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Ogwen Blues
Up in the mountains of Bethesda, North Wales, fifty-year-old football referee Colin Tudur has endured a pitiful, people-pleasing existence. Finally chasing his dream, he quits his steady job as a bin-man and commits to full-time training, one day dreaming of reffing on S4C.
Such selfishness far from serves his parasitic, coercive wife Clare and stepson Dale, who have both long grown dependent on his salary. Now thwarted in his pursuit of freedom by North Wales' second-home owner induced housing shortage, twenty-year-old Dale's forced to wallow in the family's toxic, co-dependent bubble.
Hard hitting and fiercely raw, Ogwen Blues charts their plight to thrive in an area starved of adequate opportunities.
Such selfishness far from serves his parasitic, coercive wife Clare and stepson Dale, who have both long grown dependent on his salary. Now thwarted in his pursuit of freedom by North Wales' second-home owner induced housing shortage, twenty-year-old Dale's forced to wallow in the family's toxic, co-dependent bubble.
Hard hitting and fiercely raw, Ogwen Blues charts their plight to thrive in an area starved of adequate opportunities.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2023
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24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 17, 2023
George Veck is back with this his 3rd book concentrating on the gruesome horrors of the characters lives living in North Wales
As with the previous 2 offerings the author pulls no punches, none at all as we from the first paragraph find ourselves in the life of Colin, and his bullying controlling wife Clare and grim stepson Dale….most characters have some even one redeeming character, Clare does not, not even an inkling of one
Colin is weak but I did find myself cheering him on in his tiny victories and even kinda liking him once or twice
The story is brutal, shocking in parts and eye openingly stark,base and unforgiving and gives a very raw look at a life most would run a mile from ( inc the characters if they could )
I do love this authors opposition to the norms in writing a family drama and daring to be so visceral, it may well offend in places but the reality is far more offensive tbh
Interesting how social and economic problems in the area are added into the story
A cosy rom com this is not but its written with passion and a purpose
As with the previous 2 offerings the author pulls no punches, none at all as we from the first paragraph find ourselves in the life of Colin, and his bullying controlling wife Clare and grim stepson Dale….most characters have some even one redeeming character, Clare does not, not even an inkling of one
Colin is weak but I did find myself cheering him on in his tiny victories and even kinda liking him once or twice
The story is brutal, shocking in parts and eye openingly stark,base and unforgiving and gives a very raw look at a life most would run a mile from ( inc the characters if they could )
I do love this authors opposition to the norms in writing a family drama and daring to be so visceral, it may well offend in places but the reality is far more offensive tbh
Interesting how social and economic problems in the area are added into the story
A cosy rom com this is not but its written with passion and a purpose
May 14, 2023
A very dark novel as expected, lots of twists and turns. Felt like a fly on the wall telling the story of typical Welsh sportsmen. Pleased to be the first to review and you won’t be disappointed
July 10, 2023
Another Gripping Tale
I have read two previous books from George Veck and this is another gripping and gritty story. This isn't fluffy, and while there seems to be more than one story going on in this, it is all connected into a great read.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I have read two previous books from George Veck and this is another gripping and gritty story. This isn't fluffy, and while there seems to be more than one story going on in this, it is all connected into a great read.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
October 5, 2023
Fifty-year-old Colin Tudur Parry has allowed himself to be walked all over for as long as he can remember. He only works as a bin-man to hand his wages over to his grasping, crafty wife Clare, and indolent twenty-year-old stepson Dale as they shamble around in his remote, dilapidated farmhouse in North Wales.
Desperate and deluded, Colin decides to make a stand and turn his football refereeing hobby into a full-time job which doesn’t sit well with Clare and Dale, not well at all…
Veck takes the reader back into the decaying heart of North Wales, in Ogwen Blues, his third novella containing the usual collection of conniving degenerates whose shifty, aimless existences are constantly punctuated by a diet of alcohol and drug misuse. Once again, it’s a compulsive if uncomfortable read.
However, Ogwen Blues is a touch more studied and controlled than Veck’s previous outings. It still crackles with cynical deadpan observations and whip-smart, comic energy but there is a deeper vein of complexity and poignancy to this narrative and one of the contributing factors to this slight shift is Colin.
Weak, delusional yet not entirely without occasional, vague moral fibre and flickers of tepid intelligence, he does elicit a glimmer of reader sympathy in his dealings with ghastly Clare and deadbeat Dale which are rich with black humor and Colin’s simmering, impotent rage.
They emotionally and psychologically abuse him, especially Clare who is vile. Veck is adept in presenting the horridly tense, claustrophobic, and passive-aggressive atmosphere in the farmhouse which reaches febrile levels when Clare’s father, “Big Al” shows up.
Nonetheless, although central, Colin’s pathetic trajectory is among several narrative strands in Ogwen Blues. Dale has multiple schemes on the go, in between ingesting various purloined substances to, the reader suspects, nullify a life that he knows is already hopeless.
