Spies by Michael Frayn
I have so many unread books already in the house and so many books that I want to read that it can be rather irksome when a book group choice…
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Pittenweem Library reviews
Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid
One of my Christmas presents was a slim volume called Queen Macbeth, written by Val McDermid, published in 2024. In the author’s notes at the beginning, she says that we…
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Arnhem: Black Tuesday by Al Murray
Al Murray is a highly successful English stand up comedian who created the comic character The Pub Landlord, a bombastic opinionated oaf whose message is ‘England is the best, all…
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In the Act, by Rachel Ingalls
Murder! Mayhem! Revenge – ! – ending in a glorious absurd climax. A feminist tract taken to its ultimate hilarious finale. Brilliant! This is another of the Storybook ND (New Directions) books, this time…
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Angus McPhee Weaver of Grass by Joyce Laing
‘Can you remember any artwork produced in the hospital that stays in your memory. Something so different, something quite unique, that you have never forgotten it?’ Joyce Laing defines ‘art…
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A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen and Poems to Perform by Julia Donaldson
Often when I think about poetry for children, I think it’s a bit worthy and well, dull. It's for learning by rote and reciting at school assemblies or for use as a…
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The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt
This is a great wee book. I read it between breakfast and lunch one morning – with time left over. It’s a delight. A delicious delight. When I finished it…
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The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles
While the author was working as Programs Manager at the American Library in Paris she learned about the extraordinarily brave employees who endeavoured to keep the library open during World…
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The Castilians, by V E H Masters
I had never heard the name Bathia/Bethia until I met somebody with that name in Pittenweem. When I was last on duty in the library, I picked up a book…
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The Complete Reflections: Conversations with Politicians by Peter Hennessy and Rob Shepherd
It’s probably a personality defect, but I love elections. There’s nothing quite like a decent dose of electionitis as the image-makers groom their candidates. The spin doctors and the PR…
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