2022 Buddy Read: Scottish Authors

[Luís]

Other Scottish Works:

Nova Scotia by John Byrne
There But For The by Ali Smith
A Decent Ride by Irvine Welsh

[John]

Pam wrote: "Just FYI, for any of you on Facebook, there is a group called Five Books which has posts that highlight 5 books with a specific focus. Today's post is Landmarks of Scottish Literature with recommen..."

Thanks for letting us know about this, Pam - I read it tonight and it was really interesting. I've read a few of his five and probably wouldn't include any of them in "my" five - but it was fascinating to read the reasons he had included them.

It's like so many of the posts on NTLTRC - you constantly find good book recommendations, and good reasons why you should read those books.

[John]

Luís wrote: "Other Scottish Works:

Nova Scotia by John Byrne
There But For The by Ali Smith
A Decent Ride by [author:Irvine Welsh..."

All good choices, Luis but all outside our date range I'm afraid as they were all written well after 1972.

[Penelope]

Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart published 1956 and a reread. Good mystery but I had forgotten how much they all smoked. Found it quite distracting!

[Luís]

John wrote: "Luís wrote: "Other Scottish Works:

Nova Scotia by John Byrne
There But For The by Ali Smith
A Decent Ride by [author..."

ok.

[Kathy]

I've started to read The Doctor's Family by Mrs. Oliphant. It's good so far. Doctor Riding is exasperated with his "family" at this point.

[Brian E]

Kathy wrote: "I've started to read The Doctor's Family by Mrs. Oliphant. It's good so far. Doctor Riding is exasperated with his "family" at this point."

I forgot that Mrs. Oliphant counts as a Scottish writer. I may reconsider my reading plans for the remainder of 2022.

[Kathy]

Brian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I've started to read The Doctor's Family by Mrs. Oliphant. It's good so far. Doctor Riding is exasperated with his "family" at this point."

I forgot ..."

Right. I could just keep reading the Chronicles of Carlingford.

I'm also listening to The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark who is also Scottish. I like the post-WWII setting of a woman boarding-house "for the Pecuniary Convenience and Social Protection of Ladies of Slender Means below the age of Thirty Years, who are obliged to reside apart from their Families in order to follow an Occupation in London".

[Chad]

I recently read The Girls of Slender Means, Kathy and I really enjoyed it. I picked up a few of her other titles.

[Kathy]

Chad wrote: "I recently read The Girls of Slender Means, Kathy and I really enjoyed it. I picked up a few of her other titles."

It's very fun. I'll be reading others by her also.

[John]

I've always enjoyed any book from Muriel Spark.

[Kathy]

I liked The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and have Memento Mori on hold at the library.

[Brian E]

Kathy wrote: "I've started to read The Doctor's Family by Mrs. Oliphant. It's good so far. Doctor Riding is exasperated with his "family" at this point."

I was going to skip The Doctor's Family (Carlingford #2) but both you and Sandy seem to feel it is worth reading. I was surprised to find out that it is only about 150 pages or 1/3 the size of the longer novels. I can read 150 pages even if its tedious, so I've decided to read it.
I think Sandy mentioned that the short story The Executor (Carlingford #0.5) has the first appearance of Dr. Rider so I will read that before getting to the novella. I can then use it as my September Scottish read as I'm pretty well booked but can still fit it in 43 pages. I'll likely read The Doctor's Family in the beginning of October

[Kathy]

I haven't read The Executor and didn't pay any attention to it since it's listed as .5 in the series. Will probably go back and read that. I read The Rector and it's so short that it goes very quickly. It was my first introduction to the setting of Carlingford and I liked that setting immediately.

[Brian E]

Kathy wrote: "I haven't read The Executor and didn't pay any attention to it since it's listed as .5 in the series. Will probably go back and read that. I read The Rector and it's..."

