coverTOcover WORDS MORAG BOOTLAND Blossom: What
Scotland Needs to Flourish
BY LESLEY RIDDOCH
LUATH PRESS, PAPERBACK £11.99
Had I paid for this book, it would have been the best £11.99 I had ever spent. It seems that everywhere you go, the referendum debate looms large. Making a decision that will have such a signifi cant effect on the future of the country that you live in and love is a daunting prospect and for many, the
weight that this vote carries is a huge responsibility. Lesley Riddoch is an experienced and award-winning journalist and writer. She
has been living in, observing and writing about Scotland for many years and her knowledge and passion for the country is certainly evident here. The beauty of this book is the range of subjects that Riddoch covers. Rather
‘Throughout Blossom, Riddoch’s love of and belief in the Scottish people, from the inner cities to the most wild and rural areas shines bright through the narrative’
than focusing on a purely political perspective, she looks at the geography, class structure, psychology, land-ownership, health, housing and language of Scotland in order to draw some amazingly accurate insights into the Scots people and their character and culture. The key theme of this work is that in order to be a truly free country, the Scots
need to take responsibility and rise to the challenge that independence would set, or indeed the problems that they should address if Scotland remains part of the Union. Riddoch sets out the case that independence is the only way that Scotland can indeed blossom as a nation. Although the referendum will certainly be a milestone in the history of Scotland, it is almost irrelevant if the Scots people don’t take up the reins and get involved in their own future. The examples of community spirit and local heroes that Riddoch has not only
researched, but in some cases experienced fi rst-hand are inspiring. Particularly the chapter on the Isle of Eigg Trust, where the islanders came together to move away from the substandard governance that blighted their community. Throughout Blossom, Riddoch’s love of and belief in the Scottish people, from the poverty- stricken inner cities to the most wild and rural areas shines bright through the narrative. As much as the content is thought-provoking for some, there will be those who
are unhappy with its bold assertions. The inequalities faced by the average Scot, the country’s long-term and exceedingly poor health record as well as the age-old question of why so much of Scotland is owned by so few are always contentious issues, but when tackled with such aplomb it would be diffi cult to fi nd an argument that would stand up. The beauty of this book is that not only does it fl ag up the problems with Scotland
as a country, it also lays out what we the people need to do to solve them. It is a call to arms and all the encouragement that we should need to, in the words of JFK, ‘ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.’
188
WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK
SCOTTISH HISTORY IN
VERSE BY LOUIS STOTT
MAINSTREAM, HARDBACK £14.99
An anthology of poetry charting Scotland’s journey through
the high and low points of its history using the medium of verse. This unique poetic saunter through the centuries also includes a useful little explanation of the background and the events that led to the penning of each poem. This book is the perfect way to engage anyone who prefers to spend time perusing the creative talent of years gone by than trawling through the hard and at times downright dull facts that make up your average history book.
A SONG FOR THE DYING BY STUART MACBRIDE HARPER COLLINS,
PAPERBACK £16.99
Firstly, if you
suffer from a delicate or
nervous disposition, this is certainly not the book for you. MacBride is a renowned writer of crime fi ction and this is the second book starring Detective Inspector Ash Henderson. Fans of tartan noir will devour this fast-paced and in places shocking criminal thriller, but it’s graphic and sometimes gory descriptions of the terrible crimes committed are sure to be a step too far for many and often seem unnecessary to the plot. That said, this is still a great story with some well thought out plot lines and really well-developed characters .
FIELDONLINE
TO COMMENT VISIT THE LINK TO FACEBOOK OR TWITTER AT
WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK
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