Staying up late with Lady Macbeth. Deadly or delightful? Answer: Both!
The historical fiction book that kept me up all night. Plus, history travel, a garden podcast, and recs for a mystical Summer escape.
Okay, okay, I know I’m hardly impartial—I’m 2 months married to a Scotsman. But Isabelle Schuler’s Lady Macbethad has enraptured me. I stayed up til the wee hours of the morning 2 nights in a row to finish it. All.
I mean, so much so, I’ve tried and failed at starting other books since. I’m just too hung up on it. I’m still enjoying dreaming of extended versions of the story.
So who would I recommend it to?
If you’d like to escape the hot, humid nights of summer and fly to ancient Scotland
Or maybe give reason to yet another week of rain wherever you are
And most importantly, if you’ve ever dreamed of being a selkie
This vivid read is ripe for escapism. It’s a sort of prequel to Shakepeare’s Lady Macbeth. I love that the main character, Gruoch, is multi-dimensional. She’s a single-minded visionary who’s still human, and a survivor above all else. She explores both masculine and feminine power, but she’s not so ruthless or conniving that’s she’s apathetic. Honestly, I felt I’d do what she did in her position. Mostly. I enjoyed that there’s just enough history to embolden you to win the next trivia night without being a snore, and more importantly the deeply researched history helps fuel the characters’ feuds and emotional motives. I was definitely left picking sides.
TL;DR: I’ll be reading it again when the clouds roll in and the wool comes out. And I’ll be swapping my rosé for a dram of whisky. Anyone wanna start an herbology club with me?
Other ways to make a mystical summer…
Visit Burghead the real-life setting
The BBC recently shared University of Aberdeen’s reconstruction of the ancient Pictish site, which was great fodder for a late night rabbit hole when I’d finished but didn’t want to be done. It’s so cool to be able to visualize the ancient world of the book.
Listen to gaelic folklore
I’ve made a cherished ritual of listening to the As the Seasons Turn podcast by Lia Leenderta x Ffern while I garden in the morning. It’s a mix of almanac-style info about the natural world and otherworldly inspiration from past cultures. It helps me feel connected to, both, nature and our family in the UK. Even if it doesn’t do much for my garden here in Spain. I couldn’t find it again, but a recent episode included a selkie legend.
Inspiration roundup
Sway to this song if you want to get atmospheric about it. Think: Moby meets ghostly Gaelic chanting. It’s somehow haunting AND upbeat.
430 year castle & a mind-boggling DIY project? Count me in! This castle went from £4000 ruin to this history-infused grandeur.
The perfect princess robe for staying up late by the fire in my chamber and catching up on the court gossip with my ladies
And finally, a wee cheeky photo, because we got married this May and incorporated an ancient Scottish ritual into our ceremony: the quiach. And I’m still not over it. It felt so meaningful. Plus, look how shallow this cup is! We managed to pass that thing back and forth without spilling it on my white dress. Miracle.
Slà inte Mhath —
Until next time,
HH