Reviews
A fascinating look at Scotland’s eagles
Jim Crumley has been described as ‘the best nature writer working in Britain today,’ and this work on the return to Scotland of the magnificent white-tailed eagle – or sea eagle – certainly proves that point. Crumley’s beautiful, descriptive prose paints a magnificent picture of these most graceful and majestic creatures. Crumley has spent years…
Read MoreThe ‘forgotten’ daughter of Sir William Burrell
The Burrell Collection reopens next year, and houses over 8,000 objects in the south side of Glasgow. Collected by shipping magnate Sir William Burrell and his wife, Constance, this treasure trove was bequeathed to the city in 1944. The Burrells were a very private couple and many assumed that the collection had been left to…
Read MoreLost opportunities and a touching human story
From the very first page of this poetic novel, the reader can witness the story shimmer into life. Writing simultaneously in Gaelic and English, Campbell evokes the haunting beauty of the Western Highlands in this romantic tale of chance encounters and missed moments. When the narrator passes a girl on the staircase of a ferryboat,…
Read MoreA refreshing fictional take on Robert the Bruce
This hefty novel gives voice to the five sisters of Robert the Bruce, highlighting the challenges they faced as sisters of Scotland’s great hero. It is certainly refreshing to hear the female voice within history’s discourse of wars and battles that is so often dominated by men. The story begins with Isa, the eldest sister…
Read MoreA fascinating look into how the wealthy used to live
Country House Cameras is a stunning glimpse into how the other half used to live. This collection of photographs taken at some of Britain’s grandest houses provides a fascinating insight into the advent of family photography. With a Preface by Michael Pritchard, Director-General of the Royal Photographic Society, this includes previously unpublished photographs from the…
Read MoreAn uplifting warming read – perfect for autumn nights
Libby Page, the best selling author of The Lido and The 24 Hour Cafe brings us her third novel, The Island Home. Keeping with her theme of community, it follows the characters Lorna and Alice, who both have a unique but powerful connection to the unnamed island. This is a tale full of secrets, friendship…
Read MoreWhen vampires came to Scotland in a great read
I have always been a fan of the vampire genre, but this is a first for me. This tale of blood sucking horror set in the Highlands of Scotland. Mark Campbell, historian and author, is desperate to finish his new book on the infamous Highland Clearances when his researcher mysteriously disappears. Abandoning his depressed wife…
Read MoreSunrise by the Sea will bring some smiles and joy
A fantastically quirky yet moving story, Sunrise by the Sea features introvert Marisa Rosso, a young girl bound by grief for her recently deceased Italian grandfather. Through the suggestion of her rather obnoxious flatmate, she moves to a tidal island off the Cornish coast to get some peace and clarity. But upon arrival she realises…
Read MoreThere’s more to this tale than just Scottish romance
I was put off by the jacket of this book, but in this case the old adage rings true. What may at first glance appear to be a romantic novel is actually a tale full of crime, politics and intrigue, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh in the 1740s. Yes, there is a romantic element…
Read MoreBringing Scotland’s rich history to life in verse
Scottish History in Verse is an anthology of poetry charting Scotland’s journey through the high and low points of its history using the medium of verse. This unique poetic saunter through the centuries also includes a useful little explanation of the background and the events that led to the penning of each poem. This book…
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