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Alexander McCall Smith, writer
Some years ago, John Berendt wrote his magnificent Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Vintage, GBP7.99). In his long-awaited The City of Falling Angels (Sceptre, GBP20) he moves to Italy with a fine tale of Venetian gossip and goings-on. The result is a box of chocolates.
And then there were many good books from Scottish publishers, who deserve credit for their determination and commitment. One such was Last Orders at Harrods, Michael Holman (Polygon, GBP9.99). This is a highly entertaining account of how people make the best of living in sub-Saharan Africa. Holman was the Financial Times's correspondent in Nairobi and knows what he is talking about.
Finally, there was a fine book from a small Scottish publishing house, Floris Books, by Graham Dunstan Martin. Martin has that rare gift of explaining complex issues with clarity and insight. This one is about materialism and mind. The book is called Does it Matter: The Unsustainable World of the Materialists? (Floris Books, GBP20) And it does.
Annabel Goldie, MSP, leader Scottish Conservatives
Diversity and extremes have reflected my book choices in the last year. Really enjoyable was a classic, The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers (Penguin, GBP1.50) and totally contrasting was The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst (Picador, GBP7.99). I thought the satire was slightly misdirected but it was well written and troubling.
On a lighter note, was The Jane Austen Book Club, Karen Fowler (Penguin, GBP6.99), although I found the dipping in and dipping out of the Austen classics slightly distracting. Holiday escape made possible Nights of Rain and Stars, Maeve Binchy (Orion, GBP6.99) and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, J K Rowling (Bloomsbury, GBP16.99) both are wonderful.
Hugely enjoyable has been 44 Scotland Street, Alexander McCall Smith (Abacus, GBP6.99) from which I have moved on to his The Sunday Philosophy Club (Abacus, GBP6.99).
I am also reading an autobiography, The Ripening Sun, Patricia Atkinson, (Arrow, GBP6.99). These last two are very different and very satisfying.
Ian Rankin, writer
I've been trying to cut back on my drinking, so reach instead for The Stornoway Way, Kevin MacNeil (Hamish Hamilton, GBP10.99). This is true 70-proof writing, as the completely fictitious denizens of the Isle of Lewis...