Christine Macrae: The West End Good Book Guide: Guide 1

Discuss my book selections in the Forum - and add you own recommendations.

Reviews

I hope to focus on new Scot's books, fiction and non-fiction, including local publications, poetry, crime, children's books, the arts and so on, but a page which confined itself within these borders would be dull indeed.

Glasgow Kiss. Ed Catherine McInerney. 11/9.

A great collection of short stories written and published here in Glasgow. Catherine McInerney is Glasgow's own literature officer. I doubt a better one could be found anywhere. Stories I particularly like are "Fair Friday" by Kenny Manley and "Doors" by Sheila Puri. But they're all good. Settings range from wartime Berlin to the Highlands via the Yoker Ferry. Edwin Morgan's introduction notes "some sharp eyes and ears among the writers of these tales." What better recommendation could there be?
Find it at Amazon: Glasgow Kiss: A Collection of New...

The Gravy Star. Hamish MacDonald. 11/9

The reason for inclusion here is the story begins in the Botanic Gardens. It moves on from there. I found this a heavy going read myself, but tastes vary. Plenty people admire this book and it has many amusing sections.
Find it at Amazon: The Gravy Star

Photography in the National Galleries of Scotland. Sara Stevenson and Duncan Forbes.

Published by the Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland at the end of last year, this companion guide to the collection of photography is one of four. The other three are the main Gallery, Modern Art and the Portrait Gallery. This stunning book takes you from 1840 to the present day. Excellent text accompanies each photo covering the photographers, their subjects and techniques. An edifying combination of history, philosophy and geography with super images.

The Blue Guide, Scotland. Elspeth and Michael Wills. A & C Black, London and WW Norton, New York.

Michael and Elspeth use public transport almost all the time. When it's not possible to get on a bus, rowing boat, plane, ferry or train, their many loyal friends drive them. The new Blue Guide is thus, in some ways, a communal effort. They have been everywhere they write about. I can't imagine anyone knowing Scotland better. Donald Dewar's introduction is worth the price alone. The maps are super, Glasgow gets a good write up and it's all interspersed with stories and history The stuff on how to get there, where to stay, visit, eat and shop is faultless. The only guide you'll need.
Find it at Amazon: Blue Guide: Scotland (Blue Guides)

Good Reading Guide. Ed Nick Rennison. Bloomsbury.

The 2001 edition of a trusted series. For those of us without a degree in literature, who wander aimlessly round the library or bookshop unsure where to begin, help is at hand. Authors are listed in alphabetical order, with descriptions of their work. But that's only the beginning. There are menus of suggested reading for 90 odd themes. With follow up recommendations and "pathways" your problem will not be what to read but how to find the time, and what to leave alone. Life's too short to browse for hours and leave with something you later find unsatisfactory. Save time and money!!!
Find it at Amazon: Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide

Section 3

Favourites

Here are some recommendations.

Imagine a City. Moira Burgess. Argyll publishing.

This book was published in 1998. The "acknowledged historian of the Glasgow novel", Moira Burgess, produced an unusual book. Although this covers the 200 years over which Glasgow has provided a setting for so many great books, this is no mere guide. In writing about the cities of the imagination Moira Burgess elucidates the art of fiction. This book is invaluable for anyone wishing to read about Glasgow and essential for anyone trying to write about it. If you hold with the view that fiction is the last repository of the truth, there is much to learn here.
Find it at Amazon: Imagine a City: Glasgow in Fiction

Joan Eardley. Cordelia Oliver. Mainstream.

Cordelia Oliver first published this definitive book on Joan Eardley in 1988. Devotees of Eardley have it already I'm sure, but anyone interested in 20th century Scottish art would do well to track it down. Nobody captured Glasgow childhood around WW2 the way she did. She was a master of colour, far travelled as well. She left her Townhead studio and eventually settled in Catterline. The later paintings of the incredibly crescent shaped bay there, the waves and grasses bring the North Sea to the page.
Find it at Amazon: Joan Eardley, RSA

The Worm Book. Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Puffin.

A current favourite of Sean, my grandson who is 6. It's about worms and he never passes one without giving it a lengthy examination. This endearing mixture of fact and fiction, beautifully illustrated, would cheer the hardest of hearts. Very small kids love the pictures and bigger ones laugh out loud at the text.
Find it at Amazon: The Worm Book

Alan Spence It's Colours They are Fine. Phoenix.

A classic of Glasgow fiction. Covering every aspect of life in the city, these stories tell of the place and its people, young and old, Catholic and Protestant, hopeful and disillusioned. 'Deprivation, despair, casual violence and religious bigotry go hand-in-hand with pride, warmth, humour and deep humanity' Sunday Times
Find it at Amazon: It's Colours They Are Fine

Reasons to Live. Amy Hempel. Harper Perennial.

Californian Amy Hempel is a poet as well as a short story writer and some of these resemble poetry more than prose. A studied minimalist, witty with it, she has an optimistic take on life, in spite of being aware of its tragic side. The title says it all.
Find it at Amazon: Reasons to Live

James Kelman. A Disaffection. Vintage.

First published in 1989, this continues to stand the test of time. A controversial book, then and now, the characterisation and dialogue set an example which lesser mortals aim to emulate. Most fail to approach the standard set here.

It covers a few days in the life of a disillusioned Glasgow teacher and is a book that improves on each reading. If only they were all like that!
Find it at Amazon: A Disaffection

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