Iain Banks was born in Scotland in 1954 and published his first book - "The Wasp Factory" - in 1984. In the years since, he's won critical acclaim, topped best-seller lists and has even written Science Fiction books under the cunning nom-de-plume 'Iain M. Banks'.

Frank Cauldhame is sixteen yeras old and hasn't quite had what you'd call a typical upbringing. In fact, he doesn't officially exist : Frank was never registered, has no birth certificate, no passport and no national insurance number. The upside is that, as a result, he's never had to attend school - though he was educated at home by his father. (Angus, Frank's father, did occasionally embellish parts of the curriculum - for example, Frank believed for a time that there was a character called Fellatio in "Hamlet"). Angus is a scientist : the discipline is never clearly identified, though he does appear to be involved in the biomedical sector. These connections have also apparently allowed Angus to provide for Frank's medical needs - despite his son's official non-existance. (These needs were increased at an early age, following a devastating encounter with a dog). Angus' study is strcitly off-limits to Frank and is permanently locked - though Frank is determined to make it inside someday.

The pair are pretty comfortable, whatever it is Angus does for a living. They live on a small island, just off the coast of Portneil in Scotland. Frank never knew his mother, Angus' second wife, as she left shortly after he was born. (Apparently, she didn't care much for children). It's probably lucky for her that she didn't stick around : Frank has turned into a very strange kid whose values and beliefs don't really overlap with those held by 'normal' society. He's very fond of general destruction and killing - so far, he's dispatched two cousins, one brother and various animals. (He's yet to be caught out). He is also very inventive and has essentially created his own belief system - involving a Wasp Factory, some Sacrifice Poles and the Bunker (a pillbox on the beach, a relic from the Second World War). He also has his own name for various parts of the island, depending on what he's done there - for example, the Snake Park, Black Destroyer Hill and the Bomb Circle.

The events of "The Wasp Factory" take place over a couple of days - beginning with the news that Eric, Frank's half-brother, has escaped form hospital. (Eric was committed several years earlier, for setting dogs on fire). The book sees Frank looking back over his life, in the build-up to Eric's expected return. This isn't something that causes Frank any great amount of stress, despite the fact that Eric clearly still isn't firing on all thrusters. (Frank is more than a match for his brother : the worrying thing is that he sees himself as being the "somebody sane who still likes" Eric.) Unsurprisingly, the book can be a little gruesome at times and it isn't one I'd recommend if you're feeling a little queasy. However, if you're feeling up to a challenge, it's certainly well worth reading !

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Scoops and books.

Picked this up at a fun bookcrossing mini-meet-up, in Belfast on Thursday the 14th June, where I was lucky enough to meet bookcrossers, cluricaune, fleurdelys, peaceangel, Shivers82. My great thanks go to peaceangel for your kindness and decisiveness in putting that wee meet-up into place with such alacrity. It was so lovely to meet you.

Thanks also to all for staying at the Botanic Inn to meet up with me despite my late arrival driven by an accumulation of travel adventures. Oh, yes and then there was the rain. All that was forgotten though as I enjoyed a great natter with this lovely group of Irish bookcrossers. Oh, it was so good to meet you all, it really added extra special value to my conference attendance trip. I am still beaming with delight about our get-together days later as I now, with the time to do it, sit and register and release the books we exchanged.

Well, this catch has a whole coals to Newcastle feel to it being a Scottish author returning to tartan land. However, so many of the Edinburgh Bookcrossing Group are not native I though this would make a useful release, of a modern classic, at the next meet-up!

RELEASE NOTES: Planning releasing this at the next Edinburgh Bookcrossers Meet-up, on Wednesday 11th July. It’s not a cuddly read so I decided not to release it at the Family Fun Day, 30th June, at which I am doing a mass release. Seems a smart plan!

enjoyed this in so far as can enjoy disturbing story! except only after i'd started did i realise i'd read it before...... but didn't remember ending so was happy enough to read again. unfortunately my boyfriend did remember ending and kindly told me......... ah well. don't think it's a book whose plot 'sticks' though as feels like could be given it again and still have forgotten key elements.

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Reading now.

Waiting For Godot. With added nastiness. IB clearly had great fun thinking up ways to torture and/or kill animals and children. Had those thoughts myself actually...

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Caught at the meetup, not yet read.