In reply to ScottTalbot:
Reviewer here, shamefaced that his writing was so obscure as to be so misunderstood.
The use of 'not one of us' (highlighted in italics) was in fact a jibe at the elitists. Before this book even hit the streets there was a bit of social media sniping because Ms Smith was making money out of other people's hard work. At the time I defended her right to write the book, finding the argument that unless you've banged in the nails you can't wield the pen about it to be ludicrous and - yes - elitist.
Sure, my review betrays some disappointment, but that doesn't alter what I think about Ms Smith's right to write.
I think there is an 'us' in bothy maintenance, which you could define as the people who contribute (in whatever way) to the upkeep and welfare of bothies. But there's no locked door. If you want to become 'one of us' then just do it. In fact I'd argue that, in the sense, Phoebe Smith, despite my criticisms, IS one of us.
But, hey, I'm quite sure that, this being the internet, someone will come along who knows what I'm trying to say better than I do and will explain why I'm some form of poisonous toad that just crawled out from under a toley. Hey ho.
