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fluctuating_planes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
davethescot's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely devoured this book, The greatest Scottish novel I've read this century. Absolutely outstanding.
scott_you_reading's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
twosuns's review against another edition
4.0
By far the best book I ever had to read for uni. A must read for everyone who's interested in Scotland. The only thing I didn't like about it is that it's so long and a bit too political for me.
sineadisreadingagain's review against another edition
5.0
This book was absolutely brilliant, so many fascinating informative and emotional stories interwoven effortlessly with the backdrop of Scotland through the decades. Still forming all my thoughts but so delighted this was the pick for the Scottish Book Club readalong as I don't think I'd have picked it up otherwise, but its absolutely in the running for my book of the year!
readingisadoingword's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Review - Re-read November 2023
This is an emotional review and not a rational or intellectual one, but sometimes that's what a book demands.
I've already resigned myself to the fact that I will never be able to find the words to do justice to how I feel about this book, the reactions it raised in me and how much I love it!
However, here's an attempt to capture some of the magic of this wonderful novel and explain why it means so much to me. I'm actually emotional and tearing-up even writing this!
I'm a child of the 70s (just!) and I grew up in a household where the 1979 devolution referendum was discussed often, Winnie Ewing was a well-known local political figure, my parents weaned me on folk festivals and protest songs. I remember the poll-tax being implemented in Scotland and the uproar it caused. My first general election in 1997 saw not a single Conservative seat returned in the whole of Scotland, and it saw the second devolution referendum return a positive result.
This book encapsulates my entire political, social, and cultural experience up until the early 2000s.
It also predates my personal history, showing a Scotland from post WWII.
I learned a lot from this book, and James Roberston's storytelling is impeccable! He reels you in with beautiful prose, a wonderfully interconnected structure and the most relatable and human characters. There is someone for everyone to relate to in this book! All the characters have their flaws, their personal histories and motivations, but they are deep and real and engaging and I loved them all in some little way.
This novel questions the very fabric of storytelling - the stories we tell ourselves, the stories we show others, the stories of a nation or of national identity, the importance of knowing your history and of having the ability to carve out a story for yourself.
It was often poignant reading about the welfare state and the NHS, etc, in the context of our current political and moral climate. It highlighted the ebb and flow of national values.
I almost felt like my identity had been absorbed by this novel. It represented such a lot of my life, of Scotland's identity, what it is to live in and be and feel Scottish - good and bad.
I'll post some quotes as James' words are infinitely more eloquent than mine.
The bottom line - I LOVE this book! I also adored the experience of reading along with fellow Scottish Book Club readers as we all brought different memories and perspectives to the read and sharing reminiscences and stories with other readers seemed like to ideal context in which to enjoy this book. It's a lifetime favourite and I'm sure one I'll read and enjoy again and again.
This is an emotional review and not a rational or intellectual one, but sometimes that's what a book demands.
I've already resigned myself to the fact that I will never be able to find the words to do justice to how I feel about this book, the reactions it raised in me and how much I love it!
However, here's an attempt to capture some of the magic of this wonderful novel and explain why it means so much to me. I'm actually emotional and tearing-up even writing this!
I'm a child of the 70s (just!) and I grew up in a household where the 1979 devolution referendum was discussed often, Winnie Ewing was a well-known local political figure, my parents weaned me on folk festivals and protest songs. I remember the poll-tax being implemented in Scotland and the uproar it caused. My first general election in 1997 saw not a single Conservative seat returned in the whole of Scotland, and it saw the second devolution referendum return a positive result.
This book encapsulates my entire political, social, and cultural experience up until the early 2000s.
It also predates my personal history, showing a Scotland from post WWII.
I learned a lot from this book, and James Roberston's storytelling is impeccable! He reels you in with beautiful prose, a wonderfully interconnected structure and the most relatable and human characters. There is someone for everyone to relate to in this book! All the characters have their flaws, their personal histories and motivations, but they are deep and real and engaging and I loved them all in some little way.
This novel questions the very fabric of storytelling - the stories we tell ourselves, the stories we show others, the stories of a nation or of national identity, the importance of knowing your history and of having the ability to carve out a story for yourself.
It was often poignant reading about the welfare state and the NHS, etc, in the context of our current political and moral climate. It highlighted the ebb and flow of national values.
I almost felt like my identity had been absorbed by this novel. It represented such a lot of my life, of Scotland's identity, what it is to live in and be and feel Scottish - good and bad.
I'll post some quotes as James' words are infinitely more eloquent than mine.
The bottom line - I LOVE this book! I also adored the experience of reading along with fellow Scottish Book Club readers as we all brought different memories and perspectives to the read and sharing reminiscences and stories with other readers seemed like to ideal context in which to enjoy this book. It's a lifetime favourite and I'm sure one I'll read and enjoy again and again.
saraheholtom's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
scottiesandbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“Our ability to look back on the past, our need or desire to make sense of it, is both a blessing and a curse; and our inability to see into the future with any degree of accuracy is, simultaneously, the thing that saves us and the thing that condemns us.”
I have spent this whole year looking for THAT book. You know the one; it changes the way you see the world, the people in it and connects with you on such a level that you carry pieces of it with you forever. And now I’ve found it where it’s been sitting on my shelf for years….
And The Land Lay Still is an intimate recounting of Scotlands past told through the camera lens. Focusing on a series of pictures from landmark events we get a chance to revisit these moments. The beauty of this is that the photographs don’t just show us these events or moments in time, but they focus on the people on the sidelines, the ones that it will affect most but that history has a habit of leaving out of the equation. Our people.
This book is about connections. Connections to our country, our cultures and the people we encounter (however fleetingly) that impact the way in which we see the world and spend our time in it. We spoke a lot about nature vs nurture around one character but on reflection I think this is covered throughout the book. How much does our shared history shape us? Do we become who we are because that is who we are or are we a product of those who raised us? And what about the others that come into our lives, how do they change who we are destined to be?
And what about Scotland? We are a nation with deep political roots, a nation of protest. Most of us are very proud of who we are and what we represent. Is this the nation we were always destined to be? Or are we shaped by those that rule us?
This is a reminder to dust off those books that have been on your shelf for years. You never know what gems are lurking in the background.
I have spent this whole year looking for THAT book. You know the one; it changes the way you see the world, the people in it and connects with you on such a level that you carry pieces of it with you forever. And now I’ve found it where it’s been sitting on my shelf for years….
And The Land Lay Still is an intimate recounting of Scotlands past told through the camera lens. Focusing on a series of pictures from landmark events we get a chance to revisit these moments. The beauty of this is that the photographs don’t just show us these events or moments in time, but they focus on the people on the sidelines, the ones that it will affect most but that history has a habit of leaving out of the equation. Our people.
This book is about connections. Connections to our country, our cultures and the people we encounter (however fleetingly) that impact the way in which we see the world and spend our time in it. We spoke a lot about nature vs nurture around one character but on reflection I think this is covered throughout the book. How much does our shared history shape us? Do we become who we are because that is who we are or are we a product of those who raised us? And what about the others that come into our lives, how do they change who we are destined to be?
And what about Scotland? We are a nation with deep political roots, a nation of protest. Most of us are very proud of who we are and what we represent. Is this the nation we were always destined to be? Or are we shaped by those that rule us?
This is a reminder to dust off those books that have been on your shelf for years. You never know what gems are lurking in the background.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0