Reviews
A modern gothic thriller set in Glasgow
A novel that manages to be colourful, gritty, modern, and gothic all within its 368 pages. Twenty years after the events of Welsh’s The Cutting Room, Glasgow is a vastly different scene for the LGBTQ+ community as improvements in human rights, technology, dating (see: hook-up) apps, and even Covid regulations have changed the landscape. When…
Read MoreAn engrossing tribute to the River Truim
This is a meandering love letter comprised of thoughts, anecdotes, recollections and folklore, both those passed down through generations and those still unfolding. Terence Clifford-Amos follows in the footsteps of John Inglis Hall’s beloved book about the River Truim, How to Fish in a Highland Stream. You can feel the regard that Clifford-Amos holds for…
Read MoreA bygone Scotland captured in photography
This is a concise paperback edition of the bestselling Scottish photographic book. In the early 1960s, in the course of recording a Dunfermline mill building that was scheduled for demolition, RCAHMS surveyors discovered an incredible collection of over 800 glass plate negatives. Taken between 1880 and 1919, the photographs are a remarkable record of a…
Read MoreAn alternative look at Highland land reform
Prominent land reformer Jim Hunter has produced a compelling account of the modern-day Highlands. Here, there is a battle between environmentalists’ attempts to conserve the nature and landscapes, and the Highlanders themselves trying to preserve their way of life and their culture. This thought-provoking read considers both viewpoints: the Highlanders feel they have a better…
Read MoreMyths and legends from Scotland put in focus
One of my favourite features of mythology and folk tales is the ability to pinpoint the land that they originate from by examining the geography, history and local customs to be found in each piece. Angus, an underrated region of Scotland in my very humble opinion, is put on display through tales of wolves and…
Read MoreA celebration of field sports with fishing and shooting
Scotland has long had a love affair with sport. More famous as the birthplace of golf and for the popularity of sports like football and rugby, this passionate collection of essays brings to life our nation’s relationship with different kinds of sport – fishing and shooting. Lord James Percy grew up in the untamed landscapes…
Read MoreA true celebration of Scottish mountaineering
Subtitled ‘A Celebration of Scottish Mountaineering’, The Great Mountain Crags of Scotland is a huge guide to the greatest crags in Scotland revolves around some stunning photography. This, along with the first-hand experiences of some of Scotland’s greatest mountaineers and detailed descriptions of the places and possible routes to take, make this excellent book a…
Read MoreAn insight into changing Scotland in the 1700s
Scotland’s greatest historical controversialist brings us an engaging and very readable examination of the exemplary yet volatile political, economic and cultural landscape of 18th century Scotland. Among the many subjects the ever-provocative Michael Fry examines is the gradual, and often painful, evolution of a feudal land that shook up every facet of society, detailing how…
Read MoreA wonderful look at teaching on a Scottish island
Life as a teacher is trying enough without having to contend with scare resources, limited electricity, and the worry of pupils walking a dangerous path to reach their classes each day. Kate Riley, a former headteacher on Canna, delves deep into the history of the island’s 1878 schoolhouse, bringing to life those who preceded her.…
Read MoreLeaving it all behind in a bid to destress
In February 2019, award-winning writer Alex Roddie left his online life behind and headed for the highlands. The constant bleeping of blue screens vying for his attention Alex Roddie – an outdoor writer, photographer and editor who lives in Lincolnshire – at breaking point. Seeking headspace from his rising anxiety levels, he took on a…
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