Books

Books

Book reviews of a selection of titles curated by our critics.

The power of first love

The power of first love

Absolutely & Forever by Rose Tremain by Liz Treacher, Author Athough it was only published in paperback this year, Absolutely and Forever (Vintage, 2024) by Rose Tremain feels very retro. Set in 1960s London, the novel describes the struggles of Marianne to forget her first love, Simon, who she met

A Blast of Highland Life

A Blast of Highland Life

Blàs, Across the Machair by C C Hutton By Liz Treacher, Author C C Hutton / Ceitidh Hutton is an award-winning writer of Gaelic children’s picture books and writer of English women’s contemporary fiction with a dash of Gaelic, a large sprinkling of humour, and a wee drop

When the fire was the  focus of the kitchen

When the fire was the  focus of the kitchen

Ardgay Girl, by Lily Byron By Liz Treacher, Author I f you have read and enjoyed Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee, you will love Ardgay Girl (Byron, 2023) by local author Lily Byron. It’s a journey back in time, a dive into Highland life in the post-war

Remembering Janet Horne

Remembering Janet Horne

The Last Witch of Scotland, by Philip Paris By Liz Treacher, Author I love to read novels about the area penned by other local writers. So it was with great excitement that I picked up The Last Witch of Scotland (Black & White 2023) by Philip Paris. Philip has already

Everyday magic

Everyday magic

Enchantment, by Katherine May by Liz Treacher, Author 'Our sense of enchantment is not sparked by grand things,’ says Katherine May. It’s ‘all around us all the time.’ In her latest book Enchantment (Faber & Faber 2023), Katherine explores how the four elements of earth, wind, fire and

Nocturnal Adventures

Nocturnal Adventures

Nightwalking, by John Lewis-Stempel By Liz Treacher, Author IT feels a bit strange reviewing a book about nightwalking when the days are getting longer and the nights are getting lighter, but I was captivated by Nightwalking by nature writer John Lewis-Stempel and wanted to tell you about it.

Small book, big story

Small book, big story

Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan by Liz Treacher, Author If you enjoy books that plunge you into a different time and place, then look no further than Small Things Like These (Faber, 2021) by Claire Keegan. Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, the novella charts an incident in