THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

It’s New Year’s Eve and there’s trouble on the timeline. Elle is sent on an urgent trip to the 31st of December 1999, the eve of the new millennium, where Millennia’s on the rampage. She aims to reinvent herself as a malevolent millennial by taking on Time itself.Can Millennia change the past to destroy the future? It can’t be left to chance. It’s up to Elle and The Infinites to save the world. And with the very nature of time at stake, they’ll have unexpected help from friends in high places.It’s the final countdown. And it starts now . . .

I may not be brave enough, but somewhere deep inside of me there is, perhaps, the kernel of someone who is.That brave someone was the legendary Nusayba bint Ka’ab al Khazrajia, who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad at the dawn of Islam, the author N.S Nuseibeh’s ancestor. In drawing on Nusayba’s stories, Nuseibeh delves into the experience of being an Arab woman today and in the distant past – taking her from superheroes and the glorification of violence to the rise of Arab feminism, to what courage looks like in the context of interminable conflict. By seeking to understand her namesake in the context of her own twenty-first century concerns, Nuseibeh links our current ideas of Muslims and Arabs with their origins, exploring myth-making and identity, religion and nationhood, feminism and race.As intimate as they are thoughtful, these linked essays offer a dazzling exploration of heritage, gender and the idea of home, while also showing how connecting with our history can help us understand ourselves and others today.

Using the iconic, mysterious figure of Nusaybah bint Ka’ab, the 7th century warrior woman who fought alongside Prophet Mohammed, this collection of essays explores race, identity, early Islamic history, 7th century Arabia and contemporary feminism, moving from the origins of the hijab to the feminising of food, from superhero narratives to the evolution of sharia law. Stories about Nusaybah are woven through it all, as are the author’s memories of growing up in Jerusalem, their current experiences of living in Britain and their reflections on being a secular, feminist British-Palestinian woman from a Muslim family.

An enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine romcom featuring spicy whisky tasting scenes, hot men in kilts, and adorable dogs falling in love.April Sinclair, a Hollywood actress whose fame is starting to dry up, has returned to her tiny Scottish hometown on the Isle of Skye, the location of her family’s local whisky business, following her grandfather’s death. But she hadn’t banked on silent and grump Malcolm Macabe being the one in charge.Mal loves his own company, and he doesn’t appreciate glamorous film star April’s presence ? or the way she’s trying to take back control of the whisky distillery. But their shared desire to save the struggling family business will mean working a lot closer than either of them might wish?With a stunning rural Scottish setting, a healthy measure of steaminess, and a rugged heartthrob to die for, opposites definitely start to attract in this spicy enemies-to-lovers and grumpy-sunshine romcom.

Despite a resurgence in Scottish fort studies, few sites have been investigated, and fewer still at the scale reported in this volume. Over 2014-17, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, working with AOC Archaeology Group, excavated three hilltop forts on the Tay estuary to explore both their enclosing works and internal buildings, and uncovered an impressive assemblage of small finds.At Moredun fort on Moncreiffe Hill, a previously unknown monumental roundhouse, a rare La Tène bird-head brooch, and evidence of shale bangle industry were uncovered. At Castle Law, Abernethy, excavated in the 1890s and the type-site of Childe?s ?Abernethy complex?, re-excavation prompted reassessment of the artefacts from original excavations to reveal new evidence of the deposition of artefacts and animal bones within its cistern. Excavation of the enclosing works of these sites, and Moncreiffe fort, suggest an evolution of fort defences from simple earth and stone ramparts to massive timber-laced walls ? the murus Gallicus described by Caesar ? reflecting high status sites with restricted access for a social elite.Hillforts of The Tay was part of the Tay Landscape Partnership Scheme, a community heritage initiative and the results of this citizen science project make a significant contribution to establishing Tayside as a well-studied area for the site type both within Scotland, and further afield.

