Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

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Archive Buddy Reads > 2022 Buddy Read: Scottish Authors

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message 451: by Nidhi (new)

Nidhi Kumari | 328 comments This poem, like all epic poetry, had everything, history ( fiction) geography ( breathtaking beautiful), chivalry, love story, a battle and happy ending.

I prefer long poems , has anyone read Childe Harold by Lord Byron?


message 452: by John (new)

John R Well done, Nidhi - that's a long poem! I agree with you about enjoying his poetry as much as his novels. He apparently stopped writing poetry once he'd read Byron, as he felt he couldn't achieve that standard - but I'm always preferred his poetry to Byron's.

Good luck with Marmion - all I can remember of it is the dashing "young Lochinvar", and one of the most quoted pieces of Scottish poetry -

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive".


message 453: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
I've just finished reading three short stories by Robert Louis Stevenson- Will o' the Mill, the short and strange House of Eld, and Thrawn Janet.


message 454: by John (new)

John R Rosemarie wrote: "I've just finished reading three short stories by Robert Louis Stevenson- Will o' the Mill, the short and strange House of Eld, and Thrawn Janet."

I don't think I've read his short stories, Rosemarie, although I'm sure I've heard of Thrawn Janet.


message 455: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
I've just finished the novel Stevenson was working on when he died-Weir of Hermiston. Fortunately, he left notes of the plot outline but it's too bad he didn't live long enough to finish it since it started so well.


message 456: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments I'm reading The Counsellor, a mystery by J.J Connington. There's a reference to Gretna Green, which brought me back to reading Georgette Heyer's Regency romances. I didn't know it was a thing in 1939 so I googled it, and it's still a thing now. And there's still a blacksmith shop! Why didn't I think of getting married there??


message 457: by John (new)

John R Melanie wrote: "I'm reading The Counsellor, a mystery by J.J Connington. There's a reference to Gretna Green, which brought me back to reading Georgette Heyer's Regency romances. I didn't know it was a thing in 19..."

I visit Gretna several times a year, Melanie and every time there are a number of weddings taking place, including "over the Anvil" in the blacksmith's shop.

Interestingly, although it was at one time mainly the very young running away to get married in Gretna without their parents consent, these days it tends to be more mature couples.


message 458: by John (new)

John R My Scottish book for August is going to be Highland River by Neil M. Gunn.

According to Amazon -

"Written in prose as cool and clear as the water it describes, Highland River is one of Neil Gunn’s most lyrical and popular novels. Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial prize when first published in 1937, it has over the years become established as one of the greatest pieces of twentieth century Scottish fiction. The ‘northern river’ of the title is the physical and spiritual focus of the novel and the source to which Kenn, the central character returns. Looking back over his life from the disillusioned thirties, the river becomes symbolic of both what has been lost and what has endured. From an idyllic childhood spent in the Highlands through the terrible slaughter of the First World War, Kenn’s reminiscences eventually lead him back to the river that has haunted his imagination for so many years. Its effect on him is profound and the culmination of this poetic masterpiece. ‘Looked at either as a saga of the spirit or as a story dressed in all the circumstances of Highland loveliness, Mr Gunn’s book has a deep and moving appeal.’ Evening Standard ‘Highland River is a novel of unusual distinction.’ Irish Independent ‘The book must be read as one would listen to music . . . scenes are projected with a crystal clarity, sharply defined, with an odd double quality of intense immediacy and a sort of enclosed detachment.’ Times Literary Supplement"


message 459: by Brian E (last edited Jul 30, 2022 10:57PM) (new)

Brian E Reynolds | -1118 comments My August Scottish read is Laidlaw by Scottish author William McIlvanney, a gritty crime novel set in Glasgow. It is considered the first Tartan Noir novel.


message 460: by Piyangie, Classical Princess (new)

Piyangie | 3697 comments Mod
I'll try to read The Antiquary by Walter Scott. I missed the buddy read, and the discussion made me interested.


message 461: by John (new)

John R Brian wrote: "My August Scottish read is Laidlaw by Scottish author William McIlvanney, a gritty crime novel set in Glasgow. It is considered the first Tartan Noir novel."

A great choice, Brian - one of my favourite crime novels


message 462: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments I looked for the McIlvanney books which would fit our classics specification and found Remedy is None (1966) and A Gift from Nessus (1968). Unfortunately they're not at my library.


message 463: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments John wrote: "Melanie wrote: "I'm reading The Counsellor, a mystery by J.J Connington. There's a reference to Gretna Green, which brought me back to reading Georgette Heyer's Regency romances. I didn't know it w..."

