Who else writes like?

Have you exhausted your favourite authors, are they not producing the goods fast enough for you? Are you wondering what to read next? Why not try our free online resource, “Who Else Writes Like?” and discover more writers you might like. You will also find information about book awards and past winners.

Simply log in at home or in the library using your Torfaen Library card. Who else writes like?

I searched on one of my favourite writers, Barbara Erskine and got 18 other authors who write like her. They should keep me busy for a while.

If you are looking for suggestions for children’s books link across to the sister site “Who Next…? A guide to children’s authors”

Ydych chi wedi darllen holl waith eich hoff awduron, ydyn nhw’n methu dod â deunydd newydd i chi? Ydych chi’n meddwl am beth i ddarllen nesaf?  Pam na ddefnyddiwch chi ein hadnodd ar lein am ddim, “Who Else Writes Like?” a dewch hyd i fwy o awduron y gallwch eu hoffi.  Byddwch hefyd yn cael hyd i wybodaeth ar wobrau llyfrau ac enillwyr yn y gorffennol.

                           

Mewngofnodwch gartref neu yn y llyfrgell gan ddefnyddio’ch cerdyn Llyfrgelloedd Torfaen. Who else writes like

Chwiliais i am un o fy hoff awduron, Barbara Erskine a des i o hyd i 18 o awduron eraill sydd yn ysgrifennu fel hi.  Dylen nhw fy nghadw i’n brysur am sbel

Os ydych chi’n edrych am awgrymiadau ar gyfer llyfrau i blant yna dilynwch y ddolen i’r safle “Who Next…? A guide to children’s authors” 

Desert Island Books

I’m planning to do a monthly Desert Island Books post asking library staff to tell me which 6 books they would choose to take with them should they be castaway on a desert island. We’re starting at the top of the tree, a palm tree presumably, with Christine George, Library and Information Manager.

Here are her choices:

The adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

This book meets my reading needs in so many ways.  It is a rollicking adventure story - of Jim and Huck floating down the Mississippi trying to keep Jim from being taken back into slavery and “sold down the river”. I like books which are packed with events and happenings and this is stuffed with them. It is laugh out loud funny in many places, a study of the absurdity of people’s beliefs and behaviours and really delightful in capturing modes of speech.  Its language is rich and playful.  Kindness and cruelty are unflinchingly presented and the main characters have an innocent integrity which shines through.  Huck’s decision at the very end is wonderful or awful depending on your point of view.

A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens

I first read this book in school days, together with my best friend.  We would spend chemistry lessons surreptitiously reading bits and “casting” the characters with people we knew – or wanted to know, like older boys in the sixth form.  Sidney Carton is the ultimate tragic hero, a drunken reprobate who gives his own life to save the husband of the woman he has long loved.

There are a wealth of interesting and gritty characters in both the London and Paris locations and the period setting during the French Revolution, is a thrilling backdrop.  I was particularly drawn to the ruthless revolutionary, Madame Defarge, and not too keen on Lucy Manette, the wimpy woman beloved of both Carton and Charles Darnay.  Also to the grave robbing Jerry Cruncher, who continually warned his wife against “flopping” (falling to her knees to pray for his soul).

The wind in the willows by Kenneth Grahame

This has been my comfort reading ever since I first read it as a child.  My favourite chapter has Mole and Ratty lost in the Wild Wood in the middle of a snowstorm.  Just when all is lost Ratty recognises that they are not far from Mr Badger’s door.  After a long wait while the bell is answered they are welcomed into a warm kitchen in Badger’s underground home.  There’s a log fire with sizzling bacon in the frying pan.  They are warmed, fed, generally looked after and have a marvellous time.  It’s lovely.

The summer book by Tove Jannson

The summer book is a serial collection of short stories about the relationship between a young girl, Sophia, and her grandmother, living on one of the many small islands in the Gulf of Finland.  The stories are small scale featuring the everyday life and incidents of these island people and their occasional visitors.  They are told in a simple and beautiful style reflecting the child’s eye view.  They are full of kindness and love and are great for reading aloud.

The eagle of the ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

I love all of Rosemary Sutcliff’s novels, particularly those which are set in Roman Britain.  This is the first one in a series so it’s a good one to put in the list.  It’s the story of a friendship between a wounded legionary, Marcus, and Esca, a slave captured from the Brigantes.  They go north of the Wall (as in Hadrian’s Wall) in search for the missing legionary standard (the Eagle).  Both men have things to learn about their courage, loyalties and identity.  Great storytelling and characters, who I really became involved with.  It also gives a real sense of period and society at the time.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Why choose a play?  Macbeth is my very favourite.  It has everything: ghosts, witches, treachery, murder, intrigue, passion, revenge, great speeches and a walking wood!  What more could you ask?  Also I met my husband through this play.  He was Macduff, the only good character in the whole thing, and I was a lowly third witch.  It’s very special to me.

