2022 Buddy Read: Scottish Authors

[John]

Penelope wrote: "The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd. Stunning writing and wonderful descriptions of her experiences of climbing and walking in the Cairngorms.
I listened on audible..."

That sounds like an excellent package, Penelope - I imagine Swinton makes a great reader.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I started reading my first Walter Scott novel! I think I have read Ivanhoe when I was a child (can't recall the story now though) but I haven't read him as an adult.

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "I started reading my first Walter Scott novel! I think I have read Ivanhoe when I was a child (can't recall the story now though) but I haven't read him as an adult."

That's great Piyangie - which one are you reading?

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Waverley, John. Not sure if it's the right place to begin reading him. But since it's the first in the Waverley series, I thought I'll start there.

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "Waverley, John. Not sure if it's the right place to begin reading him. But since it's the first in the Waverley series, I thought I'll start there."

I haven't read that one Piyangie, but it seems to attract mixed responses (a bit like Scott in general), so I'm looking forward to your review.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Waverly has a very slow beginning bur really picks up as the book progresses. That was the was one of the first Scott books I read, over five years ago.

[Cosmic]

THE HARVARD CLASSICS SHELF
 OF FICTION, Vol. 4 Guy Mannering,
or
The Astrologer by Sir Walter Scott Selected by Charles W. Eliot With notes and introductions by William Allan Neilson. PUBLISHED: New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1917. First published: Edinburgh: James Ballantyne and Co., anonymously in 1815
 
The Complete Harvard Classics 2020 Edition [newly updated] . JA. Kindle Edition.

I am just looking through this collection but I noticed this and there is a good introduction that I want to read when I start reading Waverly.

Thank you Rosemarie for the encouragement.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

You're welcome. I enjoyed Guy Mannering, but my favourites are The Heart of Midlothian and now The Antiquary as well.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Rosemarie wrote: "Waverly has a very slow beginning bur really picks up as the book progresses. That was the was one of the first Scott books I read, over five years ago."

Agree, Rosemarie. It's very slow at present. I'm stifling my urge to yawn at times! (Makes it worse when you listen instead of reading). But I'm happy to know it picks up as it progresses. For the present, I like Edward and Everard Waverley.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Which Waverley novels you've read, John? And what would you recommend?

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "Which Waverley novels you've read, John? And what would you recommend?"

Piyangie, the only Scott novels I've read are Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Antiquary, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. I'm sure Rosemarie could make a sound recommendation.

(I've also read his Tales of a Grandfather, and 3 volumes of his letters, but that was part of a research task).

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

John wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Which Waverley novels you've read, John? And what would you recommend?"

Piyangie, the only Scott novels I've read are Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Antiquary, so I'm probably not the b..."

Rosemarie, for your attention. :)

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I've read about a quarter of Waverley. Once the initial introductory chapters passed, I feel interested in the story. It's still slow, but I'm beginning to appreciate the Scottish setting and the history.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Rosemarie
I have only read Ivanhoe my self and hope to get to Rob Roy this year.
Msg 310 & 311 are asking about the Waverly Novels. Have you read any?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've read Waverley, Guy Mannering.Rob Roy, The Antiquary and Ivanhoe from the Waverley set. My least favourite is Ivanhoe and my favourite of the series is The Antiquary.

For non-Waverley, I recommend The Tale of Old Mortality, The Heart of Midlothian and The Talisman.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Also The Bride of Lammermoor, The Legend of Montrose are good.

Two to avoid are Count Robert of Paris: The Works of Sir Walter Scott The Waverly Novels: The Betrothed until you've finished his better works first.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Thank you for your thoughts on this!

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Thank you very much, Rosemarie. I added Rob Roy and The Antiquary to my TBR. I'll check out the non-Waverley ones later.

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "Thank you very much, Rosemarie. I added Rob Roy and The Antiquary to my TBR. I'll check out the non-Waverley ones later."

I'd certainly agree with both Rob Roy and The Antiquary, although I also liked Ivanhoe, which is not everyone's favourite.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

My favourite character in Ivanhoe wasn't Ivanhoe. I thought he was Blah!

[John]

Rosemarie wrote: "My favourite character in Ivanhoe wasn't Ivanhoe. I thought he was Blah!"

I agree - my favourite characters were probably Rebecca and the Jester.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Has anyone seen the Group Masthead?
Any thoughts?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

It's stunning, wherever it is in Scotland.

[John]

I think it might be Kilchurn Castle in Loch Awe?

[John]

If it is Kilchurn, Alan Breck Stewart would have been glad to hear that this Campbell castle was largely destroyed by lightning just after the events of Kidnapped.

[Tr1sha]

I finished Catriona - Robert Louis Stevenson, but much preferred “Kidnapped”.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

John wrote: "If it is Kilchurn, Alan Breck Stewart would have been glad to hear that this Campbell castle was largely destroyed by lightning just after the events of Kidnapped."

