More books coming to our screens in 2018! - Part 2

As we mentioned last week, more and more of our favourite books are making it onto the small and big screen.

Last time we looked at some of the thrillers and futuristic adventures getting the ‘celluloid’ treatment, this week it’s the turn of family life and relationships.  

Why not enjoy the book (again or for the first time) before you watch the film?

Every Day by David Levithan - - Each morning, A wakes up in a different body. There’s never any warning about who it will be, but A is used to that. Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere. 

And that’s fine – until A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with – every day…

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli - 16 year old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out – without alienating his friends, comprising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Little Women is one of the best-loved children's stories of all time, based on the author's own youthful experiences. It describes the family life of the four March sisters living in a small New England community. 

The story of their domestic adventures, their attempts to increase the family income, their friendship with the neighbouring Lawrence family, and their later love affairs remains as fresh and beguiling as ever.

Ophelia by Lisa Klein - In this reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Ophelia must choose between her love for Hamlet and her own life. In a surprising twist, she devises a plan to escape from Elsinore forever…with one very dangerous secret. Sharp and literary, dark and romantic, this dramatic story holds readers in its grip until the final, heartrending scene.

Fel i ni sôn yr wythnos ddiwethaf, mae mwy a mwy o’n hoff lyfrau yn cyrraedd y sgrin fach neu’r sgrin fawr.

Y tro diwethaf fe wnaethom ni edrych ar rai o’r llyfrau cyffrous a llyfrau antur ddyfodolaidd sy’n mentro i fyd ffilm, yr wythnos yma, rydym yn edrych ar fywyd teuluol a pherthnasau. 

Gallwch fwynhau llyfr (eto neu am y tro cyntaf) cyn i chi wylio’r ffilm?

Every Day gan David Levithan - Pob bore, mae A’n deffro mewn corff gwahanol. Does byth rhybudd corff pwy, ond mae A wedi hen arfer.  Peidiwch â mynd yn ormod o ran ohono. Gofalwch rhag i neb sylwi arnoch chi. Peidiwch ag ymyrryd.

Ac mae hynny’n iawn – tan i A ddeffro yng nghorff Justin a chwrdd â chariad Justin, Rhiannon. O’r foment honno, mae rheolau bywyd A ar ben. Oherwydd o’r diwedd mae A wedi cael hyd i rywun y mae e eisiau bod â hi – bob dydd…

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda gan Becky Albertalli - Mae'n well gan Simon Spier, 16 oed, sy’n hoyw yn ddirgel, gadw’r ddrama ar gyfer sioe gerdd yr ysgol. Ond pan fydd e-bost yn syrthio i’r dwylo anghywir, mae perygl y daw ei gyfrinach yn hysbys. Nawr mae’n rhaid i Simon gall hyd i ffordd o gamu allan o’i fywyd cyfrinachol cyfforddus cyn iddo gael ei wthio allan - heb wahanu oddi wrth ei gyfeillion, cyfaddawdu ei hun neu gawlo cyfle am hapusrwydd gyda’r dyn mwyaf dryslyd, hyfryd iddo gwrdd ag e erioed.

Little Women gan Louisa May Alcott – Mae Little Women ymhlith yr hoff straeon i blant erioed, ac mae’n seiliedig ar brofiadau’r awdur ei hun yn ystod ei hieuenctid. Mae’n disgrifio bywyd teuluol pedair o ferched y teulu March sy’n byw mewn cymuned fach yn New England.

Mae stori eu hanturiaethau domestig, eu hymdrechion i gynyddu incwm y teulu, eu cyfeillgarwch â’u cymdogion, y teulu Lawrence, a’u carwriaethau wedyn yn dal i fod mor gyfoes a hudol ag erioed.

Ophelia gan Lisa Klein - Yn yr ailffurfiad yma o drasiedi Shakespeare, mae’n rhaid i Ophelia ddewis rhwng ei chariad at Hamlet a’i bywyd ei hun.  Mewn tro annisgwyl, mae’n cynllunio i ddianc o Elsinore am byth… gydag un gyfrinach beryglus iawn. Yn finiog ac yn llenyddol, yn dywyll ac yn rhamantaidd, mae’r stori ddramatig yma’n dal darllenwyr yn dynn hyd yr olygfa ddirdynnol, olaf.

