published 2014
On Good Friday the church had been bare, the statues covered, the tabernacle empty, Our Lord crucified. On the third day He is resurrected: bells ring out and the chapel is a bleeze of licht, flooers everywhere, mair lovely than any East I had kenned. This year the Archbishop was to say Mass …
The Easter service is the loveliest of the year, wi bells ringing and much incense; we light the Easter candle, reciting the promises made at baptism. Though the readings are ower-lang, ye can sit and look round at the flooers and candles, at all the folk dressed up in their best. I love to gaze at the statue of Our Lady, with the stars round her crown and the babe in her airms. The Archbishop’s vestments were white for Easter but with gold broidery; it would be fine indeed to mak vestments like those.
Don’t be put off by the language – it doesn’t at all stop you from enjoying this lovely book. Anne Donovan says this:
Previous Easter Sunday entries here and here.
The picture is of a liturgical cabinet decorated with sacred pictures, from the Google Art Project.
On Good Friday the church had been bare, the statues covered, the tabernacle empty, Our Lord crucified. On the third day He is resurrected: bells ring out and the chapel is a bleeze of licht, flooers everywhere, mair lovely than any East I had kenned. This year the Archbishop was to say Mass …
The Easter service is the loveliest of the year, wi bells ringing and much incense; we light the Easter candle, reciting the promises made at baptism. Though the readings are ower-lang, ye can sit and look round at the flooers and candles, at all the folk dressed up in their best. I love to gaze at the statue of Our Lady, with the stars round her crown and the babe in her airms. The Archbishop’s vestments were white for Easter but with gold broidery; it would be fine indeed to mak vestments like those.
A HAPPY EASTER TO ALL BLOG READERS
Don’t be put off by the language – it doesn’t at all stop you from enjoying this lovely book. Anne Donovan says this:
I use Scots words to suggest character and place as they are often more specific than the English equivalents. But perhaps more than anything I love the wonderful sound quality of the language, which is both beautiful and evocative. I hope that, in context, the meaning is often self-explanatory.Anne Donovan is a great writer – see enthusiastic blog entry here on another of her books, Being Emily. There’ll be another post saying more about this book later: around its publication date, which is 1st May.
Previous Easter Sunday entries here and here.
The picture is of a liturgical cabinet decorated with sacred pictures, from the Google Art Project.
A Happy Easter to you, too, Moira! And I think you made a terrific choice for today's post. I really like the Scots dialect. I like its cadence and patterns, and I do like the way it places readers within the culture. It's also terrific to hear in narrated versions of stories.
ReplyDeleteYes - it is one of the more attractive accents isn't it? This one would make a wonderful audiobook I think.
DeleteHappy Easter to you as well. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and the same to you....
DeleteNot one for me Moira, I'm afraid. Enjoy the rest of the Easter break.
ReplyDeleteNo probably not, but it made for a nice Easter-y entry. I hope the weekend's going well for you.
DeleteHope your Easter was nice. We went to a new Public Market on Saturday, very chi chi and really beyond our budget, but some nice shops and new things are always fun. That was about it for our weekend.
ReplyDeleteWe had the family back, which was nice, my children and mother. Ate too much chocolate...
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