I finished The Counsellor by J.J. Connington and I enjoyed it!


message 464: by John (new)

John R I finished - slightly late - my July book today, the excellent and sobering River of Fire: The Clydebank Blitz by John MacLeod.


message 465: by John (new)

John R For August so far we have Brian reading Laidlaw, Piyangie reading The Antiquary, and me reading Highland River.

Does anyone else have any Scottish books planned this month?


message 466: by Kathy (new)

Kathy E | 2425 comments I’ll be reading Bodies in a Bookshop.


message 467: by John (new)

John R Kathy wrote: "I’ll be reading Bodies in a Bookshop."

This one looks intriguing Kathy - I'm looking forward to your assessment of it.


message 468: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
I'll be reading Nordenholt’s Million by J. J. Connington, the only book by that author available at the library.


message 470: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
I like Beckwith's books but I haven't read that one.


message 471: by Brian E (last edited Aug 01, 2022 10:59PM) (new)

Brian E Reynolds | -1118 comments Melanie wrote: "I looked for the McIlvanney books which would fit our classics specification and found Remedy is None (1966) and A Gift from Nessus (1968). Unfortunately they're not at my library."

Yes, McIlvanney's Laidlaw was written in 1977 so is 5 years too young to qualify as a classic here. For some reason, I forgot about the classic definition when considering Laidlaw as my Scottish classic read. And since it's actual publication date is now public on here, it's too late for me to get a phony ID made for the book.

Luckily I'm also going to be reading Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time in August for the NTLTRC authors thread so I'll count that for my Scottish read this month. Laidlaw will serve as my "extra credit."

And, like many extra credit assignments, Laidlaw is turning out to be more fun than the regular assignments. I'm 2/3 done with it and it's really good so far. It gives you a great feel for the grittier Glasgow scene and includes some good local vernacular.


message 472: by John (new)

John R Melanie wrote: "I'm reading The Hills is Lonely: Tales from the Hebrides by Lillian Beckwith."

Snap Melanie, when I was on holiday last week I found a copy of this in a charity shop and couldn't resist it - and I think I finished it in a couple of days. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


message 473: by John (new)

John R Rosemarie wrote: "I like Beckwith's books but I haven't read that one."

It was the first of her Hebridean books, Rosemarie, and I'm sure you would like it. Its getting quite difficult to find her books now, but they pop up in charity shops from time to time.


message 474: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments Rosemarie wrote: "I like Beckwith's books but I haven't read that one."

Rosemarie, This one is quite humorous. I wonder if it's in the same vein as Beckwith's other books.


message 475: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments Brian wrote: "Melanie wrote: "I looked for the McIlvanney books which would fit our classics specification and found Remedy is None (1966) and A Gift from Nessus (1968). Unfortunately they're not at my library."..."

Brian, extra credit is always good! I thought Daughter of Time was fabulous. I've been interested in learning more about Richard III lately since my discussion group has been reading Shakespeare's play, so I might pick up a recent biography after we finish.


message 476: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments John wrote: "Melanie wrote: "I'm reading The Hills is Lonely: Tales from the Hebrides by Lillian Beckwith."

Snap Melanie, when I was on holiday last week I found a copy of this ..."


John, I'm sure I will. Fortunately I was able to find it on Amazon quite easily. But it would be much more fun to find it in a charity shop in Scotland.


message 477: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
Beckwith's books are generally light-hearted.


message 478: by Kathy (new)

Kathy E | 2425 comments I finished Bodies in a Bookshop by R.T. Campbell. On the cover it says, "A Prof. John Stubbs Mystery." The Professor is a very humorous character. I enjoyed the backdrop of bookstores, book dealers, and rare books.


message 479: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments Kathy wrote: "I finished Bodies in a Bookshop by R.T. Campbell. On the cover it says, "A Prof. John Stubbs Mystery." The Professor is a very humorous character. I enjoyed the backdrop of bookstor..."

Kathy, that sounds like my kind of book!


message 480: by Kathy (new)

Kathy E | 2425 comments Melanie wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I finished Bodies in a Bookshop by R.T. Campbell. On the cover it says, "A Prof. John Stubbs Mystery." The Professor is a very humorous character. I enjoyed the backdr..."

