Books
A celebration of Scotland’s great outdoors in winter
Wild Winter tells of the author’s exploration of Scotland’s mountains during the winter months. From October to March he travelled around the country seeking nature and adventure. Burns’ account of life in the hills is thought-provoking as he touches upon important subjects like conservation and environmental issues. This book acts as a reminder of the…
Read MoreTwo cases in a thrilling read set in 1970s Glasgow
The April Dead, the newest novel following detective Harry McCoy, takes place after a homemade bomb explodes in a Glasgow flat. With little evidence at his disposal, McCoy must unearth who is to blame before the situation worsens. At the same time McCoy has to deal with a missing American who vanished from the nearby…
Read MoreCelebrating a fascinating explorer of the Victorian era
Author Jacki Hill-Murphy has travelled to some of the lesser explored parts of the world to recreate the journeys of female explorers from the past. This book focuses on Isabella Bird the 4ft 11in force of nature who explored, amongst others, India, Japan and New Zealand. Hill-Murphy recounts the story of Bird beautifully, paying homage…
Read MoreStephen King joins the 2021 hybrid Bloody Scotland
International Crime Writing Festival Bloody Scotland has revealed its most ambitious programme yet. The event provides a showcase for the best crime writing from Scotland and the world, unique in that it was set up by a group of Scottish crime writers in 2012. A hybrid festival which gives festival goers in Stirling the full-on…
Read MoreMental health – from both sides of the table
Finding True North is an important book highlighting a topic that should be more widely discussed – mental health in adults. Author Linda Gask, who trained in medicine in Edinburgh, spent her career working as a consultant psychiatrist while also battling with her own mental health struggles. Gask’s wisdom and experience result in an insightful…
Read MoreRegenerating a beautiful Scottish estate
Mar Lodge Estate is nestled in Royal Deeside and provides the backdrop of this beautiful book. In 1995 the National Trust for Scotland took over the estate in a bid to improve and conserve its landscape. Painting, the assistant ecologist at Mar Lodge Estate, details the work that has occurred over the last 25 years…
Read MoreNominations hunt for Scots lifetime achievement
The Saltire Society, organisers of Scotland’s National Book Awards, today called for nominations for the 2021 Saltire Society Scottish Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is for individuals who have made and are making a lasting impact and are imbedded in the literary culture of Scotland. Nominees must be either born in Scotland, currently living…
Read MoreA baker’s challenge to make bread for a whole year
When asking himself whether he was capable of baking enough bread to feed his family for a year, Robert Penn could never have predicted the adventure he was about to undertake. This book details his journey around the world as he learns how to grow and produce his family’s own bread. He ventured to Fertile…
Read MoreComing to terms with a family past of slavery
Blood Legacy: Reckoning With A Family’s Story Of Slavery is a highly reflective book about how, by coming to terms with one’s past, we can advocate for a better future. Author Alex Renton explains how, rather than disinterested bystanders, the Scots were enthusiastic participants who were up to their oxters in slavery. Through tracking his…
Read MoreA fascinating look at the life of the shearwater
A beautiful mix of memoir and natural history, Roger Morgan-Grenville explores the life of the majestic shearwater. He follows it as it travels solo from the British Isles to the waters of the South Atlantic at the tender age of just two weeks old. Morgan-Greenville paints an extraordinary picture of one of nature’s most remarkable,…
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