Read Scotland 2017 discussion

Sign up for 6-10 books here! Start a topic with a title for your challenge climb and list your reads under that topic.

hello there!
visiting scotland one day is on my bucketlist...
until then i have to make due with documentaries, movies, tv shows and of course books.
i hope to get inspriration on what to read through the other members of this group...
happy reading

Kamala wrote: "hello there!
visiting scotland one day is on my bucketlist...
until then i have to make due with documentaries, movies, tv shows and of course books.
i hope to get inspriration on what to read thro..."

Welcome Kamala! Glad to have you along. Looking forward to seeing what you read too! I think all of us here love Scotland and a few live there! Looking forward to getting to know you.

I'm going to accept the Highlander challenge. I love Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, et al. Thanks for the challenge!

Mrs. C. wrote: "I'm going to accept the Highlander challenge. I love Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, et al. Thanks for the challenge!"

Welcome Mrs. C! Hopefully we'll do a classics read-a-long this year!

I am signing up for 6-10 books. I hope to go higher than 10, but don't want to put a lot of stress on myself. Now I will have to start planning what to read in January.

I'm so happy to see you joining in Tracyk - you'll manage it easily as there are so many Scottish crime writers old and new. I'm up for 25 at least

I saw that, Katrina. I have several Scottish authors I am eager to read more of. And like you said there are some good ones from every time period (starting with John Buchan).

This sounds like fun. I am signing up for the Highlander challenge. At first, I thought maybe I should go for the 1-5 books. I went back to the books I have read so far this year and out of 67 books 8 of them qualified for read Scotland. I have quite of few books on my Kindle that I am eager to read-Aline Templeton, Denise Mina and A.D.Scott as examples. I read almost exclusively mysteries. Looking forward to joining this group.

Lynn wrote: "This sounds like fun. I am signing up for the Highlander challenge. At first, I thought maybe I should go for the 1-5 books. I went back to the books I have read so far this year and out of 67 book..."

Lynn, so glad to have you with us! I love mysteries too! A.D. Scott is one of my favorites! There are many great Scottish mystery/crime authors.

I'm going for the Highlander level again!

For 2017, I'm looking forward to more by A. Conan Doyle, other vintage classics, and might branch out into some modern-published books with Scottish settings. Can't wait!

Tarissa wrote: "I'm going for the Highlander level again!

For 2017, I'm looking forward to more by A. Conan Doyle, other vintage classics, and might branch out into some modern-published books with Scottish setti..."

Great, Tarissa! Watch for read-a-longs to be announced too!

seems like a nice way to ensure Scottish based/authored books stay on my radar... looks like I read 5 (of 23 total) in 2016, so 6-10 seems like a fair challenge.

John wrote: "seems like a nice way to ensure Scottish based/authored books stay on my radar... looks like I read 5 (of 23 total) in 2016, so 6-10 seems like a fair challenge."

Glad to have you along, John!

I'm signing up for the Highlander challenge. Hopefully I can read more than 10 books in 2017, which when I think about it wouldn't be a problem since I love anything to do with Scotland....

Catherine wrote: "I'm signing up for the Highlander challenge. Hopefully I can read more than 10 books in 2017, which when I think about it wouldn't be a problem since I love anything to do with Scotland...."
Catherine you can always bump up later!

I participated last year but generally overall my reading was curtailed by half than previous years due to work and small business workloads and stress... so a new year and a new challenge.
I still have the pile of Scottish books I set aside last year for this challenge so will begin again!
I think this level is achievable this year if nothing goes awry, which is generally does, or I get sidetracked by new (and old) books...

Alexandra wrote: "I participated last year but generally overall my reading was curtailed by half than previous years due to work and small business workloads and stress... so a new year and a new challenge.
I still..."

Glad your trying again, Alexandra!

Alexandra wrote: "I participated last year but generally overall my reading was curtailed by half than previous years due to work and small business workloads and stress... so a new year and a new challenge.
I still..."

