2022 Buddy Read: Scottish Authors

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've read eight of his books and I disagree withe the last statement. I've read a number of them many years ago but know that the statement is a total exaggeration.

[John]

Rosemarie wrote: "I've read eight of his books and I disagree withe the last statement. I've read a number of them many years ago but know that the statement is a total exaggeration."

I haven't read as many as his books as you Rosemarie, but I'd agree with you; the comment doesn't tie in my with recollection.

[Nidhi]

I have never experienced that ‘locomotive ‘ imagery feeling in literature, I don’t read thrillers and horrors it may apply there but then .....it is most expected in those genres.

[Kathy]

I finished The Citadel. A.J. Cronin is a good storyteller. I wasn't bored at any time even through the descriptions of medical procedures. I think the character of Andrew Manson makes the reader want to keep reading. I liked the early parts of the book best, set in Wales when he and Christine are struggling. The last few chapters were tense and I didn't expect what happened.

[Kathy]

Brian wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Tracey, I thought the most interesting part of the book was set in Wales - I liked the descriptions & the characters.."

When I first read this post I was a bit confused because I th..."

I thought this too, Brian, about the name Manson. It continued to startle me throughout the book!

[John]

Kathy and I had hoped to read parts 2 and 3 of the Scots Quair trilogy from Lewis Grassic Gibbon by the end of the year.

Would anyone be interested in reading part 2 - Cloud Howe in June?

The book continues the story of Chris Guthrie, as she marries for the second time.

[John]

Annette wrote: "John wrote: "Annette wrote: "I have ordered a book of Thomas Campbell's (1777-1844) poetry. Not sure what edition it is yet."

You put me to shame Annette - I was born just yards from his birthplac..."

Annette, I watched a documentary this week on the owner of the Island of Muck (a tiny island off the west coast of Scotland - population about 30). As a young man in the 1960's it was difficult to attract a bride to a remote island with no power, no telephone, no shop. He claimed that he won his wife by reciting Thomas Campbell's poem "Lord Ullin's daughter" to her as he rowed her over the sea to Muck. Sadly, he passed away last week but his bride - now in her 80's - continues to live on the island.

The poem Lord Ullin's Daughter can be found at https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org...

[John]

I finished The Citadel today and greatly enjoyed it - I rated it 4 stars. I hope to read more of Cronin this year, and have already ordered my next book.

[Brian E]

I am reading Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, who is always referred to as an "Irish Author."

However, I found out from Wikipedia that she also has strong ties to Scotland:
"O'Farrell was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Wales and Scotland. ...She was educated at North Berwick High School (Scotland) and Brynteg Comprehensive School. (Wales)"

As to her present abode, Wikipedia states:
"O'Farrell is married to a fellow novelist, William Sutcliffe, whom she met while they were students at Cambridge. They live in Edinburgh with their three children."

So, though Irish, she spent her high school years in Scotland and has chosen to raise her family in Scotland. So, while she may not be a Scottish author, I'm going to count this one as extra credit - like bonus points.
EDIT: Forget "extra" I'll ask John to mark my grade book for full credit as I see he defines Scottish author as:
"Our definition of Scottishness is inclusive - if they were born, lived, or largely wrote in Scotland, then they qualify."

[John]

Brian wrote: "I am reading Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, who is always referred to as an "Irish Author."

However, I found out from Wikipedia that she also has strong ties to Scotlan..."

I think her parents moved to North Berwick in the 70's to escape the Troubles in Ireland, and have lived there ever since. I'd definitely include her as Scottish in terms of this buddy read, and I'll be fascinated to hear your views on Hamnet. I've been drawn to a number of her books - but something's always held me back, so I've read nothing by her yet.

[Melanie]

I discovered another Scottish author from a Friday's Forgotten Books review:

"J. J. Connington was a pseudonym for Alfred Walter Stewart (1880-1947), a Scot educated in Glasgow, Germany, and London. Stewart had a long career as a university lecturer and professor in Chemistry at Glasgow and Belfast. He wrote two dozen mysteries between 1926 and 1947. His primary series characters were Sir Clinton Driffield and Squire Wendover. He also wrote one science fiction novel, Nordenholt's Million, which became a classic."

Has anybody read his books?

[John]

Good find Melanie; I'd never heard of him, but thanks to your tip I've just speculated 99p on Nordenholt's Million.

[John]

With month-end fast approaching, does anyone have a Scottish Buddy Read planned for June? I'm still planning on Cloud Howe by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, but in the last few months there have been so many great suggestions from others in the thread, that I'm keeping my options open until the last minute.

