The Curiosity Cabinet by Catherine Czerkawska - first published in 2005
Alternate chapters of the book tell of the experiences of two women while they are staying on the same fictional island of Garve/Eilean Garbh but more than 300 years apart. The parallel stories are linked by the island itself and by an embroidered curiosity cabinet.
In the present day recently divorced Alys revisits Garve, a place where she enjoyed several childhood holidays. She meets up again with local fisherman Donal McNeill, with whom she and her brother played as children and this time she falls in love with him. In the 17th century Henrietta is kidnapped while travelling from her home in Linlithgow to visit her brother and sister-in-law in Edinburgh. She is taken to Eilean Garbh where, once she has got over the initial shock, she finds herself falling in love with Manus McNeill, the man who was paid to kidnap her. The link between the two stories is that Donal is a descendant of Manus McNeill and the embroidered curiosity cabinet, which once belonged to Henrietta, has been passed down his family through the generations and is displayed in the island's hotel, where it catches Alys's eye.
I started off enjoying the present day story the most but gradually became more interested in Henrietta's story. 7/10
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Book 38 - Katie Morag and the Two Grandmothers
Katie Morag and the Two Grandmothers by Mairi Hedderwick - first published in 1985
This is a picture book for the under 5s. Katie Morag is a small girl who lives on the fictional island of Struay. There are at least 10 different books about her, all of which are beautifully illustrated by the author. The stories are short and simple but entertaining and on each page there are lots of details to look at in the pictures.
Katie Morag's fashion conscious and sophisticated grandmother, who lives on the mainland, comes to stay on Struay for a holiday. Her other grandmother - Grannie Island - doesn't get on well with her as she thinks she spends too much time on her appearance. Grannie Island on the other hand is a down to earth practical lady, who lives in wellies and dungarees. She enters her sheep Alecina in the island show but on the day of the show Alecina goes swimming in a bog and ends up filthy. While Granma Mainland is at the show Katie Morag borrows her shampoo and curlers and she and Grannie Island smarten up Alecina so well with them that she wins first prize. Grannie Island comes to appreciate that Granma Mainland has her uses. 8/10
Struay is based on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll.
This is a picture book for the under 5s. Katie Morag is a small girl who lives on the fictional island of Struay. There are at least 10 different books about her, all of which are beautifully illustrated by the author. The stories are short and simple but entertaining and on each page there are lots of details to look at in the pictures.
Katie Morag's fashion conscious and sophisticated grandmother, who lives on the mainland, comes to stay on Struay for a holiday. Her other grandmother - Grannie Island - doesn't get on well with her as she thinks she spends too much time on her appearance. Grannie Island on the other hand is a down to earth practical lady, who lives in wellies and dungarees. She enters her sheep Alecina in the island show but on the day of the show Alecina goes swimming in a bog and ends up filthy. While Granma Mainland is at the show Katie Morag borrows her shampoo and curlers and she and Grannie Island smarten up Alecina so well with them that she wins first prize. Grannie Island comes to appreciate that Granma Mainland has her uses. 8/10
Struay is based on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll.
Arinagour, Coll
Beach on the NW Coast of Coll
Hogh Bay, Coll
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Book 37 - The Stormy Petrel
The Stormy Petrel by Mary Stewart - first published in 1991
Cambridge University lecturer Rose Fenemore arrives on the fictional island of Moila (which is supposed to be located between Mull and Coll & Tiree) to stay in a remote cottage for a few weeks. Her brother Crispin is supposed to be joining her a day or so later but he is slightly injured in a train crash on his way there, so he is delayed. One stormy evening 2 men arrive separately at her cottage seeking shelter but neither of them has a convincing story about why they are on the island. Rose chooses to believe Ewen Mackay and together they set out to find out why the other man, who calls himself John Parsons, is on the island. There is a bit of suspense and a touch of romance but the eventual outcome isn't that exciting.
I was certain that I had read this book when it first came out but I didn't remember any of the plot, so maybe I am mistaken or maybe I have read too many books in the last 20 years to be able to remember all the plots. 7/10
Cambridge University lecturer Rose Fenemore arrives on the fictional island of Moila (which is supposed to be located between Mull and Coll & Tiree) to stay in a remote cottage for a few weeks. Her brother Crispin is supposed to be joining her a day or so later but he is slightly injured in a train crash on his way there, so he is delayed. One stormy evening 2 men arrive separately at her cottage seeking shelter but neither of them has a convincing story about why they are on the island. Rose chooses to believe Ewen Mackay and together they set out to find out why the other man, who calls himself John Parsons, is on the island. There is a bit of suspense and a touch of romance but the eventual outcome isn't that exciting.
I was certain that I had read this book when it first came out but I didn't remember any of the plot, so maybe I am mistaken or maybe I have read too many books in the last 20 years to be able to remember all the plots. 7/10
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Book 36 - Fascinating Sinner
Fascinating Sinner by Mary Mackie - first published 2007
This books seems to have only been published in large print but inside the book it says that the copyright belongs to a Cathy Charles and the date given is 1984. I'm not sure what that means? Perhaps Mary Mackie wrote a book based on a short story by Cathy Charles?