Try as he might, Arun simply cannot wriggle his way out of taking the maths test at school. Instead, he must learn to face his fears in this encouraging and relatable school story from Serena Patel.Maths test? Nightmare! Arun is determined to get out of a Maths test at school. But how? A school-wide protest against all tests? Pretending to be sick? He?s ready to try anything, but maybe he?s not the only one who feels this way, and maybe in the end it?s better to face your fears?

Get to know Zog and his friends in this fun board book in the shapeof Zog by the bestselling creators of The Gruffalo andStick Man.Perfect for kids of all ages with sturdy card pages and brightlycoloured illustrations. The bouncy text introduces readers to themuch-loved characters from the classic story.Meet the Flying Doctors – a dragon, knight and girl.Their names are Gadabout the Great, and Zog, and Princess Pearl.

KAREN PIRIE RETURNS. A MASTERFUL THRILLER BY THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER VAL MCDERMID__________Edinburgh, haunted by the ghosts of its many writers, is also the cold case beat of DCI Karen Pirie. So she shouldn’t be surprised when an author’s manuscript appears to be a blueprint for an actual crime.Karen can’t ignore the plot’s chilling similarities to the unsolved case of an Edinburgh University student who vanished from her own doorstep. The manuscript seems to be the key to unlocking what happened to Lara Hardie, but there’s a problem: the author died before he finished it.As Karen digs deeper, she uncovers a spiralling game of betrayal and revenge, where lies are indistinguishable from the truth and with more than one unexpected twist . . .The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is at the top of her game in her most gripping and fiendishly clever case yet.Praise for Val McDermid’McDermid is at her considerable best’ GUARDIAN’Irresistible’ PATRICIA CORNWELL’A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre’ PETER JAMES’Outstanding’ SPECTATOR’Another masterpiece’ DAVID BALDACCI’Sensational. One of Britain’s most accomplished writers’ SUNDAY EXPRESS

This compact, pocket-sized Snowdonia & North Wales travel guidebook is ideal for travellers on weekend trips or shorter breaks in the UK. It includes ready-made walking and driving itineraries that allow you to organise your visit to Snowdonia & North Wales without losing time planning.The Snowdonia & North Wales guide book covers: The North Coast and Carneddau Mountains, A Tour of Anglesey, Beddgelert and Porthmadog, Snowdon from Caernarfon, The Lleyn Peninsula, Tremadog Bay to the Mawddach Estuary, Wrexham to Bala – and Back, Dolgellau to Cadair Idris and the Aran Mountains, Cadair Idris to Machynlleth.Inside this Snowdonia & North Wales travel book you will find:- 9 ready-made walks and tours – easy-to-follow walking and driving tour itineraries featuring the best places to visit, as well as what to do and where to eat along the way- Walks and tour highlights – short lists highlight the best of each walk or tour- Things not to miss in Snowdonia & North Wales – Blaenau Ffestiniog and Slate Caverns, Centre for Alternative Technology, Portmeirion, Snowdon, National Slate Museum, Llandudno, Ffestiniog Railway, Caernarfon, Harlech, Conwy- Curated recommendations of places – main attractions, off-the-beaten-track adventures, child-friendly family activities, chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas- Rainy day recommendations – plenty of options, whatever the British weather throws at you- Insider recommendations – tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots- Historical and cultural insights – learn more about Snowdonia & North Wales’ rich history with fascinating cultural insights.- Trip tips – outdoor activities and themed holidays- Practical information – how to get there and how to get around, facts for visitors,- Handy mapping – practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered sights relating to major points of interest in the main text.- Free download of the eBook – available after the purchase of the printed guidebook Snowdonia & North Wales- Fully updated post-COVID-19

Ken Currie: Paintings and Writings provides a unique insight into the thought-world of Ken Currie?s challenging and enigmatic art. For over four decades Currie has created some of the most confrontational and intriguing paintings in the contemporary art world. Throughout this period, he has been acclaimed for the artistry of his technique and the cryptic quality of his imagery.This book explores his writings, both public and private, to open-out the discourse on his visceral creativity. For the first time Currie has made available his studio journals. These intimate writings, coupled with personal letters and published statements, are juxtaposed to his esteemed artworks. The result is a fascinating dialogue that explores the motives and aspirations of his inscrutable paintings.Within the field of ?artist?s writings? this book offers an inspirational presentation. Compiled and edited by the art historian Tom Normand, it penetrates the creative imagination of a truly visionary artist. Fundamentally, it reveals the intense passions of a primordial human heart.

