Posts Tagged ‘review’
A look around some of the most stunning gardens
Aspiring to promote interaction with the natural world, photos are divided into categories that encourage the appreciation of the planet’s diversity. Particularly for nature enthusiasts, the staggering range of nature’s beauty is astonishingly captured from a multitude of perspectives and locations. It could benefit from more narrative, but definitely one for the coffee table. International…
Read MoreThese Tiny Tales are packed full of character and charm
This book of Tiny Tales is easy to read, charismatic and charming. It convincingly demonstrates that length is by no means essential for a captivating read. The abundance of tales are collated into sections; from ‘kindness’ to ‘meeting in lifts’, and this is topped off with an ‘Amuse-Bouche’ which humorously compliments each collection. The same…
Read MoreLin Anderson’s epic crime series returns in style
The Glasgow-based epic crime series, now fifteen instalments long, sees the return of Dr Rhona MacLeod and DS Michael McNab. Forensic scientist MacLeod, is called upon when eleven-year-old Mary McIntyre’s body is discovered after vanishing 45 years previously. Karen Marshall, Mary’s best friend, is still troubled by memories surrounding her disappearance and struggles to make…
Read MoreA Tomb with a View offers a fascinating insight
While the more superstitious among us avoid graveyards or simply hold our breath while passing them, Peter Ross finds them curiously comforting. He whiled away the hours in the Old Town cemetery in Stirling as a boy. The Glasgow-based writer, one of Scotland’s finest essayists, admits that deciphering old gravestones was one of the ways…
Read MoreA study of nature writing and the Scottish ecology
Kathleen Jamie introduces Antlers of Water, a collection of modern Scottish nature writing with a huge focus on our pressing ecological crisis. This is apparent in most of the 23 commissioned writings by various Scottish authors, the diversity between each of their chapters refl ective of Scotland’s unique environment. There’s an intriguing mix of prose,…
Read MoreA helpful guide to training cocker spaniels
There has been a recent upsurge in the popularity of working cockers, but this hyperactive breed is not always the easiest to train. Author Janet Menzies has produced a really well written and helpful book aimed specifically at new owners, which takes the reader all the way through from the puppy stage to working the…
Read MoreAnother warm, funny read from Alexander McCall Smith
Food writer Paul Stuart is struggling to write his latest book, so his cousin Chloe suggests he should spend the summer in France with her. A simple set up and a no-fuss plot allows McCall Smith to focus on his characters – all of whom are used as vehicles for the author’s sharp wit. This…
Read MoreA celebration of 1000 Scots words and phrases
Cauld Blasts and Clishmaclavers: A Treasury of 1,000 Scottish Words details a huge array of Scottish words and phrases, in what is a joyously eclectic mix. From the ‘airt o’ the clicky’ to ‘yowe trummle’, it is by no means an exhaustive collection of tropes – rather the author has handpicked some of his favourites.…
Read MoreTaking the plunge to enjoy the power of wild swimming
Heart-warming and fascinating, Taking the Plunge: The Healing Power of Wild Swimming for Mind, Body & Soul is fantastic. Written by two women who formed a bond through their love of wild swimming, reading this book feels like having a conversation with old friends. Deacon and Allan detail the lives of wild swimmers, showing how…
Read MoreThe hills are in this author’s blood
Born in Bonnybridge, author Ian McNeish is an unlikely climbing enthusiast, but the hills are in his blood. This endearing memoir details the lifelong love aff air with the mountains enjoyed by this self-confessed ‘dedicated amateur’, yet there is much to like about this book. While its production values are weak and it could do…
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