Read Scotland 2014 discussion

Link up your Just a Keek reads here!

I'll try for 4 Scotland books in 2014. That sounds very doable.

I'll go for the four. I'll try and read one I wouldn't normally read, one non fiction book, one about the sea and I'll take a recommendation for a wild card as the fourth from anyone.

Alan wrote: "I'll go for the four. I'll try and read one I wouldn't normally read, one non fiction book, one about the sea and I'll take a recommendation for a wild card as the fourth from anyone."

Welcome aboard, Alan! I like how your selecting your books!

alan, you'll get all sorts of recommendations - but i would recommend '
IT'S A LONG WAY TO MUCKLE FLUGGA: Journeys in Northern Scotland
by William Mitchell' - i really enjoyed all his descriptions and it's a little-known book - not even sure how i came across it, but i really liked it.

This will be my first group challenge and I'm feeling a little nervous! Hope I can make the grade :) I will aim for four and hopefully, by getting the rest of the Rankin books crossed off my list (I started The Complaints today) I should make it across the line :)

Dianne wrote: "This will be my first group challenge and I'm feeling a little nervous! Hope I can make the grade :) I will aim for four and hopefully, by getting the rest of the Rankin books crossed off my list..."

Welcome Dianne! This is my first group challenge too and I set it up! You'll have no problem making a Keek! Especially since you like crime, the Scots are masters at writing it! Looking forward to getting to know you.

I'll do Just a Keek for now because I've already promised to do some buddy reads in a couple other groups, so I'm not sure how much time I'll have. I hope to upgrade though!

Julie wrote: "alan, you'll get all sorts of recommendations - but i would recommend '
IT'S A LONG WAY TO MUCKLE FLUGGA: Journeys in Northern Scotland
by William Mitchell' - i really enjoyed all his descriptions..."

Julie

I've just received ITS A LONG WAY TO MUCKLE FLUGGA by W.R. Mitchell, so I'll let you know what I think of it once I've read it. I also ended up buying about seven books when I was only looking for four, that's what happens when you start browsing for books, so I don't know which ones I will read for the challenge - it gives me a chance to pick and choose. Here they are, in addition to the Muckle Flugga one:

A LONG WAY DOWN Tony Black (eBook)
NATURAL CAUSES James Oswald

I steered clear of Scottish Crime while I was writing The Cabinetmaker, so now I'm going to catch up, and these two guys have been really helpful and friendly to me.

THE SEA DETECTIVE Mark Douglas-Home
THE MAN WHOSE BOAT CAME IN Terry Cade
THE CELTIC RING Bjorn Larsson

I live by the sea, and I do a lot of sailing, so I wanted a book related to sailing or the sea. (That’s what attracted me to MUCKLE FLUGGA, which is the most northerly lighthouse in Scotland, on Shetland.) I ended up with three, but two of them are a bit obscure, so I don't know what they'll be like.

BLOOD CITY Douglas Skelton (eBook)

I found Douglas's blog when I was searching for review sites and realised that I knew Douglas from way back, but we'd lost touch. We're going to get together soon to compare experiences!

I'm just finishing off reading another book, so I'll start the challenge this week.

Which one to start with.....?

Alan

You might be interested in a book i saw and bought for my kindle, (but am probably going to regret not getting the physical book). It's 'The Shetland Bus', and is written by a man involved in using Norwegian fishing boats for smuggling people a nd secrets and supplies to and from Norway and the Shetlands during the Nazi occupation. Have just read two chapters but am really finding it interesting.

I'm a little late, so I'm going to sign up for the 4 books. I can't wait! I love finding new authors. I appreciate all the recommendations. Where would be a good place for a newbie to start?

I explained April is far from late. You count anything you've read since January. You are the same as anyone else - no matter which month one signs-up.

In a way, one might consider me behind. I think I was one of the first four to join - the instant I heard Peggy Ann was the new Scotland hostess. However I haven't read one Scottish theme yet. Unless Peggy Ann allows a couple of novels, like "The Stone Angel" and "Sea Jade", in which a Canadian family and American family have Scottish roots.

I've only read one novel that might be considered Scottish. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley.

I am at zero, unless Peggy Ann permits the above. I won't start for another month. I am in 45 challenges, including my 3. I have planned others out. Susanna Kearsley, my fellow Canadian, is certainly in mind! I like reading everything in order and will start with Mariana. Nice to meet you, Beth. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/riedel-...

C. wrote: "I am at zero, unless Peggy Ann permits the above. I won't start for another month. I am in 45 challenges, including my 3. I have planned others out. Susanna Kearsley, my fellow Canadian, is cer..."

