The White Bird Passes

This is a fine book by Jessie Kesson in which she fictionalises and reworks her childhood into a magical, moving novel. Set in Elgin and Skene in Scotland in the 1920s, we are shown the poverty and chaos of young Janie MacVean's life - conversely, we also see the rough, close warmth of her community and the sunny moments in Janie's relationship with her mother.

This book tackles large issues through a child's eyes and it is beautifully done. And Janie's love of poetry and literature, filling her thoughts, shines through the book.

'If Donnie turned into a giraffe right now, Janie's thoughts raced, the Trustee would get such a surprise that he wouldn't be able to utter another word. The ridiculous thought got out of control, spreading itself grinningly across Janie's face.
"Of his bones are coral made...
Nothing of him that doth fade."
The lines rushed to Janie's rescue. She steadied her thoughts against them:
"But doth suffer a sea change
Into something rich and strange."
Her grin wrecked itself on the wide and wonderful phrase. Into something rich and strange. She could look with serious face now at the small Trustee. At Mrs Thane. At all the Trustees. She wouldn't have changed places with one of them. Not for anything. They were all so old. Nothing was ridiculous, or rich, or strange to them any more.'

<i>All the the things I know, she taught me, God. The good things, I mean. She could make the cherry trees bloom above Dean's Ford, even when it was winter. Hidden birds betrayed their names the instant she heard their song. She gave the nameless little rivers high hill sources and deep sea endings. She put a singing seal in Loch Na Boune and a lament on the long, lonely winds. She saw a legend in the canna flowers and a plough amongst the stars.</i>

Janie adored her mother despite her failings and despite the neglect that led her to be taken into care. She grew up in the slums of Elgin in North East Scotland, south of Inverness, until she was taken into care at 8 years old. She had very little and her mother was a whore but she was such a happy, innocent child. She took pleasure in everyone and everything around her. A child like that would surely have to grow up to be a writer.

My Nana, born 1900, used to talk about all the characters in her community. I loved to listen to her. There seemed to be such a wealth of rich characters, most of whom had nicknames and long stories attached to them. Some of them made me roar with laughter, others brought a lump to my throat. Everyone knew everyone and everyone knew everyone's secrets. Are there still places like that?

Not so much a novella as a semi autobiographical reminiscence of times past. Touching, beautifully written, heart breaking and unforgettable. I need to read more Jessie Kesson and I'm sure I'll read this book again.

With thanks to NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for a review copy.