Three word reviews

Why not review your Gaelic books in Gaelic. It's easy! Just pick 3 adjectives from the list below, and use as directed - done!

The list is also available on Flashcard exchange

http://www.flashcardexchange.com/
Go to directory and enter the tag "lèirmheas" in the search box, top right.

As FCX is not very user-friendly, I've included it here - feel free to copy it, and add your own words.

47 words for reviewing Gaelic books.

Use in a string with no “and” (not needed in Gaelic), e.g. “eirmseach, draoidheil, bàrdeil” - witty, magical and poetic;
or “iol-fhillte, ràsanach, bòradh” - complicated, long-winded and boring.

Or add in “ach” - but, e.g. “duilich ach inntinneach” - difficult but interesting.

Note: where two meanings are separated by a comma, the second amplifies the first. Where they are separated by a slash /, they are two different meanings for the same word. Thus “grinn” means “neat”, in the sense of “elegant”, but “feumail” may mean “useful” or ”necessary”, depending on the context.

furasda
easy

duilich
difficult

coiteanta
popular

grinn
neat, elegant

togail
uplifting

eirmseach
witty, clever

iol-fhillte
complex

draoidheil
magical

inntinneach
interesting

amaiseach
accurate

sìmplidh
simple

bàrdail
poetic

measgaichte
mixed

smaointeachail
thoughtful

sgoinneil
splendid

trom-chùiseach
important
lit. heavyweight

spreòdach
exciting

soilleir
clear

iomadh-dathach
multi-coloured

iolarach
varied

fiosrachail
informative

cumhachdach
powerful, influential

iongantach
surprising

eibhinn
funny

neartmhor
strong, robust

ceannsgaladh
masterful

cunbhalach
orderly, methodical

neònach
strange

domhainn
deep

mi-shoilleir
unclear

bòradh
boring

feumail
useful / necessary

ràsanach
long-winded

bòidheach
beautiful

cuideachail
helpful

ioranta
ironic

fadalach
boring

beòthail
lively

foirfe
perfect

cuimir
concise

geur
sharp

blàth-chridheach
warm-hearted

aoireil
satirical

ealanta
adroit, artistic

innleachdach
ingenious / contrived

driùdhteach
moving

sgaiteach
biting

Three word review of Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach - so far -

soilleir
spreòdach
beòthail

Ok, I'll try for Cleasan 'sa Bhaile Mhoir --

Eibhinn
Cuideachdail
Beothail

Yay! Sounds good!

Cleasan 'sa Bhaile Mhòir is certainly all three, and can I add soilleir because of it's format?. I had trouble following the chronology of Samhraidhean Dìomhair, but Cleasan made up for it. The best of Sandstone's Gaelic series, nam bheachdsa.

The adjectives above are now included in this Memrise course

http://www.memrise.com/course/205150/scottish-gaelic-book-report-vocabulary/

For Na Speuclairean Dubha so far, I'd say soilleir, inntinneach, biorach.

I don't know if it counts as a 'Gaelic book' and I don't know if this counts as a 3 word review, but I think Anne Lorne Gillies' Songs of Gaelic Scotland is
(gu math) togail,
(gu bhith) draoidheal
ceannsgaladh (gu leir)

It all counts - tapadh leat!

Air Mo Chuairt - Ealasaid Chaimbeul
Fèin-Eachdraidheil, càirdeil, nàdarrach.

Thanks to starno for interesting and useful reviews! They're not 3 word reviews, but that's OK. They can be accessed via starno's profile, or via the book reviewed, for those new to LT, as can any member's reviews.

Gaelic books get few reviews, and given that most of us have little opportunity to try before we buy, they are really valuable.

So far I would rate Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn's 'Na Speuclairean Dubha' thus:-

simplidh
iol-fhillte
smaointeachail
domhainn

More soon!
Ann

>12 annkinsman: I like that you've called it both "simple" and "complex" - that's very Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn!

I love Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn's dark metaphors, especially self-referential? This line in Na Speuclairean Dubha struck me (a character speaks to the narrator/writer) - "Tha thu direach coltach ri clamhan a 'piocadh am-measg feoil". As I've been reading this book I've felt I need to read some of his poems, and I came across this very moving one called: 'Do mo mhathair'. The last line struck me:

Bha thus’ a’ sgoltadh sgadain
ann an Yarmouth fad air falbh
’s a’ ghrian shaillt sa mhadainn
ag èirigh às a’ chuan
’s an fhuil air oir do sgìne
’s an salainn ud cho garbh
’s gun thachd e thu o bhruidhinn
’s gu robh do bhilean searbh.

Bha mis’ an Obair-Eadhain
a’ deoghal cùrsan ùr,
mo Ghàidhlig ann an leabhar
’s mo Laideann aig an stiùir,
’nam shuidh’ an siud air cathair
’s mo chofaidh ri mo thaobh
is duilleagan a’ crathadh
siùil na sgoilearachd ’s mo thùir.

Tha cionta ga mo lèireadh
mar a dh’èirich ’s mar a thà.
Cha bu chaomh leam a bhith ’g èirigh
ann an doillearachd an là,
bhith a’ sgoltadh ’s a bhith reubadh
iasg na maidne air an tràigh
’s am muir borb ud a bhith beucadh
sìos mo mhiotagan gun tàmh.

Ged a nì mi sin ’nam bhàrdachd
’s e m’ fhuil fhìn a th’ air mo làimh,
’s gach aon sgadan thug an làn dhomh
a’ plosgartaich gun dèan mi dàn,
’s an àite cùbair tha mo chànan
cruaidh is teann orm a ghnàth
is an salann garbh air m’ fhàinne
a’ toirt beòthalachd don bhàs.

Lifting life out of decay is actually quite life-affirming for a writer who wears Na Speuclairean Dubha, nach eil?
Then by chance I found an essay/article by Will Self on the uses of pessimism.

Ann