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Posted: |
Sep 15, 2014 - 10:28 PM
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By: |
joan hue
(Member)
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Peter May, a novelist from Scotland, has hooked me on his books called The Lewis Trilogy. The first one was The Blackhouse and the second one is The Lewis Man. The third will be out next year. These are mysteries featuring a detective who retires from Edinburgh to his home island the Isle of Lewis in The Outer Hebrides. One critic said, “Not only a good mystery, but also a moving and evocative portrayal of a place where the unforgiving weather is matched only by the church’s harsh patronage.” “The depiction of the island atmosphere is as impressive as the action.”
As portrayed in the novels, this geography is really unique. In the second book, I learned about peat bogs and how people cut peat, dried it, and used it for fuel. The weather seems very cold and harsh, but people manage to make a living mainly through fishing. It seems like a very tough life in this climate, and yet at times the islands seem beautiful. (Also, the books are really good.)
So I’m wondering if anyone here as visited these islands? I’d love to hear about them. I vow to get to Scotland someday and would love to travel north to view the geography depicted in these novels. Hope a few of you will chime in if you know about this area. Thanks.
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Posted: |
Sep 16, 2014 - 2:04 AM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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I haven't, but my parents have. They thought it was fantastic. Rolling hills with tons of sheep, quaint villages and a windy, but moody climate. From their descriptions, they definitely made me want to visit there.
Hey Joan, if you're planning a trip to these places (Iceland, Hebrides etc.), you should pop over to Norway too. I would only be able to meet you personally in Oslo, but there's some majestic scenery to be found on the west coast (fjords) or in the North, in particular.
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Yeh hurry up joanie before the vote for indepedence and hadrians wall gets rebuilt higher and no one can get in or out ha ha.!
I think you better just post your possible itinary and we can all vote on which venues to choose.
Or do what my uncle jack did - have the ship - and the jacuzzi - to yourself when everyone gets off!!
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Some of my ancestors were from Skye but I've never yet actually set foot on the Outer Islands.
Very nice people up there, immensely friendly, with a hint of a mystical bent.
I imagine Ian Rankin's Rebus books might appeal to Joan. I found out that he and I lived a few doors from one another once, but I don't think I met him. His face always looks very familiar though.
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(this looks exactly like my room)
