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be guid tae yer mammy: Shortlisted for Scotland's National Book Awards 2022
Kate and her Granny Jean have nothing in common. Jean’s great claim to fame is raising her weans without two pennies to rub together, and Kate’s an aspiring scriptwriter whose anxiety has her stuck in bad thought after bad thought. But what Jean’s Glaswegian family don’t know is that she dreamed of being a film star and came a hairsbreadth away from making it a reality. Now in her nineties, Jean is a force to be reckoned with. But when the family starts to fall apart Jean must face her failings as a mammy head-on – and Kate too must fight her demons. Either that or let go of her dream of the silver screen forever...
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2021
16 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Emma Grae
7 books20 followersEmma Grae is an author and journalist from Glasgow. She is a passionate advocate of the Scots language and breaking the stigma around mental illness. She has published fiction and poetry in the UK and Ireland since 2014 in journals including The Honest Ulsterman, From Glasgow to Saturn and The Open Mouse. Her debut novel, Be Guid tae yer Mammy, published by Unbound in August 2021, was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Fiction Book of the Year Award 2022 and won the Scots Book of the Year at the Scots Language Awards 2022. Her second novel, The Tongue She Speaks, was published by Luath Press in October 2022. As a journalist, she writes under her birth surname, Guinness, and has bylines around the world. Her first children’s book, The Hoolet Thit Couldnae Fly, was published in 2023 and shortlisted for Scots Bairns Book of the Year 2024. The Moggie Thit Meowed Too Much is her second children’s book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 6, 2021
I wrote it, and you have to stan yourself.
August 24, 2021
“Aw a kin dae is hope that by the time ah get planted the trouble in ma family will be lang sorted. They’re aw a huv tae leave tae the world.”
Be guid tae yer mammy takes us on a journey through a dysfunctional, god fearing Glaswegian family with granny Jean at the head of the clan. Jean, a hard woman to please and a terrible mother to her youngest Stella-Marie who came along in the unlikeliest of places and who Jeannie really hoped would be a boy…. But despite no being the best mammy Jean thought that her lassies should have been there for her no matter what…
Comical, nostalgic and at some points really emotional, it’s a truly fantastic read! What I loved the most was the use of different levels of Scots depending on the generation; with it being more watered down the younger the characters are. It’s the story of a typical large Scottish family (especially those that the men are outnumbered by the women) and felt entirely relateable to me! Jeannie was a hell of a character! She reminded me a lot of my Granny Nellie who passed away on her 93rd birthday and all her weans (albeit my granny was a wee bit nicer haha). For although Jeannie is bitter she has a good reason to be that she’s never told anyone about. And it’s not until we look back at her past and the hopes and dreams she had (that she has never declared), do we see exactly what she gave up to have her family.
There’s always a black sheep in the family who is judged and misunderstood by everyone else and I think Marie’s story was absolutely perfect for this. Showing the way hidden illnesses and disabilities are treated in society when people don’t understand what the inflicted person is going through.
Kate was another character who was absolutely perfect. As someone affected by OCD; characters like Kate are very important. Emma has created a character that represents what it’s like to live your life with OCD so well; and she was a joy to read!
Honestly up there as one of my favourites from this year. If you’re Scottish get it read for sure!
Be guid tae yer mammy takes us on a journey through a dysfunctional, god fearing Glaswegian family with granny Jean at the head of the clan. Jean, a hard woman to please and a terrible mother to her youngest Stella-Marie who came along in the unlikeliest of places and who Jeannie really hoped would be a boy…. But despite no being the best mammy Jean thought that her lassies should have been there for her no matter what…
Comical, nostalgic and at some points really emotional, it’s a truly fantastic read! What I loved the most was the use of different levels of Scots depending on the generation; with it being more watered down the younger the characters are. It’s the story of a typical large Scottish family (especially those that the men are outnumbered by the women) and felt entirely relateable to me! Jeannie was a hell of a character! She reminded me a lot of my Granny Nellie who passed away on her 93rd birthday and all her weans (albeit my granny was a wee bit nicer haha). For although Jeannie is bitter she has a good reason to be that she’s never told anyone about. And it’s not until we look back at her past and the hopes and dreams she had (that she has never declared), do we see exactly what she gave up to have her family.
There’s always a black sheep in the family who is judged and misunderstood by everyone else and I think Marie’s story was absolutely perfect for this. Showing the way hidden illnesses and disabilities are treated in society when people don’t understand what the inflicted person is going through.
Kate was another character who was absolutely perfect. As someone affected by OCD; characters like Kate are very important. Emma has created a character that represents what it’s like to live your life with OCD so well; and she was a joy to read!
Honestly up there as one of my favourites from this year. If you’re Scottish get it read for sure!
November 17, 2021
A Truly Remarkable Debut
There’s an old Glaswegian song that begins:
♫ Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus
Naw ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus
Naw ye cannae shove yer granny
Cause she’s yer mammy’s mammy
Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus ♫
Well, if it had been up to me, I’d have taken Granny Jean in this book and shoved her under the bus. But Emma Grae does something remarkable instead. By the close of the book, she succeeds in ennobling that lazy, selfish, bitter old woman, so much so that you’ll want to shed a tear for her. Only an accomplished writer could have achieved that.
In fact, the whole book is quite a remarkable achievement. Remarkable, because for her debut novel Emma has chosen the most difficult of tales to narrate, that of a dysfunctional family in an all-too-real world. Remarkable, because she has decided that the tale should be narrated in her native Scots – by multiple voices, to boot. Remarkable, because she wrote the whole complex story under the constant threat of intrusive thoughts brought about by anxiety and OCD. And remarkable, because the lassie is still in her twenties!
Kudos to Emma Grae. And five stars for her debut novel. But I would still have flung Granny Jean under the bus!
There’s an old Glaswegian song that begins:
♫ Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus
Naw ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus
Naw ye cannae shove yer granny
Cause she’s yer mammy’s mammy
Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus ♫
Well, if it had been up to me, I’d have taken Granny Jean in this book and shoved her under the bus. But Emma Grae does something remarkable instead. By the close of the book, she succeeds in ennobling that lazy, selfish, bitter old woman, so much so that you’ll want to shed a tear for her. Only an accomplished writer could have achieved that.
In fact, the whole book is quite a remarkable achievement. Remarkable, because for her debut novel Emma has chosen the most difficult of tales to narrate, that of a dysfunctional family in an all-too-real world. Remarkable, because she has decided that the tale should be narrated in her native Scots – by multiple voices, to boot. Remarkable, because she wrote the whole complex story under the constant threat of intrusive thoughts brought about by anxiety and OCD. And remarkable, because the lassie is still in her twenties!
Kudos to Emma Grae. And five stars for her debut novel. But I would still have flung Granny Jean under the bus!
September 19, 2021
Well, I can honestly say that by the end of this book, I was reading Scots like a Weggie!
It took me a while to get the hang of it and the first few chapters were much slower than my normal reading pace. But once I’d got the hang of it, I was off.
The story follows three generations of a Thistlegate family and their ‘warts ‘n all’ lives. They’re all from good catholic stock and their faith sustains them to varying degrees throughout their lives. Like most families they have their fallings out and they have to learn to swallow humble pie in order to reunite and say goodbye to their Mammy and Grandmammy.
There are a few shocking fallings out along the way and some surprising dreams and aspirations come to light. It is an interesting catalogue of one family’s history.
An enjoyable read that I think works so much better for being written in Scots. It would not have worked so well in any other way.
It took me a while to get the hang of it and the first few chapters were much slower than my normal reading pace. But once I’d got the hang of it, I was off.
The story follows three generations of a Thistlegate family and their ‘warts ‘n all’ lives. They’re all from good catholic stock and their faith sustains them to varying degrees throughout their lives. Like most families they have their fallings out and they have to learn to swallow humble pie in order to reunite and say goodbye to their Mammy and Grandmammy.
There are a few shocking fallings out along the way and some surprising dreams and aspirations come to light. It is an interesting catalogue of one family’s history.
An enjoyable read that I think works so much better for being written in Scots. It would not have worked so well in any other way.
September 4, 2021
A fantastic, heartfelt, hilarious and deeply important Scots novel about the complexities of family life, invisible illnesses, ambition and chasing your dreams.
I was excited to read mammy after following Emma’s journey to publication on Twitter and pledging with Unbound and I was not disappointed. This novel spans 3 generations of women in one family, expertly showcasing their unique, strong voices in variations of the Scots language, packed with so many brilliant turns of phrase and colourful nuances of dialect.
Mammy is deeply entertaining and the plot is driven by characters that feel so familiar and true to life that it’s easy to forget you’re reading fiction. I’ve never read a book that has tackled the intricacy of dysfunction families in this way, exploring the theme with a keen eye and realism that tears off the page. Even though there are characters who do things to hurt others, every narrator is so multifaceted and thoughtful that it’s impossible not to root for them and the emotion that this novel evokes in the reader makes for such a wonderful reading experience that I was dying to finish it but didn’t want to leave this fictional world too soon.
The book also raises awareness and deals with topics including the struggles of living with invisible illnesses, both mental and physical, and how some people willingly misunderstand and judge while others show true compassion and empathy.
This novel is also a wonderful portrait of Glasgow through the decades, taking us back to the age of the silver screen to today, and how the morphing of the city through time mirrors the changes we see in the characters we meet there, for these characters it’s a place of hope and dreams but also of limitations and defeat - but always bursting with life, distinctive charm and unparalleled character.
There are so many other great things I could say about mammy but I’ll end with: it’s a rich, beautiful chronicle of the lives of 3 generations of women who have been shaped by the times they live in and it’s brimming with love in all its complicated definitions. And that ending - it made me cry and I don’t think a book has ever made me shed a tear. In short: go read this book!
I was excited to read mammy after following Emma’s journey to publication on Twitter and pledging with Unbound and I was not disappointed. This novel spans 3 generations of women in one family, expertly showcasing their unique, strong voices in variations of the Scots language, packed with so many brilliant turns of phrase and colourful nuances of dialect.
Mammy is deeply entertaining and the plot is driven by characters that feel so familiar and true to life that it’s easy to forget you’re reading fiction. I’ve never read a book that has tackled the intricacy of dysfunction families in this way, exploring the theme with a keen eye and realism that tears off the page. Even though there are characters who do things to hurt others, every narrator is so multifaceted and thoughtful that it’s impossible not to root for them and the emotion that this novel evokes in the reader makes for such a wonderful reading experience that I was dying to finish it but didn’t want to leave this fictional world too soon.
The book also raises awareness and deals with topics including the struggles of living with invisible illnesses, both mental and physical, and how some people willingly misunderstand and judge while others show true compassion and empathy.
This novel is also a wonderful portrait of Glasgow through the decades, taking us back to the age of the silver screen to today, and how the morphing of the city through time mirrors the changes we see in the characters we meet there, for these characters it’s a place of hope and dreams but also of limitations and defeat - but always bursting with life, distinctive charm and unparalleled character.
There are so many other great things I could say about mammy but I’ll end with: it’s a rich, beautiful chronicle of the lives of 3 generations of women who have been shaped by the times they live in and it’s brimming with love in all its complicated definitions. And that ending - it made me cry and I don’t think a book has ever made me shed a tear. In short: go read this book!
April 26, 2021
I once tried reading an Irvine Welsh book and failed miserably because I have a southerner's ear and struggled with the Scots. Because of this experience, I was worried that I'd lose Emma Grae's debut novel 'in translation', if you will, but that was not the case and - in summary - I thought it was fantastic.
I'm not going to give a synopsis of what the book is about because you can find that elsewhere easily enough. What I will say is that it succeeds magnificently in pulling you into a complicated family saga that carries over three generations. I have nothing but respect for the fact that the author has managed to use three different Scots dialects to show the way in which the language has changed over the decades - or at least how much more anglicised speech has become. But even when the language is at its rawest, it is still completely understandable.
The plot itself unfolds through a multiple point-of-view narrative and, though set in the present day, sweeps across decades with a precision that never leaves you feeling dislocated from modernity. The characters themselves are rich, unique and all have a distinct voice that means that every time you are reunited with them as the POV switches, it feels like a welcome return. The interrelationships within 'the clan' are presented in such a way that each character evokes the reader's sympathy and the degradation of the relationships is told with humour and poignancy, driving towards a very satisfying ending.
