Beartas is Buaidh à Storas na Cuimhne
Seo an còigeamh nobhail aig Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul agus tha I mar a bhiodh dùil oin sgrìobhadair mhacmeanmnach, chruthaicheal, smaoineachail seo. Tha shruthan a’ falbh à diofar àirdean ach a’ tighinn cruinn còmhla tron leabhar’ anmns a chomar tha stòiridh a tha eirmseach agus dùbhlanach, agus a tha togail sgàthan do bhuaidh na h-aoise air eanchainn is cuimhne. The e gun teagamh dhiubhsan a bhios a’ leughadh na Gàidhlig gu sìubhlach.
Tha Chrissie, a tha a’ fuireach ann an dachaigh-cùraim, ainmeil airson na th’ aice de sgeulachdan, eachdraidh is beul-aithris; gu dearbh, bha I air a clàradh uaireigin le seòid na Sgoil Eòlais fhèin. A-nise tha fear-aithris òg aig a’ BhBC còmhla rithe airson grèim mu dheireadh a ghabhail bhon ubhal. Ach a bheil an t-ubhal lobhte, no a bheil mìlseachd ann fhathast?
Tha Chrissie a’ toirt buaidh air an fheadhainn a tha timcheall oirre – tè-cùraim san dachaigh, an dotair aice a tha na Ban-Hearach, agus Ruairidh Iain bhon BhBC. Chan e a-mhàin smuaintean is feallsanachd a tha Caimbeul comasach air a chur ann an cumaidhean de dhiofar sheòrsaichean, ach a’ chainnt fhèin. Tha e a’ cluich le cànan mar a bhios sgrìobhaiche-ciùil a cluich le notaichean. Tha gach caractar a’ cleachdadh a chuid, no a cuid, Gàidhlig ann an dòigh rudeigin eadar-dhealaichte, agus tha sin a’ tighinn tarsainn air an duilleig. (Iris ‘Cothrom’ Samhradh 2012)
An Overture from Bare Notes
This isAngus Peter Campbell’s fifth Gaelic novel, and it’s as one might expect fromthis thoughtful and accomplished author. Different strands flow into eachother, producing a union which is witty and challenging, and which asks us toconfront the influence of old age on the brain and memory. It is certainly abook for the fully fluent Gaelic reader.
Chrissie,who lives in a care home, is well-known for her store of traditional knowledge;indeed she was recorded many years before by some of the great sames of theSchool of Scottish Studies. Now a young reporter from the BBC is with her totake a final bite of the apple. But has the fruit gone rotten, or does it stillcontain some sweetness?
Chrissiehas an effect on those around her – a care assistant in the home, her doctorwho is a Harriswoman and Ruairidh Iain from the BBC. It’s not only thoughts andphilosophy that Campbell is capable of moulding with skill, but languageitself. He plays with language in the manner of a composer building an overturefrom bare notes. Each character uses his or her Gaelic in a slightly differentway, and that comes across on the page. (from ‘Cothrom’, Summer 2012 issue).