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‘philosphical investigation’ of what Freud romantically described as the ‘union ofthe genitals in the act known as copulation, which leads to a release of the sexual tension and temporary extinction of the sexual instinct - a satisfaction analogous to the sating of hunger.’ I think, therefore I am, but what do I do next?
0 The Glasgow llovel Moira Burgess (Scottish Library Association/Glasgow District
- Libraries £4.95) When the dear
green place flourishes, so it seems does the ‘nuvvel’. Moira Burgess traces its origins to Smollett and though many followed, as Edwin Morgan points out in a perspicaeious preface, nothing ‘even remotely approaching a Dickens. . . emerged to give Glasgow the powerful presence it had in real life at the
. time.’ The Kailyard dominates but a there is plenty to tempt the voracious
reader in this comprehensive survey, both bibiographically impeccable and highly readable.
o the Scottish Enlightenment David Daiches (Saltire Society £2.95) Mug up before the Edinburgh Festival with this short, sharp swot. ‘Here I stand,’ said the King’s Chemist, ‘at what is called the Cross of Edinburgh, and I can, in a few minutes, take fifty men of genius and learning by the hand.’ Pity he didn’t discover a prescription for hyperbole.
0 Grants 18 (Penguin £3.95) With James Fenton in Manila where he happens upon a revolution. loots the Marcos’ palace but eschews Imelda’s footwear in favour ofa monogrammed towel. A case of being in the right place at the worst
possible time. ; 0 Scotland: ‘I’he Case lor Optimism Jim ? Sillars (Polygon £4.95) Engaging
account of the rise, fall, rise and somewhere in between of the Ayrshire lad who left the railways before the ‘age of the train‘ (sic) and hitched up with the Nats. But can the SNP contain Sillars and Winnie Ewing. does it want to, and will anyone vote for it if it does? The case
; for pessimism.
0 Elvis Is Dead Carl MacDougall (Mariscat £4.95) Handsome collection of short stories; experimental. observant, and, particularly in ‘Elvis is Dead’, pathetically funny. ‘The Thomson Family Reads The Sun’ shows brilliantly what you can do with scissors, paste, tabloids and talent. 0 Consider the Lilies Iain Crichton Smith (Gollancz £8.95) A haunting story of an old woman’s struggle against eviction during the
Clearances. Viewed from her perspective. the injustices of the time take on sinister proportions. A literary classic. required reading for every Scot of voting age.
0 The Eleventh Summer Carlo Gebler (Penguin £1.95) In this story of a young boy's last summer in Ireland. Gebler reminds us of the anxiety, Embarrassment, fear and impotence of childhood. A fine first-novel cure for the kind of adult amnesia which inspires nostalgia for ‘the best years of your life’. Quite simply. beautiful.
WORDS
SATURDAY 17 Glasgow
0 Scottish Women in Literature— Day Conference College Club. Glasgow University. Liz Lochhead and Dorothy Porter on leth century Scottish women poets and writers. For more details contact Dr Elaine Rodger. 28 Woodlands Crescent. Falkirk FKI 5AE.
THURSDAY 22 Edinburgh
0 Talk Lavendar Menace. I la Forth Street. 5560079. 8pm. Janice Raymond. author of/l Passionfur Friends published in May (The Women‘s Press). will talk about her work — a carefully researched history offemale friendship.
} Joan lingard
FREE BOOK OFFER: THE ELEVENTH SUMMER
Send this coupon together with the coupon that appeared in the last issue of The List and we‘ll send you — free - a copy, in its original hardback edition. ofCarlo Gebler’s highly successful first novel The Eleventh Hour (£8.95 Hamish Hamilton) — see review. Hurry though, this offer is limited to the first fifteen pairs of coupons received.
Name ..................................... .. Address .................................. ..
Send to The List (Book Offer), 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 tTE.
l suggests a novelist approaching the height 4
FIRST OF
FIRST
FOR BOOKS WITH A DIFFERENCE I
BOOKSHOP
43 CANDLEMAKER ROW EDINBURGH Em 208 PHONE 03172:) PM?
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V I Thomas; middle-aged and newly
redundant from his iob as a University lecturer. Wife, mother, sister, daughter, younger mistress. . . How do the women in his life see
him?
Reasonable 2 Doubts
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’The best Joan Lingard has written: it
other powers’ Allan Massie, Scotsman
/
’Highly recommended. . . the Edinburgh
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setting is most effective’ Philip Thody, Yorkshire Post
’Gems of characterisation’ Janice Elliott, Sunday Te/egraph
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’Written with consummate elegance. . . a deceptively intricate and sophisticated ‘ 1 book’
Alan Taylor, The List
£9. 95
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~TI'h—e List 16- 29 May 43