Length-wise, it is a brisk read and does not overstay its welcome, but it also achieves everything it needs to achieve within its pages.
So, in conclusion, I would highly recommend 'be guid tae yer mammy'. The personality and intelligence needed to produce such a fine novel really shines through and I look forward to the author's future endeavours!
I'm not going to give a synopsis of what the book is about because you can find that elsewhere easily enough. What I will say is that it succeeds magnificently in pulling you into a complicated family saga that carries over three generations. I have nothing but respect for the fact that the author has managed to use three different Scots dialects to show the way in which the language has changed over the decades - or at least how much more anglicised speech has become. But even when the language is at its rawest, it is still completely understandable.
The plot itself unfolds through a multiple point-of-view narrative and, though set in the present day, sweeps across decades with a precision that never leaves you feeling dislocated from modernity. The characters themselves are rich, unique and all have a distinct voice that means that every time you are reunited with them as the POV switches, it feels like a welcome return. The interrelationships within 'the clan' are presented in such a way that each character evokes the reader's sympathy and the degradation of the relationships is told with humour and poignancy, driving towards a very satisfying ending.
Length-wise, it is a brisk read and does not overstay its welcome, but it also achieves everything it needs to achieve within its pages.
So, in conclusion, I would highly recommend 'be guid tae yer mammy'. The personality and intelligence needed to produce such a fine novel really shines through and I look forward to the author's future endeavours!
March 18, 2022
You can't choose your family and Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy is the sort of book that never hides this. You love them, they love you, they hurt you, you can hurt them. Often it's a messy mixture of the two.
Told across three (female) generations of the same family, each chapter is in a slightly different voice revealing the inner thoughts of the character currently speaking to the reader. And that's what it feels like reading this book, it's like you're sitting listening to a personal tale almost with a sense of traditional oral story telling. The only exception is Kate, who reveals her thoughts through diary entries, but this still creates a level of intimacy between reader and character.
It's a thoughtful meditation on life, dreams, the reality of ageing and the hurt (you could argue both earned and unearned) families can cause one another. It also doesn't shy away from topics such as alcoholism, terminal illness and mental illness.
My only criticism is that it's maybe too short! But it gets five stars because it's written (mostly) in the Scots language and it's always lovely to see more Scots voices contributing to a rich history of Scottish literature. I have called Scotland home for over a decade now and as I read it was really nice to "hear" the voices that surround me every day. Despite the often heavy subject matter it's also very funny in places.
Told across three (female) generations of the same family, each chapter is in a slightly different voice revealing the inner thoughts of the character currently speaking to the reader. And that's what it feels like reading this book, it's like you're sitting listening to a personal tale almost with a sense of traditional oral story telling. The only exception is Kate, who reveals her thoughts through diary entries, but this still creates a level of intimacy between reader and character.
It's a thoughtful meditation on life, dreams, the reality of ageing and the hurt (you could argue both earned and unearned) families can cause one another. It also doesn't shy away from topics such as alcoholism, terminal illness and mental illness.
My only criticism is that it's maybe too short! But it gets five stars because it's written (mostly) in the Scots language and it's always lovely to see more Scots voices contributing to a rich history of Scottish literature. I have called Scotland home for over a decade now and as I read it was really nice to "hear" the voices that surround me every day. Despite the often heavy subject matter it's also very funny in places.
April 3, 2021
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I was bot intrigued and intimidated at first by the use of Scots' language, but within two or three pages I found it really easy to stick with, and barely noticed it any more. There were only two words I actually had to google! As a bit of a language geek I found it fascinating to see how Scots and English diverged, and made a personal game of tracing words back to their origins.
The story is well structured and engaging, and despite not being a genre I would typically go for (I'm an epic fantasy nerd) I genuinely couldn't put it down, and finished it within a few days. My only criticism is that for weeks afterwards I couldn't help affecting a terrible Scottish accent, and using slang terms my English tongue had no place using.
The story is well structured and engaging, and despite not being a genre I would typically go for (I'm an epic fantasy nerd) I genuinely couldn't put it down, and finished it within a few days. My only criticism is that for weeks afterwards I couldn't help affecting a terrible Scottish accent, and using slang terms my English tongue had no place using.
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August 19, 2021Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy is another wonderful celebration of Scottish literature. A debut novel that certainly cements Emma Grae as an outstanding upcoming young voice, joining the ranks of all those wonderful novelists whose work we have had the luck to read so far this year. Her novel is written in Scots, becoming another example of the extraordinary literary capacity of this language. It is also another wonderful instance of women being put at the centre of the literary stage, not necessarily in a positive light, as the multigenerational clan we meet in Grae’s story can be easily found fault with. The personal frustrations of a mother are rubbed on her daughters, as she favours the one that reminds her of her past and glorious self. It is a very poignant and raw exploration of motherhood, not as that turning moment in a woman’s life which makes her selfless and fully dedicated to her children. It shows that mothers can be selfish and that they can do wrong. In this sense, Be Guid to Yer Mammy reminded me a lot of Motherwell by Deborah Orr. These two books could be read side to side, as examples of a motherhood that sometimes does not good. The mother is an interesting entity, celebrated and victimised by patriarchal culture. Who are mothers? Are they perfect or incredibly vile? More importantly, traditional psychology says that all of our troubles are very often a mother’s fault.
This is a novel that evoked for me a very familiar feeling, as this is a culture that sometimes I find incredibly similar to my own. These families can sometimes be tied so knit together, that they ultimately frustrate us, causing irreparable rifts between those who should be the closest allies. It is also an exploration in the life of one single girl, as she tries to make a life for herself, overcoming her own struggles and, ultimately, realise her own dreams. Girlhood, womanhood and motherhood meet in this story, as this clan of women tries to defy both their own private issues and the usual historical “F**K YOUs” women have to get on with. Shifting from one voice to another, from one era to another, we are offered a wide picture of what it is like to be a woman in working-class Scotland in different generations. From the post-war society to the present day.
