Secret Book Swap | No. 9 - North Berwick February
Books we swapped:
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World – Elif Shafak
Beginning in the final moments of a woman’s life, this powerful novel traces the memories of Tequila Leila as they surface one by one. Through friendship, exile and survival on Istanbul’s margins, Shafak tells a deeply humane story about belonging and the families we create.The Heart Principle – Helen Hoang
When violinist Anna Sun’s life begins to unravel, she hires a charming escort in a moment of rebellion. What begins as a practical arrangement evolves into something far more complicated in this tender, emotionally rich romance about burnout, identity and unexpected love.H is for Hawk – Helen Macdonald
After the death of her father, Macdonald turns to falconry, training a fierce goshawk while grappling with grief. Blending memoir, nature writing and literary reflection, this luminous book explores loss, wildness and the difficult path back to the world.Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
Two childhood friends reconnect to create video games that captivate the world. Spanning decades, their creative partnership is shaped by ambition, love and rivalry in this inventive novel about art, friendship and the complicated ways we build our lives.The Last Shaman – William Whitecloud
Struggling with depression, a young man embarks on a global search for healing, guided by an unconventional spiritual mentor. Part memoir, part exploration of indigenous wisdom and personal transformation, it reflects on purpose, identity and inner change.Rivers of London – Ben Aaronovitch
When rookie London police officer Peter Grant interviews a ghost while guarding a crime scene, he’s drawn into a hidden world of magic beneath the city. Recruited to a secret unit that handles supernatural crime, Peter must learn wizardry while investigating a series of bizarre and dangerous murders across London.The Ape Who Guards the Balance – Elizabeth Peters
Archaeologist Amelia Peabody returns in another lively historical mystery set in early twentieth-century Egypt. With wit, adventure and sharp observation, Peters blends archaeology, family dynamics and danger into an entertaining desert mystery.Something Borrowed – Emily Giffin
On the night of her thirtieth birthday, Rachel makes an impulsive decision that complicates her friendship with glamorous best friend Darcy. Smart and sharply observed, this novel explores loyalty, love and the messy grey areas of relationships.Fairy Tale – Stephen King
When a teenage boy inherits the key to another world, he’s drawn into an epic struggle between good and evil. Blending classic fantasy with King’s storytelling flair, this is an adventure about courage, sacrifice and the enduring power of stories.The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
A reclusive Hollywood icon finally agrees to tell her life story to an unknown journalist. As Evelyn recounts decades of fame, ambition and complicated love, long-buried secrets emerge in this glamorous and emotionally resonant novel.Nala’s World – Dean Nicholson
While cycling around the world, Dean Nicholson unexpectedly adopts a stray kitten who becomes his travel companion. This heartwarming memoir celebrates friendship, adventure and the surprising connections that shape our journeys.The Red Road – Denise Mina
When a Glasgow journalist investigates a disturbing case linked to a notorious murderer, the story pulls her into a dark web of crime and corruption. Taut and atmospheric, Mina delivers a gripping thriller steeped in moral complexity.The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands – Mary Seacole
In this lively memoir, Mary Seacole recounts her remarkable life as a nurse, traveller and entrepreneur. From Jamaica to the Crimean War, she describes her determination to care for wounded soldiers despite discrimination and hardship, offering a vivid first-hand account of courage, resilience and compassion in the face of adversity.
Elspeth Wilson
Guest writer, Elspeth Wilson
Elspeth Wilson is a writer interested in exploring the limitations and possibilities of the body. Her pamphlet, Too Hot to Sleep, is published by Written Off Publishing. Her debut novel, These Mortal Bodies, was published by Simon and Schuster in 2025.
These Mortal Bodies
Leaving coastal Scotland behind, Ivy Graveson arrives at an all-girls college at a prestigious university, determined to belong among the wealthy students who seem to have known each other forever. She immerses herself in secret societies and uncovers her college’s legacy, echoing her lifelong draw to—and fear of—the waters around her.
Over one year, Ivy must decide what sisterhood means to her and how far she’ll go to become who she was destined to be.
These Mortal Bodies is a dark academia novel of obsession and toxic friendship among the elite.
Banned Book Reading
Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin
This month’s banned book talk marked LGBTQ+ History Month, and we explored the long history of books being challenged simply for portraying same-sex love.
The conversation was sparked by a recent investigation from The Ferret, which found that complaints about books in Scottish school libraries are quietly reshaping what young people can access. Freedom of Information requests revealed 29 official complaints over three years, with more than a third relating to LGBTQ+ themes. In some cases books were removed entirely; in others they were restricted, moved to older sections, or only available with parental permission. Librarians described a “chilling effect”, where the possibility of complaints leads to second-guessing what gets stocked in the first place.
From there we looked at the longer history behind these debates. In 1928, Radclyffe Hall’s The Well of Loneliness was banned in the UK after a court ruled that its sympathetic portrayal of a lesbian relationship was obscene. Decades later, Nancy Garden’s Annie on My Mind, a young adult novel about two girls falling in love, was removed from a school library in Kansas and even publicly burned after complaints in the early 1990s, before later being reinstated following a legal challenge.
We also reflected on books we’ve discussed previously, including This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson and the picture book And Tango Makes Three, both of which have faced challenges in schools and libraries because they portray LGBTQ+ lives openly.
To close the evening, we shared a short quote from Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin:
“Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?”
And left with question that have been asked across decades of censorship debates:
Who gets to see their love story on the shelf?
And who decides whether it belongs there?
Join us at future secret book swaps: