Posts Tagged ‘books’
A historical novel that’s so intense it feels real
Rosemary Goring’s powerful sequel to her critically acclaimed debut After Flodden is set in the tumultuous borderlands of Scotland and England. Dacre’s War is a story of personal and political vengeance at the heart of the power struggle. It has been a decade since the battle at Flodden and the unrest is rife in the…
Read MoreExploring the cultural history of the Highlands
Disturbed by tales of wild beasts, harsh geography and the bloody conflicts of warring clans, few travellers ventured to the Scottish Highlands until after the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden. The influence of the clans was curbed and the Highlands became celebrated by poets, writers and artists for their beauty…
Read MoreA party problem will make the wee ones smile
Mac and Bob and the Party Problem is a colourful and imaginative children’s book which is a fun read for little ones who appreciate the illustrations and medium-sized ones who love the tale. Even Mummy can relate to the plot, which sees Mac invited to a party only to realise that he has nothing to…
Read MoreFinding the greater truth in a fascinating book
Jellyfish is a sparkling and powerful collection of writing. Janice Galloway takes on David Lodge’s assertion – ‘Literature is mostly about having sex and not much about having children; life’s the other way round’ – and scent-marks her multi-layered fiction with what she believes to be the greater truth. Razor sharp tales of two of…
Read MoreLifting the lid on the very best of Tartan Noir
What is Tartan Noir? Which authors belong to this global crime fiction phenomenon? Which books should you read first, next, again, or not at all? Len Wanner investigates the genre’s four main sub-genres – the detective, the police, the serial killer, and the noir novel. Covering four decades of literary history, he provides close readings…
Read MoreGuest editor of Best Scottish Poems announced
The Scottish Poetry Library has announce that rising star Roseanne Watt is the guest editor of the SPL’s annual online anthology Best Scottish Poems 2019. Best Scottish Poems is an annual online anthology of the year’s best poems written by a Scottish poet or poet based in Scotland. Each year the anthology is edited by…
Read MoreA celebration of Christine Isherwood’s talents
A prolific and successful artist and illustrator who loved Scotland, is having her work celebrated in a new book. Christine Isherwood, who died two years ago, was a trained botanist who switched to art while bringing up the her three children with her husband. Using her encyclopaedic knowledge of plants and birds, she used her…
Read MoreA train of thought in turning back the clock
Industrial Locomotives & Railways of Scotland is the ninth volume of the ten-part series of regional books examining the industrial railways of England, Scotland and Wales. Gordon Edgar uses previously unpublished photographs accompanied by detailed captions to reflect on the changing face of the Scottish railway industry over the last six decades. The diversity of…
Read MoreExclusive crime event for Book Week Scotland
Ian Rankin will discuss his recently re-launched lost novel, Westwind, with bestselling crime author Stuart MacBride at an exclusive event during Book Week Scotland. Published for the first time in almost 30 years, the espionage thriller about spies, satellites and a global conspiracy of sinister surveillance, is strikingly relevant in today’s political climate. Tickets for the…
Read MoreYou can’t go wrong with the definitive guide to Elgin
Jenny Main has written the definitive, fully-illustrated A-Z guide of Elgin’s history, people and places. Elgin has a wealth of history which is explored in Jenny Main’s A-Z Guide of the town. The last of the Pictish kings – Macbeth – ruled this area, with his rival, Duncan, dying of his battle wounds in the…
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