It is a novel that rotates around its characters, which are its definitively the strongest part. Each and every narrator we meet has a rich internal life, their dreams, their fears and their struggles are sometimes unknown to those around them. And this is possibly the most interesting aspect of this novel, as we realise how different perspectives can change our opinion on the situations we are witnessing. These women are complex and vivid portrait, sometimes they can rouse anger in the reader because they can be so terribly hurtful and wrong. But that’s how they should be, because not all those that are closest to us are perfect and good. They can make mistakes, and hurt us, and that’s how life is and should be portrayed.
This is a fantastic read that I would definitively recommend, not only for the necessity to endorse and encourage a remarkable new talent, but as it is – in its own way – a celebration of Scottish writing and of the Scots language.
Bonus points: this is the kind of novel that MUST be read as part of a book club. I just felt like with all the points of view and different angles and characters, it could spark a fantastic debate.
This is a novel that evoked for me a very familiar feeling, as this is a culture that sometimes I find incredibly similar to my own. These families can sometimes be tied so knit together, that they ultimately frustrate us, causing irreparable rifts between those who should be the closest allies. It is also an exploration in the life of one single girl, as she tries to make a life for herself, overcoming her own struggles and, ultimately, realise her own dreams. Girlhood, womanhood and motherhood meet in this story, as this clan of women tries to defy both their own private issues and the usual historical “F**K YOUs” women have to get on with. Shifting from one voice to another, from one era to another, we are offered a wide picture of what it is like to be a woman in working-class Scotland in different generations. From the post-war society to the present day.
It is a novel that rotates around its characters, which are its definitively the strongest part. Each and every narrator we meet has a rich internal life, their dreams, their fears and their struggles are sometimes unknown to those around them. And this is possibly the most interesting aspect of this novel, as we realise how different perspectives can change our opinion on the situations we are witnessing. These women are complex and vivid portrait, sometimes they can rouse anger in the reader because they can be so terribly hurtful and wrong. But that’s how they should be, because not all those that are closest to us are perfect and good. They can make mistakes, and hurt us, and that’s how life is and should be portrayed.
This is a fantastic read that I would definitively recommend, not only for the necessity to endorse and encourage a remarkable new talent, but as it is – in its own way – a celebration of Scottish writing and of the Scots language.
Bonus points: this is the kind of novel that MUST be read as part of a book club. I just felt like with all the points of view and different angles and characters, it could spark a fantastic debate.
October 9, 2021
Wow, this was such a lovely book - I thought it was excellently written. The moral of the story was simply beautiful.
It was a heartfelt book written about love, loss, family, relationships and more. The book itself took me on a rollercoaster of different emotions and was mainly focused on a dysfunctional Scottish family - my emotions where all over the place!
I did struggle with the language, I may be Scottish but I really struggle to read it. I don’t say much in Scottish, just ‘aye’ or ‘naw’ that’s as far as my Scottish goes so this book was really different and challenging for me. However, it did vary depending on who was speaking so it did make it slightly easier!
Such a gorgeous read, I would recommend to anyone!
It was a heartfelt book written about love, loss, family, relationships and more. The book itself took me on a rollercoaster of different emotions and was mainly focused on a dysfunctional Scottish family - my emotions where all over the place!
I did struggle with the language, I may be Scottish but I really struggle to read it. I don’t say much in Scottish, just ‘aye’ or ‘naw’ that’s as far as my Scottish goes so this book was really different and challenging for me. However, it did vary depending on who was speaking so it did make it slightly easier!
Such a gorgeous read, I would recommend to anyone!
August 30, 2021
What a fabulous book!
This is the story of a large, dysfunctional Scottish family and it just wouldn't have had the same impact without the traditional language used.
Honest in the best way.
We get an insight into three generations of the family. Told through a variety of view points and spread over the decades. The author cleverly blends it all together with ease and precision and despite the multitude of characters, each voice remained fairly distinct.
There was no shying away from the complexities of simply living. The struggles faced and the emotions that go hand in hand with those difficulties.
I feel like I say this too often in reviews but I don't want to give away an abundance of detail. It's like when you watch a movie trailer and they show you all the best bits.
What I can divulge is that there is a brilliant mix of drama and humour throughout the story.
Charming and heartbreaking all at once, with a speedy pace, I was engaged from start to finish. With a satisfying ending, I enjoyed each and every part of it.
I can't believe this is Emma's debut novel as it is so rich in detail, so colourful in its delivery. A meaningful and poignant look at motherhood and family life, warts and all.
With the added bonus that you do not have to be Scottish to fall in love with this book!
This is the story of a large, dysfunctional Scottish family and it just wouldn't have had the same impact without the traditional language used.
Honest in the best way.
We get an insight into three generations of the family. Told through a variety of view points and spread over the decades. The author cleverly blends it all together with ease and precision and despite the multitude of characters, each voice remained fairly distinct.
There was no shying away from the complexities of simply living. The struggles faced and the emotions that go hand in hand with those difficulties.
I feel like I say this too often in reviews but I don't want to give away an abundance of detail. It's like when you watch a movie trailer and they show you all the best bits.
What I can divulge is that there is a brilliant mix of drama and humour throughout the story.
Charming and heartbreaking all at once, with a speedy pace, I was engaged from start to finish. With a satisfying ending, I enjoyed each and every part of it.
I can't believe this is Emma's debut novel as it is so rich in detail, so colourful in its delivery. A meaningful and poignant look at motherhood and family life, warts and all.
With the added bonus that you do not have to be Scottish to fall in love with this book!
November 27, 2021
I found this book when I was visiting my family in Glasgow, and the moment I saw the title and blurb I knew I had to get it! I loved how it was written almost entirely in Scots language, which I've grown up with and truly treasure. It did take me a while to get into the plot, purely because I felt there were so many characters introduced at the start, and I had to figure out who was who in the extended family. But once the storyline started unfolding, I couldn't put it down. It's heartbreakingly real and the characters are so interesting - important to note Kate's OCD is written extremely accurately and is nice representation to see! 4/5 stars.