Helen Ashcroft is invited by her old friend Ros to help her out by taking over her role as a live-in housekeeper/childminder for her single parent employer James McLeod on the island of Harris for a few weeks while she is away exhibiting her artwork in Edinburgh. Helen works as a secretary for a celebrity magazine and her boss encourages her to go and gives her the time off because she wants her to spy on James MacLeod and write an article about him on her return. James is an author but Helen soon realises that he used to be an actor known as Breck James. She falls in love with him and is then torn between her agreement with her employer and her love for James. After a few misunderstandings they all live happily ever after. The story is predictable but the landscape of Harris is described quite well and the books is a quick and easy read. 6/10
Islands covered - Harris
This books seems to have only been published in large print but inside the book it says that the copyright belongs to a Cathy Charles and the date given is 1984. I'm not sure what that means? Perhaps Mary Mackie wrote a book based on a short story by Cathy Charles?
Helen Ashcroft is invited by her old friend Ros to help her out by taking over her role as a live-in housekeeper/childminder for her single parent employer James McLeod on the island of Harris for a few weeks while she is away exhibiting her artwork in Edinburgh. Helen works as a secretary for a celebrity magazine and her boss encourages her to go and gives her the time off because she wants her to spy on James MacLeod and write an article about him on her return. James is an author but Helen soon realises that he used to be an actor known as Breck James. She falls in love with him and is then torn between her agreement with her employer and her love for James. After a few misunderstandings they all live happily ever after. The story is predictable but the landscape of Harris is described quite well and the books is a quick and easy read. 6/10
Islands covered - Harris
Ruined Chapel at Rubha an Teampaill, Northton, Harris
Rhenigidale, Harris
Drinishader, Harris
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Book 35 - Mondays are Murder
Mondays are Murder by Tanya Landman - first published in 2009
This is a short but action packed children's novel set on the fictional island of Murrag, which is supposed to be adjacent to Coll and Tiree.
Poppy Fields and 4 other teenagers accept a free holiday on Murrag in return for being guinea pigs for a new activity centre that Mike and Isabella are opening on the otherwise uninhabited island. However there has already been one suspicious death before their arrival and within a few days 3 other members of staff have been killed. A big storm means that the island is cut off from outside help. Poppy turns detective to work out who the murderer is but in doing so she puts her own life in danger. 7/10
This is a short but action packed children's novel set on the fictional island of Murrag, which is supposed to be adjacent to Coll and Tiree.
Poppy Fields and 4 other teenagers accept a free holiday on Murrag in return for being guinea pigs for a new activity centre that Mike and Isabella are opening on the otherwise uninhabited island. However there has already been one suspicious death before their arrival and within a few days 3 other members of staff have been killed. A big storm means that the island is cut off from outside help. Poppy turns detective to work out who the murderer is but in doing so she puts her own life in danger. 7/10
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Book 34 - The Island Pilgrimage
The Island Pilgrimage by Fay Sampson - first published in 2004
Middle aged married university academic Margaret Jenkins is helping her close friend Methodist minister Brian to write and produce a play about the life of St Columba. He organises a trip to Iona (referred to as Hy in the book) for the youth group at their church, who are going to perform the play. He invites Margaret to accompany them. While on Hy they both realise that they are strongly attracted to one another but Margaret manages to resist the temptation to take the relationship any further. The rest of the book is about her emotional turmoil and the repercussions as their respective spouses become aware of their feelings for one another. Initially I found Margaret rather irritating but as I read on I began to admire her for not giving in to temptation. 7/10
Middle aged married university academic Margaret Jenkins is helping her close friend Methodist minister Brian to write and produce a play about the life of St Columba. He organises a trip to Iona (referred to as Hy in the book) for the youth group at their church, who are going to perform the play. He invites Margaret to accompany them. While on Hy they both realise that they are strongly attracted to one another but Margaret manages to resist the temptation to take the relationship any further. The rest of the book is about her emotional turmoil and the repercussions as their respective spouses become aware of their feelings for one another. Initially I found Margaret rather irritating but as I read on I began to admire her for not giving in to temptation. 7/10
Islands covered - Iona
Celtic Cross near Iona Abbey
West coast of Iona
St Columba's Bay, south coast of Iona
Book 33 - Emma's Island
Emma's Island by Honor Arundel - first published in 1968
One of my favourite books as a child was The High House - also by Honor Arundel. I bought a copy at a library book sale while on a day trip to York for a few pence and read it many times. Years later by chance I came across a second hand copy of Emma's Island, which is a sequel to The High House.
In The High House 13 year old Emma's parents are killed in a car accident and she moves to Edinburgh to live with her absent minded artist aunt Patsy. Emma's Island starts 2 years later by which time Patsy has married fellow artist Stephen and the 3 of them move to the fictional island of Stranday, which is apparently located close to Coll and Tiree in the Inner Hebrides. Patsy and Stephen open a gallery and Emma helps to run the house and quickly adapts to life on an island. Patsy and Stephen have a baby daughter and Emma has her first romantic encounter when some archaeologists come to the island to do an excavation. This is an old fashioned novel, which seems a bit tame today but it is still an engaging story. 7/10
One of my favourite books as a child was The High House - also by Honor Arundel. I bought a copy at a library book sale while on a day trip to York for a few pence and read it many times. Years later by chance I came across a second hand copy of Emma's Island, which is a sequel to The High House.
In The High House 13 year old Emma's parents are killed in a car accident and she moves to Edinburgh to live with her absent minded artist aunt Patsy. Emma's Island starts 2 years later by which time Patsy has married fellow artist Stephen and the 3 of them move to the fictional island of Stranday, which is apparently located close to Coll and Tiree in the Inner Hebrides. Patsy and Stephen open a gallery and Emma helps to run the house and quickly adapts to life on an island. Patsy and Stephen have a baby daughter and Emma has her first romantic encounter when some archaeologists come to the island to do an excavation. This is an old fashioned novel, which seems a bit tame today but it is still an engaging story. 7/10
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