Books
A fascinating look at Scotland’s military aerodromes
The depth of Malcolm Fife’s knowledge on this niche subject of military aerodromes is staggering. Granted, it is highly academic reading, but the legions of history buff s with a thirst for all things Air Force-related will love picking this up on a rainy afternoon. Exploring everything from RAF Donibristle, which was once used as…
Read MoreClanlands is an astonishingly gripping travelogue
Sometimes you just have to admit when you are wrong, and this is one of those (rare) occasions. I started this book with a heavy heart, but by the time I’d finished I was sorry I’d managed to whizz through this quirky Scottish travelogue quite so quickly. Heughan and McTavish, in case you’ve never heard…
Read MoreGorge yourself on a celebration of all things cheese
As a turophile – the official term for a lover of cheese – The Philosophy of Cheese was a glorious read. Cheese guru Patrick Rance once wrote that ‘a slice of good cheese is never just a thing to eat, it’s usually a slice of local history: agricultural, political or ecclesiastical’ and this book backs…
Read MoreVikings, huge crustaceans and a helpful seagull
The basis of A Large Measure of Snow is that in December 1967, with all roads to the town of Kinloch cut off by snow, its fishing fleet sets off for Girvan in search of food. On board one boat, the Girl Maggie, is first mate Hamish, who has – to everyone’s amazement – been…
Read MoreThe fascinating story of one Scottish river’s song
If Rivers Could Sing, a delightful little book, is subtitled ‘A year in the life of the River Devon as it passes through the counties of Perthshire, Kinross-shire and Clackmannanshire’. It and covers the 33 miles between the river’s origins at 1,800ft above sea level in the Ochil Hills before running in a U-shape through…
Read MoreThe autobiography of a true Scottish rugby great
Ken Scotland, a fullback for Heriot’s, Cambridge University, Scotland and the British & Irish Lions in the fifties and sixties, was one of the finest players this country has ever produced. An exponent of running rugby and an outstanding sportsman (he also played cricket for Scotland), celebrated Lions skipper Tom Kiernan reckoned he was the…
Read MoreGlasgow Women’s Library announces fifth literary festival
Glasgow Women’s Library has announced its 2021 Open the Door programme, the literary festival that puts women to the fore. Inspired by Glasgow’s long history of bold, creative women, the theme this year is writers who are artists and artists who are writers, and GWL will be celebrating how they weave these two practices together.…
Read MoreAye Write announces its full cast for digital book festival
The Aye Write book festival has announced its full programme of online events featuring 140 authors from Scotland and around the world, over two weekends this month. Taking place from 14 May to 16 May and 21 May to 23 May, Aye Write is Glasgow’s Book Festival and is produced by Glasgow Life, the charity…
Read MoreHearts that vie for the hearts and soul of Scotland
In the last instalment of a weighty trilogy that attempts to give John Knox a Hilary Mantel-style makeover, we see the Protestant firebrand return to a Scotland that in 1559 was on the brink of civil war. Back in Edinburgh, Knox immediately does battle with Mary, Queen of Scots, who is seeking to claim the…
Read MoreThe story of the woman behind Peter Rabbit
The story of the creator of Peter Rabbit is an interesting one that says much about the unquenchable creative spirit of a sad little girl who, in the absence of anyone else to educate her, did it herself. Cohen’s book examines Potter’s summers, which were spent on the Dalguise Estate near Dunkeld, where she developed…
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