More books coming to our screens in 2018!

With the increasing popularity of streaming services, more and more of our favourite books are making it onto the small and big screen.

There are already well over 30 book adaptations planned for release in 2018 and, for this week’s post, we’re going to focus on some of the thrillers and futuristic adventures…

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - It's the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours in the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be.  The OASIS founder James Halliday, who died with no heir, has promised his massive fortune to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle…

Annihiliation by Jeff VanderMeer - For thirty years, Area X has remained mysterious and remote behind its border – an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness.

The Southern Reach, a secretive government agency, has sent eleven expeditions to investigate Area X. One has ended in mass suicide, another in a hail of gunfire, the eleventh in a fatal cancer epidemic.

Now four women embark on the twelfth expedition into the unknown.

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews - Dominika Egorov, former prima ballerina, is sucked into the heart of Putin's Russia, the country she loved, as the twists and turns of a betrayal and counter-betrayal unravel. American Nate Nash, idealistic and ambitious, handles the double agent, codenamed MARBLE, considered one of CIA's biggest assets.

Will Dominika be able to unmask MARBLE or will the mission see her faith destroyed in the country she has always passionately defended?

The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz - Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist have not been in touch for some time. Then Blomkvist is contacted by renowned Swedish scientist Professor Balder. Warned that his life is in danger Balder wants Millennium to publish his story - and it is a terrifying one. More interesting to Blomkvist is Balder’s connection with a certain female superhacker. It seems that Salander, like Balder, is a target of ruthless cyber gangsters - and a violent criminal conspiracy that will soon bring terror to snowbound Stockholm.

Gyda phoblogrwydd cynyddol gwasanaethau ffrydio, mae mwy a mwy o’n hoff lyfrau yn dod i’r sgrin fawr a’r sgrin fach.

Mae eisoes mwy na 30 o addasiadau llyfrau ar y gweill i’w rhyddhau yn 2018 ac, ar gyfer blog yr wythnos hon, rydym yn mynd i ganolbwyntio ar rai o’r straeon antur ac anturiaethau dyfodolaidd …

Ready Player One gan Ernest Cline - Y flwyddyn 2044, ac mae’r byd go iawn wedi mynd yn lle afiach. Fel y rhan fwyaf o’r ddynoliaeth, mae Wade Watts yn dianc rhag realiti trwy dreulio ei oriau effro yn yr OASIS, paradwys rithwir lle medrwch fod yn unrhyw beth yr hoffech. Mae sylfaenydd OASIS James Halliday, a fu farw heb etifedd, wedi addo ei ffortiwn anferth i’r person sy’n medru datrys y posau y mae wedi eu gadael yma ac acw yn y byd y mae wedi ei greu.

Am flynyddoedd, mae miliynau wedi ymdrechu heb lwyddo i gael y wobr hon, gan wybod ond bod y posau yn seiliedig ar ddiwylliant diwedd yr ugeinfed ganrif. Ac yna mae Wade yn dod ar draws yr allwedd i’r pos cyntaf …

Annihiliation gan Jeff VanderMeer - Am ddeng mlynedd ar hugain, mae Area X wedi bod yn lle dirgel y tu ôl i’w ffiniau – parth argyfwng amgylcheddol, er ei fod yn edrych fel ardal wyllt doreithiog.

Mae’r Southern Reach, asiantaeth gyfrinachgar, wedi anfon un ar ddeg cyrch i archwilio Area X. Diweddodd un gyda phawb yn lladd eu hunain, un arall gyda gynau’n saethu, yr unfed ar ddeg mewn epidemig canser marwol.

Nawr mae pedair o ferched yn mynd ar y deuddegfed cyrch i’r anhysbys.

Red Sparrow gan Jason Matthews - Mae Dominika Egorov, prif falerina flaenorol, yn cael ei thynnu i mewn i ganol Rwsia Putin, gwlad roedd yn ei charu, wrth i frad a gwrthfrad ddigwydd o’i chwmpas. Mae’r Americanwr Nate Nash, uchelgeisiol a idealistig, yn gofalu am yr asiant dwbl, enw cod MARBLE, a ystyrir yn un o asedau mwyaf y CIA.
A fydd Dominika yn medru tynnu masg MARBLE neu a fydd yr ymdrech yn gweld ei ffydd yn y wlad y mae bob amser wedi ei hamddiffyn, yn cael ei ddinistrio?

