Or should that be ‘Shwmae’?! For those of you who don’t know, I am Welsh but I never learned to speak Welsh beyond the basics I was taught at school. As soon as I could, I dropped my Welsh classes (along with French and German, much to the relief of my teachers). I’ve tried to learn Welsh a few times in the past but never stuck with it – until now. A lockdown silver lining.
This will be the first book written in Welsh that I have read, and I’m excited to share my review with you. My reviews of Welsh books will be in English and hopefully, in the future, bilingual.
If you’re a Welsh learner, let me know in the comments below!
Llyfr o gyfres Amdani, i ddysgwyr Lefel Mynediad.
Mae’r nofel yn sôn am ddiwrnod ym mywyd Sophie, sydd ar ei ffordd i fod yn ecstra mewn ffilm, ond mae nifer o ddigwyddiadau yn ei rhwystro rhag cyrraedd y set. Mae’n gorfod ymweld â swyddfa’r heddlu sawl gwaith, ond does dim ots ganddi, oherwydd mae’n ffansïo’r plismon yno!
A book for Welsh leaners, Entry Level.
This is a humorous romance about one memorable day in the life of Sophie Reynolds, film extra. A Welsh adaptation of Big Hair Day by Meinir Wyn Edwards.
As a new learner, I really appreciate the layout and careful consideration that has been given to this book. Each page contains an illustration which takes up at least half or more of the page, a few paragraphs of text, and a vocabulary section for words that may be new or unfamiliar. There is also a vocabulary list at the back of the book for quick reference.
I will not pretend that I understood every word of this book – but I understood enough to know this is a fun story and at one point actually laughed out loud at the predicaments Sophie seems to find herself in. I found her relatable and fun, and there was clearly a plot which was easy to follow.
I took my time reading this book and read it aloud to help my pronunciation. I’ll definitely return to as I progress through my Welsh classes and I am excited for the day I’ll be able to read it without a dictionary!
Highly recommended for Welsh learners from Mynediad (Entry) level.
I purchased this book myself and was not asked to write a review.
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Will you be reading Am Ddiwrnod? Let me know in the comments below.
Wishing you a bookish week,
Roachie's Reviews 