Jim's List

[James]

That's now with my Irish book finished and now clear to tackle some Scottish reads. It's good to be back looking at Scottish authors and I'm targeting a list - with 10 books in my sights so far to get me under way.

Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid
Fair Helen by Andrew Greig
His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
The Silver Darlings by Neil M. Gunn
Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd
The Illuminations by Andrew O'Hagan
The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan
The Dark Ship by Anne MacLeod
Voyageurs: A Novel by Margaret Elphinstone
Dark Blood by Stuart MacBride

Of these authors, I've only read William Boyd and Margaret Elphinstone before.
So I'd appreciate any views on any of these titles.

[[deleted user]]

That looks like a great list. The only one I have read though is Fair Helen and I really enjoyed it.

[Peggy]

Jim wrote: "That's now with my Irish book finished and now clear to tackle some Scottish reads. It's good to be back looking at Scottish authors and I'm targeting a list - with 10 books in my sights so far to ..."

I want to read Silver Darlings with you!

[James]

Katrina wrote: "That looks like a great list. The only one I have read though is Fair Helen and I really enjoyed it."

That's good Katrina. I have Fair Helen sitting here waiting - It looks like quite an unusual book - I'm looking forward to it.

[James]

Peggy wrote: "Jim wrote: "That's now with my Irish book finished and now clear to tackle some Scottish reads. It's good to be back looking at Scottish authors and I'm targeting a list - with 10 books in my sight..."

Yes Peggy! Silver Darlings - definitely - You can work out when we should start.

[James]

#1 Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid

That's the first one in the bag. Really enjoyed it - though I have to say it wasn't at all Scottish - except for the author's nation of birth.

[Tim]

Interesting list, I have noted a couple to read later

I have looked at Val McDermid a couple of times but im always put off by the TV program, Wire in the blood, I cant stand the guy who played Tony. Did you find him appearing as the character as you read the book?

[James]

I'm amazed, Tim.....because the reason I didn't read Val McDermid until now is because I thought I could not enjoy having the mental vision of the said actor in my head while reading through a full 500 pages. I have never actualy watched a complete episode of 'Wire in the Blood', so I'm not really qualifed to make a comparison but I did feel the relationship between Tony Hill and Carol Jordan in the book was a bit cheesy.

Anyway, I'd decided that Val McDermid herself made it worth the risk and I really did enjoy the read.

p.s. I do now watch and enjoy 'Granchester'

[Tim]

Thanks Jim , I will give it Val a go, then I may discover another author I like, and I will get another book in my list for the year.

[James]

That's good, Tim, and here's another I'd recommend.

#2 Fair Helen by Andrew Greig

Katrina enjoyed this too. A really compelling and intriguing tale of the Border reivers in 16th Century

[James]

#3 His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
I enjoyed this but the early sections were the best and I felt it fell away a bit towards the end.

#4 The Silver Darlings by Neil M. Gunn

[James]

My number 5 was to be Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd. I don't know if you'd call this 'Scottish'.

William Boyd was born in Africa to Scottish parents. He spent his childhood there. He was educated in Scotland and then Oxford. He lives between London and his chateau in Southern France. I don't think any of his books are set in Scotland ; this one is based in London. While he is included in lists of Scottish writers, it doesn't at all feel right to count this book towards my target.

Also I didn't like it too much.

[Peggy]

Jim wrote: "My number 5 was to be Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd. I don't know if you'd call this 'Scottish'.

William Boyd was born in Africa to Scottish parents. He spen..."

Sorry you didn't like it much, Jim. It's totally up to you if you count it or not. He is on a list of Scottish writers :)

[James]

I think of him more as an international writer. I won't count this one.
I really did enjoy an earlier book of his - Restless. It was a much more serious thriller set in many locations around the world, including a small section in Scotland - so I'd recommend that one.

[James]

#5 Natural Light 2 by Angela Catlin

You could call this a book of photography. It is a collection of fine portraits of around 60 modern Scottish authors all photographed by Angela Catlin. Beside each portrait, there's a page of selected writing by the author in question, so there's a good bit of reading here as well. It's all quite arty and very fine.

Here you'll see Alexander McCall Smith is his wellies beside a Scottish loch, Irvine Welsh almost smothered by a parka braving the cold winter in Chicago, and Denise Mina looking strikingly mysterious in front of a mosaic of metal panels.

I'm keen on photography as well as Scottish writing so this right up my street

[Lorna]

Jim wrote: "#5 Natural Light 2 by Angela Catlin

I usually read eBooks but this sounds like one for the coffee table. Like you, I love both photography and Scottish writing - I need to find this book! Thanks for the recommendation.

[James]

#6 An Anarchist's Story: The Life of Ethel MacDonald by Chris Dolan

Unusually for me, a non-fiction book ---- this one about a Scottish anarchist who travels to Spain during the Spanish Civil War.

Anyone else had a shot at this one?

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[James]

#7 Crash Land by Doug Johnstone

I found this a really enjoyable thriller! A good pace with plenty of twists and set in the Orkneys, which themselves play an immense part in the story.

[James]

#8 The Sunlight Pilgrims by Jenni Fagan

Just getting caught up a bit with my Scottish reads. This was strange one. I seemed to take ages to read it but never lost interest either. Unusual characters in an extreme situation. By the end, I found that I thoroughly enjoying it.

[James]

#9 Hue and Cry by Shirley Mckay

Getting there nearly at the target!

[James]

#10 Gods and Beasts by Denise Mina

I've read just a few of Denise Mina's books and this was the certainly the best so far. I think the first chapter has possibly the best written opening to any crime novel I've ever read. Certainly not a conventional crime story but really, really good.