A powerful account of one of the most heinous acts by the British state. Not only heinous in the event itself, but heinous in the decades-long aftermaA powerful account of one of the most heinous acts by the British state. Not only heinous in the event itself, but heinous in the decades-long aftermath. This book brings to life the voices of people who were there and who were affected. Juliann Campbell, a relative of 17-year-old Jacky Duddy who was the first person to die that day, brings a respectful curation and sharp clarity to the page. I was moved to tears often. I was aghast often at what she uncovers. I was reminded of the many voices before her who spoke the truth while the UK system lied. A must-read. ...more
Sarah Smith's stirring novel is a fictionalised account of the real-life criminal prosecution of a deaf woman for infanticide. So many things work welSarah Smith's stirring novel is a fictionalised account of the real-life criminal prosecution of a deaf woman for infanticide. So many things work well here: the setting in early nineteenth century Scotland is clearly well-researched; the story bounces along; the characters are believable and engaging; the plot is well-paced. I enjoyed the portrayal of the language barriers faced by the deaf characters and their overcoming.
The novel centres around the potential injustice faced by a poor deaf woman and the man who supports her in the fight against that. To have two such sympathetic characters as Jean Campbell and Robert Kinniburgh at its heart and for there to be such a tense edge to the story all the way through is a real achievement. Smith uses a roving perspective and this is handled effectively, her shifts in register and tone consistently applied. This aspect of the writing gives room for many of the other characters to emerge strongly and helps give the novel a strong and realistic texture. Alongside that, there are wonderful sensory descriptions of life at that time in urban Scotland - I can still smell the streets!
Smith explores the life for deaf people then, as societal attitudes, although slowly changing, are overwhelmingly dismissive and cruel or, at best, paternalistic. Kinniburgh is in the vanguard of change. This central theme intertwines with poverty, anti-Irish racism, violence and mental illness. It is a story of people reaching across strict social barriers. It is a story where fortitude and wisdom are pushed to their limits. This insightful, well-researched and powerful novel had real impact on me....more
I loved these stories from Bernard MacLaverty. In and out of people’s lives with quiet steps. His stories gear up subtly but never miss the pain or thI loved these stories from Bernard MacLaverty. In and out of people’s lives with quiet steps. His stories gear up subtly but never miss the pain or the humour of the characters. I sent a copy to a friend of mine, a Belfast man now living in the west of Ireland - I felt on solid ground, knew it would land as well with him as it did with me in Scotland. Another superb book from a real master. ...more
Des Dillon’s Pignut and Nuncle (Sparsile Books, 2021) is startling from the initial concept: Jane Eyre meets King Lear and his Fool on a weather-torn Des Dillon’s Pignut and Nuncle (Sparsile Books, 2021) is startling from the initial concept: Jane Eyre meets King Lear and his Fool on a weather-torn moor. What follows is a spiralling tale where, once Jane understands she cannot dismiss Lear and Fool as apparitions or mere fictions (yes, reader, she knows the play), the three are drawn deeper and deeper into a fight to firstly save the doomed Cordelia and then to save themselves.
The story is linguistically extensive, surreal; a mix of humour, terror and humanity. Lear’s power and Jane’s decency are challenged as the story torques up. The Fool, both intimate and distant, articulates the action with wit and wisdom. As you’d expect from Des Dillon, it is rhythmically strong – at points I’d to stand up and read it out loud just to keep up with the words.
Existential threat, the nature of reality, human connectedness are woven together into an engaging story of common purpose. These well-known characters are thrown together in a way that should never work – but does in a very real and exhilarating way....more
Moira McPartlin’s Before Now is a cracker of a novel. Gavin, the toerag of subtitle, is an engaging, warm character.
Stuck in bed following an accidenMoira McPartlin’s Before Now is a cracker of a novel. Gavin, the toerag of subtitle, is an engaging, warm character.
Stuck in bed following an accident, Gavin is encouraged by his mother, his maw, to write down the stories he tells about his life. These stories weave in and out of accounts of his slow recovery and are populated with characters from his village in Fife, a place blighted by the aftermath of Thatcher’s economic and political changes. The book, written in the Fife dialect, is bounded by these changes, the impact of pit closures on individuals, families and communities, and by his maw, a woman who refuses to accept that things need to stay as they are.
