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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 Mystery Animals of the British Isles:
The Western Isles (ISBN 9781905723423)
This award winning book covers both the Inner and Outer Hebrides and brings together for the first time reports of the
strange and mysterious animals from past centuries to the modern day.
The land, inland waters and surrounding sea are all covered; reported sightings include demon dogs, big cats, water horses,
lake monsters, sea serpents, mermaids, Albert the lonely albatross, and the fate of the great auk.
Featuring werewolves on Lewis, big cats on Mull and Colonsay, faery dogs on Uist, sea monsters in the cool waters off Skye
and dragons on Islay, while Benbecula has played host to a multitude of creatures including faery dogs, a bear, a globster,
and there is even the grave of a mermaid to be found - the only sign of a tragic tale.
Complementing the text are illustrations, maps, an illustrated spotter’s guide, a glossary, and a comprehensive index.
The book covers subjects as diverse as cryptozoology, folklore, history and mystery and will be of interest to inhabitants
of and visitors to the islands alike.
Variously described as ‘a cracking read’, ‘an excellent and valuable study’, ‘the work of
an old world story teller’ and ‘a travel guide’ The Mystery Animals of the Western Isles is in a league
of its own.
The book is available in the United States at: www.amazon.com
It is currently priced at from $19.65
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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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