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2140. Aberystwyth, Cymru.
The year 2140. Aberystwyth, Wales.
Gwasg/publisher: Y Lolfa
Cyhoeddwyd: 2018
Pris: £6.99
ISBN: 978-1-78461-653-3
Lefel her/challenge level: ❖ ❖ ❖
☆ ☆ Cymraeg Gwreiddiol - Welsh Original ☆ ☆
Geirfa anodd. Mwy addas i ddarllenwr hyderus.
Some challenging vocabulary, best suited for confident reader.
Hadau. Hwn yw’r ail lyfr yn y drioleg ‘Yma’ gan Lleucu Roberts ar gyfer pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau. Mae’n dilyn ymlaen yn syth o’r nofel gyntaf - mae’r criw anturus wedi cyrraedd Aberystwyth bellach ac wedi darganfod nad ydyn nhw ar ben eu hunain... Mae ‘na recap sydyn os na wnaethoch ddarllen yr un gyntaf.
Yn fuan iawn rydym ni’n cael ein cyflwyno i gymeriad newydd, sef Anil. Mae o’n un o’r bobl frodorol sydd yn byw yn yr ardal, sef y Ni. Drwy’r nofel rydym ni’n cael nifer o gliwiau yma ag acw am hanes Anil ac rydym ni’n dod i wybod fod o’n wahanol i weddill ei bobl. Mae un o’i bobl yn cyfeirio ato fel ‘not-peth’. Er bod bomiau niwclear wedi chwalu popeth cyfarwydd ar y ddaear, mae rhagfarn a chasineb yn dal i barhau yn amlwg. Rydym ni’n dod i ddeall fod Anil yn hermaphrodite. Hynny yw, dydi o ddim yn ‘fo’ nag yn ‘hi’, ac y ddau ar yr un pryd. (bosib fod y llygredd niwclear wedi achosi hyn) Er bod o’n rhan o’r llwyth, mae geiriau creulon yn dal i’w frifo a tydi ei bobl ddim cweit wedi ei dderbyn fel person ‘normal’, os oes fath beth! Dwi’n meddwl fod y penderfyniad gan yr awdur i wneud Anil yn wahanol iawn yn un da - mae’n sicr yn gwneud i ni feddwl.
Mae’n rhaid i’r ynyswyr ddysgu cyd fyw gyda’r ‘Niaid’ ac mae hynny’n anodd o ystyried fod yna broblemau cyfathrebu ieithyddol. (cewch weld yn y nofel!) Heblaw’r ffaith eu bod nhw’n addoli llygod mawr, mae ‘bos’ y Ni yn deyrn, ac yn unigolyn ‘anodd’. Mae ei dymer drwg a’i gymeriad ansefydlog yn peri perygl i fywyd Cai. (Dwi’m yn keen ar yr enw, Bwmbwm,- dipyn bach yn crinji efallai!)
Y brif stori yn y nofel yw’r ynyswyr yn dysgu (yn raddol) i gyd-fyw gyda’r Niaid. Mae gan y ddwy bobl lawer i ddysgu oddi wrth ei gilydd, fel hela. Rŵan ta, os ydych chi’n ffans o gŵn, dwi’m yn meddwl byddwch chi’n rhy hapus hefo Lleucu! Rhybudd! Oes, mae ‘na lawer o sôn am hela a bwyta cŵn yn y llyfr yma! Does dim Tescos bellach, cofiwch!
Dros eu cyfnod yng Nghymru, mae perthynas Cai a Gwawr yn newid. Yn y nofel gyntaf, roeddwn i’n rhagweld perthynas rhamantus yn datblygu rhwng y ddau, ond mae pethau wedi newid. Drwy gwrs y nofel, mae Cai yn dod yn agosáu at Anil ac mae hyn yn creu problem rhwng y tri. Dipyn o love triangle yn fanna. Difyr.
Reit ar ddiwedd y nofel, mae 'na rywbeth mawr yn digwydd sy’n troi bywyd Cai wyneb i waered. Bydd rhaid disgwyl tan y nofel nesaf i gael mwy o atebion am hyn...
Mae Hadau yn welliant mawr ar y nofel gyntaf ac mae 'na lawer mwy yn digwydd yn hon. Dwi’n hoff o’r disgrifiadau o adeiladau - mae’n ddiddorol ond yn anodd dychmygu cyflwr popeth ar ôl cymaint o amser. Dwi’n cysylltu hadau gyda bywyd newydd a dwi’n meddwl mai bwriad yr awdur ydi dangos fod yna fymryn o obaith mewn dyfodol mor galed a llwm.
O ran y darllen, mae’r iaith ysgrifenedig Lleucu Roberts yn heriol iawn ar adegau, ac roedd rhaid ail ddarllen darnau i wneud synnwyr o eiriau anghyfarwydd. Fodd bynnag, mae’r stori ddiddorol yn werth yr ymdrech.
Hadau. This is the second book in the ‘Yma’ trilogy by Lleucu Roberts for teenagers. It follows on directly from the first novel- the adventurous crew have now arrived in Aberystwyth and discovered they are not alone... There is a quick recap for those who didn’t read the first one.
Very early on we are introduced to a new character, Anil. He is one of the indigenous people living in the area, called Y Ni [Us]. Throughout the novel we get a few clues here and there about Anil’s backstory, and we come to realize that he differs from the rest of his people. One of them refers to him as a ' not thing'. Even though nuclear bombs have destroyed everything familiar on earth, it seems that human prejudice and hatred still remain evident. We come to understand that Anil is likely a hermaphrodite. That is, not quite a ‘he’ or a ‘she’, and possibly both at the same time. (this deformity may be as a result of the nuclear pollution) Although he is part of the tribe, cruel words still hurt him and his people have yet to fully accept him as a ' normal ' person, if there is such a thing! I think the decision by the author to make Anil very different is a good one-it certainly makes us think.
The Islanders must learn to live with the ' Niaid ' and that is difficult given that there are linguistic and communication issues. (You’ll see in the novel!) As well as the fact that they worship rats, they are governed by an unstable tyrant. His unstable temperament poses a real danger to Cai's life. (I'm not keen on the name, Bwmbwm. A little cringe, but that’s just me!)
The main story arc of the novel is the Islanders gradually learning to co-exist with the locals. The two peoples have a lot to learn from each other, like hunting. Now, if you like dogs, I don’t think you'll be too impressed with Lleucu! Warning! Yes, there are numerous references to the hunting, butchering and eating of dogs in this book! It’s done in a very matter-of-fact way. Well, come on, there are no Tescos anymore, remember!
During their time in Wales, the relationship between Cai and Gwawr is changing. In the first novel, I envisioned a romantic relationship developing between the two, but things have changed. Through the course of the novel, Cai grows closer to Anil and this creates a problem between the three. We have ourselves a bit of a love triangle here. Interesting.
Right at the end of the novel, something big happens that turns Cai’s new life upside down. You'll have to wait until the next novel to get more answers about this...
Hadau is a big improvement on the first novel and has a lot more going on. I like the descriptions of the ruined buildings-it's interesting but difficult to imagine the state of everything after so long. I associate seeds with new life and I think the author's intention is to show that there is some hope in this tough and bleak future.
In terms of reading, the written language Lleucu Roberts uses is very challenging at times, and I had to re-read bits to make sense of unfamiliar words. However, the gripping story is worth the effort. A book for the confident reader for sure.
Read more from the author, as she discusses the trilogy at:
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