This is a deeply human book, told with Moira McPartlin’s typical mix of humour and sharp insight. I loved the way hope grows slowly and the surprising impact that telling his own story has on Gavin’s life....more
I was catapulted into the worlds of Ava and Jean in Tracy Patrick's debut novel. Spanning several decades, this story of working class life, dislocatiI was catapulted into the worlds of Ava and Jean in Tracy Patrick's debut novel. Spanning several decades, this story of working class life, dislocation and family strife is beautifully written. Patrick draws her characters carefully and captures the Canadian and Scottish townscapes well; you can smell Paisley and Pickering and feel the heartbeats of all the people she brings to life. The exploration of financial and political power works well, woven as part of the Ava and Jean's lives. There is no tub-thumping here, but Patrick ducks neither the big issues nor the complicated frailty of individuals. The structure of the novel, swinging between the 1960s and the 20-teens, adds to the tension, and helps the author reveal the layers of the story in an enjoyable and exciting way. There are echoes of Mary Paulson-Ellis's The Other Mrs Walker in the way Patrick delves into the souls of the characters. She also has the clarity about the effect of big money on working class people that Anthony Cartwright brings out in Iron Towns, his novel set in England's Black Country. You might be getting the idea that I'd highly recommend Blushing is for Sinners....more
Laura Fyfe does it again! Brings ideas from her Figment Creative Expression work plus a squad of writers together to reflect on the process, the inspiLaura Fyfe does it again! Brings ideas from her Figment Creative Expression work plus a squad of writers together to reflect on the process, the inspiration, the approaches to find the creative spark. Magpie Mind is a wee cracker of a book, designed to be dipped into again and again to find the shiny things, the nuggets that will get anyone who writes or aspires to write moving. I'm very pleased to have a piece in the opening section: others who contributed are Janice Galloway, Alan Bissett, the late Tom Leonard, Stuart Paterson, Leonie Charlton, Liam Murray Bell, Emma Mooney and Chris Powici. Fyfe doesn't just edit this, she brings it together as a curator might, weaving her own reflections throughout. Helpfully, after all the positive advice in the book, she ends with a list of recommended reading. This is an accessible, practical handbook for writers....more
The parallel worlds of Sorlie and Ishbel don't so much collide in this, the first in the Sun Song trilogy, as meld. McPartlin creates a bleak world foThe parallel worlds of Sorlie and Ishbel don't so much collide in this, the first in the Sun Song trilogy, as meld. McPartlin creates a bleak world for Sorlie, who, despite his entitled cockiness, is thrown into chaos as his family life falls apart. The two main characters are introduced to the reader with such precision; the world they inhabit (a grim future Scotland) is both recognisable and horrifically different from what we have now. What McPartlin does beautifully here is tag our lives and draw spine-chilling but believable conclusions about where what we do now might lead. This is a book about a teenager, but it is a book for all readers. It is fast-paced; it has the character development of all good fiction. A great read. I can't wait to get my teeth into the second one....more
I was lucky enough to hear Pedro Lenz and his translator, Donal McLaughlin, talking about this book and the original German language version (Der GoalI was lucky enough to hear Pedro Lenz and his translator, Donal McLaughlin, talking about this book and the original German language version (Der Goalie bin ich) at the Scottish Writers' Centre a while back. It struck me that both versions illustrated, through the style of the language, the warmth and humour of Bernese and West of Scotland cultures (although the English language version, while written in West of Scotland language, is set in the original locations). The way in which translator and author worked together comes out strongly in the real-life grit of the characters. Deeply human, terribly funny (at times), this book never loses sight of the harshness of life or the possibilities for joy....more
This book takes you into the guts of a fractured family in the aftermath of a death. Old enmities, old pains flow in the novel’s veins. Told from the This book takes you into the guts of a fractured family in the aftermath of a death. Old enmities, old pains flow in the novel’s veins. Told from the perspective of four characters, the narrative weaves around the family’s tense life. It never feels overloaded, and resolution is always just out of reach, implied creatively in Gavin Broom’s direct, often surreal narrative. The story swings wonderfully across continents, time and realities. Dialect and language are well-handled, giving the characters authenticity. It’s a funny book too, despite the underlying miseries in the characters’ lives. That mix is managed well, the humour as punchy as the rest of the drama. Mythological references are there (implied clearly in the title), but again, these are never overplayed. The Scottish Book of the Dead succeeds in drawing disparate, pained lives together into a very enjoyable read....more
From the wonderful opening sentences, through the mad swirl of the storyline, this book is simply excellent. Imagine the imagination it takes to writeFrom the wonderful opening sentences, through the mad swirl of the storyline, this book is simply excellent. Imagine the imagination it takes to write it! Imagine where Iain Banks's mind had to go to get the characters sorted out in his own head before putting them on the page....more
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