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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 29, 2011
A great piece of writing, assured but never smug, lively but never overblown. The only thing I disliked about it was the slightly cloying and predictable ending (felt as though they should have been playing Flower of Scotland in the background as I read the text), though I was still a little misty eyed , and it remains a great read as far as I'm concerned.
December 26, 2022
Read for book group otherwise I am not sure I would have found this gem of a book. Thoroughly enjoyed the story of Fergus MacFarlane’s life from sleepy Burnock, a fishing village on the West Coast of Scotland to London and beyond. Childhood running on the same 70s timeline as mine so enjoyed the references to TV, food and appliances of the day - made me feel nostalgic for a different time! It was also a good description of being a lost teenager all its trials and tribulations. The author drew the characters very well, from
mean Mrs McGinty who lives downstairs to Stuart Meek the unpalatable step-Dad and lovely Uncle Jim.
After an error of judgement results in a serious incident for Fergus he does a midnight flit to London and enters survival mode. The book takes on a different flavour at this point and we end up with a new cast of characters, and also Fergus’s love of photography becomes his saviour. He is successful but exploited for his work and thinks he is happy for a while - but is he? The only bit I didn’t really enjoy is when he struggles with the domestic bliss of parenthood - not sure why but maybe it felt too mundane really against the rest of his journey which was more exciting? Whilst he didn’t always do the right thing and was pretty singleminded at times, I did want his story to end well for him, so I was rooting for him. I had flown through the chapters and immediately googled the author to see what else she has written which is a sign of a good book. Also wanting to book a trip to West Coast Scotland!!
mean Mrs McGinty who lives downstairs to Stuart Meek the unpalatable step-Dad and lovely Uncle Jim.
After an error of judgement results in a serious incident for Fergus he does a midnight flit to London and enters survival mode. The book takes on a different flavour at this point and we end up with a new cast of characters, and also Fergus’s love of photography becomes his saviour. He is successful but exploited for his work and thinks he is happy for a while - but is he? The only bit I didn’t really enjoy is when he struggles with the domestic bliss of parenthood - not sure why but maybe it felt too mundane really against the rest of his journey which was more exciting? Whilst he didn’t always do the right thing and was pretty singleminded at times, I did want his story to end well for him, so I was rooting for him. I had flown through the chapters and immediately googled the author to see what else she has written which is a sign of a good book. Also wanting to book a trip to West Coast Scotland!!
January 14, 2026
I found this book, from 2008, in a pile of books assigned to a bonfire by my mother in a clear out of my childhood bedroom (you guess it, in west coast Scotland.
I couldn’t remember reading it before almost 20 years ago, but the life was familiar. Who from the West Coast doesn’t remember getting on the bus from Buchanan Street to London and that feeling of escape to the big city and all its corrupting forces!
The interesting thing in the rereading is the message that we all go back to our roots in the end. The realisation that you can leave the west coast but the west coast never leaves you, it’s always there like the writing through a stick of west coast sticky pink rock.
And it’s funny, although my 2008 self would never have guessed it, that by the time of the rereading I too have returned to west coast and a home in Argyll.
Loses a star for the unnecessary sacherine happy ending in the last 2 chapters.
I couldn’t remember reading it before almost 20 years ago, but the life was familiar. Who from the West Coast doesn’t remember getting on the bus from Buchanan Street to London and that feeling of escape to the big city and all its corrupting forces!
The interesting thing in the rereading is the message that we all go back to our roots in the end. The realisation that you can leave the west coast but the west coast never leaves you, it’s always there like the writing through a stick of west coast sticky pink rock.
And it’s funny, although my 2008 self would never have guessed it, that by the time of the rereading I too have returned to west coast and a home in Argyll.
Loses a star for the unnecessary sacherine happy ending in the last 2 chapters.
May 22, 2021
Really enjoyed this book & Fergus’ life from a small
fishing village in the West of Scotland to the dark and grotty underbelly of London.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters surrounding Fergus’ childhood and his hometown of Burnoch.
He wasn’t a particularly likeable character but I found myself rooting for him, especially towards the end.
A great read, would definitely read more from the author.
fishing village in the West of Scotland to the dark and grotty underbelly of London.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters surrounding Fergus’ childhood and his hometown of Burnoch.
He wasn’t a particularly likeable character but I found myself rooting for him, especially towards the end.
A great read, would definitely read more from the author.
December 13, 2016
A dark story. Fergus is totally unsympathetic- self-centred and whingeing. He blames Athene for everything forgetting why he was attracted to her in the first place.
It is well written. the language is rich especially the Scottish/modern expressions. An enjoyable read.
It is well written. the language is rich especially the Scottish/modern expressions. An enjoyable read.
