When I was younger, say in my teens, I remember wondering why people would choose to return to the same place on holiday every year.

Obviously, it must have totally escaped my notice that for years as a family we did exactly that. Every October school holiday we decamped to Aviemore. No light undertaking with a big family and the number of belongings to move that would have entailed. I remember listening to Radio 2 in the car and the truly eclectic mix of my parents’ music choices as we drove through Speyside. Even now, as I think back, I can picture myself singing along in my head to Anne Murray’s version of ‘Both Sides‘ and staring out of the window at the warm rosy glow of the glorious autumn days.

It was the safety of routine, we knew the walks we would take, even the meals we would eat, the shops we would pop into with our pocket money. 

Was it perhaps these memories that made me and my own family head to Grantown-on-Spey on our first ever Scottish caravan holiday? It was Easter and I packed onesies (very trendy at the time!), woollen hats and scarves and so on, thinking how my internationally raised children would probably find it cold. Ha! I should have packed more shorts; the weather was fabulous. 

The walk from the caravan site into town takes less than ten minutes and we discovered a super street of shops including an independent book shop! The Bookmark. Meeting the owner, Marjory Marshall, was a treat. Her knowledge and genuine enthusiasm filled the little shop. A real book-lover’s treasure chest and the children’s section was amazing. She took the time to ask each of us what our interests were and embodied the spirit of ‘there is a book for everyone’.

What with the walks and cycles in Anagach Woods and beyond, visits into Aviemore, superb cycling routes, Loch an Eilein, dinner in the various eateries at Grantown and of course, the coffee shops with their fabulous cakes, our family soon built up a list of ‘must do’ things for a holiday in Grantown. It was perhaps no wonder, then that we decided to return the next year, and the next, barely missing a year in the last decade.

So, I have changed my mind about returning to the same place, but I am sad that one particular thing will change on our next trip. The Bookmark is up for sale. 

Am I tempted, I can almost hear you ask. Yes! Of course!

Luckily for us inhabitants of Aberdeen, a new independent bookshop has opened, Somerville Books. I learnt about it when chatting to a friend and it got me thinking about recommendations.

On my phone I have a list of books I would like to read. For so long I have been adding to it without considering how it is curated. Recently, however, I decided to note down who has recommended the book to me. I love that already, there are so many different people, magazines, television/radio programmes and some from books I am reading, on my list.

When I walk into a bookshop, even I who loves to read, can sometimes find it overwhelming so having this list gives me a starting point.

Then there are the bookshop tables.

So tempting.

In Somerville books I was absolutely blown away to find a table dedicated to books from local authors. Yahoo! It was too hard to resist, and I bought a (signed) copy of ‘Nest’ by Catriona Turner.  

It is a memoir of a Scottish woman who lived abroad for years. I found it fascinating as so many of her experiences resonated with me, being lucky enough to have had the opportunity to live in Oman, Malaysia and The Netherlands before returning to Scotland.

The book has been independently published and the day I bought it was coincidently the one when twenty British independent publishers sent an open letter asking the publishing industry to help independent presses in these challenging times.

Having absolutely raced through ‘Nest’, the letter was a reminder to me to look out for books by independent publishers and support them as best I can.

So, back to recommendations. Apparently, word of mouth is one of the best ways to improve sales of books. Nowadays the review sections in the newspapers are often smaller than they once were. Magazines do a fabulous job and television and radio too but sadly; there is not enough room for all to have a chance to get publicity like that.

How can you help? How about adding your own online review of a book you have read?

As the Director of ‘My Book Corner’, myself and the other volunteers are constantly trying to champion the fabulous range of books for children from picture through to young adults including non-fiction.

So, if you are thinking of doing a Secret Santa this year, could the theme be books? Perhaps you are you going to adopt the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod and gift a book to one another on Christmas Eve?

As I settle into the cosiness of this winter season, I am also beginning to think about next year. Yes, another trip to Grantown-on-Spey at some point may be on the cards and I am hoping that the wonderful independent bookshop will still be there, as part of the comforting routine of returning.

Of course, no post on recommendations would be complete without mentioning my wonderful book group! This month’s read is ‘Taste’ by Stanley Tucci and last month we read ‘Quartet in Autumn’ by Barbara Pym – had a great discussion about that one!

I am reading ‘Much More to Come’ by Eleanor Mills and have recently finished ‘The Truths We Hold’ by Kamala Harris.

One more recommendation, if I may, some self promotion here.

I have a story published in the wonderful ‘The People’s Friend’ Special, edition 285. So many fabulous stories included in each magazine. Definitely plenty of reading!

Last but not least, here’s one to listen to – Desert Island Discs with Dame Carol Robinson. What a story she has to tell.

It would be lovely if you would like to pop over to www.mybookcorner.co.uk where you can read my reviews of the latest books for children. There is the opportunity to sign up for the newsletter as well, providing you with great recommendations sent straight to your inbox!