Author Archives: Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

About Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic  music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere. I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.

What’s New for the 7th of January: Robert Holdstock and other easonally appropriate books, jazz in winter, real and not-real beer, a poor comic book, cold weather music, and Gary’s music pics of 2023

Posted on 7th January 2024 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

  If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased. ― attributed to Katharine Hepburn Traditional Central European and Jewish comfort foods are common here in Kinrowan Hall. Mrs. Ware, our Head Cook, says ‘It’s not … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 10th of December: A mixed bag of seasonal and other Nordic, Celtic, and British music; omni reviews of late-in-the-year music

Posted on 10th December 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Books. Cats. Life is good. ― T.S. Eliot Yes, this Estate has cats, some very special cats. That story is told over here. And they start settling in very nicely about now, as they really don’t like the cold, wet … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 1st of the October: Horror, time travel, murder and fantasy, and comics journalism; personal Scandinavian jazz, ancient Persian songs, bluegrass, Americana, and a podcast; Johnny Cash on TV; chocolate and empanadas

Posted on 1st October 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Never argue with a librarian; they know too much. Carole Nelson Douglas’s Cat in a Red Hot Rage It is, as all nights are on this Scottish Estate far from the light pollution of any city, a good night for star … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate Story: A Theological Anthropologist

Posted on 16th July 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

She said she was a theological anthropologist. And I asked why she was visiting our Estate. Out of curiosity, she said, as it appeared to her that we preceded the fall of the Kirk in Scotland by many centuries as … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 9th of July: All Sorts of Good Things

Posted on 9th July 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Eight hours, sixteen ounces of chocolate and they’re still not right — Resident Izzie Stevens, making cupcakes in the Grey’s Anatomy, “Save Me” Yes, we love chocolate a lot around here, to the extent that Ellen Kushner once shared her hot chocolate … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Danse Macabre (A Letter to Anna)

Posted on 18th June 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Greetings Anna, You’ll be tickled to know that Jack is putting back together the medieval music group called Danse Macabre that he had here well over twenty years ago. Of course, there’ll be new musos including my wife, Catherine, joining … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Reading Groups (A Letter to Anna)

Posted on 4th June 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Dear Anna, When you were here over the Fall you asked me how reading groups got started here. As we were headed out for a contradance with your partner and me with my wife, I forgot until now. And when … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 14 of May: Lots of live music plus some new jazz and country; urban fantasy, horror, and classic sf; new Oreos;

Posted on 14th May 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

I sipped my own coffee, heavy on the sugar and cream, trying to make up for the late work the night before. Caffeine and sugar, the two basic food groups. — Laurell K. Hamilton’s Cerulean Sins It’s a little cooler than last … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: A Hidden Bookstore

Posted on 23rd April 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

It’s been jocularly observed that the presence of many books in one place can actually warp both space and time. I’m Iain MacKenzie, the Head Librarian here at the Kinrowan Estate, and I’m not sure that this view is so … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 16th of April: Matty Groves as done by Sandy Denny, Mushroom Hunting, Michael Kaluta, Shane McGowan, some books that touch on the American Pastime, Norwegian folk, a Swiss classical take on American music, The Weavers, Federal Music Project, and more

Posted on 16th April 2023 by Iain Nicholas Mackenzie

Conspiracy theories are really attractive. Figuring out patterns is one of the things that gets your brain to give you a nice dose of chemical reward, the little ping of dopamine and whatever else that keeps you smiling. As a … Continue reading →

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