Books
The Good Books, Alan Tylor: ‘Muriel Spark epitomised what a writer should and can be if you stick to your principles’
Alan Taylor on being inspired by Muriel Spark, the novel he most recommends and knowing if he’ll stick to a book after the first page. The first book I remember reading: I learned to read with a series of books in which the two main characters were called Janet and John. These just happened…
Read MorePalace of Holyroodhouse’s dramatic past revealed in first official history ever published
‘If these walls could talk’ might be the most fitting idiom when thinking about The Palace of Holyroodhouse. It’s journey from 12th-century abbey to official Scottish residence of His Majesty The King is peppered with royalty, glamour and even murder. Mary, Queen of Scots spent just six years at the Palace in the 1560s, but…
Read MoreHollywood star James Cosmo makes sell-out appearance at Wigtown Book Festival
Hollywood star James Cosmo made a sell-out appearance during the first weekend of the Wigtown Book Festival. The Braveheart actor told audiences about his long career, starring in everything from Highlander to Game of Thrones, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Trainspotting. The fact that he was a big man and an accomplished rider proved to…
Read MoreWigtown Book Festival gets underway with The Hebridean Baker, Sue Lawrence and Irvine Welsh
Scotland’s National Book Town will burst into life with the start of the annual Wigtown Book Festival this week. Well-known names at this year’s event include poet Pam Ayres, The Hebridean Baker Coinneach MacLeod, food legend Sue Lawrence, Scotland’s National Chef Gary MacLean, Former BBC Moscow correspondent Martin Sixsmith, author Irvine Welsh. There will also…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Jenni Fagan: ‘I found Alice Walker at a really pivotal moment in my reading life’
Author and poet Jenni Fagan on finding her love of reading as a child, being inspired by Alice Walker and the book she always recommends. The first book I remember reading: I was reading from a really early age, I remember being in class when I was five years old and being so annoyed…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Angie Spoto: ‘I re-read The Hobbit and fell in love with it all over again’
Angie Spoto on the book she recommends to everyone, reading the books of her childhood to her son, and her favourite place to read. The first book I remember reading: Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of Rings – I read them so fast when I was a kid. I couldn’t get enough of…
Read MoreThe couple who gambled everything to become Wigtown bookshop owners
Joyce Cochrane had just discovered she was pregnant when she and her partner Ian gave up their jobs and moved from Edinburgh to revive a former bookshop in Wigtown. With no stock, no shelves in the shop, no accommodation and having no retail experience they were gambling everything on a dream. Now they are celebrating…
Read MoreThe Good Books, J.D. Oswald: ‘Realising you can stop reading something you don’t enjoy and pick up something else is liberating’
J.D. Oswald on his memories of reading as a child, how he doesn’t enjoy Dickens and becoming addicted to audiobooks. The first book I remember reading: I devoured books from the moment I was first able to read them myself, having been read to by my parents from a very early age. I have…
Read MoreShortlist announced for Bloody Scotland 2024 McIlvanney Prize
The shortlist for the 2024 McIlvanney Prize at Stirling’s crime writing festival has been revealed. The prestigious award, named in honour of the iconic late writer William McIlvanney, will be presented on 13 September – the opening night of Bloody Scotland. The shortlist includes Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre and Abir Mukherjee. D V Bishop and…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Catherine Hokin: ‘I come from a working class background which prized education, our house was full of books’
Catherine Hokin on the books of her childhood, her best books of the year so far, and reading in rainy Glasgow. The first book I remember reading: I’ve loved stories since as long as I can remember – I come from a working class background which prized education and our house was full of…
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