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Books that Shaped you

Books that Shaped you

The National Library of Scotland’s 100th birthday

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the National Library also asked people to share the books and publications they love called Books That Shaped You. They will be exhibiting many of these next recommendations in the summer; celebrating books and the value of libraries around the country

The National Library of Scotland is hosting a special exhibition called Dear Library. Created in partnership with organizations across the country, this heartfelt tribute to libraries is designed to inspire, engage, and ignite your passion for these vital spaces. You’ll walk away with a fresh appreciation for what libraries offer and how you can support them.

Their exhibition space will be transformed into an open reading room, featuring bookshelves filled with recommendations from the public and well-known Scottish personalities. Explore the portrayal of libraries and librarians in popular culture, discover protest banners and badges from library advocacy movements, watch vintage film footage that brings historical libraries to life, and much more.

To celebrate the National Library of Scotland’s 100th birthday some of our Edinburgh Napier University Library staff have shared books that have inspired or shaped them.

Emi

The Maiden by Kate Foster

A book I enjoyed the most this year was “The Maiden” by the Scottish writer Kate Foster. The story happens in Edinburgh and Costorphine during the 17th century and it has been publicly described as a piece  “inspired by a real-life murder trial, with a feminist revisionist twist”.

Personally, her book has allowed me to enjoy a genre, Historical Fiction, that normally wouldn’t be my first choice. The highlight of the book is the diverse range of women that lead the story and how their particular personal/socio-economical background pushes them towards their own decisions and consequences (sometimes for survival reasons, others because of how much they want to thrive or because they can’t bear the hypocrisy around them anymore!). Let’s keep in mind that the story happens in a period when being and developing as a woman, in public and in private, was very challenging.

I enjoyed the book very much and I have discovered very recently that the book was Winner of the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect Award 2022 and the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year 2023.

You can purchase this book at Topping and Company independent bookshop

Kieran

The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien

My choice of book would be The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien. It’s Flann O’Brien’s second novel proper – it’s funny, intriguing, absurd and experimental all at the same time. O’Brien (the pen name of Brian O’Nolan, a civil servant by day) wrote for a variety of publications in his lifetime  – most notably as a satirist for The Irish Times – but this novel is, for me, his best work. Upon its belated publication in 1967, it became a cult hit, and was featured famously in an episode of 2000s survival drama Lost and influenced a host of Irish writers and musicians in the years since. O’Brien was largely underappreciated as a novelist in his own lifetime but was subsequently recognised as a pioneering postmodernist writer. His tone is what I love the most about his writing – deadpan and hilarious.

Rachel

Breaking Night by Liz Murray

‘Liz Murray, the protagonist of this inspiring memoir, overcame so many difficulties, hardships and challenges throughout her childhood and lifetime. Her courage and determination to change her life for the better is remarkable. Despite being faced with many adversities such as poverty and deprivation, homelessness, and the loss of her mother at a young age. This book was a very insightful, powerful, and inspiring read and moved me to tears throughout various chapters. I had originally borrowed it from our library but ended up purchasing a copy to keep on my bookshelf as a reminder of the power that courage, kindness and community can hold, particularly during difficult times and periods of adversity.

Borrow Breaking Night from the Library or grab your own from a bookshop.

Juliet

Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt

I know this is a dark choice, but it feels very of the moment and is a book that really reshaped how I thought about evil. I read this in my early twenties when it was easy to view everything as black and white. This book helped me to see the complexity of the subject and opened up so many questions about what it is to be complicit in harm without ever physically committing an act of violence. I also found the bravery of the author who was Jewish to be inspiring.

Eichmann in Jerusalem is a political and philosophical analysis of the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a key organizer of the Holocaust. Based on her coverage of the 1961 trial in Jerusalem, Arendt explores how Eichmann, rather than being a monstrous villain, appeared as an ordinary bureaucrat blindly following orders. She introduces the concept of the “banality of evil,” arguing that great atrocities can be committed not by fanatical individuals but by thoughtless, rule-abiding functionaries. The book examines moral responsibility, justice, and the nature of evil, sparking significant controversy and debate. You can borrow a copy from the Library, find it using Librarysearch.

Local Libraries and Independent Bookshops 

Local libraries are essential for fostering literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement. They provide free access to books, digital resources, and educational programs, making knowledge available to everyone, regardless of their background. Libraries also serve as community hubs, offering study spaces, events, support for students and low-income members of the community, children’s programs, and help for job seekers. By utilizing and supporting local libraries, we help ensure they remain a vital resource for future generations. So why not join today. Edinburgh Libraries are amazing and there are many to choose from. Join here!

Supporting independent bookshops helps sustain local businesses and strengthens communities. These shops offer curated selections, personalized recommendations, and a welcoming space for book lovers. Unlike large online retailers, independent bookshops champion diverse voices and authors, often hosting events that bring people together. Why not check out some of Edinburgh’s many bookshops. It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

What books inspire you?

Tell us in the comments books that have inspired you, we would love to hear your recommendations.

Read more on the blog about book recommendations here

Charles Darwin Day

Charles Darwin Day

What an adventure! Virgin jungles, unclimbed mountains, teeming oceans, tropical rainforests, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes – Charles Darwin saw it all on his five-year voyage around South America. And all the time the young gentleman naturalist was exploring the pristine wildernesses and the unexplored islands, he was taking assiduous notes, writing up his observations more than 20 years later.

Nothing escaped his notice: the flatworms, spiders, and parasitic ichneumon wasps fascinated him every bit as much as the giant tortoises and the massive bones of extinct beasts that he strapped to his horse and hauled back to his study.

He explored, observed and thought about it all. The primaeval world in all its glory and grotesqueness was laid out before him. By the end of his trip, he’d written a 770-page diary, 1,750 pages of notes, and collected nearly 5,500 skins, bones and carcasses. But it wasn’t only the natural world that impressed itself upon Darwin’s consciousness. He saw naked poverty and the horrors of slavery and genocide up close and personal. He realised, once and for all, that nature – including every manifestation of human behaviour – was not the result of a benign creator but rather a long journey through adaptation and evolution.

Natural Selection

No wonder he blew apart the received wisdom on the origins of creation when he published his “On the origin of species by means of natural selection” in 1859. It sold out immediately and rocked the scientific and religious communities to their very foundations. Those reverberations are still being felt today.  

Something that is perhaps unknown is that Darwin had a strong connection to Edinburgh. It was while studying medicine at Edinburgh University that Darwin learned how to classify plants, stuff birds and identify rock strata and colonial floral and fauna.

It’s Darwin’s birthday today. He was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 12th February 1809.  Why not celebrate by reading all about him and his works. (I’ll be honest – I’m starting with “Darwin for beginners”.)

By Lesley McRob

Sources and further reading 

Photo by Misael Moreno

Further reading available on LibrarySearch

Read our blog post on another Victorian trailblazer names Charles: Charles Dickens 

Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day

“Imagine a gender equal world.

A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Together we can forge women’s equality.

Collectively we can all” #BreakTheBias.

(Source: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/)

History of International Women’s Day

It’s International Women’s Day! A global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women. It took place officially for the first time on March 8, 1911 in Denmark, Austria, Germany and Switzerland (Source). Coinciding with the female suffragette movement at the time.

The United Nations started sponsoring International Women’s day in 1975 and the United Nations General Assembly stated it was…‘To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security (Source)

March has since become the celebratory month of women’s contributions to history, science, culture and society. It started off as a week celebrated in California and eventually became a celebratory month recognised globally. The 1960s saw an increase in feminism movements which brought more attention to achievements and contributions made by women throughout history.

Break the Bias

This year’s theme is “Break the Bias”. It is asking us to stand up to the bias we see in the world and to take action! Read more on International Women’s Day at www.internationalwomensday.com/

Here at Edinburgh Napier University, there will be a number of activities taking place to show our support. We have an event on Women Working in Films & TV, this is an opportunity to network and to hear from a panel of experts in this field. The event takes place on Tuesday 8 March 2022, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the Glassroom at our Merchiston campus. More info here.

The ENU Women’s Network is inviting colleagues, irrespective of gender identity, to join them as they build on the network over the coming months. You can learn more and get involved here.

Further Reading

Want to know more about some amazing Scottish Women who have made incredible contributions, read our article Wonder Women of Scotland. Also, check out our other articles on Women’s History and Women in Science :

Women in Science

Women’s History

Women in Engineering

 

By Maya Green and Juliet Kinsey

The Ethiopia Timkat Festival

The Timkat Festival

Christmas is a distant memory for most of us, but for Ethiopians, Christmas is a whole season that’s just coming to an end now. Ethiopia was one of the first countries in the world to adopt Christianity, and as such it adheres to the ancient traditions that sit at the heart of its Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Timkat, celebrated every year on the 19th of January, is one of those traditions, possibly the most important in the Church’s calendar.

The Amharic word timkat means “baptism”, and the festival marks the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan.

Preparations

Timkat is a huge deal and a seriously religious festival. Preparations for this spectacular event, possibly one of the biggest and most colourful on the African continent, begin on the 18th, when “tabots” – models of the  Ark of the Covenant – are wrapped in fine cloths and carried on the heads of priests down to the river or other place of worship. Local people don white shawls – Ethiopians wear white when they go to church – and follow the procession.

The Festival

Mass starts in the early hours of the 19th and continues for hours. When Mass is over, the water is blessed and the congregants take to the rivers, submerging themselves in a re-enactment of Christ’s baptism. Of course, it’s a happy occasion and that means the celebrations go on all day and are accompanied by feasting and music.  As well as eating their favourite Timkat food, Ethiopians celebrate important occasions with elaborate coffee ceremonies.

On the 20th, the tabots are carried back to the churches in another procession that marks the end of the festival.

One of the best places to observe Timkat is the town of Gondar, home to the 17th century castle built by King Fasilides. In the grounds of the castle is a huge open-air bath. The bath is usually empty, but during Timkat it’s filled with water and the locals dive in. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to visit Ethiopia over the festive season. I missed Timkat by a couple of weeks. When I visited King Fasilides castle it was empty. Next time I go, I’m definitely going for Timkat, and I’m taking my swimming costume.

Want to learn more about other traditions from around the world? Read our article here.

By Lesley McRobb

International Women in Engineering Day

We’ve come a long way since Evelyn Roxburgh graduated from Heriot-Watt College in 1923 with a diploma in electrical engineering – the first woman in Scotland to qualify as an electrical engineer. Evelyn spent much of her career in Metropolitan Vickers, one of the biggest engineering companies in the country.

And then there was Langholm-born Dorothy Buchanan who, in 1927, became the first female chartered engineer registered by the Institution of Civil Engineers and worked on engineering projects as far-flung as Sydney, Kharthoum and Belfast.

Nevertheless, there is still a huge gender imbalance in the scientific industries, and that’s why we need an International Women in Engineering Day. Now in its 8th year, INWED aims to raise the profile of women in engineering and inspire women and girls all over the world to enter the industry.  INWED is celebrated on 23rd June all over the world. See here for what’s happening in the UK.

Despite boys and girls having an equal interest in science and technology in their school years, only around 25% of workers in the STEM sector are women. Equate Scotland aims to help change this. It works with further education institutions, employers and students to develop women’s scientific expertise, skills and confidence. Find out about them here

Here at Edinburgh Napier, 20% of our staff and students in the School of Engineering & the Built Environment are female. We welcome girls and boys of all backgrounds.  Why not join us? Find out more here

 

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