Scottish Librarythingers Message Board

Just want to say hi. I was born in Scotland and moved to Canada in 1969. I still have a lot of family over there. I have a sister in Glasgow, a niece in Edinburgh, family in Buckie and family in Coatbridge.
I have a small collection of Sir Walter Scott from the early 1900s...

Welcome to everyone in the group :)

It is clear to see where you you hail from deargreenplace. I am from the same airt. Like unknowncataloguer I, too, moved to Canada. That was 1984. Now retired to Prince Edward Island and right in the middle of a strong Scottish community. The membership roll of the local church looks like a 'who's who' of any village in middle Scotland.
Will look forward to any chat.
By the way I have a large and strong collection on Glaswegiana that I started back in the late 1960's. Check my profile for my comments on this. Ta-ta-ra-noo

I would be interested to know among this group what books you have related to Glasgow, Edinburgh, etc.

I can't speak for anywhere else other than Glasgow.

Over the years many, many books of a wide and diverse nature have been penned, covering the history, architecture, industries, local customs, Glaswegiana (the dialect as understood by Stanley Baxter), football (fitba'), parks, museums, transport, etc, etc, of the city.

Some of these I possess and still enjoy reading.

But what about the other cities, towns, villages, hamlets and islands that make up Bonny Scotland?

Look forward to a response. TTFN

Hi everyone,

Personally, I haven't collected much reference work on Scotland, though I did quite a bit of research on representations of gender in Scottish cultural production (catchy, huh?) for my honours dissertation. Dual identities and the Scottish political position featured strongly.

Maybe it has something to do with the way that Scottish books are marketed in places like Waterstones where it's all lumped together as a "brand". Just kinda puts me off, though I suppose it could just be that eternal problem of not appreciating your surroundings while you're still in them ;)

Fiction was more my thing - I read all of the early Iain Banks books, and even a few of his SF works under Iain M. Banks. I lived in Leith when Trainspotting was published so naturally I read that, and the others that Irvine Welsh wrote after that, but wouldn't particularly call myself a fan. Tried some James Kelman but found it too depressing. Some of the newer fiction authors - Zoe Strachan, Louise Welsh are two that immediately come to mind - are interesting reads. Alan Warner you can keep though (grrr) - Morvern Callar was just too uncomfortable for words.

One reference book that I will track down again (or nick from my mother's bookcase) is Glencoe by John Prebble. I was too young to make sense of the history when we visited the area regularly, but the gory parts of Scottish history always fascinated me.

PS

Found a cute picture of a cow. May it prompt a debate on how best to represent contemporary Scotland :)

How to depict Scotland? As a would-be dynamic modern economy, or a man dressed in full Highland regalia playing the bagpipes? That seems to be the question.
Being Scottish the whole tartan scenario feels patronising, out-of-date, and yet through it everyone in the world seems to recognise Scotland. It is this romantic symbolism that encourages tourists to come here, and many parts of Scotland are now dependent upon tourism to survive.

Hello everyone. I love the cow!
I'm Canadian, and my husband is Scots, born in East Lothian, went to Canada for his doctorate (20+ years ago) and never moved back.

Our library catalogue includes many of Steve's Scottish books, including hiking and Munros books, some Scottish fiction and gift books from family members.
We both enjoy:
Iain Banks
Andrew Greig
_the Music_ by James Hamilton-Paterson
Alexander McCall Smith, both the African and Edinburgh series,
and mysteries by:
Quintin Jardine
Ian Rankin
and Peter Turnbull
Our collection of most of these is not complete.

Steve enjoys the John Buchan classics as well, which have a Canadian connection since Buchan became Canada's Governor General. However I find most of them a bit dry and dated - more fun for men than for women? I enjoy Andrew Greig's The Return of John MacNab far more than the original John MacNab by Buchan.

I'm also fond of Lillian Beckwith's stories of life in the Hebrides between the wars.

would just like to say hi just joined group
stayed in glasgow all my life so far

I used to love John Buchan when I was a teenager, and I'm female. But possibly I had rather boyish tastes at that age.

Should have said hello on this thread, never mind. I am a Fifer originally, born and brought up in Kirkcaldy. I now live in Aberdeen. Do we have to have lots of Scottish books on our shelves, or is it for us what are Scots?

I have only read Witch Wood by John Buchan, but I enjoyed it immensely and I'm a woman.

Just wanted to say a quick hello! I'm from Ayrshire and have lived here all my life. Like Inver above I hope it's OK not to have many Scottish books in my library but be Scottish?

Just to say hello to you all ... I'm not a Scot (please don 't shoot me yet) but have relocated to Angus from choice.

Although not a native I am active in trying to help keep our rural community and active community and am interested in the landscapes and history of the region. Ashamed to admit as a book lover less interested in our local author J M Barrie ... and its his 150th Anniversary year too!

My most recent Scottish related read was Sea Room which I recommend to anyone interested in islands, traditional ways of life, archaeology of Scotland, history of Scotland or the subject of land ownership in Scotland.

Looking forward to joining in discussions about all things Scottish and book related ... by the way hope you have all heard that someone has created haggis flavoured chocolate ...

New here - originally from Manchester, have now been living in Dunoon for just over three years - quite a change! Currently reading Big Jessie by Zane Radcliffe - screamingly funny (although it's not set in Scotland - sorry!).

