Impact on readers makes Star Read The Faultline a record-breaker
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A WEEK ago, a Highland bestseller reached a new milestone as the Ullapool Bookshop celebrated the 1000th copy sold of John McLellan’s The Faultline – this week’s Star Read.
It’s been the number one bestseller there since June last year. And bookshop manager Katharine Douglas says it has sold in Holland, Greece and America too. And she speculates its appeal might lie in word of mouth, people liking the subject matter – or the blurb describing the book on its cover!
Playing catch-up, there is no denying the story is a page-turner. It includes growing friendships – and more – over a Highland summer in which the unique billions of years old geology of the area is mapped by a group of students, echoed by the impact of love cutting through some of these young lives.
Remnants of a crashed plane are discovered and the surprises of human passion are found in unexpected places. It all unfolds in John McLellan’s story, written in his quiet, understated style.
Set in the 1970s in the Kinlochewe area, his book has main character Pete as an authentic voice – a student who prefers his prog rock to the punk of The Tom Robinson Band. Diligent in trying to map the challenging section of the landscape he has been given, Pete finds distractions and complications around him. And a beautifully-handled coming of age experience creates the sense of uncertainty that faces a young person driven to explore unexpected possibilities.
As a portrayal of the bewildering business of working out who you are, testing yourself against life and those around you, McLellan has created a compelling and convincing read.
It’s as easy for the reader to fall in love with Pete, as much as Pete – and McLellan himself – clearly fall for the North West Highlands themselves.
The Faultline (Twelve Acre Publishing, £9.99). Exclusive signed copies are on sale at: www.ullapoolbookshop.co.uk or from Ullapool Bookshop itself The writer John McLellan will speak at the St Duthac Book and Arts Festival but the actual date hasn't been announced yet. Check for updates:
