Croesi’r bont

by Zoe pettinger

A book for Welsh learners, Intermediate Level. A collection of short stories with a good pinch of humour, by an author who has learnt Welsh herself.

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

Published August 1, 2018

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Canolradd tutor assigned a story from this each week as gwaith cartref, then we discussed in class. She wasn't terribly happy at some of the grammar construction used, as she said it's Uwch level, and I wasn't ecstatic over the amount of unfamiliar vocabulary I had to keep stopping to look up. But at least the stories covered a wide range.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Amdani Canolradd read! Honestly quite surprised this hasn't been reviewed yet. I met the author at my chosen Cwrs Dwys this year, where she gave a fascinating talk on her journey learning Welsh in the noughties (which also led to becoming a tutor with the course provider that taught her) so I wanted to read this not long after completing my summer studies.

Croesi'r Bont is recommended at Uned 4 of the official Intermediate course. Even though I haven't technically started Canolradd yet, short stories are easier to digest and I felt rather emboldened by Sgŵp and the other recent books I've completed (even if some of them were aimed at kids). Well, it's definitely a step up from Sylfaen! I wasn't checking the GPC app for every other page, but there was enough there to keep it on stand-by. Lots of De dialect too, rather than Gogledd - I don't struggle too much with those differences usually but I did have to re-read and sound out a few sentences particularly in the last story.

Zoe Pettinger has used Welsh idioms as prompts for the five stories and it's easy to see where they relate. Most are quite light-hearted with the exception of the first, which is pretty sinister, and most of the themes are quite commonplace in learners' literature.

The first entry did have a very unique take on the 'moving home' topic, which I liked. I also enjoyed the third entry, and really liked the canteen scene in the fifth one purely for its OTT humour. The issue is (and I can only speak for myself) is that I often caught myself thinking "right, another pub trip/Welsh class/dodgy git in a posh suit encroaching on the local community, everyone's all present and correct including the haughty bloke, the swot, the shy one, the knobhead, etc". Even a Star Wars parallel or a haunted house (or the aforementioned canteen scene) wasn't really enough to stop me thinking it. I certainly don't disagree with making the story relatable or bringing political issues to light, far from it, but I've read so many short stories on these themes now (from the same points-of-view) that they're starting to wear a bit thin. Absolutely fine if it works for you - again, just one reader's opinion here - but it did affect my rating on this occasion.

But it is a keeper, and I'll certainly revisit in Canolradd.

3.5/5

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible audiobook discounted | the GoodReads librarians are too far behind to ask them to add the audio edition, so I'm just using this. After reading each story in text, I listened to it on audiobook, to improve my auditory comprehension. Good recording, clear and with good emphasis.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storiau byr a gwahanol ar gyfer dysgwyr lefel sylfaen, gan awdir sydd wedi dysgu Cymraeg ei hunan. Llyfr bach neis!

[J.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An English version follows this short review. As ever, Welsh speakers, please excuse mistakes!

Ro'n i'n mwynhau i “Croesi’r Bont” gan Zoë Pettinger (lefel Canolradd), er gwaethaf llawer o eiriau newydd. Ro’n i’n hoffi ei arddull hi, ei doniolwch mwyn, y gwiriondeb ei chymeriadau. Mae’r teitl “Croesi’r Bont” yn clyfar; mae e’n ymddangos ym mhob un o’r storïau (sef un, dw i’n credu), chwith go iawn, neu yn symbolaidd. Mae pob stori yn cael ei deitl yn ddihareb:
Does unman yn debyg i gartref - roedd e’n stori ddiniwed, oce.
Fy hoff stori oedd yr ail, Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon. Ro’n i’n meddwl bod y stori yma yn ddoniol iawn. Mae’r awdur wedi defnyddiol ‘Tarth Lleidr’ a ‘Tywysoges Lleucu’ i olygu’r ymladd ar gyfer yr iaith Cymraeg, ac yr wlad Cymru. Roedd y stori yn hollol wallgof, ond roedd e’n llwyddiannus, yn fy marn i! Clyfar a diddorol.
Stori 3, yn eithaf doniol, a mwyn eto: Hawdd cynnau tân ar hen aelwyd. Ond dim pont!
Nid aur yw popeth melyn stori fwgan, ychydig o ‘boncers’, ond gyda phont wir!
Roedd Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg yn ddifyr, dysgwr sy’n gwneud camgymeriadau - ychydig o anawsterau gyda threigladau (fel fi!).

English rendering:

I enjoyed "Croesi'r Bont" by Zoë Pettinger (Intermediate level), despite the many new words. I liked her style, her gentle humour, the ineptness of her characters. The title “Crossing the Bridge” is neat; the 'bridge' appears in all the stories, except one, I believe, either real, or symbolic. Each story is uses a proverb as its title:
There's nowhere like home - this was an innocuous story, but with some interest value.
My favorite story was the second, A nation without language, a nation without a heart. I thought it was very funny. The author has used 'Darth Vader' and 'Princess Lea' to symbolise the fight for the Welsh language, and the culture of Wales. The story was completely crazy, but I thought it worked well! Clever and interesting.
Story 3, quite funny, and mildly entertaining, again: Easy to light a fire in an old hearth. But no bridge that I can recall!
All that glitters is not gold a ghost story, a bit 'bonkers', but with a real bridge!
Dyfal donc a dyr y carreg was entertaining, a learner who makes mistakes - a few difficulties with mutations (like me!). The proverb is something like 'steady perseverance breaks the slate'.

[Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

mul on selle kohta öelda vähe sellist, mida ma nende Amdani raamatute kohta juba öelnud poleks - iiigaaav. siin on lühijutud, millel on isegi pretensioon mingile puändile, aga kõik on nii tobedad kuidagi. on üks armastuslugu, üks ulmeambitsiooniga lugu (kuigi see kosmoselaevade osa seal oli ju lihtsalt unenägu?), üks, mis püüab vist olla põnevuslugu... ikka on kõik ühesugused. suuremas osas on oluline roll kõmri keele õpingutel - tegutsevad keelekursuslased ja nende õpetajad. okei, see üks lugu, kus oligi mees, kes läks keelekursustele ja pidi seal toime tulema iga grupikaaslase keelealaste erihuvidega, oli isegi natuke naljakas JA aitas mutatsioone meelde jätta.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Canolradd book! I was a little hesitant because I was worried it may be a massive step up for me but it wasn’t too bad at all! I surprised myself and even though it was a challenge, it was the perfect amount not to discourage me whilst teaching me lots of new vocab too that I hadn’t come across yet.

The story itself was interesting enough to hold me whilst providing a valuable teaching and learning opportunity as I went a long. I’ve honestly been surprised at how much my reading has come along lately and I’m excited to carry on and keep learning / shaping this skill! (My speaking Welsh however currently leaves a lot to be desired! We’ll get there!)