2022 Buddy Read: Scottish Authors

[Chad]

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

I checked this morning and my library system did not have a copy. I was disappointed as I much prefer reading actual books.

[John]

I'm not a big fan of Buchan, but I hadn't heard of any Sci-fi/Horror that he'd written; so I'm going to give this one a try. I've downloaded it from the library, and will read it after Treasure Island. Thanks for letting us know about it, Chad.

[Chad]

John wrote: "I'm not a big fan of Buchan, but I hadn't heard of any Sci-fi/Horror that he'd written; so I'm going to give this one a try. I've downloaded it from the library, and will read it after [book:Treasu..."

It’s a group read for November in another group that I belong to and I was glad to discover that it worked out nicely here too.

[Brian E]

Today I started The Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin to serve as my November Scottish read.

It's the story of a compassionate and dedicated young Scottish priest who, due to conflict with Church hierarchy, is sent to work at a remote Chinese mission. So far, so good, though I'm still in Scotland.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've finished The Gap in the Curtain by John Buchan. I would call it a psychological novel with supernatural overtones.

[John]

Rosemarie wrote: "I've finished The Gap in the Curtain by John Buchan. I would call it a psychological novel with supernatural overtones."

I've just started it, Rosemarie. I'm intrigued by the supernatural aspects.

[John]

Brian E wrote: "Today I started The Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin to serve as my November Scottish rea..."

It's years since I've read that one, Brian, but it was one of my favourite Cronin books. I've just ordered it from the library, but there seems to be a waiting list for it, so I might struggle to fit it in this year. I hope you enjoy it.

[John]

Finished reading Treasure Island - and I enjoyed almost as much as when I first read it as a child. (Although, when I first read it, the Good Guys and Bad Guys were very clearly contrasted - the lines between have blurred a bit in adult readings.)

[John]

Since I finished Treasure Island fairly early in the month, I've decided to read another Scottish book this month, one from an author I've not read in many years - Night Without End by Alistair MacLean.

[John]

I read Loaves and Fishes by George Mackay Brown, as my Scottish poetry book for November. I think this was his second collection, and not quite as good as his debut, but well worth reading anyway.

[John]

We're only at the middle of November, but has anyone decided yet what their December book will be? My choices are The International Companion to Lewis Grassic Gibbon and my poetry choice is The Year of the Whale by George MacKay Brown. I'm also going for a comfort read - I've ordered books from A J Cronin, Lillian Beckwith, and Alistair MacLean from my local library - all are on waiting lists, but hopefully one will be available before the end of December.

I can't think of any particularly "Christmassy" Scottish books - but if anyone can, it'll be somebody on NTLTRC!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I will most likely read some stories by George MacDonald.

[Chad]

I’ll be reading Sunset Song. I purchased a volume containing all three in the trilogy about a month ago but haven’t gotten to it yet. If I find myself with the time I’ll read straight through all three. I’m headed to the library later today and will poke around for a book of poetry.

[Brian E]

I finished The Keys of the Kingdom and thought it a wonderful story, one of the best I've read this year.

I was a bit reluctant to start it as I had been a bit disappointed by The Citadel. After a wonderful set-up in Wales, I thought the story became less interesting and too melodramatic when it switched to the confines of London. But mostly, my disappointment with The Citadel was due to Cronin letting his protagonist off the hook too easily. Yet Cronin is such an effective writer and storyteller that the book was still good enough to warrant 4 stars

In contrast I enjoyed The Keys of the Kingdom from beginning to end and through scenes in Scotland, Northumbria, Spain and China. It was far more interesting than I anticipated. I tell more, maybe too much, about it in my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John]

That's an excellent endorsement, Brian - I can't wait until my copy is available.

[Kathy]

I hope you enjoy the Scots Quair trilogy, Chad. I liked it, especially Sunset Song.

For December, I plan to finish the Dering Family trilogy by D.E. Stevenson, Winter and Rough Weather. Thought it appropriate for December.

I finished Memento Mori by Muriel Spark. Since the title means "Remember you must die," it's a bit of a downer book, but Spark's humor and her characters make it funny in parts.

[John]

Kathy, D.E. Stevenson has been (for me) one of the surprises of this buddy read - I'd never heard of her, let alone realised she was so popular. I was at a church fayre last week-end where lots of her books were being snapped up at the book stall.

[Kathy]

I'd definitely snap up some of her books, John.

[Luís]

I've recently read one of Conan Doyle's books: Lot No. 249... So lovely to come read their books.

