Chiara Bullen’s February edition of BookSpace reviews some of the latest Scottish literary productions

SPRING is in the air, the days are getting longer, and with the sense of new beginnings comes the desire for plenty of new books (at least for me, anyway). This month sees the publishing world come out of a January slumber; it’s the perfect time to try something new and read out of your comfort zone, which I hope you’ll find in the selection below.

Stroke: 5% chance of survival, Ricky Monahan-Brown

Chiara Bullen’s January edition of BookSpace reviews some of the latest Scottish literary productions

WITH the new year came a flurry of tidying, clear-outs and an evaluation of what sparks joy in our homes thanks to Marie Kondo’s ‘Tidying Up’. However, the book-world demonstrated a backlash against Kondo’s mere suggestion that one should only keep thirty books on the shelves to reduce clutter. Whether or not the books featured in this month’s column spark joy, they’ll definitely spark something upon reading that’s guaranteed to keep the January Blues at bay.

CommonSpace book reviewer Chiara Bullen reads 2018’s Saltire Society Literary Awards winners

THE Saltire Society Literary Awards have been a firm fixture of the Scottish literary scene since 1937, and the event is widely regarded as Scotland’s most prestigious book awards. This year’s awards took place in Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth, the sparkling hall an ideal location to recognise Scotland’s literary stars. Here you’ll find a review of some of this year’s winners — consider it a ready-made, well-judged Christmas gift guide for bookish family and friends.

Chiara Bullen’s October edition of BookSpace reviews some of the latest Scottish literary productions

THE nights are longer, the days are wetter and the temptation to curl up with a good book whilst the rain rages outside is never stronger than in November. Scottish publishers are the ultimate enablers for that temptation this autumn, releasing a wide variety of titles to warm you up and get you through the dreich weather.

The German Room, Carla Maliandi (translated by Frances Riddle)