Good luck with the challenge Alexandra....I know what you mean about getting sidetracked by new books; one of the things I've enjoyed most about this group is that I try - as a one-off - someone I hadn't thought of reading, and suddenly I'm off devouring a series of their books.

Going to give this challenge a go - it's a shame I started reading The Un-Discovered Islands BEFORE New Year...

Ellen wrote: "Going to give this challenge a go - it's a shame I started reading The Un-Discovered Islands BEFORE New Year..."

Welcome, Ellen! Doesn't matter when you started it, it's when you finish!

Hi everyone,
Ill give this challenge a go. I always seem to gravitate to Scottish fiction. So I hope to find some other ideas and broaden my scottish reading list.

Tim wrote: "Hi everyone,
Ill give this challenge a go. I always seem to gravitate to Scottish fiction. So I hope to find some other ideas and broaden my scottish reading list."

So glad to have you Tim! What's your favorite genre?

Thanks Peggy, it's a brilliant book so would like to count it.

I'm starting lower this year, since I didn't make my goal last year! My first book finished was listening to Amberwell in audible, by D. E. Stevenson. Then M. C. Beaton's newest Agatha Raisin mystery. Pushing Daisies. And rereading Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam. I just started Plaid and Plagiarism, a Highland Bookshop Mystery series by Molly MacRae, and have the newest Scotland Street mystery by McCall Smith, waiting for me to finish the other, so that I can start on it : )

Julie wrote: "I'm starting lower this year, since I didn't make my goal last year! My first book finished was listening to Amberwell in audible, by D. E. Stevenson. Then M. C. Beaton's newest Agatha Raisin myste..."

Glad your back Julie!

Began listening to a D. E. Stevenson book I've actually never read before - 'Emily Denistoun'. Listening on Audible, and I really love the narrator because of her very easy to understand Scottish accent. I really hate listening to someone reading a Scottish book with their British accent, and putting on a fake accent when a character speaks. A pet peeve. As though no one could possibly understand it if they had a Scot narrate it. Another Scot whose narration I love on Audible is Lesley Mackie. But she didn't read this one.

Julie wrote: "Began listening to a D. E. Stevenson book I've actually never read before - 'Emily Denistoun'. Listening on Audible, and I really love the narrator because of her very easy to understand Scottish a..."

I love DE Stevenson! I haven't read "Emily" either... there is a DES website that has some previously unpublished titles listed. Let us know how the Denistoun book is!

I haven't posted my list of books to read because I keep changing my mind! There are so many authors to pick from! So far I am planning to read AJ Cronin, DE Stevenson, Helen MacInnes, George MacDonald, Alexander McCall Smith, Dorothy Dunnett, and Josephine Tey.

I must be losing it! I thought I'd signed up for the Highlander level, but ...

I'm lagging this year -- haven't read anything that qualifies here yet. But the year is still young ... I'll get there yet!

Kate wrote: "I must be losing it! I thought I'd signed up for the Highlander level, but ...

I'm lagging this year -- haven't read anything that qualifies here yet. But the year is still young ... I'll get ther..."It is, Kate! Although some days it feels like it should be September or something!

A week or two ago I read a blurb about a Scottish mystery set in Wick, but I can't remember the title. Anybody happen to know?

Kate wrote: "I must be losing it! I thought I'd signed up for the Highlander level, but ...

I'm lagging this year -- haven't read anything that qualifies here yet. But the year is still young ... I'll get ther..."

I still can't find myself on the Highlander shelf ... grrr! Trying this again, so I can log my books in.

finished book number 5 for the year, now. finished emily denistoun and now just finished 'death of a ghost' - the new hamish macbeth. also reading a newer flavia de luce, but that series doesn't count here : ) have mccall smith's latest scotland street waiting on me to get to, but also anxious to read my new crombie series mystery, so that one might have to wait.

Julie wrote: "finished book number 5 for the year, now. finished emily denistoun and now just finished 'death of a ghost' - the new hamish macbeth. also reading a newer flavia de luce, but that series doesn't co..."