Oh yes The Winter Sea counts. It is set in Scotland and a very good book to boot!

Beth wrote: "I've only read one novel that might be considered Scottish. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley."

And a very good one, Beth! I loved it. Her book Shadowy Horses is set in Scotland also it would be a good one for this challenge.

Beth wrote: "I'm a little late, so I'm going to sign up for the 4 books. I can't wait! I love finding new authors. I appreciate all the recommendations. Where would be a good place for a newbie to start?"

Welcome Beth! Never too late. Lots of year left. If you check in the discussion named A Wee Bit of Crack and look for Lists of Scottish writers and books, I put quite a few links to places to find books and authors. also check out this Pinterest page where 3 of us have been posting books too http://www.pinterest.com/peggyherself...

Peggy: I was asking about the two novels I cited way further up, in item 13.

C. wrote: "Peggy: I was asking about the two novels I cited way further up, in item 13."

I was thinking on it, Carolyn. I have a couple books like that too but thought it might be cheating. If you really think it fits into written by a Scot or about Scotland or set in Scotland go for it. I can't judge books I've not seen. I guess it would boil down to how much their 'roots' were involved in the storyline.

I did find the list. I am also following the Pinterest page. now the tough choice of deciding what to read first! thanks so much

I'm on the same wavelength. I'll only use them if it's winter of 2014 and I haven't reached the minimum. I don't forsee that at all, with so many great examples at my fingertips at home. :)

"The Stone Angel" is a proud Canadian classic. The protagonist's Father is an emigrated Scotsman who establishes the town's first store.

"Sea Jade" doesn't delve into being Scottish either. The people with whom the heroine lives and marries are direct emigrants. So far I'm tackling the toughest themes first. A little Scottish soon!

I have read 4 books of the Read Scotland Challenge so far, which means that I need to upgrade to the Highlander challenge, as I have at least 3 Scottish books on my TBR list! Here's my take on the one's I've read so far.

NATURAL CAUSES by James Oswald. James has been very kind and helpful to me with my efforts at marketing my own book (thanks to Peggy), but I will try to remain unbiased. I really enjoyed it, even although I was worried about the supernatural element, which I'm not a great fan of. I found that this was fairly subtle, and although I would have enjoyed that book just as much without this component, I could see why people loved it, if they liked a bit of horror with their crime. I liked all the characters, and will definitely read the other books in the series to find out what becomes of DI McLean, Grumpy bob, and the rest.


THE SEA DETECTIVE by Mark Douglas-Home. I also really enjoyed this book, especially as I sail a lot in Western Scotland and the Irish sea, and I'm fascinated with the tides and the sea in general. I think this book has a wider appeal, though, and I again found it hard to put down. It also combines a story from the past with one from the present, which I thought was really clever. Well rounded characters and evocative locations add to the mix. I will be getting the sequel to this one as well.

BLOOD CITY by Douglas Skelton (eBook). I knew Douglas from away back, had lost touch, and only discovered that he wrote books recently. This is a no-frills Glasgow crime story about the gangland days, and if you like your murders to come thick and fast you'll like this. All the locations are very realistic to the time and the place. He obviously knew the Glasgow of that era. Not surprising then that he has also written factual crime books as well. There is a sequel, which I have already purchased.

OLD DOGS by Donna Moore. This lady has a great Scottish Crime fiction blog, and I when contacted her about my own book, I noticed that she had written a Glasgow crime caper, liked the look of the cover and the blurb, and bought it. What a gem! A farce. Irreverent, in bad taste, hilarious. My wife is going to read it because she saw me chuckling my way through it, and she doesn't read many books. It has so many improbable twists and turns, but this just adds to the hilarity. A cross between Tom Sharpe and Ian Rankin! Her only book so far, but I'll be looking out for her next one.

Alan

Thanks for sharing these Alan. I have read natural causes but I will be investigating the others as they all sound like my kind of books. Linda

I just finished Susanna Kearsley's "Shadowy Horses" I love it! I believe that's two to count for me. :) This book makes me want to read a good ghost story.

Beth wrote: "I just finished Susanna Kearsley's "Shadowy Horses" I love it! I believe that's two to count for me. :) This book makes me want to read a good ghost story."

I loved it too, Beth!

I'm in! Starting with Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting.

Claire wrote: "I'm in! Starting with Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting."

Welcome! I have not read that one yet nor seen the movie. Although it comes highly recommended!

Trainspotting, I'm going to have to check that out!

I just finished CAULDSTANE. I actually enjoyed it. Didn't quit ended as I was hoping, but still a good read. :) That's number 3!!! I thought 4 was going to be stretch. Guess not. :)