Secret Book Swap | No. 3 - January 2025
Secret Book Swap | No.3 - January 2025
Books We Swapped:
Strong Female Character - Fern Brady. (Our very first doubler!!) A raw, funny, and unflinchingly honest memoir exploring neurodiversity, identity, and resilience, all told with Fern Brady’s signature sharp wit. Perfect for those who love bold, thought-provoking storytelling.
All the Lonely People - Mike Gayle. A heartfelt and uplifting story about connection, second chances, and the power of friendship, following one man's journey from isolation to community. Perfect for those who love warm, character-driven stories with emotional depth.
And Away - Bob Mortimer. A brilliantly funny and unexpectedly touching memoir from Bob Mortimer, sharing his journey from a quiet childhood to comedy stardom, with plenty of heart and hilarity along the way. Perfect for fans of charming, offbeat storytelling.
The History of Bees - Maja Lunde. A beautifully woven story spanning generations, exploring our deep connection to nature, the fragility of the environment, and the future of humanity through the lives of beekeepers past, present, and future. Perfect for those who love thought-provoking, atmospheric fiction.
The Dry - Jane Harper. A gripping and atmospheric thriller set in the drought-ravaged Australian outback, where long-buried secrets resurface as a detective investigates a shocking crime in his hometown. Perfect for fans of tense, slow-burning mysteries.
The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman. A clever and charming mystery following a group of retirees who turn their sharp minds to solving crimes, proving that age is no barrier to adventure. Perfect for fans of witty, feel-good whodunnits.
Big Sky - Kate Atkinson. A brilliantly crafted literary crime novel following detective Jackson Brodie as he uncovers a sinister network beneath a quiet seaside town. Perfect for those who love intelligent, character-driven mysteries with dark humor.
Wolf Craigs - Gwen Gates Parker. A gripping Scottish thriller blending history, mystery, and intrigue, set against the rugged backdrop of the Highlands. Perfect for fans of atmospheric, suspenseful storytelling.
The Bandit Queens - Parini Shroff. A darkly comic and thought-provoking novel about a woman in a small Indian village who gains unexpected fame when people believe she killed her abusive husband. As rumors swirl, she finds herself caught between newfound power and the price of freedom. Perfect for readers who enjoy sharp social commentary with a dose of humor and intrigue.
Mayflies - Andrew O’Hagan. A poignant and nostalgic coming-of-age story about friendship, love, and loss, set against the backdrop of 1980s Scotland. Perfect for readers who enjoy deeply emotional tales of youth, lasting bonds, and the passage of time.
Mary Turner Thomson, Author & Speaker
Guest Author
Mary Turner Thomson, Author & Speaker
Mary is an Edinburgh author, a captivating speaker and the international best-selling author behind the powerful autobiographical books about her bigamist, psychopath ex-husband.
As an expert in the field of writing, publishing, and understanding psychopaths, Mary is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and experiences with a wider audience.
We were delighted to welcome Mary along and were captivated not only by her story behind her true crime novels but with the amazing work she’s done since then. When Mary asked which of two books we’d like her to share a reading from, the simple answer was both please!
Mary also took the time to talk to us about The Book Whisperers, a community to bring writers and experts in the publishing field together.
Book Themed Parlour Game
Modern Day Burns
As it was just after Burns Night I thought we’d play a game involving some of his best known lines. I (along with some Ai help) turned them into modern day lingo, specifically into the style of an instagram motivation quote or text chat. The game was for the group to match up the modern with the real Burns.
Answers at the end!
"Old mates should never be ghosted or forgotten."
My girl is as fresh as a new rose... proper stunning.
"Even the best plans can totally flop."
"Haggis is the boss dish – king of the table!"
"A guy’s worth isn’t about his paycheck – it’s all about his vibe."
A sneaky wee mouse just totally freaking out, wee guy!"
"Why can’t we see ourselves the way other people do?"
Banned Book Reading
The Hundred Thousand Billion Poems
We took a mini break from the banned book reading this month, but don’t worry it shall return!
Instead I shared a story I had stumbled across online about The Hundred Thousand Billion Poems.
This is a work of interactive poetry created by Raymond Queneau and first published in 1961.
Queneau worked with mathematician François Le (lee oh nay) Lionnais to develop this innovative concept, blending literature with mathematical principles. The book consists of ten sonnets, each with fourteen lines, printed on separate strips.
This design allows readers to mix and match lines from different sonnets, creating a vast array of unique poems, a Hundred Thousand Billion to be exact. After a quick google I can tell you that would take take approximately 190 million years to read.
As we didn’t quite have that time at our book swap I thought, in honour I’d share a poem I wrote that explores its unique structure and the creative possibilities it offers.
Book Game Answers:
"Old mates should never be ghosted or forgotten."
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, / And never brought to mind?" (Auld Lang Syne)
My girl is as fresh as a new rose... proper stunning.
"O my Luve is like a red, red rose, / That’s newly sprung in June." (A Red, Red Rose)
"Even the best plans can totally flop."
"The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley." (To a Mouse)
"Haggis is the boss dish – king of the table!"
"Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!" (Address to a Haggis)
"A guy’s worth isn’t about his paycheck – it’s all about his vibe."
"The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, / The man’s the gowd for a’ that." (A Man’s a Man for A’ That)
“A sneaky wee mouse just totally freaking out, wee guy!"
"Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie, / O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!" (To a Mouse)
"Why can’t we see ourselves the way other people do?"
"O, wad some Power the giftie gie us / To see oursels as ithers see us!" (To a Louse)
Join us at future secret book swaps: