Read Scotland discussion

Hey everyone!

I do hope everyone is safe and well!

As some of us will have limited access to libraries and bookshops during the Covid-19 Lockdown, I thought we could do something a bit different....

The theme is On Your Shelf - so we’re going to be reading those dusty books on our big, old TBR pile or picking up a much-loved old favourite. All types of book count - ebooks lurking on our Kindles or those audiobooks we haven’t listened to yet. The only rule, as always, is that it still needs a Scottish link to count.

So let us know what you’re reading below...!

Hilary Mantel’s third installment of the “Wolf Hall” trilogy. It’s dense and slow going, I’ll admit. But then again, so is Diana Gabeldon, but for worse reasons.

I just finished Ann Cleeves’ Shetland, yesterday. Loved it. Next will read my first Vera mystery by her, on my Kindle. Have watched both Vera and Shetland on tv for years, but have only read the first Shetland book.

I tend to have a fiction book and a novel on the go at the same time. I am halfway through Tom Devine's To the End's of the Earth: Scotland's Global Diaspora. Tonight, I will be starting Joseph Knight by James Robertson.

Julie wrote: "I just finished Ann Cleeves’ Shetland, yesterday. Loved it. Next will read my first Vera mystery by her, on my Kindle. Have watched both Vera and Shetland on tv for years, but have only read the fi..."

I love the Shetland tv series. I have a couple of the later books in the Shetland series in my To Be Read pile.

Julie wrote: "I just finished Ann Cleeves’ Shetland, yesterday. Loved it. Next will read my first Vera mystery by her, on my Kindle. Have watched both Vera and Shetland on tv for years, but have only read the fi..."

I read the Shetland Series last year, not long finished her newest book The Long Call new series set in Devon and now working my way through Vera over the year.

Enjoy

Working on ....Septimius Severus in Scotland: The Northern Campaigns of the First Hammer of the Scots.
I've been working thru the Alistair Moffat books on-line. I think I'm down to his overall history of Scotland. 500+pgs. Awaiting the next Leger book.

I'm going to read The Hills is Lonely by Lilian Beckwith. I started in 2018 but for some reason I left it unfinished. So it's now back on my TBR pile.

Ooh, some great choices here! I’m hoping to reread His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae by Graeme Macrae Burnet if I can find it! We’ve been tidying up and sorting out books, so it’s on a pile somewhere!

Now we’ve chosen their books, I’ll be asking questions and starting bookish conversations... First up:

What’s the first line of your book?
Is it a gripping or intriguing start, does it hook you in, or could the author have done better?

Share your first lines and opinions below!

Ellen wrote: "Now we’ve chosen their books, I’ll be asking questions and starting bookish conversations... First up:

What’s the first line of your book?
Is it a gripping or intriguing start, does it hook you..."

From Joseph Knight:
"Sir John Wedderburn, tall but somewhat stooped with age, stood at the window of his library, enjoying - as he felt he should every morning he was given grace to do so - the view to the Carse of Gowrie and the Firth of Tay."
I am halfway through this historical novel. Enjoying it as I go and learning more about Scottish connections to the slave trade.
However, I must admit that the opening sentence neither intrigued nor hooked. It took a couple of chapters for me to become interested in the story.

Donald wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Now we’ve chosen their books, I’ll be asking questions and starting bookish conversations... First up:

What’s the first line of your book?
Is it a gripping or intriguing start, doe..."

I loved this book, but must admit, someone looking out a window is a bit of a boring start as you say! I'm glad it's growing on you, Donald, I really like this author.

His Bloody Project (found it!)

[Preface]
“I am writing this at the behest of my advocate, Mr Andrew Sinclair, who since my incarceration here in Inverness has treated me a degree of civility I in no way deserve.”

Though quite simple, I really find this opening line intriguing - it immediately makes you ask, why does he not deserve to be treated with civility? What’s he done? What’s more the opening is a bit backwards from the usual murder/crime books - we know straight away he’s been caught, incarcerated in Scotland, and it hints at guilt.

Eve wrote: "Can't remember the exact first line of The Trick is to Keep Breathing, but the narrator begins by describing her living-room. But it's the way she does it; you can tell her hold on reality is a bit..."

Ooh, sounds interesting!

Ellen wrote: "Donald wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Now we’ve chosen their books, I’ll be asking questions and starting bookish conversations... First up:

What’s the first line of your book?
Is it a gripping or intrig..."

Ellen wrote: "Donald wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Now we’ve chosen their books, I’ll be asking questions and starting bookish conversations... First up:

What’s the first line of your book?
Is it a gripping or intrig..."

Do you have a favourite Robertson novel, Ellen? I have three in my TBR pile (The Land Lay Still, The Testament and The Fanatic).

Donald wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Donald wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Now we’ve chosen their books, I’ll be asking questions and starting bookish conversations... First up:

What’s the first line of your book?
Is it a grip..."

Ooh good question, I read The Testament as a teenager and it really stuck with me, would like to reread it as I think a lot of the details are lost in my memory. I enjoyed The Fanatic too, they’re kind of believably surreal. To Be Continued is a lot of fun as well :) I haven’t read The Land Lay Still yet, let me know what you think!

How is everyone getting on with their books? :)

Here’s another bookclub style question for you...

How does the setting impact the book? Would you want to read more books set in that place?

Comment parts of Scotland if you’re book is set there!

Finished my book, loved it just as much the second time round.

As for setting, it’s set in the Scottish Highlands in a tiny crofting village overlooking the islands Skye and Raasay, I think it said. Sounds pretty idyllic but the crofts in reality were quite harsh places to live and the book highlights this. I would definitely read more books set in this kind of brutal but beautiful landscape - it’s my cup of tea!

Ellen wrote: "How is everyone getting on with their books? :)

Here’s another bookclub style question for you...

How does the setting impact the book? Would you want to read more books set in that place?

C..."

Joseph Knight has several settings. Each chapter's title includes the location and the year as the story jumps back and forth in time throughout the novel.

Settings include Drummossie Moor (site of the final defeat of Jacobite forces in 1746); Dundee; the Jamaican sugar plantation, Glen Isla; the Wedderburn estate at Ballindean and Edinburgh. Edinburgh created the clearest visual images while reading as I had visited the city last summer. I could readily picture the streets and buildings with the references to Canongate Kirk, Holyrood, St. Giles and Parliament House and square.

I would like to read additional novels set in Edinburgh. It is lovely historic city.

Eve wrote: "I enjoyed The Hills is Lonely many years ago. Must look out for her other books."

Finished it, and thoroughly enjoy it. I too would be looking out for her other books.