[Tr1sha]

John wrote: "Kathy, D.E. Stevenson has been (for me) one of the surprises of this buddy read - I'd never heard of her, let alone realised she was so popular. I was at a church fayre last week-en..."

I agree, I hadn’t heard of her either. But I enjoyed reading Gerald and Elizabeth earlier this year & plan to read Anna and Her Daughters in December.

[Brian E]

John wrote: "That's an excellent endorsement, Brian - I can't wait until my copy is available."

I liked that The Keys of the Kingdom takes place partly in Scotland and in a locale I hadn't encountered before - a salmon fishing village along the North Sea coast that seemed to be somewhere between Edinburgh and Northumbria.

D.E. Stevenson has been a pleasant surprise to me too. Miss Buncle's Book will be one of my top 10 books of the year and I have bought the other 2 Buncles and plan to read Dering Family #1, Vittoria Cottage, someday.

My December Scottish read will be either Miss Buncle Married or my recent purchase, A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark. I'm leaning to the spark because I haven't read her since reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 20 years ago. The Kensington book looks like a quick, fun read.

[Chad]

I’m finding it delightful to discover all these great Scottish writers this year and to perfectly understand almost every single word on the page! I’m reminded of being at a wedding in Ireland with my wife’s (Irish) family. The brides Scottish father came over to our table and proceeded to tell some story. When he left I admitted out loud that I hadn’t understood a word he said. My wife’s Aunt tapped my hand and said “No one did, luv. You did just fine.”

[Tr1sha]

Chad wrote: "I’m finding it delightful to discover all these great Scottish writers this year and to perfectly understand almost every single word on the page! I’m reminded of being at a wedding in Ireland with..."

A great story, Chad! My grandfather’s family came from Glasgow, so although I have always lived near London I grew up hearing a Glaswegian accent quite often. But I don’t know some regional words &, as with other accents, sometimes have difficulty when speaking to someone on a phone.

[John]

Chad wrote: "I’m finding it delightful to discover all these great Scottish writers this year and to perfectly understand almost every single word on the page! I’m reminded of being at a wedding in Ireland with..."

As it was a social event, the father was probably adhering to two cardinal Scottish rules - Never take whisky without water, and never take water without whisky.

[Chad]

Hahaha. Love that. But that’s just it, John. He was stone sober, speaking my language and I couldn’t understand him. It was my first real experience with the Scottish dialect.

[John]

I finished The Gap in the Curtain by John Buchan, but I can't say that I enjoyed it; I found much of it extremely dull.

I suppose if someone publishes 100 or so books, they are not all going to be of a high standard, but he's just not a writer I find appealing. And his works seem (in my opinion at least) to have dated badly.

[John]

Chad wrote: "Hahaha. Love that. But that’s just it, John. He was stone sober, speaking my language and I couldn’t understand him. It was my first real experience with the Scottish dialect."

We sometimes don't understand each other, Chad. I always thought that Aberdeen in the north of Scotland was referred to as "Furryboots City" because the residents wore furry boots to combat the cold. It was only when I worked up there for a while that I realised that Aberdonians greet every new acquaintance with the question "Furryboots iryi fae, like?" ("Whereabouts are you from?")

[Brian E]

We are in the last month of this Scottish Buddy Read, While I never really participated in the way John intended - I never read any poetry - I did very much enjoy reading and discussing the Scottish novels I did read and discussed on here.

Today I started the first of my two Scottish reads for December D.E. Stevenson's Miss Buncle Married I will also be reading Muriel Spark's A Far Cry from Kensington later in the month.

[John]

Brian E wrote: "We are in the last month of this Scottish Buddy Read, While I never really participated in the way John intended - I never read any poetry - I did very much enjoy reading and discussing the Scottis..."

Those both sound like good choices for December, Brian - if time permits I might also read A Far Cry from Kensington next month.

I'm delighted that you've enjoyed the buddy read. Thanks to recommendations from those participating, I've been introduced to a number of new authors, and reminded of some who I'd neglected for a while. I hope others have found it worthwhile.

[John]

I've just finished my "extra" choice for November, which was Night Without End by Alistair MacLean. He's definitely an author I've neglected for a number of years. When I was in my teens he was very popular, and for a time it seemed as if everything he wrote was turned into a movie. This one was a standard Alistair MacLean thriller, based on the polar ice-cap and including survivors of a suspicious plane crash; very enjoyable even if not one of his best.

[Tr1sha]

I think this is the best place to post this message:

Happy St Andrew’s Day to my Scottish friends!