Edited to add: I really enjoyed The Sea Room, too - a fabulous read.

I'm from the US but moved to Scotland 10 years ago to a coastal community on Loch Long, near Dunoon.

My interests are Scottish history, culture, local history and Argyll, and historical fiction set in Scotland. I'm also interested in emigration from Scotland to the US. I've read all of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

Currently reading A Scots Quair by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. Much of it is difficult to read but still enjoyable overall. Next book is The Highland Clearances by John Prebble. Have a huge pile of books on Scotland.

I got about halfway through The Sea Room but moved onto another book. I will get back to it.

Hi, annielf!

*leans out of window and waves*

*ducks back in again very quickly due to it being dreich out there!*

Hi Sophie! Afraid winter is coming and is going to be very cold, very windy and very wet. As usual. Sigh.

But I love it anyway.

> 25, 26

Don't skelp me, but I miss the drizzle and especially the frost.
*sigh*

You know this sub-tropical lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be!

26 & 27 - glad someone enjoys this weather! I'm just wondering whether I'll develop gills any time soon ...!

> 28

Tut-tut! There is a time and a plaice for humour. ;-)

Sophie, no I don't enjoy the weather, I love Scotland in spite of the weather!

#29 - groan!

#30 - but how about the midges?

Okay, midgies are evil and we're in the centre of them. But they can be mostly avoided - hide inside like a coward when they are out or wear chemicals to keep them away! :-O

I have breakfast in bed every morning looking out over Loch Long. I give the area lots of points for that.

> 32

I remember climbing a few mountains in Glen Sheil and had a torturous time in the glen before we lost them on high up the mountains.

The thing is with the Pan-Celtic Midge is that they are more annoying than deadly.

Here in Queensland, the mozi is a νόθος and they carry disease to boot!

Annie - a view like that with your breakfast is worth a lot of points!

Les (may I call you Les?!) - it's true that midges won't kill anyone, but speaking as someone who reacts really badly to the bites, I've sometimes thought death would be a happy release! We were at the Creggans Inn last year for dinner and I wandered into the garden for a look around - after three minutes, I came running back inside (guess who'd forgotten to douse herself in SkinSoSoft?) and the next morning counted 54 separate red itchy bites on my back and shoulders, and was still scratching weeks later! Midges just looooove me ...

> 33

I moved from Queensland where the mozzies carry things like Ross River Fever, and I've encountered the Scottish midge on a number of occasions. One thing they do have in common: neither like people who eat Vegemite daily. Touch wood: I've yet to be bitten by either.

>32 annielf: & 33

Midgies and mozzies love me! I lived in Uganda where there were tons of mozzies, some carrying malaria. My anti-malaria pills worked though.

My hub eats vegemite every day and he finds midgies and mozzies a minor annoyance. Whilst I find them pure torture.

1. What's vegimite?
2. Read a book by a Scottish author recently that was good, "Last of the Free" by James Hunter.

> 37

Vegemite is a yeast-based sandwich spread packed with B vitamins; loved (or hated) by Australians.

It's like Marmite, but upside down ;-)

>39 Sophie236: *LOL*

That's great folks, thanks for the info. Can you also tell me if, "It's like marmite," means its similar in some (or many) ways, or does it mean its exactly the same thing with a different name? (I know what marmite is).

>41 writer1314:

Marmite originated in the UK. Vegemite in Australia.

Both are yeast extracts (by product of beer - can't be bad!).

Both use caramel for the dark colouring.

Australian Marmite (made by different people than the original UK product) is sweeter than the more bitter Vegemite. UK Marmite tastes 'stronger' than both.

They all fall into the 'either you love 'em or hate 'em' camps.

Thank you Celtic. That was very helpful.

You're welcome - I'm now going to settle down with some toast thinly spread with marmite ( A lonely supper as the rest of my family vacate the room as soon as I open the Jar!).

>42 celtic: Though this Australian feels even the UK Marmite is sweeter than Aussie Vegemite. :D

>45 Sile: Sile I'm from Glasgow now in Brisbane. I have come to be fond of Vegemite (original) and does indeed go well, despite all the legendary anecdotes which are sure normally to underwhelm reality, with toast and avo. I believe that some crumbled walnut pieces on top, decides it.

Hi, I'm from Shetland and can recommend the 'Shetland' series of novels by Ann Cleeves. There is also a TV series to go along with the first novels. Some of you may have watched this series.
I can also recommend a lovely book by our local author Douglas Forrest. It is entitled 'Jimmy Wilds: The Soldier Who Elected a Government'. It is based on notes from a relative of the author. An easy, humorous, informative and delightful read.
I love where I live. I look out my livingroom window and see the North Sea on my left and a small loch to my right with plenty of hills in the distance, although not high ones!

Nice post, GD. I have White Nights by Cleeves and it's on my list, with maybe one or two books ahead of it. I'm looking forward to learning more about the Shetland Isles. I'll check on Netflix to see if the TV series is available. And I'll do some research into the Jimmy Wilds book.

Here in Pennsylvania we're bracing for a doozy of a storm this weekend. A thick blanket of white stuff, wind and ice will provide me with plenty of soft time for my current read, which is set in Edinburgh.