LLYFRAU YNYS BELLENNIG

Rydw i'n bwriadu creu cofnod misol ar ffurf Llyfrau Ynys Bellennig gan ofyn i staff y Llyfrgell ddweud wrthyf ba 6 llyfr byddent yn dewis mynd â hwy pe byddent ar ynys bellennig yn dilyn llongddrylliad. Rydym yn dechrau ar frig y goeden, coeden palmwydd yn ôl pob tebyg, gyda Christine George, Rheolwr Llyfrgelloedd a Gwybodaeth.

Dyma ei dewis hi:

The adventures of Huckleberry Finn gan Mark Twain.

Mae'r llyfr hwn yn diwallu fy anghenion darllen mewn cymaint o ffyrdd. Mae'n stori antur hwyliog -  Jim a Huck yn hwylio i lawr y Mississippi i geisio â chadw Jim rhag dychwelyd i gaethwasiaeth a'i "werthu i lawr yr afon". Rwy'n hoffi llyfrau sydd yn llawn digwyddiadau, ac mae'r llyfr hwn dan ei sang. Mae'n ddoniol ac yn gwneud i chi chwerthin yn uchel mewn sawl man, mae'n astudiaeth o wiriondeb credoau ac ymddygiad pobl ac yn hyfryd o ran cipio dulliau lleferydd. Mae ei iaith yn gyfoethog ac yn chwareus. Mae caredigrwydd a chreulondeb yn cael eu cyflwyno'n ddiysgog ac mae gan y prif gymeriadau onestrwydd diniwed sy'n taflu golau drwyddi draw. Mae penderfyniad Huck yn y pen draw yn wych neu'n ofnadwy yn dibynnu ar eich safbwynt.

A tale of two cities gan Charles Dickens

Darllenais y llyfr hwn am y tro cyntaf yn fy nyddiau ysgol, gyda fy ffrind gorau. Byddem yn treulio gwersi cemeg yn darllen darnau'n llechwraidd a "chastio'r" cymeriadau gyda phobl roeddem yn eu hadnabod - neu am eu hadnabod, fel y bechgyn hŷn yn y chweched dosbarth. Sidney Carton yw'r arwr trasig yn y pen draw, yn ddihiryn meddw sy'n rhoi ei fywyd ei hun i achub gŵr y wraig y mae wedi ei charu ers tro.

Mae cyfoeth o gymeriadau diddorol a gwrol yn Llundain a Pharis ac mae lleoliad y cyfnod yn ystod y Chwyldro Ffrengig, yn gefnlen wefreiddiol. Cefais fy nenu’n arbennig at Fadam Defarge y chwyldroadwraig ddidostur, ond nid oeddwn yn rhy hoff o Lucy Manette, y llipryn o wraig oedd yn anwylyd i Carton a Charles Darnay. Hefyd i'r lleidr bedd Jerry Cruncher, a rhybuddiai ei wraig yn barhaus i beidio â "fflopio" (syrthio i’w phen-gliniau i weddïo dros ei enaid).

The wind in the willows gan Kenneth Grahame

Dyma oedd fy nghysur darllen ers i mi ei ddarllen yn gyntaf pan oeddwn yn blentyn. Fy hoff bennod yw pan mae Mole a Ratty yn mynd ar goll yn Wild Wood yng nghanol storom eira. Wrth i bethau fynd yn drech mae Ratty yn sylweddoli nad ydynt yn bell o ddrws Mr Badger. Ar ôl aros hir tra bod rhywun yn dod i'r drws maent yn cael eu croesawu i mewn i gegin gynnes yng nghartref Badger o dan y ddaear. Mae tân coed â bacwn yn hisian yn y badell ffrio. Maent yn cael ychydig o wres, ychydig o fwyd, yn derbyn gofal da ac amser gwych. Mae'n hyfryd.

The summer book gan Tove Jannson

Mae'r llyfr haf yn gasgliad cyfresol o straeon byrion am y berthynas rhwng merch ifanc, Sophia, a'i mam-gu, sy'n byw ar un o'r nifer o ynysoedd bach yng Nghwlff y Ffindir. Mae'r straeon ar raddfa fach yn dangos bywyd a digwyddiadau bob dydd y bobl sy'n byw ar yr ynys a'u hymwelwyr achlysurol. Maent yn cael eu hadrodd mewn arddull syml a phrydferth, sy’n adlewyrchu bywyd drwy lygad y plentyn. Maent yn llawn caredigrwydd a chariad ac yn wych ar gyfer darllen yn uchel.