I'm reading it because Sandy did and it also gives me a quick easy Scottish read without my trying to fit in The Doctor's Family with the two other Victorian novels I am reading in October: The Half Sisters by Geraldine Jewsbury and The Doctor's Wife by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
I am used to reading several books at a time but usually keep them dissimilar and these 2 are probably too similar. I am already confusing 2 of the heroines in the books and adding in a third Victorian book with Oliphant's The Doctor's Family while also reading Braddon's The Doctor's Wife may be too much for my aging brain. I'm also old fashioned - the Wife should be complete before you start the Family.

[Kathy]

Haha! Great reason.

[Pam, Southwest Enchanter]

My library hold came in so I’m starting The Beach of Falesá by Robert Louis Stevenson. It looks really good!

[Brian E]

I just finished Scottish author Mrs. Oliphant's 43 page short story The Executor, which serves as a prequel to her Chronicles of Carlingford. Goodreads labels it as Chronicles of Carlingford #.5.

I enjoyed it. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John]

Mrs Oliphant is another Scottish author I have never read. Based on recent posts, I ought to rectify that - but I've not sure I have the time at the moment to read another long series like the Chronicles of Carlingford. One for next year maybe.

[John]

Pam wrote: "My library hold came in so I’m starting The Beach of Falesá by Robert Louis Stevenson. It looks really good!"

Excellent Pam - I hope you enjoy it. I found it quite different from his other work.

[John]

In October, Kathy and I are hoping to read the final book of A Scots Quair: Sunset Song, Cloud Howe, Grey Granite trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

Has anyone settled on their October book(s) yet?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I just finished The Daffodil Affair by Michael Innes, which managed to be far-fetched and boring at the same time.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I'm hoping to read The House with the Green Shutters in October.

[Melanie]

Hi John and Shaina,

I have to finish a short classic Japanese mystery by Yokomizo and then I’ll be able to read Hamlet, Revenge! hopefully by the end of the month.

[John]

Rosemarie wrote: "I just finished The Daffodil Affair by Michael Innes, which managed to be far-fetched and boring at the same time."

I liked that description, Rosemarie - I'm half-way through my second Michael Innes book this month and I'm still trying to make up my mind about him.

[John]

I've just finished Death At The President's Lodging by Michael Innes, and it is exactly as Rosemarie described her reaction to The Daffodil Affair - "far-fetched and boring". He's obviously a clever man - but too clever for his own good, and I don't find his main character appealing or interesting - he's as bland as the books.

I'm glad I read the two Michael Innes books this month, but I think it's unlikely I'll be reading any more - unless any other members disagree totally and want to suggest a book from Innes that will totally change my mind?

[Melanie]

Hi John,

That’s too bad that they didn’t meet your expectations. After I finished my Japanese mystery I tried to check the e-book of Hamlet, Revenge! out and it was on hold. Oh, well maybe next month. Speaking of next month, I’ll probably read one of the Margot Bennett books that I never got a chance to, or an Arthur Conan Doyle.

[John]

I'm now reading my Scottish book for October - Grey Granite by Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

It's a comparatively short book, which is ideal for October, and I'm looking forward to finishing the trilogy.

I've not yet decided what my Scottish poetry choice for October will be.

I look forward to reading everyone's comments about their chosen book for the month - I've benefited from some great suggestions throughout the year, and I'm sure the final quarter will be no different.

[Kathy]

I'll be starting Grey Granite Book Three Of A Scots Quair: Grey Granite Bk. 3 soon, John. Here's the cover of my copy from 1973:

[John]

I'm almost half-way through Grey Granite; it's quite different from the first two books, and - so far - not up to their standard.

[Brian E]

I've just started reading my October Scottish read, which was Kathy's September one, Mrs. Oliphant's The Doctor's Family. Three chapters in and it is a very pleasant read so far as even the unpleasant people make you smile.
Kathy, the girl that Dr. Rider is pining over in the beginning of this book, Bessie Christian, has a more prominent speaking role in Book #.5, the short story prelude that I read last month, The Executor. In that story one gets to know Bessie's good character and understand why the briefly introduced Dr. Rider is pining over her.

[Kathy]

Brian E wrote: "I've just started reading my October Scottish read, which was Kathy's September one, Mrs. Oliphant's The Doctor's Family. Three chapters in and it is a very pleasan..."

