Nothing beats sinking your teeth into a good book in the summertime. But sometimes, we need a little help choosing our next read. Thankfully, Aberdour author Jenny Colgan was happy to share her favourite books by Scottish writers – including a well-known Fife name.
Jenny, whose bestselling romantic comedy hits include and published her latest novel – – earlier this month. Here’s her recommendations, in her own words: I wasn’t made to study this at school, which is probably why I still love it so much. It’s heart-breaking and gorgeous and romantic and sad.
Shuggie Bain is great too but Young Mungo is even better, which is hard to do in a second novel when the first has been a great success. Young Mungo has more hope in it. It’s just so, so good.
This is a difficult read but an essential one, an astonishing story of triumph over terrible circumstances. I love all the Scottish crime writers: Denise Mina, and Louise Welsh and Chris Brookmyre and Val McDermid – and it’s really really hard to pick a favourite, but really stands out; he’s so sharp and the plots and sense of place in the Rebus novels are just brilliant. Black and Blue is a great place to start.
It’s just a brilliant book, full stop. You can’t stop reading it and it sears; what more do you want from a book? With Andy most people would probably recommend Mayflies, but The Secret Life is the one I come back to all the time or press on people; three long essays about surveillance and modern life; .