It was a fun book.


message 481: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments I finished The Hills is Lonely: Tales from the Hebrides by Lillian Beckwith. It was sometimes hard to read of their cavalier attitude to their animals but it went along with the rough and tumble life. I really liked the landlady Morag.


message 482: by John (new)

John R Melanie wrote: "I finished The Hills is Lonely: Tales from the Hebrides by Lillian Beckwith. It was sometimes hard to read of their cavalier attitude to their animals but it went along with the rou..."

Morag is my favourite character throughout the whole series of books. There's a sense in some of the later books that the author was tiring of life in the Hebrides and had less empathy with the islanders, and they apparently had less affection for her, but she largely seemed to retain her feelings for Morag.


message 483: by John (new)

John R My poetry book for August is Fishermen with Ploughs: A Poem Cycle by George Mackay Brown. I nearly always enjoy Brown's poetry, and I'm hoping this one will be the same. But it's one of his very early books, and I can't remember coming across any of the poems from it in any "Selected Poems" collections. So fingers crossed!


message 484: by John (new)

John R Kathy wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I finished Bodies in a Bookshop by R.T. Campbell. On the cover it says, "A Prof. John Stubbs Mystery." The Professor is a very humorous character. I en..."

You've sold me on it Kathy....I've just ordered a copy.


message 485: by Kathy (new)

Kathy E | 2425 comments John wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I finished Bodies in a Bookshop by R.T. Campbell. On the cover it says, "A Prof. John Stubbs Mystery." The Professor is a very humorous c..."

I hope you enjoy it, John.


message 486: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (last edited Aug 13, 2022 09:20AM) (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
I finished Nordenholt's Million by J.J. Connington. This is a science fiction/survival story after an ecological disaster.
He also wrote detective novels but the library didn't have any of those.


message 487: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments Rosemarie, that’s too bad! The Counsellor was terrific. I know he’s not a well-known author, but maybe you can find one of his mysteries at a used book store.


message 488: by Annette (new)

Annette | 245 comments I just downloaded Bodies in the Bookshop on Hoopla. Thanks for the recommendation :)


message 489: by John (new)

John R I'm a bit late in starting my Scottish book for August - Highland River by Neil M. Gunn - but I reckon I should manage to finish it by the end of the month.

Is everyone enjoying their choice for the month, or have there been any disappointments?


message 490: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments I just got Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart from the library and I’m looking forward to starting it soon.


message 491: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
I'm reading The Man in the Queue as my second August book.


message 492: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
I've just finished a fun story-Space Cat by Ruthven Todd. Space Cat by Ruthven Todd


message 493: by Melanie (new)

Melanie Anton | 494 comments Space Cat sounds like fun, Rosemarie!


message 494: by Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar (new)

Rosemarie | 15965 comments Mod
It was cute.


message 495: by John (new)

John R We've been away hill-walking in the Highlands for a few days, so I've fallen even further behind in my reading - but I finished Fishermen with Ploughs: A Poem Cycle today, which turned out better than I'd initially expected. I need to press on with Highland River now.

I've decided that another George Mackay Brown book will be my poetry choice for September - this time it will be The Storm and Other Poems.


message 496: by John (new)

John R My September novel is going to be one that Kathy brought to our attention - Bodies in a Bookshop by R.T. Campbell.

Kathy described it as a fun book, and the blurb on the back-cover of my copy claims "it is loaded with amusing sallies of wit, quaint and pungent observations, and droll characters".


message 497: by Kathy (new)

Kathy E | 2425 comments True, John. I especially like the Professor, with his pipe-smoking and beer-drinking.


message 498: by John (new)

John R I have to admit Kathy, that apart from your recommendation, the description in the foreword of the Professor as "corpulent, moustachioed, opinionated, smokes a pipe filled with evil-smelling tobacco, and constantly swills beer from a quart mug in order to overcome his susceptibility to 'dehydration'", intrigued me!


message 499: by Chad (new)

Chad | 869 comments I read my first Muriel Spark novel, The Girls of Slender Means. Her characters just remind me so much of my grandmother and the sort of capers she would have been mixed up in as a young woman while overseas as a nurse during the war. I really enjoyed it and have purchased a few of her other works secondhand.


message 500: by Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile (new)

Lesle | 8750 comments Mod
Chad wrote: "I read my first Muriel Spark novel, The Girls of Slender Means. Her characters just remind me so much of my grandmother and the sort of capers she would have been mixed ..."

Your read made me snicker. I was just looking at her just the other day trying to decide if I should order one of her books! I might just have to look for the one you read!! Thanks :)


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