September 15, 2021
I have never read any Scottish literature and my only experience of Scotland is Inverness and the Isle of Skye in the 1970s, and the Edinburgh Festival in 2006. So when I read the opening chapter I just gawped. How in the world was I going to translate any of it? I was so relieved when we got to Kate’s point of view and I could finally understand what was going on. But hang on – it gets better – and better still.
Granny Jean is married to Donald, who earns good money, but they are always broke because he drinks like a fish. Jean has spent her life looking after her ‘weans’ (kids) and she is still resentful that her best friend Lizzie went to Hollywood instead of her.
Youngest daughter Stella-Marie who was born on the ferry and should have been a boy, has a stoma and also a lung disease. Jean treats her like a scivvy and her sisters think she is lazy because she doesn’t work. The sisters Cathy and Sandra treat her like dirt, while Cathy’s daughter Leanne is even worse. I felt so sorry for Stella-Marie – the way the others regard her is so awful – especially her mum, but she is a good Catholic and she and Jean believe you must be guid tae yer mammy to win your place in heaven.
Stella-Marie’s two daughters are Kate, who wants to be a script-writer, but is crippled by her anxiety and OCD, while Isla dreams of being a nurse.
As a second generation Jewish/Catholic Eastern European immigrant living in the Cotswolds, I cannot pretend that I can identify with any of the characters. It’s a bit like some years ago when discussing The Royle Family with a workmate and he said to me, ‘so-and-so is just like my gran and so-and-so is like my cousin….’ I just nodded and pretended I understood, but I didn’t.
But the more I read Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy, the more I got to grips with the language until it became second nature (well almost). The book is full of family feuds, arguments, pathos and love, but it is also very funny – I laughed out loud many times. Some of the descriptions of Stella-Marie’s childhood are heart-breaking – the story of one birthday for instance – and I have to admit I read the ending with tears rolling down my face.
This is an amazing book, especially as it is a debut and I hope we hear more from this new author.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours.
Granny Jean is married to Donald, who earns good money, but they are always broke because he drinks like a fish. Jean has spent her life looking after her ‘weans’ (kids) and she is still resentful that her best friend Lizzie went to Hollywood instead of her.
Youngest daughter Stella-Marie who was born on the ferry and should have been a boy, has a stoma and also a lung disease. Jean treats her like a scivvy and her sisters think she is lazy because she doesn’t work. The sisters Cathy and Sandra treat her like dirt, while Cathy’s daughter Leanne is even worse. I felt so sorry for Stella-Marie – the way the others regard her is so awful – especially her mum, but she is a good Catholic and she and Jean believe you must be guid tae yer mammy to win your place in heaven.
Stella-Marie’s two daughters are Kate, who wants to be a script-writer, but is crippled by her anxiety and OCD, while Isla dreams of being a nurse.
As a second generation Jewish/Catholic Eastern European immigrant living in the Cotswolds, I cannot pretend that I can identify with any of the characters. It’s a bit like some years ago when discussing The Royle Family with a workmate and he said to me, ‘so-and-so is just like my gran and so-and-so is like my cousin….’ I just nodded and pretended I understood, but I didn’t.
But the more I read Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy, the more I got to grips with the language until it became second nature (well almost). The book is full of family feuds, arguments, pathos and love, but it is also very funny – I laughed out loud many times. Some of the descriptions of Stella-Marie’s childhood are heart-breaking – the story of one birthday for instance – and I have to admit I read the ending with tears rolling down my face.
This is an amazing book, especially as it is a debut and I hope we hear more from this new author.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours.
August 27, 2021
You don't have to be Scottish to love this book! It's unlikely I would've ever come across this author had I not, by chance, started following a member of a Scottish book club on twitter. I'll admit there was a bit of a challenge at first following the Scots dialog but a fun challenge. I laughed so many times at the expressions, mostly 93 yr old Jeannie's. Maybe some are common in Scotland but they were new to me here in the USA. This one is Kate's "Honestly Granny, you and your gossip could start a fight in an empty room." I truly had a lol moment when I read Donald's story about the coffins in their plots on a hill. But it is much more than a humorous book. It really takes on the conflicts of families and so much more. I wanted to know why so much animosity toward the youngest sister, Marie. But realized sometimes siblings just don't get along, for reasons others might not understand. I've certainly seen that in my life. A verra guid book. Now if I could only get the "Scots" out of my heid! haha
August 19, 2021
Be guid tae yer Mammy, an impressive debut written in Scots and another great addition to contemporary Scottish fiction, is a multigenerational narrative that spans across Jeannie's life and her relationship with her daughters and grandchildren. Embittered by the card she was dealt with in life - motherhood as opposed to her lifelong dream of stardom - Jeannie's frustrations are projected onto her daughters, or more apparently her youngest daughter, Stella Marie. Grae's writing manages to be both comedic and heartbreaking; combining iconic Scottish sayings and craic with the harrowing reality of motherhood, domestic abuse, chronic illness, and OCD.
There was so much I loved about this book due to relating on a personal level, such as the dysfunctional extended family, callous yet charming matriarch, working-class struggles, and the reminder of so many wonderful Scottish sayings that I'd forgotten. But it goes without saying that you do not need to be Scottish or working-class to enjoy this novel and see the value in it.
An aspect of this novel that I really enjoyed, was the way in which Grae seamlessly interwove true events that had happened to herself and/or family into the story. It added an extra element of genuinity whilst also anchoring the narrative in Scottish history.
Fantastic read, don't hesitate in picking it up although prepare for the ending by stocking up on tissues!
There was so much I loved about this book due to relating on a personal level, such as the dysfunctional extended family, callous yet charming matriarch, working-class struggles, and the reminder of so many wonderful Scottish sayings that I'd forgotten. But it goes without saying that you do not need to be Scottish or working-class to enjoy this novel and see the value in it.
An aspect of this novel that I really enjoyed, was the way in which Grae seamlessly interwove true events that had happened to herself and/or family into the story. It added an extra element of genuinity whilst also anchoring the narrative in Scottish history.
Fantastic read, don't hesitate in picking it up although prepare for the ending by stocking up on tissues!
September 1, 2021
A verra guid book. Loved the use of Scots - the story wouldn't have succeeded in English - which was fun to get into. This is dark and witty. Looking forward to much more from Emma Grae.