Interesting, Brian. I’ll have to read The Executor to see what Bessie is like.

[Kathy]

John wrote: "I'm almost half-way through Grey Granite; it's quite different from the first two books, and - so far - not up to their standard."

The introduction to my book said as much. I’m still interested in what happens to Chris.

[John]

Finished Grey Granite this morning. A much darker book than the first two, but I loved it. 5 stars from me. It's a tragedy that the author died so young - who knows what he could have gone on to achieve.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I read and finished The Antiquary by Walter Scott. I'm sorry I missed its buddy read. It was a real entertainer.

Thanks to this buddy-read thread, I've managed to finally read Sir Walter Scott properly. And this is my third novel by him (rather the fourth if my teen read of Ivanhoe counts). And a big thanks to John for initiating it. :)

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "I read and finished The Antiquary by Walter Scott. I'm sorry I missed its buddy read. It was a real entertainer.

Thanks to this buddy-read thread, I've managed to finall..."

I'm delighted you found it entertaining, Piyangie. I enjoyed it greatly, especially the humour. You can almost sense Scott's pleasure in writing it.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

The Antiquary is one of my favourite books!

[John]

Me too Rosemarie, and I'm like Piyangie - I can't help but like the old rogue Dousterswivel!

[John]

A couple of group members have mentioned Nan Shepherd in previous posts.

Pitlochry Theatre in Highland Perthshire are presenting 3 free-of-charge online dramatised podcasts on the life and work of Nan Shepherd. They are titled "Nan makes history", "Nan in Love", and "Urban Nan", and are on 24/10, 21/11, and 30/01. I've attached the link below for anyone who is interested. (To get tickets, you have to "buy" them at 0.00).

https://pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/...

[Chad]

The Lost World was fun. Unexpected from the creator of Sherlock Holmes. I picked up a copy of A Scots Quair, all three books in an old Penguin release. My goodness the print is small. I plan to read the first part, Sunset Song, this month.

[John]

That's great Chad - I hope you enjoy Sunset Song, and go on to read the rest of the trilogy.

[Kathy]

John wrote: "Finished Grey Granite this morning. A much darker book than the first two, but I loved it. 5 stars from me. It's a tragedy that the author died so young - who knows what he could hav..."

I finished Grey Granite Book Three Of A Scots Quair: Grey Granite Bk. 3. I agree, John, it's a far darker book than the first two. Wow, one chapter needed a "trigger warning" label for me. I thought it was a very good book also. I'm glad (view spoiler)[ Chris returned to the country, but I worry for Ewan and his extremist activities. (hide spoiler)]

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've just finished The House with the Green Shutters by George Douglas Brown, a bleak, dark and tragic book that is very well written but so grim I'm not sure just how to rate it.

[John]

Kathy wrote: "John wrote: "Finished Grey Granite this morning. A much darker book than the first two, but I loved it. 5 stars from me. It's a tragedy that the author died so young - who knows what..."

Kathy, some scenes were difficult to get out of your head (and I suspect I know the chapter you're referring to), (view spoiler)[but since finishing the book, I keep thinking of the ending, with the dead Chris almost literally returning to the land she loved. (hide spoiler)]

[John]

Rosemarie wrote: "I've just finished The House with the Green Shutters by George Douglas Brown, a bleak, dark and tragic book that is very well written but so grim I'm not sure just h..."

I read it many years ago, Rosemarie...and found it so grim and brutal that I've never read anything else by him - which is probably a mistake. I might have to try reading it again.

[John]

It will soon be time to choose what Scottish book to read in November. I guess some of you might be like me, and trying to catch up on our reading from earlier in the year, and also starting to plan ahead for next year's reads.

So maybe it would be good to have a nice, easy read in November and/or December; does anyone have any suggestions or recomendations?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I may decide to read The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson, since that's a novel I haven't read yet.

[Kathy]

I might read another book by Muriel Spark, possibly Memento Mori. I'm also considering Treasure Island by Stevenson, since I've never read it!

[Chad]

I just downloaded The Gap in the Curtain and will get at it for this month.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I have a library copy of that book and will be starting it later this week.