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Ròna agus MacCodruim: A short novel for Gaelic learners
This beautiful novel tells the tragic lovestory of the fisherman MacCodruim and his beloved Ròna. MacCodruim lives a lonely life as a fisherman in Scotland. His loneliness comes to an end when he meets the beautiful and mysterious Ròna. Although she seems a bit outlandish, he falls in love with her and they start a family together. They live a charmed life, yet something isn’t right. Will MacCodruim discover who Ròna truly is? Will Ròna learn his secret; one that could tear them apart?Contains a glossary Gaelic-English.This Gaelic novel is part of the Arcos Series of novels for beginning and intermediate language learners.
- GenresScotland
22 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 23, 2018
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107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 2, 2019
Tha an leabhar seo glè mhath agus furasta a leughadh. Chòrd e rium gu mòr.
The way this book is written is very suitable for learners. It's very easy to follow and understand. The glossary at its end is obviously very helpful but some of the unfamiliar words can even be understood just by context (that's how simple it is!). The short chapters also help.
This was my first attempt at reading a book in Gàidhlig and I was very happy with the outcome :-)
The way this book is written is very suitable for learners. It's very easy to follow and understand. The glossary at its end is obviously very helpful but some of the unfamiliar words can even be understood just by context (that's how simple it is!). The short chapters also help.
This was my first attempt at reading a book in Gàidhlig and I was very happy with the outcome :-)
December 6, 2019
For the moderately advanced beginner. the language is right there at that level of "comprehensible input." There is a certain amount of repetition of phrases, (perhaps intended to aid in memory retention?) and the sentences tend to be short which makes it easier not to get lost in the usual four-lines-worth-of-grammar that gaelic writing tends to run toward. For me, the novel was an easy 45 minutes of reading with very few dictionary look-ups -- which is nice, it rapidly starts to feel like "reading Gaelic."
December 27, 2020
Tha an leabhair seo glè mhath. Feumaidh mi faclair ach tha mi coma oir ionnsach mi torr rudan.
Oof, well there's my first book review in Scots Gaelic. I hope the grammar isn't too crap. I've seen a couple of reviews saying it's a bit repetitive. Well yeah, it's supposed to be reinforcing vocabulary, so that's what you'd expect!
Oof, well there's my first book review in Scots Gaelic. I hope the grammar isn't too crap. I've seen a couple of reviews saying it's a bit repetitive. Well yeah, it's supposed to be reinforcing vocabulary, so that's what you'd expect!
December 20, 2022
Start your Gaelic journey with this book! I❤️ Jason Bond!
November 9, 2025
'S e sgeulachd àlainn a tha seo agus furasta a leughadh. Chòrd e rium gu mòr!
May 31, 2024
A beginner book for Gaelic learners; it was a great experience to have something accessible to read as a newcomer to the language. The glossary at the back is about as robust as you can hope for (Gaelic presents particular challenges for this) and it's clearly well thought through for embedding the language while presenting the little story.
August 20, 2021
Tha mi air bhioran an diugh. Leugh mi an leabhar Gàidhlig agus Tha mi proiseil.
August 15, 2022
The short novel, "Ròna agus MacCodruim" by Jason Bond, is a story for Gaelic learners. It is based on a folk tale that has been told in many different ways. I found that this one was very interesting because it provided many details and conversations that other versions did not. In the other versions that I read or heard, the story was told in a more general way. Jason Bond's story provided insight into the characters' minds and their motivation.
Ròna is a mysterious woman who arrives from the sea and who is a beautiful singer. MacCodruim is a lonely fisherman who is prepared to do whatever it takes to persuade her to remain on the shore with him. He hides her special "sealskin" coat and tells her that it has been lost. They start a family together, and MacCodruim is very happy. He believes that Ròna is as well, but she often looks longingly towards the ocean. The conflict for Ròna is that she is really a creature of the water, attempting to live on the land. Eventually, she must choose between her beloved children and her true home in the sea. MacCodruim's problem is that he cannot hide her special coat forever.
This story is written in Gaelic and "inspired by a tale from the Scottish and Irish oral tradition". I am a complete beginner in learning the Gaelic language, but I was amazed at how much I was able to read and understand, with the help of a Gaelic-English glossary at the back of the book. Although it was slow going, I was able to read it because the grammar was very simple and it repeated phrases and words throughout the book so that I could practice them, e.g. "Bha MacCodruim math air iasgach. Bha bàta mòr luath aige." (MacCodruim was good at fishing. He had a big, fast boat.)
After the first reading, I was better able to comprehend the words when I read it a second time. The story is very short, so it helps you to feel more confident as you practice reading the words and phrases. It is necessary to have some understanding of Gaelic words and grammar before you begin, but I had a lot of fun reading, even at my very basic level of comprehension. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Scottish folk tales and the Gaelic language.
Ròna is a mysterious woman who arrives from the sea and who is a beautiful singer. MacCodruim is a lonely fisherman who is prepared to do whatever it takes to persuade her to remain on the shore with him. He hides her special "sealskin" coat and tells her that it has been lost. They start a family together, and MacCodruim is very happy. He believes that Ròna is as well, but she often looks longingly towards the ocean. The conflict for Ròna is that she is really a creature of the water, attempting to live on the land. Eventually, she must choose between her beloved children and her true home in the sea. MacCodruim's problem is that he cannot hide her special coat forever.
