Books
An adventurous tale to appeal to early teens
Using Smailholm’s natural beauty as the backdrop to a secret, magical world, Williams’ 16th-century tale is full of imagination. Wynn, daughter of Laird and Lady Hoppringle, uncovers a miniature world unfurling beneath the brambles at Smailholm Tower – a scene reminiscent of The Borrowers and Alice in Wonderland – and works to break the curse…
Read MoreTaking a look round a grave matter in Edinburgh
Across the centuries, countless notable (and less so) Scottish figures have been laid to rest in the capital. Golledge, a local historian, explores the individual history of sites such as St Cuthbert’s, Greyfriars Kirkyard and Old Calton Burial Ground, revealing both how losses were mourned and lives celebrated. An interesting insight into the connection between…
Read MoreThree women linked through time by prejudice
Anchored by the presence of the iconic Bass Rock, this novel by Evie Wyld is a catalogue of brutal male dominance, following the lives of three women separated by centuries but linked by prejudice. And while countless authors have written of female victims and male villains, Wyld’s thought-provoking plots separate this book from many others…
Read MoreThe man behind ‘think global, act local’ in focus
Author Patrick Stephen is incredibly well versed on the life of Patrick Geddes, the biologist, sociologist and town planner behind the ‘think global, act local’ concept. The author’s contention is that there’s much to learn from the sage, particularly with reference to the current climate emergency. Geddes, who would ‘see the problem and throw himself…
Read MoreSeparating Robert the Bruce facts from the fiction
Few figures from Scotland’s history have captivated so many generations, across both Scotland and the world, as Robert The Bruce. In Stephen Spinks’ book, Robert The Bruce: Champion of a Nation, he tries to distinguish facts from the myths and legends which have grown over the centuries. Spinks creates a detailed picture of the context…
Read MoreA crime thriller that will grip you from page one
By the fifth line of Dugald Bruce-Lockhart’s debut novel, I was totally invested in the plot of The Lizard. Lulled into thinking the protagonist a relatable character – he is a student from the University of St Andrews suffering from an aching heart – Alistair Haston is a seemingly ordinary young man seeking to win…
Read MoreA look at life on St Kilda without its people
Home to a small population until 1930, Alex Boyd offers a window onto how St Kilda has remained relatively untouched since its last inhabitants left. It gives a sense of how people would have lived and what’s being done to protect the site. Isle of Rust is a visual response to Jonathan Meades’ essay (included…
Read MoreMagic can be made with a host of cupboard cans
Trying to eat well while sticking to a modest budget isn’t easy and we often resort to the same handful of dishes again and again. What Jessica Elliot Dennison has put together here in Tin Can Magic is an ingenious catalogue of recipes which use up things that most people consistently stock in their cupboards.…
Read MoreCelebrating a forgotten Scotswoman artist
As with most female artists of her time, Mary Cameron’s name faded into relative obscurity following her death in 1921. Captivated by Spanish culture, Cameron created large scale compositions of traditional peasant life and dramatic bullfights. While providing a catalogue of her vibrant and evocative work with additional context, the book also gives an extremely…
Read MoreLast chance to enter creative writing competition
The deadline is looming for young budding authors to be part of a new exclusive story collection commissioned by one of Scotland’s leading hotel groups. Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels has tasked children aged 5-14 to submit a short story of up to 200 words, fact or fiction, with 30 shortlisted stories being printed in…
Read More