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Indelible Ink: Kei Miller’s ‘The Last Warner Woman’
The best novels are not simply great stories; the magic comes in the telling. Kei Miller’s 2010 novel ‘The Last Warner Woman’ is as much about storytelling as it is about the characters themselves. Miller plays with the reader’s perception of how a novel should be structured and examines how the same story must be […]
Alistair Braidwood
February 19, 2015
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Indelible Ink: Iain Maloney’s ‘First Time Solo’
Scotland’s relationship with the rest of Britain hadn’t been as intensely discussed as it was last year since the Act of Union in1707. This was not only because of the Referendum, but also due to the arrival of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and other events during 2014, such as the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. […]
Alistair Braidwood
January 9, 2015
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Are You An Expat Scot With An Opinion On the Referendum?
The National is Scotland’s newest daily newspaper and it aims to become a strong, proud and permanent voice in the Scottish media landscape. Importantly, it is the only daily newspaper that supports the idea of independence for Scotland. The newspaper now features a regular column entitled ‘View From Abroad’ and we were recently approached by […]
Pete Reid
December 19, 2014
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Indelible Ink: Helen FitzGerald’s ‘The Cry’
James Kelman once stated that real drama is to be found in ordinary people’s everyday lives, and certainly the same could be said about real horror. The supernatural and fantastic may give us a shock or inspire nightmares, but our greatest fear and terror is surely based in reality; the dangers which can be found […]
Alistair Braidwood
December 4, 2014
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Indelible Ink: Neil Munro’s ‘The New Road’
What can be said about Neil Munro? In a Canadian obituary, it was written: “Neil Munro – the very name o’ him is grand to hear. A grand name, wi’ something baith braw and hamely in it. A name wi’ a sniff o’ peat reek, the bloom o’ heather, a skirl o’ the pipes, an’ […]
Pete Reid
November 5, 2014
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Indelible Ink: Candia McWilliam’s ‘Debatable Land’
One of the never ending discussions about books is whether the meaning comes from the reader or the writer. Of course, the answer is both, but where the balance lies is constantly shifting, and often circumstances and situation dictates this as much as the writing itself. Candia McWilliam’s ‘Debatable Land’ is full of rich metaphor […]
Alistair Braidwood
September 25, 2014
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My Thoughts As An Expat Back In Scotland This Week.
When the date for the Scottish Independence referendum was announced last year, I knew I had to be back in Scotland for the vote. I expected it to be an important constitutional moment. What I didn’t expect was to be moved to tears by the mood of confidence and optimism of the Scottish people.
Pete Reid
September 17, 2014
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Scottish Independence – Why Matthew Young is Voting YES
Preface by Pete Reid: Matthew is the owner of Song, By Toad Records and author of the Song, By Toad blog. He is also a good friend and I respect his opinion on most subjects, even music. Here, he writes a long, detailed, and sweary explanation of his voting intentions for Thursday.
Matthew Young
September 14, 2014
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Indelible Ink: Matthew Fitt’s ‘But n Ben A-Go-Go’
In the last couple of years there was a lot of debate about which Scottish books and writers should be taught in Scottish schools as part of the set texts for the Higher English exam. If I had had a vote, Matthew Fitt’s ‘But n Ben A-Go-Go’ would’ve been in my top three choices for […]
Alistair Braidwood
July 10, 2014
