Read Scotland discussion

Say hello to the group and tell us a bit about yourself!

I'm signing up for another year of Scottish reading.
I'm a UK book blogger and enjoy reading different genres but especially historical fiction and psychological suspense / crime.
I'll post links to my reviews of any books set in Scotland which I share on my blog. (Jaffareadstoo)

Happy reading !

Last year, I failed miserably at the target I set myself for Scottish reads, but I'm back with renewed determination, and a shorter list!

I also enjoy audio books, good for listening too whilst I'm pottering about the house.

I have a book blog, where (given enough time) I post reviews.

Welcome Alan! I hope you enjoy our group here and I look forward to seeing what Scottish books you'll read.

We had a trip in 2007, and I got to pick out the places to see. Because of Elizabeth Goudge’s Middle Window, I wanted to see Skye. Because of D. E. Stevenson’s books, I wanted to see Edinburgh and other places in Scotland, and because of the movie, I Know Where I’m Going, I wanted to see the Isle of Mull. We went all over the Uk on that trip, but fell in love with Scotland. Ever since that trip I have ‘extended’ my trip by reading armchair travel books and mysteries and guidebook, and anything I can get hold of that has to do with the UK, or particularly Scotland. When we were able to return to Scotland almost 10 years later, I really knew where I most wanted to go and lots of iconic places I wanted to see. And I continue reading books that have to do with Scotland, and dreaming of returning.

This is my first year in the Read Scotland group. My reading tastes favour literary fiction, history, political science and biography. A couple of years ago, I set a target. Every other fiction read would be related to Scotland or Ireland? Being of Scottish and Irish descent, in part, I am searching for a better understanding of my ancestor’s homelands through their literature. I am looking forward to reading some Scottish novels and non-fiction this year. I will be posting my five book reading challenge under the appropriate heading.

Donald wrote: "This is my first year in the Read Scotland group. My reading tastes favour literary fiction, history, political science and biography. A couple of years ago, I set a target. Every other fiction rea..."

You might find this book interesting: Yearning for the Land: A Search for Homeland in Scotland and America by John Simpson. I read it after having such an overwhelming feeling of having come home, when I first saw the Highlands.

Thanks for the suggestion, Julie. I read your review. Yearning for the Land does look interesting. I will add it to my To Be Read list.

Hi everyone, I stumbled across this group while checking to see if there was a Goodreads group focusing on Scottish independence. I'm still looking, but was intrigued enough to sign up.

I just finished Darren McGarvey's Poverty Safari and can highly recommend that, though I wouldn't describe it as an easy read.

I've been meaning to read Blossom: What Scotland Needs to Flourish by Lesley Riddoch - the book's sitting on my shelf and has been unread for over a year! I think my 2019 target will simply be to finally read that.

I'm a writer and occasional blogger, and earn my keep through consulting work. I decided towards the end of last year that I wanted to read more (I used to read non-stop and got out of the habit).

I don't feel that I read many Scottish authors or books set in Scotland. I have read a lot of articles and commentary on Scottish independence and I'm still interested in the possibility and subject over four years since the referendum. If you are curious, I was a staunch unionist till 2013 and then managed to convince myself to vote Yes. Brexit has brought up a lot of the issues I'd managed to ignore and made the questions immediately relevant again.

Welcome, Mark!

Thanks Elliot.

This evening I realised that I've got more books by Scottish authors than I realised. Some I've dipped into as reference books, others I've still to read. Might prove to be a very informative year...

Hi folks. I've not long joined Goodreads. I'm reading The Scottish Book of the Dead just now. It's set in Scotland and written by Gavin Broom, a Falkirk boy now living in Michigan. Excellent stuff so far.

I've also just had my debut novel published by Postbox Press. It's called To Live With What You Are - I hope some of you might get the chance to read it.

Hello, Greeting from the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland. My name's Mac and I joined Goodreads as a new author just a few weeks ago. I can't believe I didn't know about this site before! I really like the lists of books by genre and other reader's recommendations. I'm reading Ian Banks right now, a perennial favourite. I'm lucky in that I travel about Scotland a lot (including Orkney!) so I get to picture where the novels are placed in my mind. I also spent 16 years in America, so I have a somewhat trans-Atlantic disposition to match my mixed up accent. I look forward to seeing what folk are reading.

Hello,

My name is Mel and I have been joining in for several years of Read Scotland and tackling once again 26 plus books this year.

I live in Birmingham, originally from Germany, but hope to live in Scotland at some point.

I have a youtube channel talking about books. I also host two groups here on Goodreads, one is the Read Around the World bookclub where we read a book a month by a female author from around the world and this year I am also hosting with another booktuber Reading through the ages, which is a historical fiction reading project for this year.

Melanie wrote: "Hello,

My name is Mel and I have been joining in for several years of Read Scotland and tackling once again 26 plus books this year.

I live in Birmingham, originally from Germany, but hope to l..."