Wish I could find a copy of Emily Denistoun! congrats on your reading Scotland progress. I like Deborah Crombie also, and Hamish Macbeth (great character! the author is good with creating quirky characters like A. Raisin...) I'm reading an Ann Cleeves mystery right now.

I think she wrote the books from which they made the Shetland tv series. It's a bit grittier than I usually like, but I really think they've created characters you care about, and that must come from the author's original creation?

Julie wrote: "I think she wrote the books from which they made the Shetland tv series. It's a bit grittier than I usually like, but I really think they've created characters you care about, and that must come fr..."

Are you talking about MC Beaton? I agree about the gritty aspect that shows up now and then, but she does have a unique sense of humor that gives her books a 'fun read' aspect.

Theresa wrote: "Julie wrote: "I think she wrote the books from which they made the Shetland tv series. It's a bit grittier than I usually like, but I really think they've created characters you care about, and tha..."

Probably talking about Ann Cleeves. I haven't read any of the books but watch the TV series Vera based on the books. Very good!

My mum and I love the TV series Vera too! Super good! The only downside is we talk with a Newcastle accent for the rest of the night, pet! (Not joking, it creeps in and we can't stop.)

Ellen wrote: "My mum and I love the TV series Vera too! Super good! The only downside is we talk with a Newcastle accent for the rest of the night, pet! (Not joking, it creeps in and we can't stop.)"

That's so funny, Ellen!

Hopefully if I work my way through everything I've got sitting on my to-read pile I'll be able to jump up to the next level, but as it's already May and I'm just starting the challenge I'll play safe for now.
Tend to read mostly Scottish crime fiction with some history (fact and fiction) thrown in so should be ok I hope.

Susan wrote: "Hopefully if I work my way through everything I've got sitting on my to-read pile I'll be able to jump up to the next level, but as it's already May and I'm just starting the challenge I'll play sa..."

Welcome Susan! you've got lots of year left :)

Have finished books 6 and 7: a return to childhood with Nancy Drew's 'Clue of The Whistling Bagpipes ', and a reread or re-listen of D. E. Stevenson's Vitoria Cottage. And now listening to the sequel, Music in the Hills. Love the audible reader, Lesley Mackey. Other readings are off-list with two English books - The Tale of Castle Cottage and Garden of Lamentation s. love the Beatrix Potter Cottage series and Crombie's newest.

Just finished my 8th book, listening to 'Music in the Hills' by D. E. Stevenson. Reading several English locations or writers right now so not sure when will get back to Scottish locations and writers. I need a Reading UK list! : )

I would love to do a longer challenge; alas, with my studies, I only have the summer to read for pleasure. So, I am going to sign up for just six books. I am sorry to say they are all lightweight, being the last five books in the Hamish Macbeth series, and one other audio book besides that. Actually, at the rate I am ploughing through audio books just now, it may be I will exceed my challenge. I have so missed fictional tales.

I hope to get through "Sunset Song" by Lewis Grassic Gibbon as well before I return to college.

Book 9 - just finished audible book of Robert Macfarlane s, 'The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot. Loved it, as I did another of his books that I read for one of the earlier challenges. Going to look for another by him, or read from one of the many other authors he writes about in the book. I give him 5 stars : )

Book 10 (whew! I made it!) is bill Bryson's 'Road to Little Dribbling'. Occasional language thrown in that I don't like but loved the book otherwise. Waited a long time for the Scotland part, toward the end of the book. But fun to read of places I've been and others I would wish to go to. I have m c Beaton's newest from library so should get in one more book for my scotland 2017 read!

Congratulations Julie on completing your challenge - enjoy your new book and hope to see you next year :)

Congratulations Julie on completing your challenge! yay, you made it to book ten! I think I read 6 Scotland authors books this year, will have to look back and see... I lost track as life threw us for a loop this year with some difficult family losses and I just ended up doing escapist stuff and not trying to participate much in reading groups. I love the Scotland reads group though and I even am guilty of finding Scotland pins on pinterest as the scenery is so amazing : )

Way to go, Julie! I’m sorry you’ve had a rough year, Theresa.