The Girl in the Spider’s Web gan David Lagercrantz - Nid yw Lisbeth Salander a Mikael Blomkvist wedi bod mewn cysylltiad am beth amser. Yna, mae Blomkvist yn clywed gan wyddonwr Swedaidd enwog, yr Athro Balder. Ar ôl cael ei rybuddio bod ei fywyd mewn perygl, mae Balder eisiau i Millennium gyhoeddi ei stori – ac mae’n stori arswydus. O fwy o ddiddordeb i Blomkvist yw cysylltiad Balder gydag arch-haciwr penodol. Ymddengys bod Salander, fel Balder, yn darged seibr-gangsters didrugaredd – a chynllwyn troseddol treisgar a fydd yn dod â dychryn i strydoedd llawn eira Stockholm.

Hunt down some fantastic fiction this Spring...

April is already here and, with some fantastic fiction recently released and coming soon, there is certainly no shortage of titles for us to enjoy as we move through Spring.  Below are just four we’d recommend if you’re after something new!

Ordinary People by Diana Evans (available now) - Michael and Melissa used to be head over heels in love, but now they have two kids and Melissa is convinced she is going slowly mad in her crooked Victorian tumbledown house in south London.

Damian and Stephanie are out in residential Surrey with the perfect home, but have never seemed right for each other, and Damian is increasingly drawn to Melissa instead…

The Woman in the Window by A.J.Finn (available now) - Anna Fox lives alone — a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times… and spying on her neighbours.

Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble — and its shocking secrets are laid bare. Definitely one for fans of Hitchcock!

The Lido by Libby Page (available from 19th April) - When 86-year-old Rosemary meets 26-year-old Kate, they have one thing in common – a desire to save their lido in Brixton, the hub of the community, and in doing so they enrich their own lives. The Lido will go down well with anyone who cares about community. The flashbacks to the past with Rosemary and her husband George are vivid and will pull on your heartstrings.

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy (available from 1st May) - They call themselves the May Mothers—meeting together to seek refuge from the isolation of new motherhood; sharing the fears, joys, and anxieties of their new child-centered lives.

When the group's members agree to meet for drinks at a local bar, one of the babies at home with a babysitter is taken from his crib. With the child still missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and his mother Winnie's very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.

The Perfect Mother unfolds over the course of thirteen fraught days and culminates in an exquisite and unexpected twist.

Mae Ebrill eisoes yma a, gyda chymaint o ffuglen ffantastig eisoes wedi'i rhyddhau yn ddiweddar a mwy yn dod yn fuan, yn sicr nid oes prinder teitlau i ni gael eu mwynhau wrth i ni symud trwy'r Gwanwyn. Isod mae pedwar ohonynt y byddem yn eu hargymell os ydych yn chwilio am rywbeth newydd!

Ordinary People gan Diana Evans (ar gael yn awr) - Arferai Michael a Melissa fod dros eu pen a’u clustiau mewn cariad, ond erbyn hyn mae ganddynt dau o blant ac mae Melissa yn siŵr ei bod hi’n mynd yn wallgof yn araf bach yn ei hen dŷ crwca o gyfnod Victoria yn Ne Llundain, sydd wedi mynd â’i ben iddo.

Mae Damian a Stephanie yn byw mewn ardal breswyl yn Surrey gyda'r cartref perffaith, ond nid ydynt erioed wedi ymddangos eu bod yn iawn i'w gilydd, ac mae Damian yn cael ei dynnu fwyfwy at Melissa yn lle ...

The Woman in the Window gan A.J.Finn (ar gael yn awr) – Mae Anna Fox yn byw ar ei phen ei hun — wedi encilio i’w chartref yn Ninas Efrog Newydd, yn methu’n lân a mentro allan. Mae’n treulio’i dyddiau yn yfed gwin (ychydig gormod efallai), gwylio hen ffilmiau, yn cofio’r cyfnodau hapusaf… ac yn ysbio ar ei chymdogion.