October 29, 2013
Very nicely observed novel about growing up in the 1970s in Scotland - and the rise and subsequent fall of the hero Fergus. The language and description were beautiful and the author skilfully draws the reader into the different worlds that Fergus inhabits. He does a stupid thing when he's a boy and everything follows from that to complete a circle by the end of the book. It's a 3 and half star story. So why isn't it a higher score from me? It was the lack of impetus driving me to keep reading. Basically, this isn't so much a story but more like diary of what happened to Fergus - though it's not written like that I hasten to add, but it's just a description of his life. Again, nothing wrong with that, it's very well done, but I felt there was something missing. Maybe it's just me. Or maybe that was the whole point of the book - that there was something missing in Fergus's life and he just didn't know what it was. The detail on the photography was fascinating! I liked the Scottish words too, though I needed the glossary. But I'm still left with a lingering wish that I could have loved it more.
August 4, 2013
I picked this book up in the local charity shop, wondering if another Scot had gifted it as it is set in our part of Scotland. (highlands and beyond. ) Even more significantly, Muir has used rock music as an interesting way of heading her titles. OK, they were the tracks that someone of my age (?) would know, such as The Smiths, Lloyd Coyle and Talking Heads. Interspersed were film and book references. I liked Fergus, a photographer, and Athene, a refugee from Hampshire and I loved the vocabulary page. all those words that the English don't know like cludgie and thrown.
The plot was quite complex, but I read the book in a couple of days, determined to find out what would happen to the central characters.
Now I am just hoping the same donor will slipMuir's Paris book into Deuxieme Chance. "Left Bank" seems to be about my sort of Paris, even if I am now miles away, though possibly not as far as when I lived in Perthshire!
The plot was quite complex, but I read the book in a couple of days, determined to find out what would happen to the central characters.
Now I am just hoping the same donor will slipMuir's Paris book into Deuxieme Chance. "Left Bank" seems to be about my sort of Paris, even if I am now miles away, though possibly not as far as when I lived in Perthshire!
October 7, 2009
A book of contrasts
The story explores the contrasts between the people and places around a Scottish fishing village and those in London. In one, they are rich in spirit, and in the other, well, the opposite really.
Fergus, the West Highland teenager, screws up good and proper, almost killing his girlfriend into the bargain. He betrays his mates, his mother, and the memory of his father. He flees to London, armed only with his camera. After some tough times in a squat, his talent is eventually spotted, and he enters the world of the rich and pretentious.
The book is well written and easy to follow, despite the jumping back and forth in time and place. This is an enjoyable read. If you have come out of a small, close-knit community into the big, wide world that surrounds us all, the scenes described in this book will feel very familiar to you.
The story explores the contrasts between the people and places around a Scottish fishing village and those in London. In one, they are rich in spirit, and in the other, well, the opposite really.
Fergus, the West Highland teenager, screws up good and proper, almost killing his girlfriend into the bargain. He betrays his mates, his mother, and the memory of his father. He flees to London, armed only with his camera. After some tough times in a squat, his talent is eventually spotted, and he enters the world of the rich and pretentious.
The book is well written and easy to follow, despite the jumping back and forth in time and place. This is an enjoyable read. If you have come out of a small, close-knit community into the big, wide world that surrounds us all, the scenes described in this book will feel very familiar to you.
August 2, 2011
This is far far superior to 'Left Bank'. An atmospheric rags to riches (and halfway back again) account of Fergus Macfarlane's progression from social, financial and emotional deprivation in small town Scotland to Britart icon as a result of his prodigious photographic talents. Kate Muir is writing on home ground here and the reader is assisted by a comprehensive glossary of the local vernacular. The characterisation is superb, even for the walk-on roles. Fergus, despite all his fallibilies is an endearing personality who the reader wills to succeed. The burgeoning Britart culture of the 90s is easy prey for Muir's amusing satire.
February 10, 2011
Really enjoyed this tale of a journey from deprived childhood in a decaying Scottish fishing village to celebrity status and beyond. A real mix of contrasting settings and characters that come to life for the reader, or in this case listner. Somewhat raw in places but those of a certain age will enjoy following the popular culture milestones laid out along the way for the reader.
November 20, 2012
GReat book. Bought it in a charity shop in Mull and read it whilst up there so all very atmospheric and relevant. Likes to protagnist and although you alwsys hope things will work out for teh best you are never quite sure what the best will be. A great read for those who love Scotland.
Want to Read
August 4, 2009Xmas 2008
May 29, 2012
A good read with a not-so-straightforward story.
Read
June 29, 2012Too many f words for me.
April 29, 2013
A enjoyable read! I really loved the style of writing. The topic is one I wouldn't normally care for too much, but this book just grabbed me. By the time I came to the end I almost got emotional.
September 8, 2015
Loved this book! Great characters and settings
October 5, 2015
Excellent. A real find.
April 17, 2018
A decadent portrayal of the London of the 90s and a realistic reflection of Small Town Scotland with a main character who is both ugly and lovely in his honesty. I loved this book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews