Reviews
Picture perfect book that’s all write
Over thirty years on, photographer Angela Catlin has updated her first collection of striking black and white portraits of Scotland’s finest writers, each accompanied by examples of their work. Among the 49 snapped for posterity are writers Alasdair Gray, A L Kennedy, Ian Rankin, James Robertson and Ali Smith, poets Ron Butlin, Jen Hadfield and…
Read MoreThe island with a whisky for every palate
Whisky has been distilled on the windswept Hebridean island of Islay since the 18th century. The Queen of the Hebrides currently has eight distilleries producing some of the best quality whisky on the market. Rintoul documents in fascinating detail how each whisky is produced in this glossy, informative book. There’s also one of her poems…
Read MoreA real treasure trove of holy hideaways
Dixe Wills’ latest quirky travel guide chronicles 60 of Britain’s smallest churches. One chapel halfway down a remote Pembrokeshire cliff is so tiny that the congregation has to sit outside for the annual service. Scottish gems include the frescoed apse in Hoselaw Chapel, Croick Church in Ardgay with its moving messages scratched on the windows…
Read MoreDebut novel captures contrast in lifestyles
Debutant novellist Angus MacDonald doesn’t waste any time jumping into the story of young Donald Peter (‘DP’) Gillies, a Lovat Scout soldier who lies in a makeshift hospital in Gallipoli in 1916. While suffering a gunshot wound to his shoulder and blinded fi ghting on the front line against the Turks in the disastrous Dardanelles…
Read MoreThe story of Gigha – from pre-historic until today
Just off the Kintyre peninsula lies the small island of Gigha, the most southerly Hebridean isle. Due to a mild climate, fertile land and an advantageous geographical location, Gigha harbours an interesting history. This book takes the reader on a journey of the inhabitants of the island, starting from the settlers of pre-historic times to…
Read MoreA celebration of the Isle of Iona in words
For centuries, the island of Iona has influenced writers, poets and songsmiths, from the early settlers of Iona Abbey to Robert Louis Stevenson. With a huge collection of extracts by authors such as Meg Bateman, Jennie Erdal, Meaghan Delahunt, Ruth Thomas and many more dedicated to the famous island, The Book of Iona is an…
Read MoreDelving into Scotland’s proud history of textiles
Warm Covers sees Janet Rae delve into the story of Scotland’s once thriving textile industry, when the production of cotton and wool were at the forefront. Exploring the multiple themes such as the effect of dyes and the progression of needlework education, Warm Covers also comments on various individuals who significantly contributed to the advancement…
Read MoreA shooting murder mystery in the countryside
Death of a High Flyer reflects the concerns of the countryside and the people who live there. Hart-Davis creates an intricate web of characters, all of whom come under suspicion when the town’s pushy billionaire dies during a shoot. Known for ruffling more than a few feathers, it all becomes a question of whodunnit? Great…
Read MoreA dark history in a mysterious Scottish house
In Down to the Sea, we follow the fascinating and often difficult lives of the occupants of a mysterious house in Edinburgh across three centuries. In the early 1980s, young couple Rona and Craig believe they have found the perfect house to renovate and turn into a luxury care home. However its dark history from…
Read MoreExploring the Highland distilleries on a Vespa
After a successful tour of Tuscany by Vespa, Ben Birdsall has taken on the ultimate whisky tour – three weeks, one thousand miles and many many distilleries in the Highlands and western islands of Scotland. On a 1979 50cc Vespino that manages to average just 20mph, Birdsall explores the myths and mysteries of over 40…
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