Notwithstanding, he’s not without cunning as his Dogecoin profit and camera-rigging antics demonstrate. Further, his surreptitious feeding of Farmer William “Caradog” Wyn’s ill-treated and malnourished animals possibly highlights some decent facet of his personality, however minuscule.
Through Dale’s stagnant existence and the presence of eccentric neighbours, Ernest and Felix, who own multiple properties in the area, Veck touches upon the divisive issue of second-homers and the Airbnb market.
Indeed, although Veck’s previous books are driven by entrenched poverty, unemployment, and bitter futility, Ogwen Blues makes these factors the cause rather than the effect and the novella is more thought-provoking as a result.
Despite the subtle change in approach, there are familiar pockets of brutal unpleasantness and downright depravity. Sion and his sordid mother, Shell, are pitifully awful, and their feral existence provides for rough reading.
Veck excels at providing gritty, social detail, sometimes with just a well-chosen phrase or colloquialism. He is on point without it being forced or appropriated and, as ever, his prose is primitive, raw, and unflinching.
It’s a visual read, and would certainly translate well into a short film. While Veck is astute at depicting his feckless cast, he is equally skilled in portraying the bleak, derelict landscape they inhabit.
Ogwen Blues is another fast, authentic blast through the squalid wastelands of North Wales and provides additional layers of veneer to Veck’s maturity as a writer. Highly recommended.
Desperate and deluded, Colin decides to make a stand and turn his football refereeing hobby into a full-time job which doesn’t sit well with Clare and Dale, not well at all…
Veck takes the reader back into the decaying heart of North Wales, in Ogwen Blues, his third novella containing the usual collection of conniving degenerates whose shifty, aimless existences are constantly punctuated by a diet of alcohol and drug misuse. Once again, it’s a compulsive if uncomfortable read.
However, Ogwen Blues is a touch more studied and controlled than Veck’s previous outings. It still crackles with cynical deadpan observations and whip-smart, comic energy but there is a deeper vein of complexity and poignancy to this narrative and one of the contributing factors to this slight shift is Colin.
Weak, delusional yet not entirely without occasional, vague moral fibre and flickers of tepid intelligence, he does elicit a glimmer of reader sympathy in his dealings with ghastly Clare and deadbeat Dale which are rich with black humor and Colin’s simmering, impotent rage.
They emotionally and psychologically abuse him, especially Clare who is vile. Veck is adept in presenting the horridly tense, claustrophobic, and passive-aggressive atmosphere in the farmhouse which reaches febrile levels when Clare’s father, “Big Al” shows up.
Nonetheless, although central, Colin’s pathetic trajectory is among several narrative strands in Ogwen Blues. Dale has multiple schemes on the go, in between ingesting various purloined substances to, the reader suspects, nullify a life that he knows is already hopeless.
Notwithstanding, he’s not without cunning as his Dogecoin profit and camera-rigging antics demonstrate. Further, his surreptitious feeding of Farmer William “Caradog” Wyn’s ill-treated and malnourished animals possibly highlights some decent facet of his personality, however minuscule.
Through Dale’s stagnant existence and the presence of eccentric neighbours, Ernest and Felix, who own multiple properties in the area, Veck touches upon the divisive issue of second-homers and the Airbnb market.
Indeed, although Veck’s previous books are driven by entrenched poverty, unemployment, and bitter futility, Ogwen Blues makes these factors the cause rather than the effect and the novella is more thought-provoking as a result.
Despite the subtle change in approach, there are familiar pockets of brutal unpleasantness and downright depravity. Sion and his sordid mother, Shell, are pitifully awful, and their feral existence provides for rough reading.
Veck excels at providing gritty, social detail, sometimes with just a well-chosen phrase or colloquialism. He is on point without it being forced or appropriated and, as ever, his prose is primitive, raw, and unflinching.
It’s a visual read, and would certainly translate well into a short film. While Veck is astute at depicting his feckless cast, he is equally skilled in portraying the bleak, derelict landscape they inhabit.
Ogwen Blues is another fast, authentic blast through the squalid wastelands of North Wales and provides additional layers of veneer to Veck’s maturity as a writer. Highly recommended.
May 17, 2023
Book: Ogwen Blues
Author: George Veck
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️None
Age recommendation: 16-30+ Years
My feelings:
This is the third book by George Veck I have read. Every single one gets better and better. The language Is impeccable and intellectual.
For George Veck’s third instalment you follow the story of Colin, a middle-aged man who leaves his job to follow his dream of being the current football referee. This displeases his Wife and step son who all depend on his salary.
Dale, Colins step son, newly kicked out from college, and unemployed, takes his hand at dealing drugs and finds himself deep in the drug world.
George Veck manages to capture the world of drugs and the miss givings that comes along with it all perfectly. The language used and the misfortunes that come along with drug dealing, is portrayed almost to the letter.
Once again a great read!
Thank you for the Arc George I really enjoyed this!
