Scottish Island Reads!

Nicola here! I’m feeling pretty happy because in a few days time I am heading North of the Border on a holiday and research trip to the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands. I’ll be visiting Dunvegan Castle, home to the Chiefs of the Clan Macleod for centuries and one of the most imposing medieval castles in the islands. My research will also take me to the Talisker Whisky Distillery – strictly for academic study purposes, of course.

Then there’s the holiday reading. I have every intention of spending a lot of time eating, drinking and reading (and I need to be prepared for rain or even snow) so I must have a good supply of books. One thing I do enjoy about staying in cottages all over Britain is discovering the books left on the shelves there for visitors to peruse at their leisure. But just in case it rains for the whole holiday I also like to take along my “Scottish Island Keepers,” old favourites to re-read and new books to delve into. Here are a few of those books that are already in my bag (yes, I’m so keen to go that my book bag is already packed!)

The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

An all time keeper for me, I loved this book from the first time I read it at school in my teens. The story of the Ninth Legion disappearing into the Scottish mists has been one of my favourite historical mysteries ever since. I even watched both recent films based on the story, Centurion and The Eagle.

Glenrannoch by Rona Randall

I can’t believe this books dates for 1976! Does any one else remember this? It's another throwback to my youth when I first read and adored romantic suspense. This book has a wonderful Highland setting and a fabulous Scottish alpha hero. Like The Waiting Sands by Susan Howatch it’s a Scottish set book that inspired my love of that country.

Heartstone by C J Samson

This is the latest Tudor mystery featuring the lawyer Matthew Shardlake. You can practically taste and feel Tudor London in the pages of Samson’s books and I do love a good historical mystery. This is 600 pages of a vivid, riveting historical read!

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Elizabeth Woodville, wife to King Edward IV, has always fascinated me as a historical character. This is her story written with Philippa Gregory’s trademark passion for history.

Persuade Me by Juliet Archer

Juliet Archer writes contemporary versions of Jane Austen’s classic books and I adored her first book in the series, The Importance of Being Emma. Persuade Me is a modern take on the story of Ann Elliot and Frederick Wentworth, and as I love Persuasion more than any other Jane Austen book, this is one that I can’t wait to read. In fact I’ve already started – cheating, I know, but I already love this Wentworth as much as the original.

Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart

 Set on the Isle of Skye, this always was one of Mary Stewart’s books that both terrified and fascinated me. Romantic, vivid and compelling but also so atmospheric that I’m not sure I will dare set foot outside the door of my Skye cottage after I’ve read it!

Which books would you pack for your desert island – or Scottish Islands – reads? 

Comments

[Elizabeth Hawksley]

Lucky you, Nicola - though you'll have to pack your thermal underwear!

The book I'd take is David Thomson's 'The People of the Sea' (1954), re-published by Canongate Classics in 1996. It's an account of the author's travels in the Hebrides and the West Coast of Ireland, collecting folk tales about selkies, men marrying seal-women, babies suckled by seal mothers, etc.

It's a world where truth and fiction intertwine and it's one of my favourite Scottish books.

[Nicola Cornick]

That sounds wonderful, Elizabeth. I love discovering myths and legends about the places I visit. I also like the idea of taking a book that's "local." When I went to Baja I took "The Log from the Sea of Cortes." It felt all the more special to be reading it in situ!

The thermals are packed!

[Sherry Boettger]

I would read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I think there are about 5 in the series. Contains a little bit of history and fantasy with the time portal part of the story. But definitely one of my favourite romances ever.

[HJ]

I'm so jealous - I love Skye! I would take another Mary Stewart book, Stormy Petrol which is set on Scotland's west coast. And The Singing Sands by Joephine Tey - I love all her books, but this one is set in the Outer Hebrides so also seems apt. Fianlly, how about Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell? It's set lower down the coast, but is very evocative of wild Scotland and its wildlife.

Have a wonderful time!

[Elizabeth Kerri Mahon]

Ooh, Nicola, I forgot about the Waiting Sands. I love Susan Howatch. I've been wanting to go to Cornwall for years because of Penmarric and the Devil on Lammas Night. I think that I would bring Sharon Kay Penman's new book on Richard the Lionheart, and Anne Sebba's new biography of Wallis Simpson, along with Carol K. Carr's new mystery India Black and the Widow of Windsor which takes place at Balmoral.

[Nicola Cornick]

Grea choice, Sherrie! I love the Outlander series.

HJ, thank you for reminding me of Stormy Petrel, another lovely Mary stewart book. And how could I forget Josephine Tey, one of my all time favourite writers and with a character called Dandie Dinmont as well!

We're hoping to see otters in Skye.

[Nicola Cornick]

Hi Elizabeth! Susan Howatch's books are very evocative, aren't they, and Cornwall another lovely wild part of the British Isles to visit! I like the sound of the Carol K Carr book. Thank you for the recommendation.

[Quilt Lady]

I would just take my Kindle packed with books so I would have a choice of what I wanted to read.

[Juliet Archer]

Delighted you're taking Persuade Me away to Skye! It's one of my favourite places, especially when it's too cold for midges.

And it was lovely to see you again at the RNA Regency Readers' Day earlier this month - the Sense & Sensibility panel was great fun!

[Liz]

Have a great time.

I'd recommend Helen MacInnes' Friends and Lovers and Rosamunde Pilcher's Winter Solstice.

[Nicola Cornick]

Quilt Lady, that is the best idea because a Kindle is perfect under those circumstances!

Hi Juliet! So pleased you are fond of Skye too and I cannot wait to finish the book. No midges is one of the great benefits of going to Scotland early or late in the year!

[Nicola Cornick]

Thank you, Liz! I'm looking forward to it so much. I haven't read Friends and Lovers so I will definitely pick that up. Winter Solstice is a lovely book!

[Janet W]

Janet W: The Eagle of the Ninth is the most marvelous book -- when I saw Hadrian's Wall for the first time, it felt like a homecoming. Some of the later books are so poignant but doesn't the history of the British Isles comes to life?

[Louis]

I'd include a book or two by Maurice Walsh.

His books of Scottish and Irish romance are a delightful read.

[Nicola Cornick]

Thank you for the suggestion of Maurice Walsh, Louis. I will look out for those books.

I'm so glad you are a Rosemary Sutcliff fan too, Janet. her books are marvelous, I think - so atmospheric and poignant.

[theo]

Wait! This is the same Mary Stewart of The Crystal Cave? She wrote romance-slash-mystery? Oh, be still my heart! I'm ordering that one. Then I'll take it with me to Skye.

[Blair]

thanks for the advice on such good reads. I've purchased a few of them. :o)

[Nicola Cornick]

So pleased to be of help, Blair. Enjoy!

Hi Theo - Yes, that's the same Mary Stewart! It's a very atmospheric book.

Am now back from my holidays and have to put in a word for a book I discovered in a book shop in Skye: The Hill of the Red Fox by Alistair Campbell Maclean. It's a YA book originally published in the 1950s and I remember reading it with sheer delight as a child. I fell on it with great pleasure and enjoyed re-reading in on Skye (it's set there). And it still moved me to tears. Great book!