Hame: A novel

I may have a Scottish surname (by marriage), but I can little relate to this fantasy Scottish island. One would have to be steeped in Scottish history, language, and provincialism in order to navigate this tale. It is essential that this author includes a glossary and a bibliography because it must take a great deal of study for a novice to penetrate the obscure language and culture of this novel. The fact that the setting is an island must be a metaphor for leaving the reader literally at sea. The title, Hame, means home, but surely this is a home far away from any of my experience. I wish it was more accessible because it is clear that the author has inhabited this invented place.

The heroine of the book has traveled to this island in order to establish a museum to honor the local poet. The book includes poems, which were equally inaccessible to me. For one who delights in deciphering complex language, this is an ideal challenge.