You are totally correct John! It is the Kilchurn Castle at Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It was first constructed in the mid-15th century as the base of the Campbells of Glenorchy, who extended both the castle and their territory in the area over the next 150 years. After the Campbells became Earls of Breadalbane and moved to Taymouth Castle, Kilchurn fell out of use and was in ruins by 1770. It is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland and is open to the public in summer.

[John]

I've checked it on the map, and although I've probably driven near it dozens of times, I've never actually seen it.....something to be rectified soon.

[Melanie]

I finished Miss Marjoribanks by Mrs. Oliphant. I enjoyed it very much. I didn't know until near the end of the book that her name is pronounced like Marchbanks. I'm definitely going to read another by Oliphant.

[Brian E]

Melanie wrote: "I finished Miss Marjoribanks by Mrs. Oliphant. I enjoyed it very much."

I read it just over a year ago and didn't think it was too bad. I rated it at 3.5 stars and rounded it to 3 stars because, as I say in my review, I had no urge to read others in her Carlingford Chronicles. of which Miss Marjoribanks is volume #5.
But I eventually did get a bit of an urge, and now own the quite short Carlingford #1, The Rector on my Kindle to read someday. I have heard good things about and may someday read #6 Phoebe Junior and #4 The Perpetual Curate. Based on their GR ratings, it seems like Carlingford #2 The Doctor's Family and #3 Salem Chapel are best skpped.

This is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Melanie]

I think my next Oliphant book will be Hester instead of one in the Carlingford series. I wonder if her main characters are similar. I will take a break before I read the next one by her.

[Brian E]

Melanie wrote: "I think my next Oliphant book will be Hester instead of one in the Carlingford series. I wonder if her main characters are similar. I will take a break before I read the next one by her."

I forgot about Hester. It is her 2nd most read and looks to be a good choice for another Oliphant. My only GR friend who had read it gave it 5 stars and NTLTRC member Tracey is listed as "currently reading" it.

[Tracey]

I am just reading Kidnapped and hope to read the sequel Catriona also this month. My poetry will be A Child’s Garden of Verse. All by Robert Louis Stevenson. The Antiquary I couldn’t get to this month so it will be my May read.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've finished reading a charmingly illustrated version of A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, published many years ago in the Collins New Classics series. It was a delightful read!

[Kathy]

I love Tasha Tudor's illustrations.

[John]

I'm currently reading The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey, and on balance I'm enjoying it so far.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I finished Waverley, my first Scott read. I enjoyed the story overall, but it was very very slow, the first half especially. And the "hero", Edward Waverley, didn’t make much impression on me.

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "I finished Waverley, my first Scott read. I enjoyed the story overall, but it was very very slow, the first half especially. And the "hero", Edward Waverley, didn’t make much impression on me."

A common reaction to Scott "heroes", Piyangie - I'll bet someone, somewhere has completed a PhD study on this aspect of Scott's novels!

But I'm delighted you enjoyed the book overall, and that's encouraged me to try reading it myself this year.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Glad to hear, John.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've just finished Catriona: Being Memoirs of the Further Adventures of David Balfour at Home and Abroad and enjoyed it, but did like Kidnapped more.

[Tr1sha]

Rosemarie wrote: "I've just finished Catriona: Being Memoirs of the Further Adventures of David Balfour at Home and Abroad and enjoyed it, but did like Kidnapped more."

I felt the same, Rosemarie - I thought Catriona was disappointing by comparison with Kidnapped.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

One of my favourite characters, Alan Breck Stewart, was only in Catriona for a short time, which made a difference to my enjoyment of the book.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Rosemarie wrote: "One of my favourite characters, Alan Breck Stewart, was only in Catriona for a short time, which made a difference to my enjoyment of the book."

He is one of my favourite characters too, Rosemarie. Sad to learn his presence is short in Catriona. :(

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

But when he's there, he really packs a punch!

[John]

Having read and enjoyed my first-ever Josephine Tey book (Miss Pym Disposes) this year, I thought that I'd enjoy The Franchise Affair even more, as it seemed to be highly-rated.

This turned out to be the wrong choice because sadly, for me, it bombed. It started very promisingly, but by mid-way the author's snobbery, misogyny, and intolerance was irritating me intensely. I managed to finish it by promising myself that I'd almost certainly never read another Josephine Tey novel, and in a fit of generosity at finishing it I rated it as 2-stars, double what I'd intended.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

That's too bad, John.

[John]

Rosemarie wrote: "That's too bad, John."

No matter, Rosemarie - "you can't love 'em all" - and in this group, the next - sometimes unexpected - great read is never far away.

[Brian E]

I just read Mrs. Oliphant's The Rector - Chronicles of Carlingford, Book #1 in the series. It is a short story, not a novella. This is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tracey]

I have just finished Kidnapped which I read first several years ago. I enjoyed it all the more because I know a lot of the places in the story. Still a 5 star read for me

[Tracey]

I read that the group is doing a read of The Citadel. Is this for May? I found my copy on my bookshelves as soon as I read this. I am still working on The Antiquary but will join in with The C with the group.