#19: Saoghal nan Leabhraichean

[English further below]

Haidh! 👋 Seo sinne le sgeulachd mu dheireadh airson 2025, ’s a’ Bhliadhn’ Ùr air fàire!

An turas seo, fhuair sinn 4 inntrigidhean fìor mhath air a’ chuspair a bh’ againn: “Dè an leabhar as fheàrr a leugh thu a-riamh? Agus ciamar a thug e buaidh air do bheatha? Innis dhuinn beagan ma dheidhinn!“ (Beurla: “What is the best book you’ve ever read? And how has it had an impact on your life? Tell us a little about it!“) Fhuair sinn sgeulachdan às a’ Ghearmailt, às na Tìrean Ìsle, à Alba fhèin, agus tè a sgrìobh cuideigin às na Stàitean Aonaichte. Agus a-rithist, bha e faisg 🙂 An turas seo, ge-tà, ’s e Karolien am buannaiche againn 🥇

Sgrìobh Karolien - a bhuineas dha na Tìrean Ìsle - pìos gu math deas-bhriathrach mun chothrom a th’ aig leabhraichean ar toirt air falbh bho bheatha làitheil gu saoghal eile. San t-seagh seo, seo dhuibh “Saoghal nan Leabhraichean” mu Sofies verden (1991) leis an sgrìobhadair Nirribheach Jostein Gaarder. Meal do naidheachd, Karolien a charaid 👍

Saoghal nan Leabhraichean

Uaireannan, bheir mi leabhar às an sgeilp a tha mi uabhasach eòlach air, ged nach eil mi air a leughadh o chionn fhada. Bidh cuimhne aig mo mheuran air clò a’ chòmhdaich. Bidh fios aig mo làmh dè cho trom ’s a bhios e. Fairichidh mi a chùbhras mus ruig am fàileadh bhuaithe mo shròn. ’S ann mar sheann charaidean a tha na seantansan. Gu h-obann, bidh mi air ais san àite far an do leugh mi a’ chiad uair e.

’S e “Saoghal Sophie” fear de na leabhraichean a chuireadh sin nam chuimhne mar sin. ’S ann mu dheidhinn eachdraidh feallsanachd a tha an nobhail ud, agus fhuair mi i nuair a bha mi nam dheugaire. Leughainn uair is uair a bharrachd i, ’s mi air mo bheò-ghlacadh leatha. ’S ann air a sàilleibh-se gu bheil ùidh mhòr anns an fheallsanachd agam fhathast.

Chan ann air sgàth sin a tha an leabhar seo cudromach dhomh, ge-tà. Anns an àrd-sgoil, cha mhòr nach do bhàsaich mo ghaol air leughadh, nuair a sgrùdamaid sàr-obraichean an àrd-litreachais gu bàs. Nam bheachd-sa, cha bu chòir dhan leughadair a bhith an sàs ann am boglaichean làn de mheataforan agus similidhean nach tuig duine sam bith ach an tidsear. Bu chòir do leabhar a bhith mar shaoghal eile air an siubhail an leughadair fad greis. Chuireadh Sophie agus an saoghal aice nam chuimhne sin, agus tha mi fada nan comain.

[English]

The World of Books

Sometimes, I take a book down from the shelf that I know extremely well, even if I haven’t read it for a long time. My fingers will remember the cloth cover. My hand knows how heavy the book will be. I’ll sense its scent even before the smell coming off it reaches my nose. The sentences are like old friends to me. Suddenly, I’ll find myself right back in the place I was in the first time I read it.

Sofies verden (“Sophie’s World”) is one of the books that would serve as such a reminder. This novel is written about the history of philosophy, and I got it when I was in my teens. I would read it time and time again, completely engrossed in it. It’s because of this book that I retain a strong interest in philosophy to this day.

However, that’s not the reason why this book is important to me. When I was in high school, I almost lost my love of reading when we would analyse to death the great works of high-end literature! In my view, the reader shouldn’t end up bogged down in metaphors and similes that no-one other than the teacher understands. A book should be like a different world that the reader travels to for a while. Sophie and her world would remind me of that, and I am greatly indebted to them.

We hope you enjoyed this month’s winner 🙂 On behalf of An Lòchran, have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and see you in 2026! 🎄🎁

Andy xx