Read Scotland 2015 discussion

Still reading? It's gone pretty quiet around here. Maybe its just summer and everyone has been busy? I have been really bad about checking in. We have been gone so much this summer and have not had internet access. My reading has suffered this summer too. but I'm plodding along and hope to pick up when the weather cools and we get back to normal here at home. I'm going to try something totally out of my comfort zone for my next read. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. I might not make it all the way through but I'll give it a go. I've read lots of books I would never have read if not for this challenge!
Don't forget to check in once in a while and let us know what your reading! I'm finishing up The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey now. What are you reading? Add your books to the group bookshelf!

I'm still lurking about. I have been so busy and tired that it's been hard for me to read. :(. Plus hard to find books/authors from Scotland around me. I check in often to see what others are reading. :).

I'm still around too, Peggy. Saw the fireworks at the end of the Edinburgh festival on Monday -- what a crowd! and what a show!

I been reading a number of books from North America recently and they've been great. In amongst that I read two books I'm not sure would count as Scottish books for you as they weren't about Scotland, nor were the authors born in Scotland --- but they both live here now.

"Started Early, Took my Dog" by Kate Atkinson, and "The Book of Strange New Things" by Michael Faber.

Let me know what you think of these!

Also good luck with "Trainspotting" - I found it required a bit of steel to get through even the first 50 pages. At one point I took a break for a few days and before going on to the end - it's heavy stuff - but a rewarding read nevertheless.

Jim wrote: "I'm still around too, Peggy. Saw the fireworks at the end of the Edinburgh festival on Monday -- what a crowd! and what a show!

I been reading a number of books from North America recently and th..."

Sounds like fun, Jim! How I wish I were there. Spent the month of May with friends and it was so hard to come back to the States.

You can count those two authors, Scot by birth or immigration. Kate Atkinson is always counted on list of Scottish writers so...

A friend really thinks I need to read Trainspotting so I'm giving it a go. Thanks for hanging in there!

Beth wrote: "I'm still lurking about. I have been so busy and tired that it's been hard for me to read. :(. Plus hard to find books/authors from Scotland around me. I check in often to see what others are re..."

Beth, send me your mailing address in a private message. I have a few books I want to mail you!

I did a random stop at our local book store. I don't do this often since I feel their prices are to high. I found The Anatomists Wife! Sometimes it does pay off do make a pit stop.

As I didn't choose which of the challenge categories I was aiming for, I thought I'd add my list of Scottish books actually read during 2015 here (I was just looking back to see how I'd done while I was thinking about the 2016 challenge). I read 11 books. Here goes:

Kate Atkinson Started Early, Took My Dog


Marion Chesney Penelope Goes to Portsmouth, Finessing Clarissa, Deborah Goes to Dover
, ,

Lavinia Derwent God Bless the Borders

Fiona J. Houston The Garden Cottage Diaries


Dorothy Dunnett Rum Affair


Charles Stross The Jennifer Morgue


Dan Boothby Island of Dreams

Ian Rankin Saints of the Shadow Bible, Standing in Another Man's Grave


If I had to pick a favourite it would probably be Saints of the Shadow Bible, which I really enjoyed, but I do recommend Island of Dreams, about a young man who spent a year living in Gavin Maxwell's final home on Eilean Ban.

Nice collection of books. I read both of those Ian Rankin books in 2015 too! I think I have a Lavinia Derwent book on my shelf for this year.

Peggy wrote: "Nice collection of books. I read both of those Ian Rankin books in 2015 too! I think I have a Lavinia Derwent book on my shelf for this year."

Ian Rankin's books are addictive! I counted Charles Stross as Scottish-by-adoption as he's another Edinburgh writer.