The eagle of the ninth gan Rosemary Sutcliff

Rwyf wrth fy modd â holl nofelau Rosemary Sutcliff, yn enwedig y rhai sydd yn digwydd ym Mhrydain yn y cyfnod Rhufeinig. Dyma'r un cyntaf mewn cyfres felly mae'n un da i'w rhoi ar y rhestr. Mae'n adrodd stori am gyfeillgarwch rhwng  Marcus, lleng filwr a gafodd ei glwyfo, ac Esca, caethwas a gipiwyd o'r Brigantiaid. Maent yn mynd i'r gogledd o'r Wal (sef Mur Hadrian) i chwilio am luman coll y lleng (yr Eryr). Mae gan y ddau ddyn bethau i'w dysgu am eu dewrder, teyrngarwch a hunaniaeth. Ffordd wych o adrodd stori a chymeriadau gwych a wnaeth lwyddo i gipio fy nychymyg. Mae hefyd yn rhoi gwir ymdeimlad o’r cyfnod a chymdeithas ar y pryd.

Macbeth gan William Shakespeare

Pam dewis drama?  Macbeth yw fy hoff o bell ffordd.  Mae ynddi bopeth: ysbrydion, gwrachod, brad, llofruddiaeth, cynllwynio, nwyd, dial, areithiau gwych a choedwig sy’n symud!  Beth mwy allech chi ofyn amdano? Hefyd, fe wnes i gwrdd â fy ngŵr drwy’r ddrama hon.  Ef oedd Macduff, yr unig gymeriad da yn yr holl beth, ac roeddwn innau ond yn drydedd wrach wylaidd. Mae’n arbennig iawn i mi.

We will remember them.

Fe’u Cofiwn.

Wilfred Owen was one of the greatest war poets of the First World War. Tragically, he was killed in action 4 November 1918 just days before the Armistice that ended the war came into effect at 11am on the 11^th November 1918. He was 25.

Roedd Wilfred Owen yn un o feirdd rhyfel mwyaf y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf.  Yn drist, fe’i lladdwyd ar faes y gad ar 4 Tachwedd 1918 dyddiau yn unig cyn y Cadoediad a ddaeth â’r rhyfel i ben ddod i rym am 11 o’r gloch ar 11^eg Tachwedd 1918. Roedd yn 25 oed.

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? 

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. 

Futility

Move him into the sun -
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds, -
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides,
Full-nerved - still warm - too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
- O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?

Alun Lewis was a poet of World War 2 and widely considered to be the most remarkable writer of that conflict. Born and raised in Cwmaman near Aberdare he died on active service in Burma aged just 28.

Roedd Alun Lewis yn fardd o’r Ail Ryfel Byd ac fe ystyrir mai ef oedd llenor mwyaf nodedig y rhyfel hwnnw.  Wedi ei eni a’i fagu yng Nghwmaman, yn ymyl Aberdâr bu farw tra’n gwasanaethu yn Burma ac yntau ond yn 28 oed.

All Day It Has Rained

All day it has rained, and we on the edge of the moors
Have sprawled in our bell-tents, moody and dull as boors,
Groundsheets and blankets spread on the muddy ground
And from the first grey wakening we have found

No refuge from the skirmishing fine rain
And the wind that made the canvas heave and flap
And the taut wet guy-ropes ravel out and snap,
All day the rain has glided, wave and mist and dream,
Drenching the gorse and heather, a gossamer stream
Too light to stir the acorns that suddenly
Snatched from their cups by the wild south-westerly
Pattered against the tent and our upturned dreaming faces.
And we stretched out, unbuttoning our braces,
Smoking a Woodbine, darning dirty socks,
Reading the Sunday papers – I saw a fox
And mentioned it in the note I scribbled home;

And we talked of girls and dropping bombs on Rome,
And thought of the quiet dead and the loud celebrities
Exhorting us to slaughter, and the herded refugees;
-Yet thought softly, morosely of them, and as indifferently
As of ourselves or those whom we
For years have loved, and will again
Tomorrow maybe love; but now it is the rain
Possesses us entirely, the twilight and the rain.

And I can remember nothing dearer or more to my heart
Than the children I watched in the woods on Saturday
Shaking down burning chestnuts for the schoolyard’s merry play
Or the shaggy patient dog who followed me
By Sheet and Steep and up the wooded scree
To the Shoulder o’ Mutton where Edward Thomas brooded long
On death and beauty – till a bullet stopped his song.

Postscript for Gwenno

If I should go away,
Beloved, do not say
'He has forgotten me'.
For you abide, 
A singing rib within my dreaming side;
You always stay.
And in the mad tormented valley
Where blood and hunger rally
And Death the wild beast is uncaught, untamed,
Our soul withstands the terror
And has its quiet honour
Among the glittering stars your voices named. 

