Reviews
Children’s book shows money isn’t everything
The Lavender Blue Dress is the first children’s book from acclaimed musician and songwriter Aidan Moffat, with beautiful illustrations by Emmeline Pidgen. This is the heart-warming story of Mabel. With the school Christmas ball coming up, everyone is getting a new outfit, except Mabel, who knows her parents can’t afford to splash out. But with…
Read MoreThis whisky celebration is a labour of love
The Scotch Whisky Treasures is a beautifully produced history of whisky distillation. Written by Scotsman Tom Bruce-Gardyn, who considers it a blessing to have grown up with Scotch whisky, he guides you through our most celebrated whisky regions, from Speyside to the Highlands and Western Isles. Award-winning drinks journalist and author Bruce-Gardyne’s passion for the…
Read MoreDetective all at sea on the Golden Voyage of Mendick
The third book in the Mendick series, The Golden Voyage, follows Scotland Yard Detective James Mendick. He is trapped aboard a mysterious stolen ship in the South Atlantic with an unsavoury crew and a captain obsessed with Greek Mythology. It’s a new departure for the detective – his usual hunting ground is the city of…
Read MoreA tour of Scotland and exploring Broken Britain
Kellan MacInnes’ first novel, The Making of Mickey Bell, employs an unusual style of writing that launches a refreshing new literary talent into the Scottish fiction firmament. Jumping from the voice of the narrator to Mickey’s inner monologue, MacInnes leads us away from the rough Glasgow streets to a different kind of rough in the…
Read MoreTurning Japanese at Umi in Edinburgh
Hidden away beneath one of Edinburgh’s longest established Chinese restaurants, I was hoping to find buried treasure at Umi on Deanhaugh Street in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. This newbie is the sister project of Kenji Sushi and Bentoya and it seems that word has spread quickly about the quality of the authentic Japanese food on the menu…
Read MoreTravelling across Scotland is the wheel deal
Alan Brown’s love of biking leads him on a solo adventure from one side of the Scottish Highlands to another in Overlander: Bikepacking Coast to Coast across the Heart of the Highlands. That makes this the perfect read for cycling and adventure lovers. Focusing on the benefits of cycling to his physical and mental health,…
Read MoreThe former Queen of Scots with a famous brother
Margaret Tudor: The Life of Henry VIII’s Sister is brilliantly researched novel which transports the reader back to the 15th century. At times, this allows them to forget they’re reading non-fiction as they delve into the great and often hard life of a once Queen of Scots. Focused on Margaret Tudor, who is often overlooked…
Read MoreA history of the estates in the Lochaber area
This study of Lochaber, Clanship to Capitalism, is conducted by Richard Sidgwick who has had a lifelong connection with land management in the area. The knowledge he has gleaned from this has undoubtedly aided him in creating this fascinating history of the Western Highlands, complete with previously unseen illustrations and maps. The limited edition is…
Read MoreShining a light on Glasgow’s colourful past
Scotland’s second city deserves a book devoted to its colourful past and Alan Taylor demonstrates that there is much more to the ‘no mean city’ than meets the eye in Glasgow – The Autobiography. He strides across centuries and delves into numerous sources for these incisive anecdotes from natives such as Liz Lochead and Tartan…
Read MoreScottish fable given new life in the 21st century
Originally a Scottish fable written in 1440 by Richard Holland, The Book of the Howlat is re-imagining of one of the poetic gems of medieval Scotland. It tells the moral story of being true to one’s own nature. Similar to the Ugly Duckling tale, this children’s book introduces the Howlat, a body-conscious young owl who…
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