Read Scotland 2014 discussion

I'm signing on for the full go! 13 or more books.

Two down so far!
Sisters of the Bruce and
The Truth of Stone

Wow, you're doing well... two down already!

Cath wrote: "Wow, you're doing well... two down already!"

Cath, I started Sisters of the Bruce the last week of December because it was a long book. Then I skimmed the last part of it as it was pretty flat and not to interesting. Seemed like it was going on forever! I was anxious to get to The Truth of Stone!

LOL! Some books do feel like that. I'll go and check out The Truth of Stone. I started my first book but the print is small :-( so it's going slowly.

Just finished #3, The White Bird Passes Such raw poverty but such lovely triumph of human spirit!

#4 down! The Cabinetmaker by Alan Jones. This is a little unusual for a crime novel because it does focus more on the relationship between John and Francis, the father of the murdered boy, than on crime. It starts out with the murder, the investigation, all the police procedures and trial, then shifts to the relationship between the two men. We still get glimpses into John's work on the police force. We get to see the effects this crime and verdicts had on everyone. I really like John McDaid and his co-worker Andy. There are also several less than desirable low-life cops that you can love to hate!

Alan does a great job at describing the surroundings and the woodworking. You can really visualize the workshop and smell the sawdust. The middle did drag a bit for me. The inclusion of the football aspect of their relationship slowed down the pace a little for me. It seemed out of place, like an aside. The real focus was the cabinetry and that was fascinating to me. The cabinetry terms and descriptions were very interesting. Hidden drawers and hinges and different woods and finishes. That's where the two men really bonded for me.

The story follows a 30 year period in the lives of these two men. And I have to tell you I never expected the unbelievable twist at the end! Very clever. Excellent writing and plotting and believable characters. I will definitely be looking forward to another great read from this author!

I've finished the first book in this trilogy and loved it! Read my review and sample the writing on my blog, Peggy Ann's Post

Finished book two in A Scot's Quair - Cloud Howe. Read my review at Peggy Ann's Post

Read Cecilia Peartree's mystery Crime in the Community. Fun, quirky, humorous mystery. Spy's, Iranian drug lord, embezzlement, all wrapped up in a small village community group. A sweet tale of friendship too! That makes 7 for me!

Hi Peggy! We each dig into one direction when the year starts, don't we? I'm in about 45 challenges and am starting with a few needier ones. I see the Scottish as the one I easily sit down with later, although I'd love to get my progress going on this very active game board! :) I shared my planned list at my blog anyway. Nice to see others having an earlier go at this one.

Makes 8 towards that mountain top! Now I have to find the other four in the series!

9 down! This is a good solid well paced mystery. Wonderful sense of place and beautiful descriptions of the Isle and the dramatic weather. Lots of interesting incidentals too. First in a series of 3 books. Check out my blog post for extra links to the incidental! http://peggyannspost.blogspot.com/201...

Lol, powered by Glasgow's Cat Sleuth Leger....I'm up to 28(Double Ben! Or, Ben again). Most have been fairly and easy(many have read more total pages than me). My co-favorites are Alexander McCall Smith's The Forever Girl and Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey. As a card carrying Janeite, looking forward Alexander McCall Smith's Emma in the fall. Working on Janice Galloway's Clara(not easy reading) and Nick Thorpe's Adrift in Caledonia:Boat-hitching for the Unenlightened(my girlfriend bought this book in Scotland her year studying there but never read it). Thanks Peggy for hosting this!!!

Kirk wrote: "Lol, powered by Glasgow's Cat Sleuth Leger....I'm up to 28(Double Ben! Or, Ben again). Most have been fairly and easy(many have read more total pages than me). My co-favorites are Alexander McCall ..."
I could have sworn I replied to this post awhile back but I see its not here. Am I losing my mind:) I'll try again.
You've read the most I think of anyone Kirk! I have several McCall books I am looking forward to getting to this year. I just can't seem to put McDermid and Northanger Abbey together in my brain! I watched the series Wire in The Blood based on her books and thats definitely not Jane Austin! I'm glad your having fun. I am enjoying myself too!

Thanks Peggy! Finished the difficult Clara. Also read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie(thx to the recommendation of a friend). Can't say I loved it but very interesting.

Lol, I loved what McDermid did with Northanger Abbey. She made the heroine slightly bolder and just as lovely. She made the "hero" less of a know-it-all smirky blank blank blank(can you tell how I feel about him?). Cheers!

Number 12 and what a great book! I couldn't put it down. Left me speechless at the end.

Treasures on Earth
Finished number 13! Will I make it to Back o' Beyond? I enjoyed the Jessica Stirling book. If you like historical fiction you'll like her books. The end on this one floored me and had me laying awake thinking about it. I have book 2 in the series on the shelf! Now I have to decide if I want to 'officially' sign up for 25 books! Hmm...

A speechless, followed by ponderous ending. A fine fictional journey you've been on. I really must raise the level in my colour group. I already announced that the mystery one has had a hidden option all along. :-) Well read today, Peggy.

Congrats, Peggy! Nice going. :-)

Congrats Peggy!

My 3rd time up Ben Nevis has been a charm with....

Jane Austen's Emma
Play by Millar, Martin(Scottish born!) and another

Didn't love....
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #1)
Smith, Alexander McCall *

The Daughter of Time (Inspector Alan Grant #5)
Tey, Josephine


Cochrane: The Real Master and Commander
Cordingly, David

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case
Smith, Alexander McCall *

The Girl Who Married a Lion: And Other Tales from Africa
Smith, Alexander McCall *

La's Orchestra Saves the World
Smith, Alexander McCall *


Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill
Also, Alexander McCall Smith

Belle by Paula Byrne(Belle was half Scottish)

WOW! Kirk, you are definitely in the Back o' Beyond!

Peggy wrote: "WOW! Kirk, you are definitely in the Back o' Beyond!"

LOL! In more ways than one! :)

Just finished The Hangman's Song by James Oswald. The third in the Inspector McLean Books. Dark, complicated plot with three different storylines going on, two cases to solve and one person. Best to read this series in order as you won't really know who some of the characters are if you aren't familiar with the other books. Each book seems to carry on from the last criminal so you'll want to know what they did. Very good book!

Number 14

Okay, number 17 done!
#15 Creature Comforts by Jessica Stirling
#16 first draft working title Blue Wicked by our Alan Jones
#17 Material Evidence by Bill Kirton
I think I should go ahead and commit to Back O'Beyond!