[John]

Thank you Trisha - from a bright, but cold, Glasgow. Happy St Andrew's day to everybody - in the words of Burns.

Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a’ that,
That Sense and Worth, o’er a’ the earth
Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that.
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
It’s comin yet for a’ that,
That Man to Man the warld o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that.

[Tr1sha]

That’s beautiful, John.

[Melanie]

So is everybody celebrating by eating haggis, neeps and tatties?

[John]

Melanie, much as I love haggis, needs and tatties - no. Funnily enough, that dish (which I do eat throughout the year) is particularly associated with Burns Night.

But now that you have reminded me.....I'm off to speak nicely to my wife in the hope that she'll cook it in the next day or two!

Haggis is a bit like Black Pudding in that many of us have favourite suppliers and recipes.

[Melanie]

John wrote: "Melanie, much as I love haggis, needs and tatties - no. Funnily enough, that dish (which I do eat throughout the year) is particularly associated with Burns Night.

But now that you have reminded m..."

John, I don't know what I would say to haggis if I ever met it. I wish I didn't know what was in it.

[Chad]

I did not really get along with my November read, The Gap in the Curtain. My December Scottish novel will be Sunset Song and I’m sure I’ll have a better experience based on reviews from you all and in general.

[John]

I agree with you about The Gap in the Curtain, Chad - I rated it as only two stars.....but I loved Sunset Song, so I hope you enjoy it too.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I'll be reading The Gray Wolf and Other Fantasy Stories by George MacDonald.

[Melanie]

I hope to read Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson and Widow of Bath by Margot Bennett. I am humbled by how fast you all read. I have really enjoyed learning about new authors here.

[Chad]

John wrote: "but I loved Sunset Song, so I hope you enjoy it too."

I’ve just read the first few pages of the Prelude chapter and I’m already finding the writing to be absolutely beautiful. I’ll have to read this one when it’s quiet. I often read while my wife is watching TV but I think this is one that I’ll slip away someplace quiet to read for a bit in the evenings.

[John]

Melanie wrote: "I hope to read Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson and Widow of Bath by Margot Bennett. I am humbled by how fast you all read. I have really enjoyed learning about new authors here."

Thanks for that reminder, Melanie. I'd forgotten that I planned to read something from Margot Bennet - I've now downloaded The Man Who Didn't Fly. I'm not convinced I'll finish it this month, but I'll have a try.

I hope you enjoy The Widow of Bath and Treasure Island. I was concerned that Treasure Island wouldn't live up to my childhood memories of it, but on the whole it did.

[John]

Melanie wrote: "John wrote: "Melanie, much as I love haggis, needs and tatties - no. Funnily enough, that dish (which I do eat throughout the year) is particularly associated with Burns Night.

But now that you ha..."

Well Melanie, there's a specific address to the Haggis (by Burns, naturally), which starts -
Address to a Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

("Painch" is stomach and "thairm" is intestines).

[Melanie]

John wrote: "Melanie wrote: "John wrote: "Melanie, much as I love haggis, needs and tatties - no. Funnily enough, that dish (which I do eat throughout the year) is particularly associated with Burns Night.

But..."

John, thank you for posting a verse of Burns' Address to a Haggis. I love it!

[Melanie]

John wrote: "Melanie wrote: "I hope to read Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson and Widow of Bath by Margot Bennett. I am humbled by how fast you all read. I have really enjoyed learning about new authors here."
..."

I am ashamed to admit that I only saw the Disney movie of Treasure Island as an adult, and it was terrific. I can't believe I haven't gotten around to reading the book until now.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've just finished the short ghost story, Uncle Cornelius, His Story by George MacDonald.

[John]

I'm currently enjoying The Man Who Didn't Fly by Margot Bennett, and was surprised to see so few of her books are readily available. I would have liked to try one of her two sci-fi books, but can't find them in any library in Glasgow, and they are over-priced on Amazon.

An author I need to look out for in any visits to second-hand bookshops.....

[Chad]

I’m really enjoying Sunset Song. I definitely see myself reading the other two in the series.

[Tr1sha]

It’s good to see that Sunset Song has been so popular - I still plan to read it before the end of this year.

Today I finished reading Night Without End by Alistair MacLean. It’s the first book of his that I’ve read - I was impressed & will probably read some of his other books. Perhaps the snow outside my windows added to the atmosphere even though it’s quite hot here compared with his descriptions of Greenland!

[John]

Chad wrote: "I’m really enjoying Sunset Song. I definitely see myself reading the other two in the series."

That's good to hear, Chad.