Have you signed up for Peggy Ann’s Read Scotland 2014 Challenge yet? If not then have a wee think about doing it as I’m sure you could read at least 3 or 4 books which would qualify for it without even realising. For instance did you realise that Ian Fleming would fall into the category of Scottish author, and almost all of the children’s classic authors were Scottish or of Scottish descent. Now that Jack has actually retired he is going to do this challenge, his first ever, he should have much more time for reading now, have a look at his post about it here. We will both be doing the Ben Nevis which is 13 books but we’ll end up doing far more than that I’m sure. In fact I think I might manage a purely mythical Jings, crivens and help ma boab category, and if you’ve ever read Oor Wullie you’ll know that those are all words which are used to mean flabbergasted, astonished, for goodness sake! Because I plan to read about 50 books for this challenge.
To begin with I’m reading Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe over the month of January, doing it in four chunks and writing about it each week. Join in with me if you think you’re hard enough! Judith are you still up for it?
At the same time I intend to read Lanark by Alasdair Grey as a respite from Ivanhoe. Lanark was voted the second best Scottish book recently, the first was Irvine Walsh’s Trainspotting but I don’t fancy that one at all. Below is a list of some of the Scottish fiction authors that I’ll definitely be reading during 2014, I’ll be adding more though. Books with a Scottish setting are also eligible for the challenge. Have a look at the Scottish Books Trust for more inspiration.
Iain Banks
William Boyd
John Buchan
Andrew Crumey
O.Douglas
Alasdair Grey
A.L. Kennedy
Dennis Mackail
Compton Mackenzie
Allan Massie
James Oswald
Rosamund Pilcher
James Runcie
A.D. Scott
Walter Scott
Mary Stewart
Jessica Stirling
Josephine Tey
Alison Thirkell
Angela Thirkell
If I read just one by all of these writers then I’ll have bagged Ben Nevis and then some, but I still have my non fiction books to look through and list, it looks like 2014 is going to be a very Scottish (parochial) year for me!
Oh and I’ll be writing about some of the many children’s classics which are suitable for this challenge. You’re never too old for a good children’s book. Remember that you don’t have to have a blog to take part in this challenge.
Thanks for setting this up Peggy Ann.
Katrina,
And, yes, thanks to Peggy Ann and you, I have signed up! Is it time to plan our Ivanhoe read, do you think? I read the first chapter and thought that it was…interesting! Ready to begin when you think the time is right.
I wish you a year of transition–to a new locale and a new adventure. And a year of delightful reads to get you through it all.
What’s J. been reading these days? Ken loved the latest Ian Rankin. Very fond of Rebus, he is.
Judith
Judith,
I just started reading Ivanhoe this afternoon, hoping to get a quarter of the way through it by, when would be good for you, could you manage 7th Jan or thereabouts? I wish you and Ken everything you could hope for in 2014, I’m glad he’s still reading Rankin, I’ll have to add him to my Read Scotland list!
Jack has been busy reading SF for review in Interzone mag but have a look at his blog to see what else he has been up to. http://jackdeighton.co.uk/
Katrina,
I’d wish for a little more time for the first quarter. Perhaps I can beg a little for the 9th? And what do you think about trying to determine which chapter marks the end of the first quarter. That would help me, I think.
I wonder what you think. If I finish reading Chapter 10, that puts me a ways over the 1/4 mark. Do you agree with that calculation?
These are simply ideas. I’d love to have feedback and such from you, based on your reading assignments in 2014.
Tra la,
Judith
Judith,
That sounds perfect, I’ll read on to the end of chapter 10 and then we can have a wee discussion about it.
TTFN
Ta ta for now,
Katrina
Katrina,
That sounds great! I’m reading Chapter 3 and am finding so much to intrigue me.
Judith
Judith,
So far it’s a lot better than I thought it would be.
Thanks for the great plug, Katrina! I’ll take a look at Ivanhoe and see if I can do it. Just started The Truth in Stone by David MacKenzie.
Peggy Ann,
Give Ivanhoe a go but if it isn’t your cup of tea then just ditch it! I don’t know David MacKenzie at all.
He’s only written 2 books. I’m trying to finish that book about Robert the Bruce’s sisters too right now.
Just learned from Evee’s blog that the Ben Nevis is Scotland’s highest mountain? Thought it was a person! I signed up at Goodreads, but I need to check Peggy Ann’s blog again because I didn’t see my name for sign up.I’m getting great info from your articles. I’ll have more travel and history books about Scotland on my list. Had everything all set up thinking I would be doing it on my own!
Lorraine,
I don’t blame you, it does sound like a person but ‘ben’ just means mountain. The highest one where I grew up is called Ben Lomond. I think maybe you have to sign up on Peggy Ann’s Post too. I’ll definitely be joining you reading some history and travel books!
Lorraine you don’t have to sign up at both places! Not unless you want to. Some people blog and some people just do Goodreads. Just glad to have you along!