Going on with my reading notes about Sir Walter Scott’s books, the next in file on my chronological reading list is Rob Roy, one of his most famous novels which was published in December 1817. I’ve just finished it and it is still open on my desk together with a number of extremely interesting books about the author and his … Continue reading →
On my desk is Alex Nye’s book For My Sins, a fascinating historical novel I’ve just finished reading. I recommend it to all people interested in Mary Stuart’s life. There are many books devoted to Mary Queen of Scots but this one is particularly moving since the narrator is Mary herself. In my last selection of books for Christmas … Continue reading →
Dear readers, The book I’ve chosen today for our Christmas selection is Scotland, A History from Earliest Times by Alistair Moffat. It is the author’s last published book and a very good choice for people who love Scotland and more especially the history of Scotland. I had already downloaded the book on my kindle but the beautiful hardback edition … Continue reading →
Its no secret about how we all, here at Scotiana.com, feel about Ian Rankin’s books featuring John Rebus adventures on the crime scenes of Edinburgh, but for those who may not know it…we LOVE Rebus! To discover his complex character is simply fascinating and now, with his announced retirement and transitionning into a consultant detective makes it even more challenging. … Continue reading →
(Kenilworth by Walter Scott, French edition adapted by Emile Pech, Boivin & Cie Editeurs 1929) Hi everybody, I’m still reading Sir Walter Scott’s Kenilworth, greatly enjoying this travel back in time to Merry Old England in company of a colourful team of characters (*) and following with much anticipation the fate of each of them and the twists and … Continue reading →
As a child touring Scotland I constantly nagged my parents to visit stone circles, brochs and standing stones. As I grew older I began to realise that many of these ancient sites had stories told of them and I found these stories as entrancing as the sites themselves. (Stuart McHardy – On the Trail of Scotland’s Myths and … Continue reading →
Dear readers, Christmas trees are glittering everywhere in crowded city streets, in the heart of towns and villages, in big stores and tiny shops while we are still looking for the best ideas of gifts to put under the little Christmas tree which is waiting for us at home. You should not be very surprised if I say that … Continue reading →
Hi everybody, Hi Janice ! Do you remember the day we spent in Alloway, the native village of Robert Burns? Quite an unforgettable day indeed but sadly enough it was the last but one day of our 2012 trip around Scotland… We arrived in Alloway at about midday on 30 September. The weather could have been worse but … Continue reading →
.. Mairiuna, I just stumbled upon an article in the Scotsman online magazine that compiles a list of top Scottish authors’ favourite books for the year 2012. In all, 44 authors contributed to this project. Wow… Ain’t it exciting to find out what our best authors reads are? So happy to find on the list Christopher Brookmyre, Alistair Moffat, Alexander McCall Smith … Continue reading →
(Edinburgh Forth Bridges © 2006 Scotiana) The Scottish capital is a place of outstanding beauty. It’s a city we’ve fallen in love with when we first discovered it a few years ago and we can’t wait to go back there! There is truly something “very special” about Edinburgh… As soon as you approach the city, you can feel the … Continue reading →
Hi Mairiuna! It was truly a pleasure to read your last post triggered by Google Doodle’s commemoration of the 220th birth anniversary of Gioachino Rossini. The music was such a joy to hear! Thanks for sharing such great insights about Rossini and the nature of his link with Scotland. About your challenging question… 😉 Dear Janice would you, by any … Continue reading →
Hi everybody, Today is September 21st, the first day of the autumn season though here, in the south of France, it looks like a summer day, warm and sunny! I wonder what is the weather like in Scotland now… Is it as beautiful as it was, 179 years ago, in that quiet and beautiful corner of the Scottish Borders … Continue reading →
Hi Mairiuna! First, let me tell you that I absolutely fell in love with Arnold Lobel’s illustration “Books to the Ceiling” that we can see inside your post: “First Steps in Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street… Very original rendering of a house full of books! As we are both great book lovers, no wonder this charming illustration depicting a … Continue reading →
Books to the ceiling, books to the sky. My piles of books are a mile high. How I love them! How I need them! (Arnold Lobel – Whiskers & Rhyme) Hi everybody! The little corner of my library devoted to Alexander McCall Smith’s books is beginning to become crowded. As I’ve mentioned in my last post, … Continue reading →
Hi everybody! With autumn already touching our gardens and woods with its warm colours, it may seem a little late to write a page about “summer reading” but isn’t it a good idea to make summer last a little longer. Indeed, the Indian Summer is still to come, isn’t it Janice? But before embarking on our ”summer … Continue reading →
