Desert Island Books 3

It’s my turn this month, so here are my 6 books and why I've chosen them.

The Silver Sword, Ian Serraillier 

My favourite book from childhood for that nostalgic, feel good factor. Although the book deals with a gritty subject there’s also plenty of humour.

The night the Nazis come to take their mother away, three children escape in a terrifying scramble across the rooftops. Alone in the chaos of Warsaw, they have to learn to survive on their own.

Jennings’ Diary, Anthony Buckeridge

Another blast from the past. As a child it used to make me laugh out loud, and I’m sure it would still lift my flagging spirits.

Set in a preparatory school in the 1950’s it follows the hilarious escapades of Jennings and his side kick, Darbishire.

Lady of Hay, Barbara Erskine

One of the best time slip books I have ever read, to indulge my love of history and the supernatural.

Jo Clifford, successful journalist, is all set to debunk the idea of past-life regression in her next magazine series. But when she herself submits to a simple hypnotic session, she suddenly finds herself reliving the experiences of Matilda, Lady of Hay, and wife of a baron at the time of King John.

The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

Set during the roaring twenties, I just love the glamour of that era, the story follows aspiring writer Nick Carraway as he moves to New York and becomes intrigued by his neighbour Jay Gatsby’s lavish lifestyle and mysterious past.

When I’m on my desert island dressed in a grass skirt, scary thought, I can read about the flappers of that time and picture myself there, partying.

War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy

I have never read this book but I adored the recent TV adaptation and it would certainly give me plenty to read while I wait for a rescue boat.

Tolstoy's beguiling masterpiece entwines love, death and determinism with Russia's war with Napoleon and its effects on those swept up by the terror it brings. The lives of Pierre, Prince Andrei and Natasha are changed forever as conflict rages throughout the early 19th century.

Cross Stitch, Diana Gabaldon

(Republished as “Outlander”)

Another wonderful time slip book with the ultimate romantic hero, Jamie Fraser. Just the thing to warm up the cold nights, hmm I must remember to take a torch and plenty of batteries!

1946, and Claire Randall goes to the Scottish Highlands with her husband Frank. It’s a second honeymoon, a chance to learn how the war has changed them and revive their marriage. But one afternoon, Claire walks through a circle of standing stones and vanishes into 1743. Marooned amid danger, passion and violence her only chance of safety lies with Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scottish warrior and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men in two very different times.

Llyfrau ar Ynys Bell 3

Fy nhro i yw hi'r mis yma, felly dyma fy 6 llyfr a’r rhesymau dros eu dewis.

The Silver Sword, Ian Serraillier 

Fy hoff lyfr o’m mhlentyndod ar gyfer teimlad hiraethus ac i deimlo’n dda. Er bod y llyfr yn delio â phwnc anodd mae yna ddigon o hiwmor.

Pan ddaw’r Natsïaid i gymryd eu mam i ffwrdd, mae tri o blant yn dianc dros ben y toeau.  Ar eu pennau eu hunain yn anrhefn Warsaw, rhaid iddynt nhw ddysgu byw ar eu pennau eu hunain.

Jennings’ Diary, Anthony Buckeridge

Un arall o’r gorffennol pell.  Fel plentyn parai i fi chwerthin yn uchel ac rwy’n siŵr y byddai o hyd yn codi calon.

Mewn ysgol breswyl yn y pumdegau mae’n dilyn hynt a helynt Jennings a’i gyfaill, Darbishire.

Lady of Hay, Barbara Erskine

Un o’r llyfrau slip amser gorau i mi darllen erioed, er mwyn bodloni fy niddordeb mewn hanes a’r goruwchnaturiol.

Mae Jo Clifford, newyddiadurwraig lwyddiannus, yn barod i danseilio’r syniad o adlithirad i fywyd cynt yn ei chyfres cylchgrawn nesaf.  Ond pan aiff i sesiwn hypnoteiddio, mae’n dechrau ail-fyw profiadau Matilda, Boneddiges Hay, a gwraig barwn yng nghyfnod y Brenin Siôn.

The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

Wedi ei osod yn y dau-ddegau, rwy’n dwlu ar gyfaredd y cyfnod, mae’r stori’n dilyn awdur, Nick Carraway wrth iddo symud i Efrog Newydd a chael ei swyno gan bywyd moethus ei gymydog Jay Gatsby a’i orffennol dirgel.

Pan fyddaf ar fy ynys bell mewn sgert wair, gallaf ddarllen am ‘flappers’ yr oes a dychmygu fy hun yno, mewn parti.

War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy

Dydw i erioed wedi darllen y llyfr yma ond roeddwn i wrth fy modd gyda’r addasiad ar deledu yn ddiweddar a bydd yn sicr o roi digon i fi ddarllen wrth ddisgwyl y llong i’m hachub.

Mae campwaith Tolstoy yn plethu serch, marwolaeth a phenderfyniaeth gyda rhyfel Rwsia gyda Napoleon a’i effeithiau ar y rheiny sy’n cael ei hysgubo gan y braw a ddaw yn ei sgil. Mae bywydau Pierre, y Tywysog Andrei a Natasha yn newid am byth yng ngwrthdaro’r 19eg ganrif cynnar.

Cross Stitch, Diana Gabaldon (Ail-gyhoeddwyd fel “Outlander”)

Llyfr adlithriad arall gyda’r arwr rhamantaidd pennaf, Jamie Fraser. Yr union beth i gynhesu ar noson oer, rhaid i fi gofio mynd â fflachlamp a digon o fatris!

Yn 1946, aiff Claire Randall i ucheldiroedd yr Alban gyda’i gŵr Frank. Mae’n ail fis mêl ac yn gyfle i ddysgu sut y mae’r rhyfel wedi eu newid ac i achub eu priodas. Ond un prynhawn, mae Claire yn cerdded trwy gylch o gerrig safadwy ac yn diflannu i 1743.  Wedi ei hynysu ac mewn perygl, serch a thrais mae ei hunig gyfle  yn nwylo Jamie Fraser, rhyfelwr ifanc, dewr Albanaidd ac mae Claire yn cael ei thynnu gan ddau ddyn gwahanol mewn dau gyfnod gwahanol.