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Raw Spirit: In Search of the Perfect Dram by: Iain Banks

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Rating: - Banks really can't do non-fiction

This should be back of the net stuff. I love Iain Banks's fiction; The Bridge would easily make my all-time top ten. I love malt whisky. And I love Scotland too. But oh dear me, guess what? Banks, staggering to say, simply cannot write good non-fiction and fails abysmally to get his enthusiasm and knowledge onto the page.

Long before the end, I was thinking 'whatever' and the way he tries to drop the names of everyone he has ever met into the story - among others, someone's aunty gets a mention for his plans to drop in for tea on the way home only to find he was short of time - is excruciating. I really can't be bothered to look up who, sorry.

Rating: - Banter, Scotland and Whisky

I read this whilst on holiday in Tuscany (which may have been an influence) and I loved the book, because it wasn't travelogue or just about whisky, but because it was all those things and more. I see from the other reviews that a lot of people didn't appreciate the "mish-mash" of things, but for me that's what made it.
So if you like cars, know Scotland outside of the cities, love the countryside, enjoy whisky and a touch of banter along the way then this is for you. The style often reminded of being away with friends when we go away for a weekends walking in Scotland. Just great fun and never too serious!

Rating: - Gift for a friend

Ordered this book from Amazon the transaction was completed with their usual excellent service. This book was a present for a friend and was received well in time.

Rating: - whisky trail

great book and great local info about scotland whisky industry
,places and some select hotels

Rating: - Oh dear - In Search of the Perfect Bore

I had high hopes for this but its an appalling read. It purports to be about whisky but I suspect I know more about whisky than Banks does; and I know very little! When he does write something about it the impression is that he's looked it up from elsewhere - there is no passion in his words. The book is about driving really - dull driving at that, Banks seems to think the road network is his own personal playground - perhaps he wants to be Clarkeson.

If you have an interest in whisky, Scotland and just plain being entertained I would look elsewhere.

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next »