[Kathy]

I plan on reading Cloud Howe.

[Melanie]

In June I’m going to read Huntingtower by John Buchan and the poems of William Edmondstoune Aytoun. He was a collector of Scottish ballads so I’m looking forward to it.

[John]

Kathy wrote: "I plan on reading Cloud Howe."

Excellent Kathy - I hope to start in the next day or two.

[John]

Melanie wrote: "In June I’m going to read Huntingtower by John Buchan and the poems of William Edmondstoune Aytoun. He was a collector of Scottish ballads so I’m looking forward to it."

Great to see that you're tackling some poetry this month Melanie, I've heard of Aytoun but never read him - although his Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers and Other Poems apeals to me.

I'll be interested to hear your opinion of Huntingtower; I've never been a huge fan of Buchan, and I'm not sure why - I think I may have allowed myself to be put off by his politics and his views on race.

[Melanie]

Oh no, John, that sounds ominous. I will read it and see if it’s offensive.

[John]

My poetry book this month is Eimhir by Somhairle MacGill-Eain, translated by Ian Chrichton Smith. Mainly love poems to his wife from probably the greatest Gaelic poet of the 20th century, with side-by-side translations by another great writer and poet. (The English version of the poet's name is Sorley MacLean).

[Kathy]

I've started Cloud Howe, The Second Book of A Scots Quair. The setting is as lovely and wild as the first book. I'm not getting "enough" Chris yet in this book. There's a lot about other characters of the new town where she and her husband live, Segget.

[Melanie]

John wrote: "My poetry book this month is Eimhir by Somhairle MacGill-Eain, translated by Ian Chrichton Smith. Mainly love poems to his wife from probably the gr..."

John, that sounds lovely! Hopefully I can find this book of poems here.

[Chrissie]

I'm new here in this group, but I'll just hop right in! I adored Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon! Thought I would try her very different but highly acclaimed Spartacus. Has anyone read it and want to tell me something about it? I don 't usually enjoy books focused on battles but a good author can make almost any topic good, I think.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

It's great to hear from you, Chrissie!

[John]

Chrissie wrote: "I'm new here in this group, but I'll just hop right in! I adored Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon! Thought I would try her very different but highly acclaimed [book..."

Great to have you joining in on this thread, Chrissie. I also loved Sunset Song (but Lewis Grassic Gibbon is male). Its many, many years since I read [book:Spartacus|93542] but from memory I enjoyed it, although I think the depictions of slavery and torture were more realistic than I'd expected from a book written back in 1933. I've just started reading Cloud Howe this month - but I might read Spartacus in July.

[John]

I've just finished reading Eimhir by Somhairle MacGill-Eain. Poetry, passion and politics....I loved it.

[Kathy]

I finished Cloud Howe, The Second Book of A Scots Quair. The writing is lovely, but I didn't like the vignettes of various individuals in Segget who were not Chris or her son, Ewan. I like to hear what Chris thinks about and wonders.

[John]

That's interesting Kathy, and Chris is the key character for me also. But I've barely started this one; the members of NTLTRC set a blistering pace and by half-way through the year I'm already falling behind.

[Kathy]

I know what you mean John, about the blistering pace! I'll be happy to see your comments when you get to it.

[John]

I haven't finished June's book yet, but its time to think about what we're planning to read in July. If you're like me, you'll be struggling to keep up - so I'm going to read a different genre this month, and go for a non-fiction book.

If anybody decides to do the same, I'll be fascinated to hear about your choices. There's lots of characters to choose from - William Wallace (AKA Mel Gibson), Mary Queen of Scots, Robert the Bruce, Bonnie Prince Charlie (or, as my history lecturer always referred to him - "the drunken, Polish blockhead").

For many, The Highland Clearances and emigration to America, Canada and Australia are popular topics.

My choice is going to be River of Fire: The Clydebank Blitz by John MacLeod. It's the story of two awful nights in 1941 when the town of Clydebank, just outside Glasgow, was pounded by the Luftwaffe. Hundreds were killed, hundreds more badly injured, and of of the town's 12,000 homes, only seven survived entirely undamaged.

[Kathy]

My choice for July/August is Bodies in a Bookshop by R.T. Campbell R.T. Campbell is a pseudonym for the Scottish poet Ruthven Todd, "best known as an editor of the works of William Blake, and expert on his printing techniques. During the 1940s he also wrote detective fiction under the pseudonym R. T. Campbell and children's fiction during the 1950s." Wikipedia

I saw this book on my shelves and thought "Campbell might be a Scottish author." And so he is.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I'm reading my second Walter Scott, Rob Roy. I'm liking it more than my first Scott read, Waverley.

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "I'm reading my second Walter Scott, Rob Roy. I'm liking it more than my first Scott read, Waverley."

I love Rob Roy, Piyangie, mainly for Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and for its - sometimes brutal - portrayal of Scotland at that time.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

John wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "I'm reading my second Walter Scott, Rob Roy. I'm liking it more than my first Scott read, Waverley."

I love Rob Roy, Piyangie, mainly for Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and for its - someti..."

I haven't met him yet, John, but I'm excited to meet him now. :) I'm presently enjoying the company of spirited Diana Vernon. :)

[John]

As July is looking like a crowded month, my poetry choice is going to be a short one - Orpheus and Eurydice: A Dramatic Poem by Sydney Goodsir Smith

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I finished Rob Roy and really enjoyed it. The story was very interesting and had some unique characters.

[John]

Piyangie wrote: "I finished Rob Roy and really enjoyed it. The story was very interesting and had some unique characters."

I'm glad you enjoyed it Piyangie; I doubt if it bears the faintest resemblance to the historical Rob Roy, but its an enjoyable story. According to Wiki, R L Stevenson regarded it as the "best novel of the greatest of all novelists" - and I wouldn't dream of arguing with RLS.

[John]

Kathy wrote: "I finished Cloud Howe, The Second Book of A Scots Quair. The writing is lovely, but I didn't like the vignettes of various individuals in Segget who were not Chris or her son, Ewan...."

I've just finished it Kathy. Like you, my favourite sections of the book are those which most involve Chris and Ewen - I'm really keen to see how he develops Ewen in Grey Granite, and how Chris will react to a mature Ewen, and one whose politics and beliefs look likely to be firm and strong - like grey granite.

The other characters in Cloud Howe were a mixture, and many of them were profoundly unlikeable, which felt like quite a contrast with Sunset Song.

In a number of ways this novel felt like a transition - some things were dying and passing away, and some are being born.......change is coming.

[Kathy]

That's a good way of putting it, John - it's a transition novel between Chris and Ewan, and many other things.

[John]

Kathy wrote: "That's a good way of putting it, John - it's a transition novel between Chris and Ewan, and many other things."

So what are your thoughts Kathy - when should we tackle the final book in the trilogy - Grey Granite?

[Kathy]

John wrote: "Kathy wrote: "That's a good way of putting it, John - it's a transition novel between Chris and Ewan, and many other things."

So what are your thoughts Kathy - when should we tackle the final book..."

John, either August or October would work best for me. Looking forward to this one.

[John]

October looks marginally lighter - so let's go with that Kathy.

[Kathy]

John wrote: "October looks marginally lighter - so let's go with that Kathy."

Sounds good!

[John]

Melanie wrote: "I discovered another Scottish author from a Friday's Forgotten Books review:

"J. J. Connington was a pseudonym for Alfred Walter Stewart (1880-1947), a Scot educated in Glasgow, Germany, and Londo..."

Melanie, I've just finished his sci-fi novel Nordenholt’s Million. I don't normally like very dated sci-fi (and this was written in 1923), but this one didn't feel too dated. Perhaps because the themes of ecological disaster, world-wide "plague", and dishonest and lying politicians feel quite topical! And the outcome of a group of fascist capitalists ensuring their own safety through some nasty and extreme tactics feels all to believable in the era of Trump, Johnston and Putin.
I wouldn't say I liked it - at best, it was OK. But I'll maybe try one of his detective novels at some point.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I've just finished the fairy tale The Giant's Heart by George MacDonald.

[John]

Rosemarie wrote: "I've just finished the fairy tale The Giant's Heart by George MacDonald."

Excellent. I could never really get into MacDonald, but its many years since I've read him, so I should probably have another try. Which of his books would you recommend Rosemarie?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I like The Princess and the Goblin / Princess and Curdie since I do like children's books.

[Melanie]

John wrote: "Melanie wrote: "I discovered another Scottish author from a Friday's Forgotten Books review:

"J. J. Connington was a pseudonym for Alfred Walter Stewart (1880-1947), a Scot educated in Glasgow, Ge..."

Hi John,
Thanks for your review! Since I usually read mystery books I'll stick with his mysteries, but it was good to hear what you thought about his SF!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I just finished a silly and entertaining fairy tale: The Light Princess by George MacDonald.

[Nidhi]

I finished The Lady of The Lake by Sir Walter Scott. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy his novels. This is the first poetry book by Scott which I have read. I began reading Marmion too but couldn’t continue, I hope to finish that also.

[John]

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".