Favourite Scottish (themed) Novels

[BuchananBiker]

I'll throw it out there. I'm a burley biker. I hunt, I butcher my own meat. I'm a veteran and all around tough hombre.

That said, I enjoyed the heck out of the Outlanders books. The first one was put in my hands as a challenge to my assumptions about "chick fiction". Couldn't put them down. I mimic Jamie a bit and call my French decended wife by a Gaelic pet name (she got it tattooed on her wrist for our anniversary).

[GoodGirlGonePlaid]

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

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

Hijacking thread for a minue:
To those who liked the Outlander series, and Meghan, I highly rec "The Bronze Horsemen" series by Paulina Simmons. Russia during World War II. Don't let the description fool you, it sounds like a totally cheesy romance novel, like the above mentioned, but it's not. It's well written and gut wrenching. Lots of war, death, starvation, torture, "travel" and references to meals that will make your mouth water.
...but of course Alexander has a "square jaw and dark hair".

[GoodGirlGonePlaid]

...I mimic Jamie a bit and call my French decended wife by a Gaelic pet name (she got it tattooed on her wrist for our anniversary).

You rock!

[Tartan Tess]

Gotta vote for Outlander series first choice.

[mookien]

Some great historical fiction (and a good bit of history) can be found in Nigel Tranter's novels including "The Wallace" and "The Bruce Trilogy".

If you enjoy comedy and want to immerse yourself in the "Lone Shieling complex", read Compton Mackenzie's "The Highland Omnibus" consisting of three of his novels - "The Monarch of the Glen" (that inspired the eponymous TV series), "Whisky Galore", and "The Rival Monsters".

Tranter's novels instill a hunger for more Tranter novels, and Mackenzie's Highland novels induce a hard-to-break cycle of wee drams and laughter. You've been warned.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

I was just about to recomend Nigel Tranter myself but it looks like Mookien beat me to it!
I would just add I have really enjoyed all of the Tranter novels I have read thus far. I would really suggest "Lord of the Isles" "Kenneth" "Columbia"&"Hope Endures". (His non-fiction "The Stone" is very good as well)

I further all Compton MacKenzie recommendations as well.I would add his "Hunting the Fairies" to that list..it's the second in Highland tales.

I would also add Lillian Beckwith's novels about her character Morag adventures in a small rural Scottish village. "The Sea for Breakfast","The Hills is Lonely" and "The Loud Halo" come to mind as the titles.(Hopefully the memory is still working after a long day!)

Sara

[Peter Crowe]

I was just about to recomend Nigel Tranter myself but it looks like Mookien beat me to it!
I would just add I have really enjoyed all of the Tranter novels I have read thus far. I would really suggest "Lord of the Isles" "Kenneth" "Columbia"&"Hope Endures". (His non-fiction "The Stone" is very good as well)

I further all Compton MacKenzie recommendations as well.I would add his "Hunting the Fairies" to that list..it's the second in Highland tales.

I would also add Lillian Beckwith's novels about her character Morag adventures in a small rural Scottish village. "The Sea for Breakfast","The Hills is Lonely" and "The Loud Halo" come to mind as the titles.(Hopefully the memory is still working after a long day!)

Sara

I enjoyed Nigel Tranter's Young Montrose, but not his Patriot because his portrayal of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun did not ring true.

I have also enjoyed the same Lillian Beckwith stories, and you mentioning them reminded me of Finlay J. MacDonald's Crowdie and Cream, Crotal and White and Corncrake and Lysander. Later these were dramatised for BBC TV in Gaelic about 2002.

[mookien]

...

I would just add I have really enjoyed all of the Tranter novels I have read thus far. I would really suggest "Lord of the Isles" "Kenneth" "Columbia"&"Hope Endures". (His non-fiction "The Stone" is very good as well)

I further all Compton MacKenzie recommendations as well.I would add his "Hunting the Fairies" to that list..it's the second in Highland tales.

I would also add Lillian Beckwith's novels about her character Morag adventures in a small rural Scottish village. "The Sea for Breakfast","The Hills is Lonely" and "The Loud Halo" come to mind as the titles.(Hopefully the memory is still working after a long day!)

Sara

Sara: Thanks for the further recommendations. I have not read those novels, .... but will now.

John (mookien)

[Dale Seago]

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.

Oh, and don't forget switching the nationalities/genders to English woman and Scottish man.

And as has been mentioned, vampires.

And lycanthropes.

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Sara: Thanks for the further recommendations. I have not read those novels, .... but will now.

John (mookien)

No problem! This is a great thread...I've added books to my "to read list" too!
Happy reading,
Sara