September 10, 2021
A thoroughly engaging and entertaining tale of a schism within a Glaswegian Catholic family which an avalanche of circumstances conspires to widen until it threatens to tear all of their lives apart.
The story is told in a number of strong first person Scots voices, women across three generations who are all so distinct that the reader instantly knows whose perspective they are sharing. Of particular note are young Kate whose OCD and anxiety are authentically described and her grandmother Jeannie who – despite the respect and fear in which some of the other characters regard her – is a fascinating mixture of regret and confidence. Switching point of view also gives multiple perspectives into the feud and allows you to draw your own conclusions as to where the blame lies even before things come to head in a trial.
However, most importantly of all this novel highlights the expectations traditional society has of women of all generations from the 1940s to the present day and how – despite the age difference – hopes dreams and aspirations for a better and more fulfilling life are an essential part of the human experience whether the woman in question is in her twenties or nineties.
The characters' voices stay with the reader long after the last page has been turned, leaving an enduring impression on the memory.
The story is told in a number of strong first person Scots voices, women across three generations who are all so distinct that the reader instantly knows whose perspective they are sharing. Of particular note are young Kate whose OCD and anxiety are authentically described and her grandmother Jeannie who – despite the respect and fear in which some of the other characters regard her – is a fascinating mixture of regret and confidence. Switching point of view also gives multiple perspectives into the feud and allows you to draw your own conclusions as to where the blame lies even before things come to head in a trial.
However, most importantly of all this novel highlights the expectations traditional society has of women of all generations from the 1940s to the present day and how – despite the age difference – hopes dreams and aspirations for a better and more fulfilling life are an essential part of the human experience whether the woman in question is in her twenties or nineties.
The characters' voices stay with the reader long after the last page has been turned, leaving an enduring impression on the memory.
September 11, 2021
So ma Saturday aifternin wis spent reading’ ‘be guid tae yer mammy’. Ah wisnae sure whit tae rate it but on the end I decidit tae gie it fower stars.
The gid: the story started wie a bang and grabbed your attention. It spun a believable tale and showed jist hoo families cin be. It gave several viewpoints and wie time it was possible to tell whu wis talking frae the language used. You cid see real character progression and things changed. I wisnae anticipating the ending.
The bad: it felt like a gossipy tale showcasing a family’s sma’s fir the wirld tae see. I wisnae that interested in a lot of it and hated the way some of the characters ganged up on others (the author did her job well there, I just don’t enjoy reading it). I have a preference for a tale with more of a plot. The selfishness of some of the characters fair took ma breath awa!
Ower all the ending is whit edged it up tae bein a fower star read.
The gid: the story started wie a bang and grabbed your attention. It spun a believable tale and showed jist hoo families cin be. It gave several viewpoints and wie time it was possible to tell whu wis talking frae the language used. You cid see real character progression and things changed. I wisnae anticipating the ending.
The bad: it felt like a gossipy tale showcasing a family’s sma’s fir the wirld tae see. I wisnae that interested in a lot of it and hated the way some of the characters ganged up on others (the author did her job well there, I just don’t enjoy reading it). I have a preference for a tale with more of a plot. The selfishness of some of the characters fair took ma breath awa!
Ower all the ending is whit edged it up tae bein a fower star read.
September 6, 2021
‘Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy’ 👨👩👧👦💔 by Emma Grae
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5
.
Kate and her Granny Jean have nothing in common. Jean’s great claim to fame is raising her weans without two pennies to rub together, and Kate's an aspiring scriptwriter whose anxiety has her stuck in bad thought after bad thought.
But what Jean's Glaswegian family don't know is that she dreamed of being a film star and came a hairsbreadth away from making it a reality.
Now in her nineties, Jean is a force to be reckoned with. But when the family starts to fall apart Jean must face her failings as a mammy head-on and Kate too must fight her demons. Either that or let go of her dream of the silver screen forever...
.
💫 “𝘈𝘩’𝘮 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘩’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 - 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘩’𝘮 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘥����𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘩’𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘢𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.” 💫
.
Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy is an absolutely incredible debut novel written in Scots. I loved the variation in Scots language used depending on who was narrating the chapter. You definitely don’t need to be Scottish to love this!
It was a heartfelt story of love, loss, family, drama and relationships. You are catapulted early on into the conflicts of a large, dysfunctional Scottish family and taken through a roller coaster of emotions and incidents spanning over decades.
The characters feel so familiar and you can relate to every single one of them. At some parts I felt like I was part of the family! I loved how Grae based aspects of the story on true events that had happened to her or her family, which made the book even more real.
A utterly fantastic read & I can’t wait for more from Grae!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5
.
Kate and her Granny Jean have nothing in common. Jean’s great claim to fame is raising her weans without two pennies to rub together, and Kate's an aspiring scriptwriter whose anxiety has her stuck in bad thought after bad thought.
But what Jean's Glaswegian family don't know is that she dreamed of being a film star and came a hairsbreadth away from making it a reality.
Now in her nineties, Jean is a force to be reckoned with. But when the family starts to fall apart Jean must face her failings as a mammy head-on and Kate too must fight her demons. Either that or let go of her dream of the silver screen forever...
.
💫 “𝘈𝘩’𝘮 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘩’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 - 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘩’𝘮 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘥����𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘩’𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘢𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.” 💫
.
Be Guid Tae Yer Mammy is an absolutely incredible debut novel written in Scots. I loved the variation in Scots language used depending on who was narrating the chapter. You definitely don’t need to be Scottish to love this!
It was a heartfelt story of love, loss, family, drama and relationships. You are catapulted early on into the conflicts of a large, dysfunctional Scottish family and taken through a roller coaster of emotions and incidents spanning over decades.
The characters feel so familiar and you can relate to every single one of them. At some parts I felt like I was part of the family! I loved how Grae based aspects of the story on true events that had happened to her or her family, which made the book even more real.
A utterly fantastic read & I can’t wait for more from Grae!
