Thistle Soup

by Peter Kerr

East Lothian is 'The Garden of Scotland' and the setting for this delightfully idiosyncratic story of country life. Here unfold the ups and downs of four generations of one farming family from the northern Orkney Isles, who move to the little farm of Cuddy Neuk in the south of Scotland just before the outbreak of the Second World War. A young Peter, the 'peedie' (wee) boy who sets his heart on filling his somewhat eccentric grandfather's straw-lined wellies, grows up to run the family farm and become a farmer father to his own sons, putting his ability to see the funny side of things to good use as adversities crop up with intriguing reality along an unpredictably tortuous path through life. Often hilarious, always heartfelt and at times sad, this is a book that will appeal, not only to those who are interested in the Scotland of today, but also to people who recall, or have been told about, rural ways that are gone forever.

Genres: Scotland, Nonfiction

302 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2002

About the author

Peter Kerr, the award-winning Scottish author of the 'Snowball Oranges' pentad of humorous Mallorcan travelogues, is a former jazz musician, record producer and farmer. He has also written a range of fiction titles, including the 'Bob Burns Investigates' trilogy of humour-spiked mysteries and 'Song of the Eight Winds', a historical novel set in 13th century Spain. 'Thistle Soup' is a set-in-Scotland prequel to 'Snowball Oranges', while 'Don't Call Me Clyde!' is a memoir of his life as a young jazz musician in early-60s London. A comedy-laced caper called 'The Other Monarch of the Glen' is set in the Scottish Highlands and was published in December 2017, while 'Goblin Hall', a humour-peppered fantasy adventure for a family readership, was published in April 2020. July 2021 saw the release of 'Jen - A Border Collie's Tale', the heart-warming life story of an old farm dog, narrated by Jen herself. 'Author - Don't Make Me Laugh', an amusing though frank and revealing account of the long road to becoming a published author at sixty, was published in November 2024. Peter, an accomplished artist, also illustrates his own books. His reputation as an entertaining and amusing speaker has resulted in regular appearances at book festivals and similar literary events throughout the UK and abroad.

Reviews

[Bettie]

To find
Spotted on Heather's update

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took me weeks to finish this book...at least two...and felt like months. I had hoped this would be something like Molly Weir's Shoes Were For Sunday , but I was disappointed. I kept having to put it down and read something else and then try again to see if it was as slow and unengaging as I had thought. It was. I see now that Mr Kerr has a whole string of memoirs or whatever you care to call them, but I won't be reading any more, particularly if they're all as scrappy and diffuse as this one. There is no mention of "thistle soup" in the book, not that that's here or there, but still it gives you an indication of the quality of Kerr's writing. It takes about half the book for him to age from three to five, not that he goes into much detail; he's too busy going off at tangents every few pages and skipping back and forth. Then in the last third or so, he suddenly picks up speed and races through his youth and early married life (oh, yeah, his wife suddenly appears "shazam!" as the girl he's always loved, though not a single word have we heard about her until then) until the death of his grandfather creates a bit of mayhem. Not much mayhem though, because all his weak attempts to infuse the narrative with a bit of tension come to nothing repeatedly, as his washy prose saps the most serious life-changing events of any impact. Kerr, like Janus, spends all his time facing both directions at once, idealising the old fashioned farms with heavy horses and "foreshadowing" progress and its supposed horrors in the clunkiest possible way. I was frankly disgusted at the way he describes the death of his small son as "the price" exacted by Fate, Destiny or whatever for his relative prosperity.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having greatly enjoyed Peter Kerr’s delightful account of his farming sojourn in Mallorca, I was intrigued to turn back the clock and read his prequel. This earlier tale struck an especially personal chord, as I live in North Berwick and, as a keen cyclist, often pass many of the very places he writes about — Cuddy Neuk among them, a familiar landmark on one of my regular routes.

The book is charmingly written, full of gentle humour and vivid observation. Beyond the entertainment, it serves as a valuable historical snapshot of a way of life not so far removed in years, yet worlds away in spirit. Kerr captures the rhythms, characters, and quiet industry of rural East Lothian with an affection that feels both nostalgic and true.

I’d warmly recommend this book to anyone who loves the countryside, good storytelling, and the history that lives just beneath our wheels and footsteps — especially to those fortunate enough to call East Lothian home.

[Paula Muckian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale of a Scottish boy growing up among farming family, and eventually becoming a farmer himself, is simply outstanding. Quite hilarious at times, and heartbreaking at others, it is a story I am glad to have read and will recommend it to others. It is superbly written and is a story I will not forget.

[Readitnweep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter's story of growing up on the family farm in rural Scotland and his experiences through the years. This is a very funny and emotional ride that brought the setting home to me and really engaged me in the characters. Very touching, well crafted and highly enjoyable. This was the first of Kerr's books I've read, but I look forward to reading his others.

Also want to say that I really appreciated the bits of local dialect and sensory descriptions which lent me the vague feeling that I'd been there as I could feel it so well in my head. I haven't been to Scotland - or even on that side of the Atlantic. But I thank Mr. Kerr for making me feel as if I had.

[globalcook · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a slow starter, but it finished well.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Have 2 hardbacks, one Peter kindly signed.