Another writer strutting and fretting: living in Scotland
I first met Ian Rankin in 2006 on his Chicago tour stop. I'd been a fan of his John Rebus detective series a short while, as much for the familiar Edinburgh setting as the writing. I fell all over myself talking to Rankin, stuttering and turning red. His accent and rugged good looks made my …
Continue reading An evening with Ian Rankin: Music and Murder
I'm blaming dismal cold and wet weather on my grumpy reading mood. I have never suffered mediocre books gladly. I do not hesitate to throw dull books aside with such force they dent the walls. The older I grow, the less latitude I'm willing to give as time grows shorter. Reviewing books more …
“When you steal from the library, you are preventing anyone else from reading that book, and the very notion makes me want to drop you in the Void.” Piers Anthony Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been, oh, a week since my last confession. The sin's the same, which should make …
Life's been challenging for Chris and me this past week. Outside forces have been exerting a lot of negative energy, leaving us two anxiety-ridden insomniacs walking around like yawning zombies. The onset of autumn hasn't helped. Shortening days coupled with cold winds and driving rain don't improve the mood. But then it's Scotland, …
Continue reading Daily Scotland: Excursions to Haddington, East Lothian and Dean Village, Edinburgh
The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell is published by Profile Books (£14.99). Monday, 3 March Online orders: 9 Books found: 8 Another beautiful day, marred at an early stage by a customer wearing shorts and knee-length woollen socks who knocked over a pile of books and left them lying on the floor. …
Assimilation into Scottish life and culture has been hampered by the obviousness of my American accent. It's not obnoxiously regional (sorry, fellow countrymen), more News Anchor American. Still. American. I hope it's my imagination all noise around me stops when I open my mouth, like a space alien has just spoken, causing jaws …
Lest you forget this is, at heart, a book blog, I'd like to interrupt the lovely Scotland talk to briefly address my annual love-hate rant about the Man Bookers. The shortlist's just come out, tripping the switch for my traditional snarky comments outlining all the reasons it's utterly ridiculous. I bitch and moan first, puffing …
The familiarity gained from last year's three-month stay in Scotland's shortened the re-acquaintance process with life here. It already feels familiar walking to the market to pick up simple things like milk and bread. There's a small shop, a mini-mart we'd call it in the States, five minutes away. The nearest supermarket's further than …
From January through March or April-ish, Bluestalking exploded with activity like it hadn't for ages. Then a Big Life Decision came knocking, consuming all my attention. The issue? Should I, or should I not, return to Scotland. The answer, after weeks of torturous back and forth: Yes. Pulling up stakes once again, selling or storing …
Thanks to all who've sent notes asking if I'm still alive. Sorry I wasn't able to reply to all, but I'm popping in to reassure you I haven't yet left this earthly plane. For some of you, hopefully that's what you'd hoped to hear. For the rest of you, I know lots of …
