Books
The Good Books, Hugo Rifkind: ‘Good Omens is the funniest book ever written, and it gets no worse as I get older’
Journalist and author Hugo Rifkind on the best books he’s read in the last year, being inspired by Stephen King and reading on the tube. The first book I remember reading: Aside from picturebooks it must have been Stig Of The Dump, by Clive King. The story of a cave-boy living alone in an…
Read MoreRare first edition Harry Potter book up for auction could fetch £60,000
Rare first editions of J.K. Rowling’s first three Harry Potter books, a signed first edition of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, and a complete set of signed A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the Pooh books are going up for auction. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first in Rowling’s boy wizard series, valued at between £40,000 and £60,000,…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Donald Murray: ‘I always return to Alice Munro, she often shines a light on rural communities’
A son of the Hebrides, Donald’s acclaimed non-fiction books bring to life the culture and nature of the Scottish islands. He talks to us about his love of short stories, reading the classics and growing up on Lewis. The first book I remember reading: A version of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Alistair Moffat: ‘I recently bought three new novels and after a few pages of each, hurled them across the room’
Alistair Moffat on the books of his childhood, his despair at badly written novels, and his ancient alcove for reading. The first book I remember reading: When I was five or six, my mum took me down to the Carnegie Library in Kelso. Mr Bird, the librarian, looked over the counter at me for…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Chris Brookmyre: ‘Reading Iain Banks changed my perception of what Scottish fiction could be’
Chris Brookmyre on colourful comics, the essence of Glasgow, and the importance of reading somewhere sunny when your writing spot isn’t. The first book I remember reading: Asterix in Britain. It was on our class bookshelf in Primary Three, but I had to wait because whenever we had reading time, there was always a rush…
Read MoreBook Review: Good Vibes Baking
Good Vibes Baking: Bakes To Make Your Soul Shine and Your Taste Buds Sing, Sandro Farmhouse, DK, RRP £20. Who doesn’t love The Great British Bake Off? Sandro Farmhouse was the undisputed star of the ever popular TV baking show in 2022. Despite being pipped at the post by Syabira Yusoff, Sandro – a former…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Liz Mistry: ‘Life is too short for struggling on with a book that doesn’t grip me by the throat pretty quickly’
Crime writer Liz Mistry on the joys of Agatha Christie, the best books she has read this year, and why reading in bed is the epitome of relaxation. The first book I remember reading: I think I was born reading. No seriously though, although I’m not sure it’s the first book I read, I…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Callum McSorley: ‘Louise Welsh is a great inspiration to me’
Callum McSorley on the books of his childhood, why he always recommends Neuromancer and being inspired by Louise Welsh. The first book I remember reading: I remember reading Keith Brumpton’s two Rudley Cabot books over and over – a pair of short graphic novels about an explorer rabbit. And The Headless Ghost, one of…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Denzil Meyrick: ‘They say the purpose of fiction is to remove the reader to another place’
Denzil Meyrick on his memories of being read Treasure Island by his grandmother, his favourite three books of the year so far, and being inspired by the the late Angus MacVicar. The first book I remember reading: The first book I remember was Treasure Island, read to me by my grandmother, Margaret McMillan. I…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Caroline Eden: ‘My favourite place to read is on a quiet train, going anywhere’
Caroline Eden finds comfort away from the road in her basement Edinburgh kitchen. In her latest book she cooks recipes from her travels, reflects on past adventures and contemplates the kitchen’s ability to tell human stories. The first book I remember reading: As soon as I was old enough to read on my own…
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