Kevin MacNeil does for the Isle of Lewis what Joyce does for Dublin or Dylan Thomas for South Wales. That might be a big statement to make but I enjoyed this novel at least as much as A Portrait of the Artist or Under Milk Wood. And the fact is The Stornoway Way is much funnier. The protagonist R. Stornoway is also an artist - a piss artist mainly. But MacNeil gives us a wonderful insight into the mentality of Leodhasachs, their way of life, which includes a strong oral storytelling tradition. It is also a fond reminder for me of visits to the island and of a rural Scottish upbringing where the omniscient King Alcohol reigned supreme.
I devoured this novel in a few days and I haven't done that with any book for some time. McNeil's novel feels as if it is about the right length, weighing in at a light and spacious 250 pages. I can't say that about many contemporary novels. I don't know whether that's down to writers thinking they have a lot more to say than they have or the demands of the market. The Stornoway Way is highly recommended reading for language lovers and anyone who wants to read about the modern Gaelic way of life which the Highlands and Islands tourist board and the Kailyard School would prefer to give a wide berth to.
25/09/07 @ 14:55