Posts: 2183
From: Seattle WA, USA Owner: 6 weeks in Whistler, BC
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-12-2005 07:37               

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When we're travelling, we love to read novels set in or around the places we're visiting... or at least books with the proper "mood" for the place.

Any suggestions about what to read in Scotland?

Kris

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Posts: 4002
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-12-2005 07:46               

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Go to amazon.com and put in "mary queen of scots" and you will get several to choose from. We did that on one trip to England, my wife was reading a book set in the area and every evening we would check for something that was mentioned and hunted it up. Real fun.

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Posts: 191
From: Manchester, England own at Kilconquhar, Forest Hills,Dona Lola
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 05-12-2005 07:48               

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If you are visiting Edinburgh and into thrillers then Ian Rankin's 'Rebus' novels would be a must.

If you are staying at Kilconquhar, you may pass through Lower Largo which was the home of Alexander Selkirk - the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.

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Posts: 403
From: Essex, UK. Own at St Mellion UK; Vistana Resort, Orlando
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-12-2005 11:52               

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Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson - it's about Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Whisky Galore, by Compton Mackenzie, - it's about a shipload of Scotch that washes up on the beach, and is based on a real incident.
Dr Finlay's Casebook at A J Cronin - about a doctor in the 1930s.

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EllenD

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Posts: 2183
From: Seattle WA, USA Owner: 6 weeks in Whistler, BC
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-12-2005 12:19               

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Thanks for these great suggestions. I'm making a list and will have fun finding them.

If there are any books that would be good for young adults I'd love to hear of those as well, since our kids are avid readers.

Kris

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Posts: 1244
From: Gloucester, England, Own at Plas Talgarth Wales
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 05-12-2005 13:41               

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I would certainly agree with the Ian Rankin suggestion. His books are set predominantly in Edinburgh and Fife with the occasional excursion to Glasgow.

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Regards

Keith

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Posts: 56
From: Rantoul, IL, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-12-2005 17:10               

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Queen's Own Fool by Jane Yolen is a young adult novel about a 12-year-old girl who serves as a "fool" for Mary Queen of Scots. Good historical novel but a little long- 390 pages. Girl in a Cage is another one by Yolen. I haven't read it yet, but it is shorter than Queen's ... Set in the 1300's. The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith (he wrote Babe also) is about Loch Ness monster. It is for younger students. There are probably lots more but those are ones in my school library that I could remember.

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BTurner
Rantoul, IL

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Posts: 1430
From: Oak Park, IL Owner: Swallowtail, Hilton Head, SC; Villa del Mar, Puerto Vallarta and FoxRun, NC
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-12-2005 18:30               

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If you want something a bit unusual. This Scottish crime novel won awards:

Garnethill: A Novel of Crime by Denise Mina

Unfortunately, I can't get an Amazon link to work but you can do your own search to read the review.

Deb

[This message has been edited by Debbie Brown (edited 05-12-2005).]

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Posts: 2076
From: Wrightwood, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-12-2005 18:32               

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Winter Solstice by Piltcher. Excellent. It is very evocative, good characters and a very good story.
Liz

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Posts: 661
From: Cayman Islands
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-12-2005 19:59               

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Other than the Rebus series by Rankin, anything by Ian Banks.... just finished reading his non-fiction book "In Search of the perfect Dram", which other than being part autobiographical and wholly hilarious, is also a great Scottish travelogue.

Also recommend anything by Chris Brookmyre...

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www.thereef.com.ky

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Posts: 425
From: Sheffield, England
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 05-13-2005 07:32               

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I would second 'Kidnapped'. I read it as a teen and thought it was a wonderful book.

Kitty

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Posts: 349
From: Shelby Twp, MI OWNER: Sunset Ridge Villas-St. John USVI, Allen House-London
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-13-2005 10:24               

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And there's Rosamund Pilcher.

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Kay
kayb95@aol.com

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Posts: 2183
From: Seattle WA, USA Owner: 6 weeks in Whistler, BC
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-14-2005 15:13               

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Wow! TUGgers never cease to amaze me. We'll have great fun tracking these down and reading them.

I also got a book called The Outlander (I think) that a TUGger suggested. I'll let you know if it's enjoyable.

Kris

[This message has been edited by krisj (edited 05-14-2005).]

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Posts: 403
From: Essex, UK. Own at St Mellion UK; Vistana Resort, Orlando
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-15-2005 10:17               

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I was looking for something else and found this link:
http://www.visitdunkeld.com/best-scottish-books.htm

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EllenD

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Posts: 661
From: Cayman Islands
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-16-2005 07:17               

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If you anywhere near a Waterstones store (the one in Princes Street in Edinburgh is the best) they have specialty areas for Scottish books (books about Scotland, books by Scots authors etc), not to mention a huge section of guidebooks.

I was in Scotland on a flying visit the other week and picked up way too many books for someone who was supposed to be travelling light

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www.thereef.com.ky

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Posts: 425
From: Massachusetts
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 05-16-2005 10:47            

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RObin Pilcher also writes about Scotland in his books. An Ocean Apart is one and another one that went into paper took place there... I cant remember the titel off hand....nice reading.

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Posts: 44
From: New Orleans, LA, USA - Chateau Orleans
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 05-23-2005 15:01               

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I would second kidnapped.

If you like historical romantic fiction with a twist of time travel, try
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series:
Outlander, dragonfly in Amber, Voyageur, Drums of Autumn, Fiery Cross in the main series and the Outlandish companion, etc.

Lots about the Rising and also periods of American leading up to the civil war...

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