EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Planning my reading list for this trip was the good kind of difficult: too many options, not enough time. As this was my introduction to Auld Reekie, I settled on a handful of the most-recommended reads I felt I couldn’t miss, throwing in a children’s book and travel guide to mix things up a bit.

The resulting list (below) truly enhanced the trip, each title in a different way: evoking an atmosphere of old and new, dark-yet-playful, and classic-yet-quirky that I came to recognize over the course of the week as quintessentially Edinburghian.

If you imagine yourself navigating a twisty cobblestone lane on a drizzly afternoon, passing iconic red telephone booths to settle into a warm cafe window nook, this list is for you.

44 Scotland Street

By Alexander McCall Smith

You will likely find this one first on any “Off to Edinburgh” reading list and for good reason. McCall Smith captures a modern, witty, and whimsical Edinburgh. Read it on the train or plane, and you’ll set foot on the cobbles feeling like you already know the city and its inhabitants by charm and quirk in equal measure. Good news: it’s part of a series… I also tore through Expresso Tales and Love Over Scotland during long layovers.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stane: Scot’s Language Edition

By J.K. Rowling translated by Matthew Fitt

An absolute must for Harry Potter fans. Take a walk up Candlemaker Row (the rumored inspiration for Diagon Alley) to Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, where you’ll find some familiar names on the gravestones. Then pop over to The Elephant House (which advertises as the birthplace of Harry Potter) and settle in for tea, a picturesque view of Edinburgh Castle, and the first Potter installment in Scots.

Robert Burns: Selected Poems

Edited by Carol McGuirk

A selection of poetry and lyric by the National Bard, Bard of Ayrshire, Ploughman Poet, and National Poet of Scotland, Rabbie Burns. I found this one a surprisingly quick read. Dotted with the familiar (“Auld Lang Syne”) patriotic (“Scots What Hae”) and entertaining (Tam O’ Shanter), it reads like a portrait of the place. Partner this read with a trip to the Burns monument, and bring a camera: if you can get close (ahem, are willing to hop a fence or two… which of course I’m not recommending, or anything) the view of the city is spectacular.

The Heart of Midlothian

By Sir Walter Scott

A classic tale of social order and justice, this one is for those who want to immerse themselves in the literary history of Edinburgh. Read it while lounging on one of the benches near Scott Monument (look out for pigeons), then visit the Writer’s Museum to view some portraits of the romanticist, and personal effects.

Trainspotting

By Irvine Welsh

The 90’s-youth-grunge-heroin-addict-working-class-primal-scream ode to Edinburgh and Darker Scotland. The perfect choice if hostels, nightclubs, and tattoo parlors are higher on your Must List than museums, monuments, and parks. Read it when you wake at 3:00 AM to raucous singing at bar-close and can’t get back to sleep. Bonus: later settle in on the plane or train to stream the film by the same title starring Ewan McGregor.

National Geographic Traveler: Scotland 3rd Edition

By Robin McKelvie and Jenny McKelvie

I am a massive fan of the National Geographic Traveler series, and will always recommend them, even for seasoned globetrotters. This is because they do an excellent job of hitting the highlights: giving an overview with all the most important bits (detailed maps, eateries, places to stay, historical sites, etc.), while also providing insider tips telling you where it’s most worth straying off the beaten (read: touristy) path. For bibliophiles, there is also a satisfying material aspect. The books are thick and weighty, and the images beautiful; the pages and covers sturdy-yet-giving enough to withstand some time in a backpack. The volumes are published by country or city, and though this one covers all of Scotland, there is a special section for Edinburgh & the Lothians, which I returned to frequently during my trip.

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