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Read any good books lately that will fit our parameters? Please submit your review for this area.
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YE CANNA JOIN IN OOR GAMES
By Nancy Parsons
This delightful book about growing up in a Scottish American household is one that should be preserved and cherished
by all those who share the same experiences. Perhaps it will shed a little light on the subject for those who do
not have the same heritage. In any case, it is a pleasant read for anyone. I highly recommend it.
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THE
SCOTTISH ARMADA
By
John Young
I have just
published an historical novel based on almost 30 years of research into an apparent piece of Scotland’s missing
history. The title is 'The Scottish Armada', which features Lord John Maxwell 8th Lord of Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries
in Scotland as the principal hero.
I was born
in Glasgow and moved to Ayr where I started researching my historical novel as the result of locating Spanish galleons
sunk in the Solway Firth.
The story is based on the involvement of Scottish Catholic Lords with Philip II of Spain,
where a plan was agreed to land Spanish troops at Kirkcudbright near Caerlaverock Castle in 1588 and join with the Scottish
Catholics to attack England. I have documented proof that Lord John Maxwell, Earl of Morton was in Madrid with Philip
II to formulate these plans, from the translations of Philip’s papers the ‘Simancas’.
'The Scottish
Armada' ISBN 9781449023898 and is now launched and is available in 32 outlets including Amazon etc. www.bookbutler.com will give full details. I felt it might be of interest to your members. The novel was launched in Kinsale, Ireland,
where I live, on the 28th November and was well received.
The launch
in Scotland will be in the spring of 2010. If you require further information please contact me.
Sincerely John Young
Contact
John via e-mail at: igraine_camelot@hotmail.com
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My Mother's Cousin and Other Memorable Characters
by Bill "Snakebite" Ferguson
Bill writes of his book: "It is a series of short stories covering my Uncle Jock's adventures from
the 2nd. World War in North Africa to his civilian life as a senior official working in the deep level gold mines near Johannesburg.
Those mines are more than two miles deep. I also write about some of his contemporaries and some of the real characters I
worked with in the same mines. I had a career in mining that spanned forty seven years, and describe what it was like
working more than 12000' underground. There are thirty four stories in the book and my Uncle is the central character.
He was my mother's cousin and he and my father, both single at the time, immigrated to South Africa in the mid-thirties. They
had worked in Knockshinnoch coal mine in New Cumnock, Ayrshire."
The book is 267 pages in length, including foreword and glossary and costs $18 (Cdn). For more
information, you may contact the author,
Bill Ferguson. Box 519, Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, Canada. R0E 1A0
This book is a jolly good read. It provides an insight into mining operations
that can only be provided by someone who has been there, and amusing anecdotes about an uncle who must have been a real and
very Scottish character. [m.a.f.].
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My Mother's Cousin. To link to the author's Blog page, click here
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Scotland: A Very Short Introduction by Rab Houston.
This is an excellent summation of Scottish history, covering everything from the Jacobites to devolution and the modern
economy. It has it all - in brief - or at least about as brief as it is possible to be and still contain information
that will be useful. This is Scotland's story without the myths. While the myths are delightful, sometimes you
need just the plain unvarnished (and unexaggerated) truth. This book has it. No doubt it should be on all our
bookshelves.
To order this book, contact the Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314. Or e-mail
andrew.varhol@oup.com
Better yet, click here for the link to Amazon.com:
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To order, click here.
ARRIVED !!
MAOLCOLM, BEQUEST OF THE BROTHERHOOD
*Available copies from Jim Frost include shipping and handling at this price
- $19.00
Maolcolm's charmed life and a penchant for story-telling wouldn't have come as a surprise to the monks
of Kilkillian Priory in Ireland where he was raised as a lad. They would never find out, however for they lay dead,
slaughtered by those who lusted for the presumed wealth of the monasteries of the sixteenth century and others, who were caught
in the frenzy of reducing to mere brick and mortar a church they thought had strayed.
Maolcolm, the son of a midwife and blacksmith, two professions with exceptional powers, would carry
on their legacy under the guise of a penitent banished from the priory in order to do penance in Scotland just as an ancient
predecessor had done. Maolcolm follows pilgrim tracks across midland Scotland oblivious to the turmoil going on around him,
including of all things, the Protestant Reformation. As he travels, he encounters endless perplexing individuals, some
reasonable, some saintly and some downright daffy. His adventures enchant endless audiences in ancient alehouses or
wherever he is able to assume his place beside the hearth.
There's a seriousness to Maolcolm's quest to accomplish the tasks that the monks of Kilkillian want
him to accomplish, but alas, forces beyond his control twist his mission within a mix of sometimes tragic, sometimes triumphant,
but always colorful circumstances. A fatal error in judgment at the end of his journey was by design as we come to find
out.
It wasn't his passing that was so disturbing, it was the demise of oral traditions and old belief
systems that otherwise would be transmitted naturally to future generations. Imperative was the need to find an ear
to hear his story and possibly save the wealth of traditions for another millennium. All is told in the old alehouse
on the west coast of Scotland.
Paperback 386 pages
Books are available only through the author Jim Frost at: jfrost@nls.net
or call: 330-882-0342.
Appeal The Scottish and Irish among us
Those who love fantasy
Those who have a love of history
Others who have found as I did that 16th century Scotland is an endless source of movie plots.
*I have some copies. More can be ordered and received quickly as this is print-on-demand.
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THE SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB
By Alexander McCall Smith
This is a charming mystery written with an eye to detail for all those who know Edinburgh well. Isabel
Dalhousie, a middle aged, rather well off lady, is rather fond of problems - even though she knows they are none of her
business. When she witnesses the death of someone she doesn't know, she makes it her affair to find out more about it
and to solve the mystery behind it. A good read. Alexancer McCall Smith has written other books, well worth pursuing:
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Tears of the Giraffe
Morality for Beautiful Girls
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The Full Cupboard of Life
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
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Not a book, but for those of you who prefer to watch DVD's:
The Bruce Trilogy is an historic three DVD set that brings to life Scotland's
king, Robert the Bruce. These informative and entertaining videos are packed with spectacular Scottish scenery, lovely
songs and music, compelling historic re-enactments and a fascinating, memorable narrative that adds dimension and colour to
the story of Robert the Bruce.
For more information on these DVD's and how to purchase them, click here:
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