It’s Children’s Book Week (31 October – 6 November 2016)

I had the pleasure recently of attending a conference devoted to the best in children’s books and was lucky enough to hear authors, established and new, talking about their work.

Great though Jeff Kinney, J K Rowling, David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson are, if you want to encourage your kids to try some different authors for a change, here are some suggestions.

Mae’n Wythnos Llyfrau Plant (31 Hydref – 6 Tachwedd 2016)

Ges i’r pleser yn ddiweddar o fynychu cynhadledd yn ymwneud â’r gorau mewn llyfrau i blant ac roeddwn i’n ddigon ffodus i glywed awduron, hen a newydd, yn siarad am eu gwaith.

Er cystal yw Jeff Kinney, J K Rowling, David Walliams a Jacqueline Wilson, os hoffech annog eich plant i ddarllen gwaith awduron gwahanol am unwaith, dyma ambell awgrym.

New author to look out for

Awdur newydd i gadw llygad allan amdani

Huw Davies,Scrambled

14-year-old 'model pupil' Davidde (his parents had trouble spelling) lives with his dad after his mother died. His father does his best, but when a new headteacher starts at his South Wales valleys school, Davidde is unfairly labelled a troublemaker. To the horror of his teachers, Davidde finds a new passion for mortorcycle scrambling. At last he is able to take on the school bullies, earning himself the longed-for respect of his father, not to mention the mysterious Black Rider. But when his determination to succeed leads him to betray the trust of those closest to him, events threaten to overwhelm Davidde

Top authors writing for 8-12 year olds

Awduron ar gyfer plant 8-12 oed 

Emma Carroll, Strange star

It's a stormy night in 1816 when there's a knock at the door of Villa Diodati. Lying in the rain is a dead girl, and with her, lots of questions. Like, why did she come? What was she looking for? And who was she running from?

Tracey Corderoy,The spooky school

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam don't just make amazing cakes. These two brave bakers solve wacky mysteries too! Halloween at St Spectre's school brings out the cheekiest of ghosts! And who is to blame when the weather goes crazy? A power-grabbing red panda maybe? Certainly not the raccoon gang fixing the museum's toilets - they've got dastardly plans of their own!

Angie Sage, Starchaser: a TodHunter moon adventure

Alice TodHunter Moon, known as Tod, had thought everything could go back to normal now that they had thwarted the plans of the evil sorcerer, Oraton-Marr, and saved the last ever Orm Egg. She was looking forward to settling back into her life at the Wizard Tower and learning all the Magyk she could. But what no one realised was that without the Orm Egg safely embedded in the heart of the Magykal Ways, all the Magyk in the world would begin to fade. Can Tod find a way to reverse the destruction?

Young Adults (13-18 years old)

Alice Oseman is a young adult who writes for young adults. Now 22 years old, she wrote her first book, "Solitaire" when she was just 17. Her latest book is "Radio Silence".

Oedolion Ifanc (13-18 oed)

Mae Alice Oseman yn oedolyn ifanc sy’n ysgrifennu ar gyfer oedolion ifanc. Yn 22 oed erbyn hyn, ysgrifennodd ei llyfr cyntaf, "Solitaire" pan oedd hi ond yn 17 oed. Ei llyfr diweddaraf yw "Radio Silence".

Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret - not even the person she is on the inside. But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken. Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances' dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past. She has to confess why Carys disappeared. Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets. It's only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it's only by being your true self that you can find happiness

For a bit of fun why not click on the link to find out what children’s book character you most resemble?

What children's book character are you? 

Am hwyl, cliciwch y ddolen i weld pa gymeriad mewn llyfrau plant yr ydych chi’n ymdebygu iddo/i.  

I’m Paddington bear apparently. I’m quite happy with that as I love marmalade and have always wanted to go to Peru and visit Machu Picchu.

Paddington Bear ydw i yn ôl pob tebyg.  Rwy’n eithaf balch gan fy mod i’n hoff o farmalêd ac rydw i bob amser wedi dymuno ymweld â Pheriw a Machu Picchu.

Here are the results for some of my library colleagues.

Dyma’r canlyniadau ar gyfer rhai o’m cydweithwyr yn y llyfrgell.

Stephanie, another Paddington Bear. What is it about librarians and Paddington Bear?

Bettina is Alice in Wonderland, spot on so far.

Stephanie, Paddington Bear arall. Beth yw e am lyfrgellwyr a Paddington Bear? 

Bettina yw Alice in Wonderland, hollol gywir hyd yn hyn. 

What about you?

Beth amdanoch chi?