Yna, mae'r Russells yn symud i mewn i'r tŷ ar draws y ffordd: tad, mam, eu mab yn ei arddegau. Y teulu perffaith. Ond pan fydd Anna, yn edrych allan o'i ffenestr un noson, ac yn gweld rhywbeth na ddylai hi, mae ei byd yn dechrau chwalu - ac mae ei gyfrinachau syfrdanol yn hollol agored. Dyma, heb os, un i selogion Hitchcock!

The Lido gan Libby Page (ar gael o 19 Ebrill) - Pan fydd Rosemary, sy'n 86 oed, yn cwrdd â Kate 26 mlwydd oed, mae ganddynt un peth yn gyffredin - awydd i achub eu lido yn Brixton, canolbwynt y gymuned, ac wrth wneud hynny, cyfoethogi eu bywydau eu hunain. Bydd y Lido yn boblogaidd iawn ymysg unrhyw un sy'n ystyriol o gymuned. Mae'r ôl-fflachiau i'r gorffennol gyda Rosemary a'i gŵr George yn fywiog a byddant yn tynnu ar eich calon.

The Perfect Mother gan Aimee Molloy (ar gael o 1 Mai) - Maent yn galw’u hunain yn Famau Mai-cwrdd â’i gilydd i geisio lloches rhag unigrwydd mamolaeth; i rannu’r ofnai, y gorfoledd a’r pryderon yn eu bywydau newydd o gwmpas eu plant.

Pan fydd aelodau'r grŵp yn cytuno i gwrdd am ddiodydd mewn bar lleol, mae un o'r babanod, gartref, gyda gwarchodwr yn cael ei gymryd o'i grud. Gyda'r plentyn dal i fod ar goll, mae'r heddlu'n gofyn cwestiynau ysgytiol ac mae bywyd hynod breifat ei fam, Winnie, bellach yn porthi'r cyfryngau rheibus.

Mae The Perfect Mother yn datblygu dros gyfnod o dri ar ddeg o ddiwrnodau cyn arwain at dro annisgwyl ac angerddol.

A picture can paint a thousand words...

The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal was established in 1955, for distinguished illustration in a book for children. It is named after the popular and highly influential nineteenth century artist known for her fine children's illustrations and designs. Awarded annually, the Medal is the only prize in the UK to solely reward outstanding illustration in a children's book.

Previous winners include Raymond Briggs, Shirley Hughes, Anthony Brown and current Children's Laureate Chris Riddell.

This week we have a look at 3 of the shortlisted titles for this year’s award alongside some personal favourites of ours at Torfaen Libraries.

King of the Sky by Nicola Davies and Laura Carlin (6+) - Starting a new life in a new country, a young boy feels lost and alone – until he meets an old man who keeps racing pigeons. Together they pin their hopes on a race across Europe and the special bird they believe can win it: King of the Sky.

The Song from Somewhere Else by A.F. Harrold and Levi Pinfold (9+) - An atmospheric, quirky novel about two loners who become unlikely friends during one very strange summer holiday. Frank doesn't know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies one afternoon. No one likes Nick. But there's more to Nick, and to his house, than meets the eye, and soon Frank realises she isn't the only one keeping secrets. Or the only one who needs help 

Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz (5+) - This beautifully understated and haunting story brings a piece of mining history to life. A young boy spends an idyllic summer day in his small hometown – he heads to the playground with his friends, has lunch and goes to the shops for his mother. In the afternoon he visits his grandfather’s grave and remembers; but his thoughts continually return to his father, hard at work digging for coal under the sea…

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (3+) - There once was a boy and one day a penguin arrives on his doorstep. The boy decides the penguin must be lost and tries to return him. But no one seems to be missing a penguin. So the boy decides to take the penguin home himself, and they set out in his row boat on a journey to the South Pole.  But when they get there, the boy discovers that maybe home wasn’t what the penguin was looking for after all.

Peace at Last by Jill Murphy (5+) - The hour was late and Mr Bear was tired. But he could not sleep -- however he tried and wherever he tried. SNORE, SNORE went Mrs Bear. TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK went the clock. Would he never get to sleep? The familiar noises, repetition and beautiful illustrations make this delightful picture book an all-time favourite with children and adults everywhere.

