Scottish Girls About Town

This is a lovely series of short stories. I felt immersed in a culture that is both recognizable and different from mine. All the stories were very evenly chosen although I preferred some more than others. There was definitely a general theme of coming-of-age. Most characters were relatable with subtle plots. Overall a solid read.

I don't read short stories very often (I prefer chunky novels) but I quite enjoyed this anthology. The only writer I knew before was Isla Dewar (I read and liked her "Secrets from a Family Album" a few years ago), so it was interesting to get to hear some new voices. A couple of the stories were too chick-litty for my taste but overall, the protagonists ranged from a young man feeling out of place in Sudan (and in the family of his bride-to-be) to an old woman suffering from dementia and undertaking one last outing with her daughter, not to mention the ghost of a famous bankrobber. There were a number of interesting childhood and coming-of-age stories as well. I've made a note of a few names and will be looking into some of their other show more works, so for me this introduction fulfilled its purpose -- and with parts of the proceeds going to charity, what's not to like? show less

Uneven collection of short stories by Scottish women authors. It leans heavily toward revenge fantasies and wish fulfillment stories, some seem to be first drafts, but there are a few worthwhile tales. The stories by Morag Joss, Tania Kindersley and Julia Hamilton are the rare standouts, but even those feel like rather less than the best these writers could do.

Love these short stores. A great collection of authors! The store made me laugh and cry.