BOOKMARK News Items

I hadn’t realised there were quite so many ‘events’ marked on the calendar for this month. The Spring Equinox and Easter, of course. We also have World Book Day on the 7th (making sure more kids have access to at least one book), International Women’s Day on the 9th, BOOKMARK’s first talk of the year on the 10th (aka Mother’s Day), with Lord Stormont speaking about Scone Palace and the Stone of Destiny, and World Storytelling Day and the International Day of Happiness on the 20th. No idea who designates these dates for special celebration, but why not!

Inspired by Lord Stormont’s talk, I thought we would start with some books on the Stone of Destiny. Hot off the presses are two new publications from Tippermuir Books: The Stone of Destiny and the Scots by John Hulbert  and The Mysterious Case of the Stone of Destiny: a new historical detective whodunnit by David Maule.   Because many good things come in threes, I can also recommend Scotland’s Stone of Destiny by Nick Aitchinson Any or all of these books would be interesting additional guides for people wanting to know more after Lord Stormont’s talk.

Moving on to March’s celebration of women, and another non-fiction books to pique your interest: 19th Century Female Explorers by Caroline Roope.  One of the explorers, Suzanna Moodie was a somewhat reluctant traveller who wished to deter others from ‘sinking their property, and shipwrecking all their hopes, by going to reside in the backwoods of Canada’. However, I’m more naturally inclined to the sentiments expressed by Aimee Crocker: ‘And if I could live it again, this very long life of mine, I would love to do so. And the only difference would be that I would try to crowd in still more….more places, more things, more women, more men, more love, more excitement.’ 

Some fiction to round out all those facts. In the spirit of the women explorers, I can recommend The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan. Fans of Sara Sheridan might also like to know that she has a new book out: The Secrets of Blythswood Square. One more? The Women by Kristin Hannah

I hope you enjoy these recommendations. Do let me know if you have any suggestions you would like to share.

Kate
BOOKMARK member

PS: The Adventure into Books Book Blether group meets on 6th March to chat about Islands of Abandonment by Cal Flyn (ISBN: 9780008329808, paperback, HarperCollins, 2021); in April we’re meeting mid-month on the 17th to blether about Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes (ISBN: 9781529061512, paperback, Pan Macmillan, 2023). All are welcome.

PPS:
BOOKMARK Chair, Gail Wylie, will be taking us on an Adventure into Poetry on 30th April at 7pm in Adventure into Books. If you would like to join us on the journey, please get in touch. Tickets are £5 and include a glass of wine, tea or coffee.

For full synopsis of Kate's selection, please click here