Hi Melanie. I was just thinking about my big pile of unread books, growing higher on the floor. What did I do? I bought two new poetry books direct from a publisher (Tapsilteerie) that will arrive in a few days time.
Good thinking from you on your interesting YouTube channel. C

I just found out about this thanks to Mel‘s Bookland Adventures. By happy coincidence I started my reading year 2019 with „The bookshop on the corner“ by Jenny Colgan. I adore Scotland and want to read more scottish or Scotland related books this year - so count me in.

Charlie wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Hello,

My name is Mel and I have been joining in for several years of Read Scotland and tackling once again 26 plus books this year.

I live in Birmingham, originally from German..."

Haha Charlie, I know that only too well "oh look at that stack of books, hm, let's get some more books and make a second stack" :)

T i n a wrote: "I just found out about this thanks to Mel‘s Bookland Adventures. By happy coincidence I started my reading year 2019 with „The bookshop on the corner“ by Jenny Colgan. I adore Scotland and want to ..."

Yay Tina :)

Hello everyone. This is my second year in Read Scotland, and while I met my goal last year, I hope to surpass that by reading at least 16 Scottish books this year.

I'm an American college student studying aerospace engineering, but with a passion for history too. I'm reading mostly non-fiction right now, with a focus on military history, but I hope to throw in some fiction books here and there to provide a change of pace.

Happy reading everyone!

Welcome everyone! I’m loving this thread.

Hello new members, hope you enjoy your reading challenge. There’s more Scottish Lit out there than you would imagine, so when you start looking for it, you’ll be seeing it everywhere :)

Hello to those returning, super glad you’re back! I’m also enjoying reading new little snippets about you!

I don’t think I can reply to everyone, but I see Elliot is doing a wonderful job of welcoming new members and taking to everyone.

And also welcome to those who found us through the wonderful Melanie and her Mel’s Bookland Adventures. Glad you’re here on a different type of adventure (that may or may not involve haggis)...

Thanks so much Mel and Elliot, you’re both stars!

Cphe wrote: "Hi all - stumbled across the group quite by accident - very glad that I did."

Welcome, Cphe! It's great to welcome a new member, and I hope you enjoy our group.

Cphe wrote: "Hi all - stumbled across the group quite by accident - very glad that I did."

Good to see you, Cphe.

Hello, my name is Faith and I have a lot of Scotch blood in my veins, and long to visit the British Isles someday.
I joined gr earlier this year, so I will sign up for the Scottish reading challenge next year.
I am looking very much forward to it!!

Faith wrote: "Hello, my name is Faith and I have a lot of Scotch blood in my veins, and long to visit the British Isles someday.
I joined gr earlier this year, so I will sign up for the Scottish reading challen..."

Hi Faith! So glad you plan to join our challenge next year! I’ll look forward to seeing what books you choose and read, if you need recommendations I’m sure we can help when the time comes :)

thank you very much! I plan on reading old Scottish fiction, fantasy and historical fiction.

Faith wrote: "thank you very much! I plan on reading old Scottish fiction, fantasy and historical fiction."

Sounds perfect :)

Welcome to the group, Faith. I like your preferences for historical fiction and old Scottish fiction.

Thank you, Donald! if you want any ideas, you are more than welcome to look at my Scottish Reads shelf.

Hello! My name is Hanah. I am a graphic designer and a current art history student working towards a PhD (will eventually get there!). I fell in love with Scottish literature over many trips to Scotland over the years. I am excited to start 2020 with more Scottish reads!

Hanah wrote: "Hello! My name is Hanah. I am a graphic designer and a current art history student working towards a PhD (will eventually get there!). I fell in love with Scottish literature over many trips to Sco..."

Welcome Hanah, good luck with your 2020 reads and good luck also with your PhD! (I love art but have never studied it!)

Hi all, I’m Divia and I work in children’s book publishing! 👋🏼

Divia wrote: "Hi all, I’m Divia and I work in children’s book publishing! 👋🏼"

Wow what a fantastic job! Welcome to the group Divia!

HI, Happy to be here. I am not Scottish but I have been to Scotland 5 times in the last 5 years. I started to read some books on the history of Scotland ("How the Scots Invented the Modern World" "The History of Scotland," & "Darien") and I was hooked. I wrote a book about the Darien Scheme. It's called "Caledonia."

Sherry wrote: "HI, Happy to be here. I am not Scottish but I have been to Scotland 5 times in the last 5 years. I started to read some books on the history of Scotland ("How the Scots Invented the Modern World" "..."

Welcome to the group, Sherry. I also read How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman a couple years ago. What did you think of it?

Sherry wrote: "HI, Happy to be here. I am not Scottish but I have been to Scotland 5 times in the last 5 years. I started to read some books on the history of Scotland ("How the Scots Invented the Modern World" "..."

Welcome Sherry, hope you enjoy the group :)

Elliot wrote: "Sherry wrote: "HI, Happy to be here. I am not Scottish but I have been to Scotland 5 times in the last 5 years. I started to read some books on the history of Scotland ("How the Scots Invented the ..."

