Favourite Scottish (themed) Novels

**Peter Crowe** · 13th October 11, 07:01 PM

Much as I am interested in Traditional Highland Civilian Dress, I am also interested in Scottish History (which I studied for Joint Honours with Politics as an undergraduate), and Scottish Literature, especially the works of Burns and the genre of the Scottish (Historical) novel.

This interest was sparked early at around the age of 11 when my mum gave me her copy of R.L. Stevenson's Kidnapped. To this day (now in my mid-40's) I still regard Kidnapped as the single most formative novel I ever read.

Other personal favourites would include Stevenson's Catriona, and Neil Munro's New Road and Doom Castle.

I'd be interested to learn what Scottish novels X-markers have read and enjoyed, and how influential folk find them.

**GoodGirlGonePlaid** · 13th October 11, 09:26 PM

I really (REALLY!) enjoyed the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It's a historical fiction w/ time travel and a sold romance. I believe it's been mentioned on here before.
Warning: these books are long. About 1000 pages each and there are 7. I got thoroughly sucked in on book 1, but they're not for everyone.
Disclaimer: books contain sex, violence, horrific prison abuse, spousal discipline (18th century style) Culloden hi-lights, Jacobites, and a mancrush or two.
Well written with thoroughly researched Scottish details.

**Dale Seago** · 13th October 11, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by GoodGirlGonePlaid

Well written with thoroughly researched Scottish details.

Some things are a bit "off" in the first novel particularly, but Gabaldon acknowledges that. I also got totally sucked in on the first novel, which I was NOT expecting to happen. But it turns out that the author is one hell of a storyteller, and I couldn't stop. Had to get every one of them as they became available.

**Neil Clark** · 14th October 11, 03:13 AM

Originally Posted by GoodGirlGonePlaid

I really (REALLY!) enjoyed the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It's a historical fiction w/ time travel and a sold romance. I believe it's been mentioned on here before.
Warning: these books are long. About 1000 pages each and there are 7. I got thoroughly sucked in on book 1, but they're not for everyone.
Disclaimer: books contain sex, violence, horrific prison abuse, spousal discipline (18th century style) Culloden hi-lights, Jacobites, and a mancrush or two.
Well written with thoroughly researched Scottish details.

Whisky Galore!

Anyway, I had a crack at reading the Outlander stuff, as there is a company here actually running tours based on the locations from the book, so I thought, as I run tours too, I should acquaint myself with them.

I'll concede they are maybe a wee bit more accurate than Braveheart, but I really thought they were basically drivel with just enough fornication thrown in to stop one's interest completely clouding over. However, I'm prepared to try again, as surely the HUGE audience they get can't all be wrong? Maybe NZ people feel the same about Tolkein?

Plus, I don't want to offend any guests who may actually think this stuff is great. I can, after all, show people where everything in the books didnt happen. And at least we know its fiction, there's undoubtedly been more crap written about Wallace, Rob Roy et al.

So I'd be really keen to hear more about these books, then I'll dive in again. Tell me what u think the best bits are? Why is this stuff good, and what would you want to see from the books?

Thanks all.

**Dale Seago** · 14th October 11, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by Neil Clark

Tell me what u think the best bits are?. . .and what would you want to see from the books?

The fornication!!

**Meggers** · 14th October 11, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by GoodGirlGonePlaid

I really (REALLY!) enjoyed the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It's a historical fiction w/ time travel and a sold romance. I believe it's been mentioned on here before.
Warning: these books are long. About 1000 pages each and there are 7. I got thoroughly sucked in on book 1, but they're not for everyone.
Disclaimer: books contain sex, violence, horrific prison abuse, spousal discipline (18th century style) Culloden hi-lights, Jacobites, and a mancrush or two.
Well written with thoroughly researched Scottish details.

Ive heard of those and have been meaning to read them.

Unfortunately the only Scottish themed novels that I seem to read are the really stereotypical poor Scottish woman meets handsome English soldier who is sent there to oppress her and her family. She has never been the lady that she was meant to be, since she learned to kick *** and roll around in the heather and thistles all day and beat up the local Scottish boys since shes so awesome with her sword or bow and arrows. This rebel soul is why the Englishman loves her. She hates this Englishman but his square jaw and dark hair are too much for her to handle so she inevitably falls in love with him, much to the disgust of both of their people, and Englishman and Scottish woman live happilly ever after, after Englishman turns against his brutal English people and helps Scottish woman defend her land...

delete Englishman and add in Roman OR Norman OR Saxon and then you have about 980938048230480384039843 different romance novels all built on the same theme.

So please, im dying for a new story

**J_Mimbs** · 14th October 11, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by MeghanWalker

So please, im dying for a new story

Which explains why you have a picture of Daenerys on here lol.

The closest thing to a Scottish story I can offer is Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle, which in part shows the conflicts between the various tribes of Britain and Ireland, of which the Scots were one. Unfortunately I don't remember any mention of kilts or the like.

**Meggers** · 14th October 11, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by J_Mimbs

Which explains why you have a picture of Daenerys on here lol.

....shuddup...

Originally Posted by GoodGirlGonePlaid

LOL just add "vampire" and I think I've read that one.

oy vay. Im so over the vampire books. True Blood is the only vamp stuff that I can handle anymore.

**KiltedKnome** · 14th October 11, 07:53 PM

It's been a number of years since I read these, but I really enjoyed the trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbons -- The Scots Quair. The three novels are Sunset Song, Cloud Howe and Gray Granite.

**Gryphon57** · 19th October 11, 11:03 AM

[QUOTE=MeghanWalker;1026570oy vay. Im so over the vampire books. True Blood is the only vamp stuff that I can handle anymore.[/QUOTE]

You can't truly be over vampire books unless you've given Saberhagen a try. His group of books on the topic have a decidedly different spin on the genre. Starting with An Old Friend of the Family. Dracula wants to set the record straight and tell his side of the story and disputes all of the lies "that nut Van Helsing has been saying about him."

I'll also add another vote for the Outlander saga. Wife talked me into reading the first one; we now own hardbacks of the entire set. One of which is signed by the author.