Having been brought up in the Broch ( Fraserburgh ) and having memories of being a young lad around the herring drifters ( all be it from the motor boat version which two generation on from the sailing drifters which are mentioned in the book) – there is a lot in the book that I can relate to. I can hear the sounds of the harbour as I read the early chapters. I also have fond memories of heading out for a Sunday afternoon walk with my friends which we used to do often and the harbour was a regular haunt! I am currently about 1/3 through the book and will post again as I make further progress with my reading which I find is always easier when I am travelling.
Both my grandfathers would enjoy relating stories of their early days in and around the fishing industry which was always a dominant influence in those early days. I recall one story in particular about the fisher men heading for the fishing grounds and there being no wind. This meant that the oars were used and it being the summer season and very hot they would perspire profusely until the sweat could be seed oozing out of the eyelets in their boots!!!! Of course you never could tell how much detail was dramatisation or pure fact 😉
You can find the book on Amazon – see the following link,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Farlans-Fields-Jean-Duthie/dp/145201163X
You can also read my subsequent post about the book after I had finished reading it – click here