This summer, I decided to dedicate my summer months to reading books set in or about Scotland and its people. Despite my absolute love for Scotland and for books, I'm a bit embarrassed to say that the number of books I've read about my home country have been limited.
Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
If you're going to start somewhere, why not start with one of Scotland's most beloved novels? Sunset Song is about Chris Guthrie, a girl from a rural Aberdeenshire village as she grows up in the early 1900's. It is such a sad book, but at the same time, I felt it really highlighted the day to day struggles of people from these rural places. Despite the different potential lives Chris could live in the city, she had a real love for the land she calls home. Honestly, this is one of the only books that has almost made me cry and I think that really highlights just how sad and harrowing this book is.
The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford
I've always had a special fondness for the beautiful islands around Scotland and one in particular that has always fascinated me is St Kilda. I really hope I can visit it one day, but until then, I thought I'd settle for reading this book. This book follows two people who fell in love on St Kilda and their struggles to find each other again after the evacuation of the island and the end of the Second World War.
At first I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this book. I don't always enjoy reading romantic fiction novels. However, the beautiful descriptions of what island life would have been like on St Kilda really pulled me in.
Calum's Road by Roger Hutchinson
This is another book set on a Scottish island, and this time it is one of my favourite islands: the Isle of Raasay. This book follows the true story of Calum MacLeod, who single-handedly built a road connecting his home on the north of Raasay with the rest of the island. It is a fascinating read about the people of the island and their determination to make the place they were born a liveable home. As well as following Calum's story, this book highlights the history of Raasay, which I really enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this book if you were interested in understanding more about this little Hebridean island and the people who live there.
I absolutely loved challenging myself in this way to read books about my beautiful home country for the last few months. So much so that I think this might be a challenge I stick to over the next few years.
What books set in or about Scotland do you enjoy?
Comments