Peggy Ann at Peggy Ann’s Post has been busy setting up a Read Scotland 2014 Challenge and although I SWORE that I wouldn’t join in any challenges – I can’t pass this one up, especially as I have loads of books by Scottish authors sitting on my shelves, unread.
Peggy Ann is doing this partly because she’s more than a wee bit of a Scotophile and partly to mark the fact that 2014 is such an important year for Scotland as there’s going to be a referendum on Scottish Independence, it is taking place on September 18th.
In fact I have so many Scottish books that I could probably spend the whole of 2014 just reading books for this challenge so I’m plumping for the Ben Nevis level, that’s 13+ books.
I haven’t decided which books to read yet but they’ll probably be some by authors who aren’t quite so well known outside the UK, maybe A.L.Kennedy, Allan Massie, Alasdair Gray, Andrew O’Hagan and Christopher Brookmyre.
Peggy has been busy doing research for this and has lots of links if you can’t think of many Scottish authors yourself. Honestly, there are loads to choose from, in fact it’s an embarrassment of riches for such a small country. Hop over to Peggy Ann’s Post to read all about it if you fancy joining in.
Katrina,
I’m so glad you informed all of us about this challenge. I’m very interested!
Are you joining any other challenges in 2014?
Because I’m not teaching from January-May, I’m just curious.
Judith
Judith,
Well, never say never! I wasn’t going to do any challenges at all so I might join some others. I’m doing the Classics Club one which is a long term thing, trying to read many of the classics that I’ve had on my shelves for years, hoping to avoid Moby Dick as long as possible of course!
Katrina, I am looking forward to learning more about Scottish authors that I am not familiar with.
TracyK,
So am I – I haven’t read nearly as many modern Scottish authors as I should have.
I can’t wait to find new authors thru this! And I will be able to get those just published in the UK at Awesome books! Thanks for joining!
Peggy Ann,
Thanks for organising it all, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m planning on reading a lot more than 13.
Now I’ll have to work my way through my TBR pile of Scottish related books. They’re mostly HISTORY books and travel essays, but I know if I go through your postings, I’ll find plenty of good novels. Don’t forget Scottish music.
Lorraine,
I plan to include non-fiction too, mainly travel and gardening books probably but some biographies too. I’ll have to see what I can find about Scottish music as I don’t have anything of that sort in the house.
I never do well with challenges. Too stressful for me. I do LOVE Scotland, though.
My two favorite Scottish books are The Island House and Angel Harp by Michael Phillips.
Have a fun challenge.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog
Elizabeth,
Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment, you have a very interesting blog. I had never even heard of Michael Phillips, I’ll have to give him a go.
Katrina