Sefydlwyd Medal Kate Greenaway CILIP yn 1955, ar gyfer darluniadau neilltuol mewn llyfr i blant. Fe’i henwir ar ôl yr arlunydd poblogaidd a dylanwadol o’r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg a adnabyddir am ei darluniadau a dyluniadau cain i blant, Rhoddir y wobr yn flynyddol - yr unig wobr yn y DU sydd yn unig ar gyfer darluniadau neilltuol mewn llyfr i blant.

Mae’r enillwyr blaenorol yn cynnwys Raymond Briggs, Shirley Hughes, Anthony Brown a’r Bardd Llawryddog presennol i blant, Chris Riddell.

Yr wythnos yma, cawn olwg ar 3 sydd ar y rhestr fer ar gyfer gwobr eleni ochr yn ochr â rhai o’n ffefrynnau ni yn Llyfrgelloedd Torfaen.

King of the Sky gan Nicola Davies a Laura Carlin (6+) - Wrth ddechrau bywyd newydd mewn gwlad newydd, mae bachgen ifanc yn teimlo ei fod ar goll ac yn unig iawn - hyd nes iddo gwrdd â hen ddyn sy’n cadw colomennod rasio. Gyda’i gilydd maen nhw hoelio’u gobeithion ar ras ar draws Ewrop a’r aderyn arbennig y maen nhw’n credu sy’n gallu ennill y ras: King of the Sky.

The Song from Somewhere Else gan A.F. Harrold a Levi Pinfold (9+) - Nofel anghyffredin, llawn awyrgylch am ddau sy’n well ganddyn nhw fod ar eu pennau eu hunain ond sy’n dod yn ffrindiau yn ystod gwyliau haf od iawn.  Dyw Frank ddim yn gwybod sut i deimlo pan fo Nick Underbridge yn ei hachub rhag bwlis un prynhawn.  Does neb yn hoffi Nick. Ond mae yna fwy i Nick, a’i dŷ, nag sy’n amlwg ar yr olwg gyntaf, a chyn bo hir mae Frank yn sylweddoli nad hi yw’r unig un sy’n cadw cyfrinachau. Ac nid hi yw’r unig un sydd angen help.

Town Is by the Sea gan Joanne Schwartz (5+) - Mae’r stori hyfryd o gynnil ac ysgytwol yma’n dod â darn o hanes glofaol yn fyw. Mae bachgen ifanc yn treulio diwrnod delfrydol o haf yn nhref fach ei gartref - mae’n mynd i chwarae gyda’i ffrindiau, yn cael cinio ac yn mynd i siopa gyda’i fam. Yn y prynhawn, mae’n ymweld â bedd ei dad-cu ac yn cofio; ond mae ei feddyliau dychwelyd at ei dad o hyd, wrthi’n gweithio’n galed yn cloddio am lo o dan y môr…

Lost and Found gan Oliver Jeffers (3+) - Unwaith roedd bachgen ac un diwrnod mae pengwin yn cyrraedd ar stepen ei ddrws. Mae’r bachgen yn penderfynu bod y pengwin ar goll, mae’n rhaid, ac mae’n ceisio mynd â’r pengwin yn ôl.  Ond does neb â phengwin ar goll. Felly mae’r bachgen yn penderfynu mynd â’r pengwin adref ei hun, ac maen nhw’n dechrau ar daith i rwyfo i Begwn y De. Ond ar ôl cyrraedd, mae’r bachgen yn canfod nad gartref y mae’r pengwin yn chwilio amdano, wedi’r cyfan.

Peace at Last gan Jill Murphy (5+) - Roedd hi’n hwyr ac roedd Mr Arth wedi blino. Ond doedd e ddim yn gallu cysgu - dim ots faint yr oedd yn ceisio a pha ble bynnag yr oedd yn ceisio. RHOCH, RHOCH aeth Mrs Arth. TIC-TOC, TIC-TOC aeth y cloc.  A fyddai’n cysgu byth? Mae’r synau cyfarwydd a’r darluniadau hyfryd yn gwneud y llyfr yma’n ffefryn i blant ac oedolion ym mhob man.