Luckenbooth

Luckenbooth follows multiple interconnected stories across nine decades in an Edinburgh tenement building at No. 10 Luckenbooth Close. The narrative begins in 1910 with the arrival of a young woman who takes a position as a maid in the home of a minister. The building's residents over the decades include circus performers, political activists, poets, and sex workers, each occupying different floors and time periods. Their individual tales connect through shared spaces, objects, and a darkness that persists within the building's walls. Each floor of the tenement contains its own story, while an underlying thread binds the residents together across time. The novel moves between perspectives and decades, from 1910 to 1999, creating a portrait of Edinburgh's evolving social landscape. The work explores themes of class division, sexuality, and Scottish identity while questioning the nature of evil and the ways physical spaces hold onto human experience. Through its structure and supernatural elements, it examines how the past continues to influence the present.

Readers call the book atmospheric and gothic, emphasizing its dark portrayal of Edinburgh through interconnected stories across nine floors of a tenement building. Readers appreciated: - The blend of Scottish folklore and supernatural elements - Complex character development - Rich historical detail about Edinburgh - The experimental narrative structure - LGBTQ+ representation and diverse perspectives Common criticisms: - Confusing timeline and multiple narratives - Difficulty keeping track of characters - Pacing issues, particularly in the middle sections - Graphic content and disturbing scenes - Abrupt ending that left questions unanswered Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.0/5 (460+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (200+ ratings) Review quotes: "Like a Scottish Penny Dreadful crossed with Trainspotting" - Goodreads reviewer "Beautiful writing but needed a character guide" - Amazon reviewer "The structure is ambitious but sometimes gets in its own way" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The novel's title refers to a Luckenbooth brooch, a traditional Scottish love token that was also believed to ward off evil spirits. These brooches originated in Edinburgh's Luckenbooth shops on the Royal Mile. 🏛️ The nine-story tenement building at the heart of the story was inspired by real Edinburgh architecture, where towering tenements were once packed with residents from all social classes living in close proximity. 👻 Author Jenni Fagan drew inspiration from Edinburgh's dark history, including the North Port witch trials and the city's connection to the devil, weaving these elements into the novel's supernatural themes. 📚 Fagan wrote much of the novel while serving as the writer-in-residence at the University of Edinburgh, where she had access to historical archives about the city's occult past. 🎭 The book's structure mirrors Dante's nine circles of hell, with each floor of the tenement building representing a different level and timeline, spanning from 1910 to 1999.