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023A dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession and political corruption.Eniola is tall for his age, a boy who looks like a man. His father has lost his job, so Eniola spends his days running errands for the local tailor and begging, dreaming of a big future.Wuraola is a golden girl, the perfect child of a wealthy family. Now an exhausted young doctor in her first year of practice, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of family friends.When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party, Wuraola and Eniola’s lives become unexpectedly intertwined. In this breathtaking novel, Ayobami Adebayo shines her light on Nigeria, the gaping divides in its society, and the shared humanity that lives in between.

A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SUMMER BOOK OF 2023: SCIENCEA NEW SCIENTIST BEST POPULAR SCIENCE BOOK 2023A NEXT BIG IDEA CLUB MUST READ 2023A STYLIST BOOK TO BRING YOU WISDOM IN 2023Discover the next frontier of scientific understanding: your body’s electrome.Every cell in your body – bones, skin, nerves, muscle – has a voltage, like a tiny battery. This bioelectricity is why your brain can send signals to your body, why it develops and how it heals itself.In We Are Electric, award-winning science writer Sally Adee explores the colourful history of bioelectricity and journeys into the remarkable future of the discipline, through today’s laboratories where real-world medical applications are being developed.

‘A delicious trip through the geography, history and culture of the region’ ? Sunday TelegraphEver since the days of the Grand Tour, Tuscany has cast its magic spell on foreign vistiors. Attracted by the perfect combination of history, art, architecture, superb natural beauty and weather ? not to mention magnificent traditions of food and drink ? British visitors and residents have been at times so numerous that the local word for foreigners was simply ‘gli inglesi’ ? ‘the English’.What is it that makes this exquisite part of Italy so seductive? Alistair Moffat embarks on a journey into Tuscany?s past. From the flowering of the Etruscan civilization in the seventh century bc through the rise of the powerful medieval communes of Arezzo, Luca, Pisa and Florence, and the role the area played as the birthplace of the Renaissance, he underlines both the area?s regional uniqueness as well as the vital role it has played in the history of the whole of Italy. Insightful, readable and imbued with the author?s own enthusiasm for Tuscany, this book includes a wealth of information not found in tourist guides.’A sun-drenched meditation on the character of the place and its people’ ? The Scotsman

The Perfect Passion Dating Company at No. 24 Mouse Lane in Edinburgh’s New Town is run by Katie Donald who has an innate instinct for bringing people together. She has developed a skill for finding out what it is that people really want. Along the way, Katie learns profound lessons about her own desires as she works at better understanding others. Although Katie has little in the way of direct experience, with the help of her amiable and handsome office neighbour William Kidd, she soon finds herself making matches for the lonely hearts tired of meeting online ? and who want a more personal touch.For fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s many beloved series and romantic standalone novels, The Perfect Passion Company shows him at his most perceptive, playful, and generous. In the way that only McCall Smith can, these tales offer a glimpse inside the psychology of matchmaking, the search for love and companionship, and the mysterious spark of attraction that can, at times, catch hold of us all.Contains two previously published eBook novellas: COOK FOR ME and A LABOURER IN THE VINEYARD OF LOVE The third and concluding story, THE SOUND OF SILENCE is published here for the first time.

Rebellion was recurrent in the Highlands because the Gaels (Scoti) were an often-oppressed indigenous minority in the nation, Scotland, to which they gave their name. They spoke a language, Gaelic, few outsiders would learn, and had their own family and social system, the clans. Warfare was bloody, culminating in the catastrophe of Culloden Moor during the doomed quest to restore the Stuart kingship to all of Britain. Economic hardship, including the near-genocidal Clearances, in which tenant farmers were replaced with sheep, drove the Gaels from the glens and islands, so that most today live in the diaspora, including millions in North America. Although the Gaels lack a single genetic identity, they clearly draw from distinct roots in the Irish, Norse and Picts. Despite their hardship, the Gaels are also presented in romantic portrayals by the artistic elite of other nations. This book offers ways in which the reader might find roots and ancestry in unfamiliar terrain. Chapters discuss the landscape and language of the Highlanders, the rise of clans, feuds and invasions, and eventual emigration.

Push, pull and slide the moving mechanisms to meet all your favourite characters from the deep dark wood and bring the story to life. This brilliant board book is based on the bestselling classic picture book, The Gruffalo, which celebrates it’s 25th anniversary!Discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with a fox, an owl, a snake . . . and a hungry Gruffalo! Move the magical push, pull and slide mechanisms on every spread to join in the fun.With a short, simple rhyming text based on the original story, The Gruffalo: A Push, Pull and Slide Book is the perfect introduction for preschoolers to The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and a great gift for fans of the bestselling picture book to say happy birthday to the Gruffalo!

The Perfect Passion Dating Company at No. 24 Mouse Lane in Edinburgh’s New Town is run by Katie Donald who has an innate instinct for bringing people together. She has developed a skill for finding out what it is that people really want. Along the way, Katie learns profound lessons about her own desires as she works at better understanding others. Although Katie has little in the way of direct experience, with the help of her amiable and handsome office neighbour William Kidd, she soon finds herself making matches for the lonely hearts tired of meeting online ? and who want a more personal touch.For fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s many beloved series and romantic standalone novels, The Perfect Passion Company shows him at his most perceptive, playful, and generous. In the way that only McCall Smith can, these tales offer a glimpse inside the psychology of matchmaking, the search for love and companionship, and the mysterious spark of attraction that can, at times, catch hold of us all.Contains two previously published eBook novellas: COOK FOR ME and A LABOURER IN THE VINEYARD OF LOVE The third and concluding story, THE SOUND OF SILENCE is published here for the first time.

Can Annie find her missing bunny before it?s caught by the neighbourhood fox? A gentle and heartwarming animal story from worldwide bestseller Holly Webb.Annie is really excited about her new pet rabbits and can?t wait to welcome them into the amazing new home her dad has built for them.But when Annie is in a rush to get to school the next morning, she doesn?t check that the door to the hutch is shut properly, and one of the rabbits, Humbug, escapes.Can Annie find Humbug in time to save her from the neighbourhood fox ??

Janette Ayachi’s second collection moves away from the personal and delves into the universal with poems often taking flight from the page to parachute into performance. Her hypnotic voice lifts from a keen observing stance to one that probes the chemical reactions in nature, and especially in the body. Fire is seen as an element; as something environmental, a natural disaster. But Ayachi also plays with fire as a fuel in relationships; a heat felt and subject to synergy within the cells and flesh, a cardiac pulse, a love that comes quickly and burns slowly, constantly rekindling hope for change, peace and renewal. There is a mystic undertow that exposes the materials, the lore of bones and anatomy, pilgrimages and prayers, superstitions and super galaxies that she explores with language. Lost landscapes and lost loves merge as she confronts loneliness at the same time as showing us new bloom is on the horizon – that nature will always will us another spark.

1843. On a remote Scottish island, Ivar, the sole occupant, leads a life of quiet isolation until the day he finds a man unconscious on the beach below the cliffs. The newcomer is John Ferguson, an impoverished church minister sent to evict Ivar and turn the island into grazing land for sheep. Unaware of the stranger’s intentions, Ivar takes him into his home, and in spite of the two men having no common language, a fragile bond begins to form between them. Meanwhile on the mainland, John’s wife Mary anxiously awaits news of his mission.

Against the rugged backdrop of this faraway spot beyond Shetland, Carys Davies’s intimate drama unfolds with tension and tenderness: a touching and crystalline study of ordinary people buffeted by history and a powerful exploration of the distances and connections between us. Perfectly structured and surprising at every turn, Clear is a marvel of storytelling, an exquisite short novel by a master of the form.