Read Scotland discussion

The Hills is Lonely-Lillian Beckwith
Island on the Edge - Anne Cholawo
The Black House - Peter May
Northhanger Abbey -Val McDermid
Scottish Short Stories - Various

Tracy wrote: "The Hills is Lonely-Lillian Beckwith
Island on the Edge - Anne Cholawo
The Black House - Peter May
Northhanger Abbey -Val McDermid
Scottish Short Stories - Various"

Hi Tracy, good luck with your challenge :)

I look the look of these, might steal some... have you read Val McDermid's other takes on Jane Austen, did she do one on Pride and Prejudice? I haven't read any, bit unsure whether to try them?

I think a few current authors took on the works of Jane Austen. I'm not sure who did Pride and Prejudice but Joanna Trollope did Sense and Sensibility and Alexander McCall Smith did a rework of Emma. I haven't read any others but of course they are on my wish list! 🙂

Ellen wrote: "Tracy wrote: "The Hills is Lonely-Lillian Beckwith
Island on the Edge - Anne Cholawo
The Black House - Peter May
Northhanger Abbey -Val McDermid
Scottish Short Stories - Various"

Hi Tracy, good lu..."

McDermid did Northanger Abbey I think.

Jack wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Tracy wrote: "The Hills is Lonely-Lillian Beckwith
Island on the Edge - Anne Cholawo
The Black House - Peter May
Northhanger Abbey -Val McDermid
Scottish Short Stories - Various"

Hi ..."

Tracy wrote: "I think a few current authors took on the works of Jane Austen. I'm not sure who did Pride and Prejudice but Joanna Trollope did Sense and Sensibility and Alexander McCall Smith did a rework of Emm..."

I didn't know any of this! Thank you :)

*waves hand* I hate to be like Lady Catherine but.. Just saw this discussion...huge Austen fan fiction here(I manage a small Austen book club in person and on-line)...have read all the books in question :)

I enjoyed Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey. Twice. Loved that she moved it to Scotland! It was far better than...

Alexander McCall Smith's Emma was disappointing. Most Jane Austen fan fiction fans felt the same. And while parts of the ending were quite inventive, one scene between two very important characters in the ending is among the worst I've ever read!!!

Joanna Trollope said some nasty things about American Janeites, so my review is tainted. She basically took zero chances. If Austen wrote fast carriage, Trollope inserted a fast car brand name. ZZZZZ

The P&P one was written by Curtis Sittenfeld. She took the most chances..ie moved the story to America etc. It certainly wasn't dull.

The overall project is called the Modern Austen Project. There has been no word on MP or Persuasion.

Thank you, it's very interesting to get an overall opinion from someone as I've not read the modern reads yet. I went for Northanger Abbey because it's my favourite Austen novel, I've read it more times than I can remember and listened to the audio and seen it (film and theatre). So, it made sense to start hereas it's the one I'm most familiar with. Although I love Austen I would never be able to call myself a fan (I would be seriously lacking in a pop quiz on Austen), and certainly not a Janeite. In fact, I'm almost ashamed to say I think I may have to reread the novels to reacquaint myself with the characters and relationships before I could probably compare the modern novels. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, you have inspired me to set myself another small challenge of reading an original Austen and then the modern version, may be with a little break between them.

Tracy wrote: "Thank you, it's very interesting to get an overall opinion from someone as I've not read the modern reads yet. I went for Northanger Abbey because it's my favourite Austen novel, I've read it more ..."

Great!!! I hope you enjoy that experience. That seems like a great plan. I love love love Felicity Jones as Catherine in NA 2007.

Just finished The Blackhouse...what an ending!

Three books down: The Blackhouse, Northanger Abbey (Val McDermid version) and Island on the Edge A life on Soay.

Tracy wrote: "Three books down: The Blackhouse, Northanger Abbey (Val McDermid version) and Island on the Edge A life on Soay."

Ooh, I always forget about Van McDermid’s Northanger Abbey! Soay looks to be an amazing island - I love Soay sheep, would love a couple one day, they are very wild and woolly! (Random sheep comment, I know!)

Ellen wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Three books down: The Blackhouse, Northanger Abbey (Val McDermid version) and Island on the Edge A life on Soay."

Ooh, I always forget about Van McDermid’s Northanger Abbey! Soay loo..."

They sound lovely, for many years now I have wanted little flock of Valais Blacknose sheep. :-)

Tracy wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Three books down: The Blackhouse, Northanger Abbey (Val McDermid version) and Island on the Edge A life on Soay."

Ooh, I always forget about Van McDermid’s Northanger A..."

Valais Blacknoses are the cutest sheep on earth! I just melt every time I look at them :)

Another book finished, City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab. Really enjoyed this and would never have known about it if it wasn't for the group read, so a bonus for my Scottish reading list.

Tracy wrote: "Another book finished, City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab. Really enjoyed this and would never have known about it if it wasn't for the group read, so a bonus for my Scottish reading list."

Glad you enjoyed it, Tracy 😊

Tracy wrote: "Another book finished, City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab. Really enjoyed this and would never have known about it if it wasn't for the group read, so a bonus for my Scottish reading list."

Yea!!!

Yay! Made my target of five Scottish reads and well on target for my 20 books this year it's helped so much being part of the group, everyone's enthusiasm has really kept me going. Still some group reads on my to read list. I always start Christmas reading on 1st Nov, it's a family tradition, hoping I might have one or two Scottish ones in my stash.

Tracy wrote: "Yay! Made my target of five Scottish reads and well on target for my 20 books this year it's helped so much being part of the group, everyone's enthusiasm has really kept me going. Still some group..."

Congratulations Tracy! Glad you’re enjoying the group :)

PS: A stash of Christmas books sounds amazing!