January 11, 2022
What a brilliant family story spanning three generations from post war to the present day. I loved that it was written in Scots as I could just hear those voices telling their stories. I also liked how the language changed gradually as it moved to the present day. Jeanie, the grandmother wanted her girls to ‘be guid to their mammy’ but she wasn’t a particularly good mammy herself. The family don’t always get along, there are quarrels and family splits. It’s a story which made me laugh and made me cry. It dealt with religion, aspirations, disappointments, broken dreams and hope for better things. The ending was poignant and so moving. Pure dead brilliant.
August 13, 2021
A tender family saga, carefully stitched together with rich Scots voices.
Emma Grae’s debut is an authentic and heartfelt story of legacy, love and loss.
With narrative undercurrents as deep as the Clyde, this novel will appeal to anyone who recognises the people and the patter from the West of Scotland.
Emma Grae’s debut is an authentic and heartfelt story of legacy, love and loss.
With narrative undercurrents as deep as the Clyde, this novel will appeal to anyone who recognises the people and the patter from the West of Scotland.
October 21, 2021
”Even though it was a dreich day, it didnae deter the people of Glasgow”
This book follows three generations of the Brennan family; a dysfunctional and working class catholic family from the town of Thistlegate. Jeannie is the ninety-three year old matriarch, who has no filter and has spent her life being a mammy. However, when she sides with her older daughter, she loses the devotion of her youngest, Stella-Marie, and two of her granddaughters, Isla and Kate.
The characterisation in this book was exceptional! Jeannie, especially, was a stand-out character who felt so realistic to me. There were so many comparisons to my own Glaswegian granny, and countless other elderly women I have met. Despite her flaws, I loved her personality and laughed out loud at several scenes. The relationships and dynamic within the family were complex and I became fully invested in the happenings of this book.
Another aspect I loved was that the book was written in Scots. This is not the first book I have read in the Scots dialect, however I think it was the easiest for me to pick up. Perhaps because it was purely Glaswegian and I live in the city, but I found it flowed and I didn’t struggle reading it at all. One of my favourite sayings of all time featured: “She could o eaten the scabby heid aff a wean.” Both my granny and my mum say this and I loved actually seeing it written down!
Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it funny and engaging. However, it was also heartbreaking and my emotions were all over the place while reading. The ending made me cry and I felt so sorry for Jeannie and the expectations that were placed on her life, simply by being a woman. This book is a relatively quick read and I reckon anyone with a big Scottish family will love it and relate.
November 23, 2021
#BeGuidtaeYerMammie
#EmmaGrae
This book caught my eye as it uses Scots very liberally and I was intrigued to try my hand at understanding another way of writing. The use of local words always adds a unique charm and ambience to any read.
My only tryst with reading Glaswegian has been Shuggie Bain ! This read, ‘ Be Guid Tae Yer Mammie’ took a while to get used to it especially because each the language goes through slight changes depending on character ( and a different generation).
The story revolves around Granny Jean, a feisty ninety three year-old who dreamed of being a film star, her daughter Stella Marie, who suffers with chronic illnesses and is bullied by her sisters, and her granddaughters Kate and Isla. Jean was not very nice to her youngest Stella - Marie aka Marie but believed that she should be treated well by all of her brood, irrespective. Three generations in which there was stubbornness, there was doggedness, as the drama of this dysfunctional family unfolded. Each of characters had something to be loved about them, a definite recognisable voice and each held a dream. Some dreams don’t come true; some have to be sacrificed but all of them are worth holding on to!
Sibling relationships are interesting. There will be a black sheep, a wild one, an anxious one. It is interesting that location and circumstance and time irrespective, family dramas and women stories remain more or less a universal phenomenon.
Thank you @emmapaintsthings, @lovebookstours and @igbooktours for the #gifted e-book and a spot on the book tour.
#EmmaGrae
This book caught my eye as it uses Scots very liberally and I was intrigued to try my hand at understanding another way of writing. The use of local words always adds a unique charm and ambience to any read.
My only tryst with reading Glaswegian has been Shuggie Bain ! This read, ‘ Be Guid Tae Yer Mammie’ took a while to get used to it especially because each the language goes through slight changes depending on character ( and a different generation).
The story revolves around Granny Jean, a feisty ninety three year-old who dreamed of being a film star, her daughter Stella Marie, who suffers with chronic illnesses and is bullied by her sisters, and her granddaughters Kate and Isla. Jean was not very nice to her youngest Stella - Marie aka Marie but believed that she should be treated well by all of her brood, irrespective. Three generations in which there was stubbornness, there was doggedness, as the drama of this dysfunctional family unfolded. Each of characters had something to be loved about them, a definite recognisable voice and each held a dream. Some dreams don’t come true; some have to be sacrificed but all of them are worth holding on to!
Sibling relationships are interesting. There will be a black sheep, a wild one, an anxious one. It is interesting that location and circumstance and time irrespective, family dramas and women stories remain more or less a universal phenomenon.
Thank you @emmapaintsthings, @lovebookstours and @igbooktours for the #gifted e-book and a spot on the book tour.
November 19, 2021
This is a true Scottish written book that blew my mind to begin with and took me a lot longer to digest and figure out the wording. But one I got to grips with trying to figure out how I was pronouncing things in my mind I was well on my way.
I was shocked to read the dramas the highs and the lows of this family, I felt the stubborn ways of the older generation but also how independent and strong the older generations we live in are today. I laughed at some of the most memorable events that occurred. The turmoil made me feel uncomfortable at times but that’s family for you.
The way this book is put together building up the generations of the women was brilliant. Everyone has a dream, everyone’s dreams don’t always get followed. Some dreams you have to sacrifice for others. I don’t know much about what it’s like to grow up in Scotland but this sounded like a normal working class family battling it out in more than one ways.
I was shocked with the ending of this and felt rather emotional when it ended. For a book I struggled to fully get to grips with to start it sure left an imprint on my heart. What a fantastic book that has given me an insight into the wonderful love and drama of family.
I was shocked to read the dramas the highs and the lows of this family, I felt the stubborn ways of the older generation but also how independent and strong the older generations we live in are today. I laughed at some of the most memorable events that occurred. The turmoil made me feel uncomfortable at times but that’s family for you.
