Sunset Song - Lewis Grassic Gibbon

[dementedma]

Just read it for the first time - what do people think?

Oh it's years since I've read it, but I loved it. Beautifully written (though a bit of me wishes he'd gone full-on Doric rather than an Anglicised version), very atmospheric, very, very sad in places. (Trying not to put spoilers in but the awful bit where her lovely gentle giant of a husband comes back on leave shell-shocked to fuck, complete personality change... then how that all pans out when he realises what he's done. One of the very few books that's made me cry.)

I read it in school, and loved it. And yes, when her husband comes home - and then when Chig (have I remembered his name right?) tells her about what happened to him later. I've been meaning to re-read it.

I think it's rather wonderful. Some of the language is impenetrable - you definitely need a glossary - but it's beautifully written.

I did this at school and it was one of those books I just adored. That and Thomas Hardy, are what made me do an English degree. I bought it recently and need to reread it.

Also loved House With The Green Shutters.

Pure torture. I'd rather read Jane Eyre

So agree with you Piggy been thinking about rereading the trilogy too. And thought the film wasn't too bad either. Saw on YouTube too that there is a BBC adaptation from 1971 available to watch, imagine it will be a bit creaky but may try it at some point.

I must admit, I didnt love it. Painfully slow, had to skip the whole Chris' wedding stuff as it went on for ever. Agree a glossary would help

Are you Scottish OP.?

Did anyone who did it at school have the copy with the bright blue cover? I can still see it so so clearly in my mind's eye!

I’m Anglo/Irish but have lived in Scotland for several decades.

Ah, OK. I think it is quite hard if you are Scottish, let alone if you aren't. I am sure my school version had a glossary but maybe not!

Haven't read it since school but I loved it. I didn't like it at first but my lovely English teacher gave me the video version and that helped me to get into it. I also read the sequel and three?quel which weren't as good.

I don't remember much dialect in it though, the prologue has the patterns of Doric but it's written in English. Studied it at school (didn't we all!) and loved it. The BBC version from 1971 is very slow from what I remember, haven't seen the more recent film.

Agree that it is pure torture to read. Tedious and dragging.