A poignant tour de force that lays bare the complexities of both of its central characters, Remember the Rowan honours their brilliance while examining their flaws with curiosity and compassion.
As a poet herself, MacQuarrie scarcely wastes a word, writing with shining clarity. Every sentence is exquisitely worked, every detail in some way significant…
Alastair Mabbott, The Herald
MacQuarrie’s deep research into the life of twentieth century poet Kathleen Raine offers a brilliant reappraisal of a woman feted in life for her literary talent yet almost completely forgotten in Scotland today.
Absolutely alive with emotion, this impressive first novel will help to ensure that Raine is remembered as the hugely talented and inspirational writer she was.
Sara Sheridan, award-winning author of The Fair Botanists
A beautifully written book in which, reminiscent of Hilary Mantel at her best, MacQuarrie uses the real lives of historical figures as a jumping-off point to write a touching and engaging story of poetry and writing, of the inspirational power of nature and of an all-encompassing, overwhelming love...
In its sadness is a real beauty which reveals MacQuarrie as the new author to watch for the Scottish audience.
Kavan P. Stafford, Bella Caledonia
'What a tour de force! Not only has MacQuarrie amassed and digested a vast amount of research to produce this deeply felt, passionate and unflinching portrait of the hugely talented yet overlooked and ill-used writer, Kathleen Raine, she has written a beautiful, lyrical novel about unrequited love in which the landscape takes your breath away and the shared love for a wild otter becomes transcendent.'
Helen Graham, author of The Real Mackay:
Walter Scott's Favourite Comedian
‘A remarkable act of literary-historical imagination, graced with an almost luminous sense of the spirits… The characters endure confidently in the mind long after the reading, and they are hard to separate from the settings that do so much to define them… I can’t think of another novel where the life of a writer has been recreated so convincingly… it’s a constant source of wonder and makes me look forward keenly to MacQuarrie’s next book!’
Gerald Mangan, poet, playwright, journalist and cartoonist
'How grateful I am to have experienced your novel.
An unusual word to choose, but how else to explain the way it lingers in the memory, with many scenes still vividly present long after reading... the pathos and impossibilities in their relationship are so powerfully caught.'
Professor James McGonigal, poet, editor, critic and biographer
'An astonishing job in creating a convincing first-person voice for Kathleen. It far exceeds anything I would have thought possible... done with great imagination and sensitivity... I hope reviewers judge it as I have done and give it great praise for a brave and remarkable work on a deeply challenging and important subject!'
Professor Grevel Lindop, chair of The Temenos Academy, the educational charity founded by Dr Kathleen Raine in 1991
'This book was absolutely stunning and unexpected, a page-turner as well as a meditation on the soul's desires. I was not very familiar with Kathleen Raine's poetry prior to reading this, and you absolutely do not have to be for this well-told story to make an impact. It's clear the author has a significant depth of understanding of Raine's experience in addition to being a fantastic writer – she was born to convey this story and I am so grateful for the work she has done!'
reader review
'It is so beautifully written, poetic and moving. I absolutely loved it. I felt so close to Kathleen and related to her a lot - the complexity of her character, the highs and the lows, the emotional depth and the beauty of expression... There were lots of times when I had to just stop and think about a sentence that made my heart ache...
I've not enjoyed a book that much in a long time.
I keep recommending it to my friends!'
reader review
'Having been a fan of Kathleen Raine's poetry for most of my life, I absolutely loved this and could not put it down. A beautifully written and incredibly moving story about the complex nature of love, relationships and the power of poetry and nature to sustain us. Wonderful.'
reader review
'This is a wonderful book from a very talented young writer which illuminates the depth of the relationship between the two principal characters and got me rereading the Ring of Bright Water trilogy. I recommend this to everyone... captivating in its examination of human emotion.'
reader review
'I was completely absorbed in this telling of Kathleen and Gavin's story: the complexity and heartache, MacQuarrie's understanding of the depths of their relationship, and her descriptions of the landscape, so evocatively part of their story. I want to say how much I enjoyed the book, although "enjoy" seems superficial. Through MacQuarrie's writing, I lived inside the story, appreciating the depth of her research, the rawness of Kathleen's longing, and her empathy.'
reader review
'What a powerful and emotive book!
I absolutely loved reading it. It's always so wonderful to read a book that you're enjoying so much you don't actually want it to end, but you also just can't put it down.
I've read it twice now, as I just found it so incredibly moving to be immersed in Kathleen's world with her.
I started to note down my favourite lines as I was reading, until I realised it was basically going to be the entire book!'
reader review
'The book is really amazing; a kind of meditation on love, misunderstanding and forgiveness. Not only are the characters rich and fully developed, but the nature writing is beautiful. And if you are going to write the last great Gavin Maxwell book (which I think MacQuarrie has) then you have to be able to do the nature writing!'
reader review
'I absolutely loved this book. MacQuarrie's depth of research was incredible, and her eloquent style draws the reader deep into the world of Kathleen Raine and Gavin Maxwell.
It was a powerful captivating read from a talented emerging writer and I cannot wait to read her next book.
Wonderful!
reader review
'This will be a difficult read to follow on from, giving voice to a hugely poignant some-requited love story. Kathleen Raine's work and her influence have to be recognised. Without her, there would be no Ring of Bright Water. Deeply moving and such an important work.'
reader review
'Written with intense feeling and with a flair for descriptions of nature that recalls the sensibility of her two main characters... Let us hope that MacQuarrie's heartfelt advocacy may inspire many more to discover one of the great poets, intellects, and spirits of our time.'
reader review
'A poetic emotional rollercoaster... Raine's romantic soul and strong connection to her idea of the man she loves is heartbreaking but life-affirming.
Read it, you won't regret it.'
reader review