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2022 Buddy Read: Scottish Authors

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".
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.
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.


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.

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"

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

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


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


Does anyone else have any Scottish books planned this month?

This one looks intriguing Kathy - I'm looking forward to your assessment of it.
I'll be reading Nordenholt’s Million by J. J. Connington, the only book by that author available at the 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.


Kathy, that sounds like my kind of book!

It was a fun book.


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.


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

I hope you enjoy it, John.
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.
He also wrote detective novels but the library didn't have any of those.


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


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.

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".


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 :)
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 :)
Books mentioned in this topic
A Far Cry from Kensington (other topics)The Citadel (other topics)
Sunset Song (other topics)
A Far Cry from Kensington (other topics)
Miss Buncle Married (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Muriel Spark (other topics)A.J. Cronin (other topics)
Muriel Spark (other topics)
George MacDonald (other topics)
Margot Bennett (other topics)
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I prefer long poems , has anyone read Childe Harold by Lord Byron?