This story is written in Gaelic and "inspired by a tale from the Scottish and Irish oral tradition". I am a complete beginner in learning the Gaelic language, but I was amazed at how much I was able to read and understand, with the help of a Gaelic-English glossary at the back of the book. Although it was slow going, I was able to read it because the grammar was very simple and it repeated phrases and words throughout the book so that I could practice them, e.g. "Bha MacCodruim math air iasgach. Bha bàta mòr luath aige." (MacCodruim was good at fishing. He had a big, fast boat.)
After the first reading, I was better able to comprehend the words when I read it a second time. The story is very short, so it helps you to feel more confident as you practice reading the words and phrases. It is necessary to have some understanding of Gaelic words and grammar before you begin, but I had a lot of fun reading, even at my very basic level of comprehension. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Scottish folk tales and the Gaelic language.
June 4, 2022
I have Read this a few times now, each time easier as I progress on my journey of the Gàidhlig language. Someone wrote a review saying it was dull as it is repeatative. Don't think the author was going for a best seller title here....but as a learning tool with a story for those that are looking to read their first book in Gaelic it's the first one I would recommend because it is repeatative with a mythical celtic story to keep you interested.
June 3, 2025
Teachable-book-a-week #11
There's something special about the first time you read a book in a language you're learning, a real sense of accomplishment after the isolated phrases you've practised with. Never mind that it's a relatively short story.
Other reviews comment on the way Bond skillfully repeats vocabulary without making it too repetitive. That was my experience, too; the text is accessible for lower-level language learners but doesn't feel stilted or at least didn't do so for me.
There's something special about the first time you read a book in a language you're learning, a real sense of accomplishment after the isolated phrases you've practised with. Never mind that it's a relatively short story.
Other reviews comment on the way Bond skillfully repeats vocabulary without making it too repetitive. That was my experience, too; the text is accessible for lower-level language learners but doesn't feel stilted or at least didn't do so for me.
May 27, 2023
My first chapter book fully in Gàidhlig
Jason Bond is an amazing teacher, and the way that he help students scaffold their learning is evident in this book as well. It felt effortless to read through these chapters, and I felt so accomplished at the end of the novel! I hope that he has plans to write more books like this.
Jason Bond is an amazing teacher, and the way that he help students scaffold their learning is evident in this book as well. It felt effortless to read through these chapters, and I felt so accomplished at the end of the novel! I hope that he has plans to write more books like this.
September 21, 2021
‘S e leabhar as fheàrr airson luchd-ionnsachaidh!
Bha mi ga thuigsinn - a h-uile càil! Tha mi cinnteach gum bi thu ga thuigsinn cuideachd. Ma bha thu air a’ chùrsa Inntrighi - Tha an leabhar an seo dìreach sgoinneil!
Bha mi ga thuigsinn - a h-uile càil! Tha mi cinnteach gum bi thu ga thuigsinn cuideachd. Ma bha thu air a’ chùrsa Inntrighi - Tha an leabhar an seo dìreach sgoinneil!
December 31, 2023
This book was so nice to read — it really gave me a confidence boost that I was able to get through it! I didn’t expect the ending. It’s amazing that Bond was able to write such a compelling story using simple language for Gaelic learners!
August 13, 2020
I will certainly read this again and again - it is at exactly the right level for my learning, and a comforting old, sad story.
February 15, 2021
Excellent book for learners of Scots Gaelic.
January 31, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this and seeing how fluent my Gaelic got in only a short amount of time.
If anyone knows where to find an audiobook/recording of this book, let me know!
If anyone knows where to find an audiobook/recording of this book, let me know!
February 13, 2023
Genuinely surprised myself with how much I could understand. Perfect for learners without being too easy that it's boring.
The story is a typical selkie folktale but I enjoyed it.
The story is a typical selkie folktale but I enjoyed it.
April 28, 2023
Ahh! Leugh mi leabhar Gàidhlig! Chòrd an leabhar seo rium gu mòr. This was at the perfect level for my current abilities, I think. I felt so proud of myself after! And I enjoyed the story too!
August 4, 2024
Tha e sgeulachd àlainn. Mòran taing. Feumaidh mi sgeulachd eile!
December 3, 2024
Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig! Tha an sgeulachd seo sgoinneil! Bha mi brònach a-nis oir bha an sgeulachd brònach aig deireadh cùise….
July 25, 2025
Abair sgeulachd neònach. Chòrd e rium!
August 26, 2025
learned alot, brilliant for that. dumb man though
December 31, 2023
Mijn eerste leesboek in het Gàidhlig. Het is geschreven voor beginnende lezers - met veel herhaling van woorden en alleen eenvoudige grammatica - en staat er achterin een woordenlijst. Gelukkig is er ook een luisterboek die je naast het papieren boek kan gebruiken.
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November 20, 2022Bha mi glè thoilichte agus moiteil gun do leugh mi an leabhar leam fhìn.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews