Posts Tagged ‘The Good Books’
The Good Books, Elissa Soave: ‘I am very lucky I grew up surrounded by books’
Elissa Soave on the book she always recommends, what she’s reading now, and the author who has inspired her. The first book I remember reading: I was very lucky that my mum was a reader so I grew up surrounded by books. I remember being particularly struck by Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree.…
Read MoreA day at Aberdeen’s crime writing festival Granite Noir
Granite Noir, Aberdeen’s literary festival, has wrapped up after another successful year bringing crime and creativity to the Granite City. Grant Dickie spent a day at the Music Hall events to find out just what was on offer. Literature at Lunchtime with C.J. Cooke I have been a fan of C.J. Cooke’s writing for…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Lisa Ballantyne: ‘I am anticipating Margaret Atwood’s memoir, as I young writer I found great solace in her non-fiction’
Scottish writer Lisa Ballantyne on how she always tries to finish a book, the author who has inspired her and what’s she is reading now. The first book I remember reading: Before I even went to school, I remember ‘pretending’ to read Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne. Reading was definitely something I aspired…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Kirsty Logan: ‘I am rereading Doppelganger by Naomi Klein, it’s the perfect brain food’
We speak to Scottish author Kirsty Logan about her favourite books, the authors who inspire her, and what she’s reading now, ahead of her appearance at Granite Noir. The first book I remember reading: The Dribblesome Teapots by Norman Hunter, a collection of quirky, weird, funny little fairytales set in the fantastical land of Inkrediblania. …
Read MoreBook Lovers Bookshop: We speak to the author behind the UK’s first brick and mortar romance-only bookshop
Romance may be one of the biggest money-making genres in the publishing industry, but it has historically been dismissed in literary circles due to outdated and biased opinions on its content and craft. We spoke to Caden Armstrong, the 24-year-old romance author of Truthfully, Yours and owner of the UK’s first brick and mortar romance-only…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Fiona Watson: ‘As a historian I adored Hilary Mantel’s commitment to research and being faithful to the facts’
Fiona Watson on reading the Narnia books as a child, her favourite book of the year and being inspired by Hilary Mantel. The first book I remember reading: The one that springs to mind is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as I read all the Narnia books when I was nine or…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Mhairi Collie: ‘I have been an Outlander fan for a long time’
Mhairi Collie on being inspired by Alexander McCall Smith, not making it through A Little Life by Hanya, Yanagihara and her love of the Outlander series. The first book I remember reading: I think it would have to be an Enid Blyton – probably the Famous Five. I still remember all the different characters…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Alan Tylor: ‘Muriel Spark epitomised what a writer should and can be if you stick to your principles’
Alan Taylor on being inspired by Muriel Spark, the novel he most recommends and knowing if he’ll stick to a book after the first page. The first book I remember reading: I learned to read with a series of books in which the two main characters were called Janet and John. These just happened…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Jenni Fagan: ‘I found Alice Walker at a really pivotal moment in my reading life’
Author and poet Jenni Fagan on finding her love of reading as a child, being inspired by Alice Walker and the book she always recommends. The first book I remember reading: I was reading from a really early age, I remember being in class when I was five years old and being so annoyed…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Angie Spoto: ‘I re-read The Hobbit and fell in love with it all over again’
Angie Spoto on the book she recommends to everyone, reading the books of her childhood to her son, and her favourite place to read. The first book I remember reading: Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of Rings – I read them so fast when I was a kid. I couldn’t get enough of…
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