I loved the book. It read a bit like fiction, and I learned a lot about the history of Scotland and the Scots' contribution to the world. One of the amazing facts I learned about was The Darien Scheme which prompted me to read two books titled, "Darien." I have a degree in history and never heard of it. I asked history teachers and history buffs, and they never heard of it. I even asked Scots (on my last visit to Scotland in 2019) and few knew about it. After reading the book, I decided to write a novel about The Darien Scheme.

Ellen wrote: "Sherry wrote: "HI, Happy to be here. I am not Scottish but I have been to Scotland 5 times in the last 5 years. I started to read some books on the history of Scotland ("How the Scots Invented the ..."

Ellen wrote: "Sherry wrote: "HI, Happy to be here. I am not Scottish but I have been to Scotland 5 times in the last 5 years. I started to read some books on the history of Scotland ("How the Scots Invented the ..."

Ellen wrote: "Sherry wrote: "HI, Happy to be here. I am not Scottish but I have been to Scotland 5 times in the last 5 years. I started to read some books on the history of Scotland ("How the Scots Invented the ..."

Thank you.

Hello!
My name is Milena.I am Bulgarian, living in Scandinavia , but..with great passion and love of Scotland in the heart.
Reading books set in Scotland is way of travelling for me, especially now when travel is limited, restricted,impossible.
I love Scottish history, nature, castles and fortifications, poets,the Scottish accent :) and both times when I was there , I didn't quite want to leave.
I am thrilled to have found this group and to set on a literature travel.
Have a blessed Sunday!

Milena wrote: "Hello!
My name is Milena.I am Bulgarian, living in Scandinavia , but..with great passion and love of Scotland in the heart.
Reading books set in Scotland is way of travelling for me, especially now..."

Sorry for my late hello Milena! A very big welcome to the group - it’s great to know you’re so passionate about Scotland, I hope you find many fantastic Scottish books to enjoy :)

Pocket bio: Retired humanities teacher, residing in Tlaxcala, Mexico, with two dogs and six indoor cats. Passionate about literature, history, philosophy, classical music and opera, jazz, cinema, and similar subjects. Nostalgic guy. Politically centrist. BA in American Studies from Yale; MAs in English and Education from Boston University. Born in northern New Jersey. Have lived and worked in San Francisco, Chicago, northern Nevada, northeast Wisconsin, South Korea. More detail at Goodreads profile.

Hello! Les here. Born in Scotland, live in Virginia, and proud to announce my Scottish historical fiction novel "Bodotria". The story takes place in the first century C.E., a time when Caledonia was a windswept frontier on the fringes of Roman rule. Andreas, fleeing Roman persecution, joins the Roman army and embarks on a remarkable journey. Alongside fellow soldiers Isaac and Bergamus, they’re assigned a year-long intelligence mission in Caledonia. "Bodotria" is an epic exploration of faith, duty, and destiny set against the backdrop of the tumultuous birth of Scotland. I hope you will consider giving it a read.

Hello!
Born in Greenock, living in Fife, I'm a Scottish reader, author and researcher. Retired psychologist.
Neil Gunn is my go-to Scottish novelist, and I'll read most Scottish outdoor non-fiction.
Sounds like a friendly group!

Hey everyone, I’m Marks. Just joined the community—feel free to add me!

Happy to discover this celebration of Scotland via group members and reading recommendations!

Hello,

I am Kenny, a bookseller from the Netherlands with a big heart for Scotland and Scottish culture. I have a passion for the British and especially the Scottish countryside, Scottish history and I have been reading about Jacobitism in Scotland for well over two decades now.

I play the bagpipes and I try to visit Scotland and its many wonderful bookshops as often as I can.

Hello Im Gill, avid reader and wanna be author and yes I am a muppet! I love Scottish fiction and try to read it whenever I can. We are natural story tellers living in a writers' wonderland.

Hi everyone,

My name is Shauna, I’m Irish living in Glasgow for almost 8 years.
I just joined good reads in May and set myself the target of 29 books from May - December 2025.
I used to write brief reviews in the notes app on my phone, but I’m enjoying using this app.

In terms of Scottish authors, I really enjoyed reading Jenni Fagan’s books The Panopticon, Luckenbooth and her memoir Ootlin. I think Ootlin is an essential read (particularly as I work with care experienced young people).
I have also read a couple of books by John Niven and just bought a ticket to this event https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bookfa...
Finally, I loved The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong and am eagerly awaiting the release of his new novel.

Feel free to add me and send any recommendations my way.

Thanks.

Hello,

I was the facilitator (Scotland backroads driver, photographer, editor) for a new historical fiction book—The Scottish Ruin Keeper

Set in 1800s Scotland, this romantic story revolves around the ancient cathedral of Elgin.

Keep reading!

I'm an author and bagpiper of Scottish descent and wanted to tell you about my new book that came out about 6 months ago!
'The Stone of Destiny (Return of Our King book 1) The Stone of Destiny book combines Scottish history, folklore, and conspiracy theories into a modern-day adventure about the return of the Stuart kings.