Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan book review

Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan, reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes Caledonian Road, penned by three times Booker Prize-nominated Andrew O’Hagan, is a literary giant destined to become a classic.  Campbell Flynn is a middle-aged celebrity commentator and art historian. Coming from humble beginnings in Glasgow, he rises to the upper echelons of the... Read More

Paisley Arts Centre to reopen soon

The modernisation of Paisley Arts Centre into a unique and intimate performance venue and creative hub has been completed and will soon reopen to the public Work has been ongoing to transform the performance facilities, audience experience and venue space at the Arts Centre as part of a wider regeneration of Paisley’s cultural venues... Read More

Paisley’s Learning and Cultural Hub wins national award

Paisley’s Learning and Cultural Hub – the new home for Paisley Central Library – has won the physical category at the EDGE Awards. EDGE brings together national and international library practitioners at their conference in Edinburgh. The new library facility opened in November 2023 following a £7 million investment from Renfrewshire Council and is... Read More

Paisley Book Festival 2024

The Paisley Book Festival 2024 programme launch announces a stellar line-up of authors set to take the town by storm The 2024 Paisley Book Festival highlights at Paisley Town Hall include: Sally Magnusson (Music in the Dark) on Thu 25 Apr, 8pm Andrew McMillan (Working Lives) on Fri 26 Apr, 5pm Pat Nevin (The... Read More

The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone book review

The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone, reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes The Space Between Us is a masterful step into sci-fi from Scottish Crime writer Doug Johnstone. In Edinburgh, dozens of people experience strokes at the same time after seeing strange lights in the sky. Three of these people find themselves in... Read More

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. Gill book review

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. Gill, reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes Our Hideous Progeny is part re-telling, part sequel to Mary Shelley’s gothic horror classic, Frankenstein. 1853, Victorian London. Our protagonist Mary Saville is the great niece of Victor Frankenstein, who has been missing for some years in murky circumstances.  Mary and her... Read More

Confidence by Denise Mina book review

Confidence by Denise Mina reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes. The multi-award winning Denise Mina has been heralded as crime writing royalty by Val McDermid and legions of readers, and with Confidence, she certainly keeps the title intact.  Lisa Lee, a young, urban explorer and vlogger disappears from North Berwick after posting a video from an... Read More

Black is the Colour by Seamus Connolly book review

Black is the Colour by Seamus Connolly reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes. In Black is the Colour, we meet lawyer Cal Lynch as he returns to Scotland, three decades after fleeing as a child in the wake of the brutal murder of his father by a gangster on the streets of Glasgow. Cal is back... Read More

Paisley Arts Centre transformation underway

Work has now started on a transformation of Paisley Arts Centre which will add new modern performance facilities and an extension to the much-loved historic venue. The building is being upgraded as a unique and intimate performance venue and creative hub, which will drive new life and footfall into the heart of the town... Read More

Hex by Jenni Fagan book review

Hex by Jenni Fagan reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes. Hex is visceral and poignant, depicting the final night of the life of Geillis Duncan. Convicted of witchcraft during the infamous North Berwick Witch Trials, it remains one of the darkest times in Scottish history, the echoes of which are felt here in Renfrewshire.... Read More