The way this book is put together building up the generations of the women was brilliant. Everyone has a dream, everyone’s dreams don’t always get followed. Some dreams you have to sacrifice for others. I don’t know much about what it’s like to grow up in Scotland but this sounded like a normal working class family battling it out in more than one ways.
I was shocked with the ending of this and felt rather emotional when it ended. For a book I struggled to fully get to grips with to start it sure left an imprint on my heart. What a fantastic book that has given me an insight into the wonderful love and drama of family.
October 12, 2021
As a piece of literary fiction, it is rare that I would enjoy this book. But enjoy it, I did.
It is the culture I grew up in, but it's more than just familiarity. Technically, this book is excellent. The characterizations are superb. There is a subtlety in the language use which adds to them and enhances the point of view.
A debut novel, this is on a par with many of the best. The Scots Lied does not make it difficult to understand for English-language readers. It enhances the narrative and adds to the quality of the book.
I can give this five stars despite its literary fiction genre. A well-observed account of three generations in working-class central Scotland. The reader will come away with a better understanding of the time and place. Which I think is what literary fiction is best at.
I feel this book could go very far if it found a literary audience; it is indeed of such high quality.
It is the culture I grew up in, but it's more than just familiarity. Technically, this book is excellent. The characterizations are superb. There is a subtlety in the language use which adds to them and enhances the point of view.
A debut novel, this is on a par with many of the best. The Scots Lied does not make it difficult to understand for English-language readers. It enhances the narrative and adds to the quality of the book.
I can give this five stars despite its literary fiction genre. A well-observed account of three generations in working-class central Scotland. The reader will come away with a better understanding of the time and place. Which I think is what literary fiction is best at.
I feel this book could go very far if it found a literary audience; it is indeed of such high quality.
November 24, 2021
This is an interesting book with loads going on throughout.
There's a lot of characters introduced in a short time frame and I did find it very hard to keep up with who everyone was for the first 40% or so, I also found the story didn't keep me invested till around the same point but once I got into it flew through it.
It was quite emotional and by the end I was in floods of tears.
I would maybe have liked an epilogue to see what happened to Marie and her family after that but for Jeannie it was the perfect ending.
It's mostly written in broad Glaswegian but I think it would still be easy enough to understand if you aren't Scottish, there were parts when my Doris speaking head said that's nae how we would speak but I had to remind myself that Glaswegian and Doric are quite different. I really enjoy reading the native tongue though.
I think this will do very well, a really good read.
There's a lot of characters introduced in a short time frame and I did find it very hard to keep up with who everyone was for the first 40% or so, I also found the story didn't keep me invested till around the same point but once I got into it flew through it.
It was quite emotional and by the end I was in floods of tears.
I would maybe have liked an epilogue to see what happened to Marie and her family after that but for Jeannie it was the perfect ending.
It's mostly written in broad Glaswegian but I think it would still be easy enough to understand if you aren't Scottish, there were parts when my Doris speaking head said that's nae how we would speak but I had to remind myself that Glaswegian and Doric are quite different. I really enjoy reading the native tongue though.
I think this will do very well, a really good read.
October 7, 2021
Hello… Was I reading a book about my life or what (mine may have slightly less family drama 😉)?? I adored this book and how relatable it is to growing up in Scotland and I found myself nodding along to so much of it! The mental health rep is amazing and helps with the relatable characters! There’s a lot of drama with everything that goes on for Stella Marie, Jeannie and her family and I adored the characters so much!
Multi-generational viewpoints was really interesting and I loved getting to hear about the characters dreams and goals and their mentality about achieving them, especially across the generations. A really great 5 star Scottish book that I’d highly, highly recommend!!
Thank you to @instabooktours and Emma Grae for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review on the book tour!
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Multi-generational viewpoints was really interesting and I loved getting to hear about the characters dreams and goals and their mentality about achieving them, especially across the generations. A really great 5 star Scottish book that I’d highly, highly recommend!!
Thank you to @instabooktours and Emma Grae for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review on the book tour!
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October 9, 2021
Didn't have great expectations for this book but boy was I wrong . It's brilliant . A real depthy novel with lots of layers .
Quite dark in places but funny and uplifting too .
Really authentic voices that you can relate to . I " know" these people , I have met them in real life .
Also good to see most of the book coming from a female point of view and a working class view at that . Excellent .
The use of Scottish language throughout gives it real nuance without you having to be a Scots speaker to understand the lovely writing .
An excellent debut novel .
Quite dark in places but funny and uplifting too .
Really authentic voices that you can relate to . I " know" these people , I have met them in real life .
Also good to see most of the book coming from a female point of view and a working class view at that . Excellent .
The use of Scottish language throughout gives it real nuance without you having to be a Scots speaker to understand the lovely writing .
An excellent debut novel .
October 16, 2021
This book follows three generations of a dysfunctional family from Glasgow. It follows what it means to dream and what happens when them dreams don't come true or aren't encouraged.
This book was incredibly witty, emotional and dark in some parts. With one misunderstood 'dark sheep'of the family, we experience the deepest of deep family conflict and drama.
I particularly loved Kate. I felt she was the anchor of the book and incredibly relatable! I ate this book up!
5/5 ⭐
I was #gifted this book and read this as part of @instabooktours book tour on Instagram.
This book was incredibly witty, emotional and dark in some parts. With one misunderstood 'dark sheep'of the family, we experience the deepest of deep family conflict and drama.
I particularly loved Kate. I felt she was the anchor of the book and incredibly relatable! I ate this book up!
5/5 ⭐
I was #gifted this book and read this as part of @instabooktours book tour on Instagram.
October 13, 2021
What a delight, in natural, evocative Scots.
Just started reading and what a delight! The Scots is natural, flowing and evocative - a pleasure to the ears and mind. As a teacher and learner of other languages, it's refreshing to hear the Scots words and turns of phrase come through and to be able to appreciate their distinctness. I can't wait to read more and to see the novel develop.
Just started reading and what a delight! The Scots is natural, flowing and evocative - a pleasure to the ears and mind. As a teacher and learner of other languages, it's refreshing to hear the Scots words and turns of phrase come through and to be able to appreciate their distinctness. I can't wait to read more and to see the novel develop.
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