The Way Out is a compilation of short stories depicting the dilemmas, desires and disappointments of men and women, young and old. Vicki Jarrett explores these people’s lives and their trials and tribulations in relationships, the economy and society. The Way Out is an impressive assemblage of heart-warming yet chilling cases, brimming with stark truths…

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A look at the natural year in the Highlands

‘Nature writers are supposed to be able to summon from the literary ether the precise words to describe their subjects or the feelings they evince,’ writes John Lister-Kaye in Gods of the Morning. ‘Sometimes the Muse attends, but by no means on demand.’ Well, for Gods of the Morning: A Bird’s Eye View of a…

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A book celebrating 10 real masterpieces

Masterpieces from the Scottish National Gallery is an eye-delighting collection of the ten greatest paintings from the gallery in Edinburgh – widely regarded as one of the finest small galleries in the world. Alongside a broad selection of jewels from Scotland, the stand-out canvases are by Antoine Watteau, John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer…

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Her life was ruined by a blood transfusion

This is the truly tragic tale of how one woman’s life has been affected by one of the UK’s biggest medical scandals –blood transfusion contamination. Gill Fyffe received the transfusion after undergoing a traumatic birth. Several unexplained side-effects followed and seven years later she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Now in seriously deteriorating health and…

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Danger and excitement with Darke matter

Action-packed and thrilling, Darke Mission follows JJ Drake, a former MI5 spy, lone parent and now apparently head-down worker in the finance sector.  Caladon’s contemporary scenes are set in several places – London, Scotland and North Korea. With the British government at the brink of bankruptcy, the ex-spy is forced to lead an audacious heist…

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A historical celebration of all things Montrose

Bonnie Montrose is a poetry-and-song tribute to the lovely coastal town of Montrose on the Angus coast. The book was first published in 1899 by local resident William McHardy, who celebrated the struggles, triumphs and tribulations of his friends and neighbours – while also touching upon the ever-changing landscape of this coastal town with its…

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A fun guide to Dundee exploring hidden treasures

Dundee: A Very Peculiar History is an illustrated pocket-sized guide to the hidden treasures of Dundee, Scotland’s fourth largest city. It takes a light-hearted approach but does not avoid need-to-know matters – with fact boxes, glossaries, drawings and colour gatefolds throughout. A fun and informative production, good as a gift or a handy practical helper.…

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Wigtown Book Festival 2019 another big success

It’s been another superb year for the Wigtown Book Festival. Preliminary figures suggest that audience numbers matched or even bettered the 29,000 achieved for the 20th anniversary event in 2018. Organisers have thanked audiences, authors, volunteers and Wigtown’s residents for making it such a success. Anne Barclay, Wigtown Festival Company operational director, said: ‘It’s been another…

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Saving the wildcats – Scotland’s Highland tiger

For someone who initially had no particular interest in wildcats, I finished this book feeling massively concerned for their welfare and vulnerability.  Marianne Taylor delves into the fascinating lives of Scottish wildcats in her Highland journey, during which she hopes to catch sight of these elusive animals. They face alarming endangerment so a need for…

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An outsider’s look at Scotland’s capital

Chiang Yee offers an insightful and refreshing view on the capital in The Silent Traveller in Edinburgh. Refusing to let the unpredictable Scottish weather hinder his expeditions, Chiang Yee always finds beauty in the dreariest of rainstorms. He employs the technique of defamiliarisation, opening his readers’ eyes to alternative perspectives of the city through astute…

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