I had a shaky start with this book. It is written in Scottish dialect which I could simply not ‘hear’ in my head. The thought of reading a whole book in this language was intimidating so when I got to the first, short section in the voice of the music master I welcomed it with relief. I kept having to stop and re-read a sentence, to work out what it said. I persevered, and the voice slowly started to settle in my ear. I’m glad I didn’t give up but I’m not convinced about the wisdom of writing 80% of the book in dialect. I fear a lot of readers will be lost along the way.
A young French boy meets a young Scottish girl. Deirdre is a seamstress at a laird’s house in Scotland. “My father was neither owermuckle nor poor, and we were all in the service of our Laird and His Lady one way or anither, our lives thirled to theirs.” She is destined to use her skills in the convent embroidering church vestments. Feilamort is an orphan who can sing like an angel. Both must make difficult decisions about their futures. She is 13, with growing limbs which seem too big for her body; he doesn’t know his age or his beginnings.
Part I is set in Scotland, a Scotland dead and drab according to the Laird’s Lady and Signor Carlo, the Italian music master. Deirdre on the other hand celebrates the countryside, seeing beyond the dullness to the beauty and recognising the signs of life in death. She sees a fallen tree, the wood torn and splintered. “Yet its branches had put out shoots which were growing in the sun; some tiny, others starting tae open. The buds on other trees were pink and green but these were greeny-grey, like sage leaves, ghostly and unhealthy looking, drab and straggly as if unlike tae live, but living. By some miracle, a deid tree deprived of roots and water, had put forth shoots and, in its dying breath, desired tae pour out life.”
![[photo: edbookfest.co.uk]](https://sandradanby.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/anne-donovan-photo-edbookfest-co-uk-22-4-14.png)
[photo: edbookfest.co.uk]
Nature is at the heart of this novel. Action is not in the nature of Father Anthony, the priest who is such a significant influence on the lives of both children. “He was a craft designed for a gently flowing river on a delightful summer’s day, “ writes Donovan [above], “lacking the strength and stamina for storm-tossed waters.”
The plot has some twists and turns along the way, and the weather is used to symbolise Deirdre’s churning emotions. “Frae where we stood I couldna see the watter only hear the clash and scud of the waves, imagine the sweel and sway of it. The lighting was above us noo, shooting lang witchy fingers of siller across the sky, a gowtsie sky, the green of a sick plant, violet-edged.”
This book rewards patient reading, so choose the right time to read it.
‘Gone are the Leaves’ by Anne Donovan [published May 1 by Canongate Books]
sandra danby 
Good review, Sandra. A book you need to plan reading beforehand. Dialect slows it down…
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Yes, though as my ear got attuned I did speed up! SD
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I haven’t come across this author before, but I do like the sound of this book. I should think it needs to be enjoyed when you’re not in a hurry to rush through it. I’ll certainly be adding it to my tbr pile.
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It is a lyrical, almost poetic style. SD
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I really liked Buddha Da by this author, also written in dialect. It does take a while to adjust, but as you say, she is worth persevering with. I’ll definitely give this a go!
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I’m so glad I didn’t put you off! SD
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I with everyone on the dialect thing. It’s a high risk strategy for a new author. If you are reading established writers or poets, they have enough clout to keep you reading, but with new authors it takes little to put a book aside. As the nervous author, of a newly published book I feel for her. At one of the same time I long for people to review my book but remain fearful of the opinions expressed. As a result of this sympathy, and your trusted recommendation, I shall ass this book to my list. It sounds as if it is ultimately worth the effort
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Anne Donovan’s not a new author, which is one of the reasons I trusted her and continued reading. She is known for writing in the Scottish vernacular. Her first novel ‘Buddha Da’ was shortlisted for both the Orange Prize and the Whitbread First Novel Prize. ‘Gone are the Leaves’ is definitely worth the effort Peter! SD
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Ehem…*clearing my voice*. I struggle big time with dialogues written out in dialect. So much so, I really dislike it, because it distances me from the story. So despite that the story sounds good…I’m going to pass on this one for the time being.
On a side note though…Listening to Scottish and Irish is so wonderful. I’m basically charmed and head over heels the moment they open their mouths. I’ve got a couple of friends from those parts of the world that I’ve met during scuba diving and I just LOVE listening to them…I don’t care what they’re saying and that I only understand half when they’re ranting in high speed. I’m totally spellbound. *Sigh*
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I do know what you mean, Cay. I had to make myself continue reading and then the story hooked me in and I read it quite quickly. 🙂 SD
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It’s good to know I’m not the only one who finds it hard to read dialect sometimes…. good review Sandra.
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Thx Cleo, I found it very intrusive to start with. Then my husband told me to say the word aloud and that helped! SD
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