Author: George Veck
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️None
Age recommendation: 16-30+ Years
My feelings:
This is the third book by George Veck I have read. Every single one gets better and better. The language Is impeccable and intellectual.
For George Veck’s third instalment you follow the story of Colin, a middle-aged man who leaves his job to follow his dream of being the current football referee. This displeases his Wife and step son who all depend on his salary.
Dale, Colins step son, newly kicked out from college, and unemployed, takes his hand at dealing drugs and finds himself deep in the drug world.
George Veck manages to capture the world of drugs and the miss givings that comes along with it all perfectly. The language used and the misfortunes that come along with drug dealing, is portrayed almost to the letter.
Once again a great read!
Thank you for the Arc George I really enjoyed this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2023
Raw, depressing, disturbing. I’ve never read a book like this before. I love thrillers and I don’t mind dark topics but there’s literally not a single light-hearted, joyous moment in this book, I was constantly feeling sad, hopeless and angry.
This book was not for me but I’m glad I had a chance to read it and I do think that the author is talented, he created this sad story full of struggling characters - it made me feel grateful for my life.
(This book was sent to me in exchange for my honest review.)
This book was not for me but I’m glad I had a chance to read it and I do think that the author is talented, he created this sad story full of struggling characters - it made me feel grateful for my life.
(This book was sent to me in exchange for my honest review.)
June 13, 2023
I received a free copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my review.
Ogwen Blues, by George Heck, is a novella detailing a family’s struggles with mental health, abuse, and drugs. The novella introduces Dale Carson and his family, all of whom live on a decaying farm with little to no prospects. His stepfather, Colin, bears the financial burden of the family, while his mother, Clare, verbally and mentally abuses him. The story follows Dale and Colin, as well as their associates, as they attempt to rise above their realities, whether it be through legal or illegal means, in a broken home.
Working in the mental health professions, you’re going to see a lot of communities infected by drug abuse. Unfortunately, these communities are often low socioeconomic areas (Section 8, HUD housing, ect.) that are rife with drug abuse. Thus, the novella reminded me of a harsh lesson one of my mentors told me, in that when you’re homeless, when you have absolutely nothing, and people look at you with disgust, alcohol and drugs are probably the only things that you can use to escape. If you didn’t already know, dealing can get you fast money. In that sense, drugs really do hold the answer to all life’s problems, despite the statistics and near death threats schools like to spout. Dale tends to remind me of these clients, doing whatever he can to escape his physical and mental troubles. And I’ve got to admit; it’s tempting.
Then there’s Dale, who’s trapped in an unfulfilling job, while saddled with a family who doesn’t recognize anything he does for them, a family who doesn’t even take pride in him taking care of them. It doesn’t excuse his negligence, but similar to Dale, Colin is trying to find an escape. Unlike Dale, Colin’s behaviors are already hard wired; it’s hard to heal from trauma the older you are. So when Dale slides further into destruction with his choices though metaphorically, it’s Colin that ends it all. For all the cruelty the novella puts our characters through, Dale would’ve still had a chance. Colin doesn’t, even though his choices are less destructive (save for the end, of course).
In all honesty, the novella has a lot of potential. It shows an accurate picture of what it means to live in a community perpetuated by socioeconomic inequality, mental illness, and substance misuse. I would have been more engrossed had it not been for the wording. There are times when I could barely understand what the characters were saying, and sadly, it did detract from the story. Moreover, I would’ve preferred if the author focused more on Dale, Colin, and their family, rather than the plethora of characters around them. If the story were longer, I would’ve loved for the characters to be fleshed out, but because of the brevity of the story, I don’t think there’s a place for it.
Thus, I would give the book a 3.5 out of 5.
Ogwen Blues, by George Heck, is a novella detailing a family’s struggles with mental health, abuse, and drugs. The novella introduces Dale Carson and his family, all of whom live on a decaying farm with little to no prospects. His stepfather, Colin, bears the financial burden of the family, while his mother, Clare, verbally and mentally abuses him. The story follows Dale and Colin, as well as their associates, as they attempt to rise above their realities, whether it be through legal or illegal means, in a broken home.
Working in the mental health professions, you’re going to see a lot of communities infected by drug abuse. Unfortunately, these communities are often low socioeconomic areas (Section 8, HUD housing, ect.) that are rife with drug abuse. Thus, the novella reminded me of a harsh lesson one of my mentors told me, in that when you’re homeless, when you have absolutely nothing, and people look at you with disgust, alcohol and drugs are probably the only things that you can use to escape. If you didn’t already know, dealing can get you fast money. In that sense, drugs really do hold the answer to all life’s problems, despite the statistics and near death threats schools like to spout. Dale tends to remind me of these clients, doing whatever he can to escape his physical and mental troubles. And I’ve got to admit; it’s tempting.
Then there’s Dale, who’s trapped in an unfulfilling job, while saddled with a family who doesn’t recognize anything he does for them, a family who doesn’t even take pride in him taking care of them. It doesn’t excuse his negligence, but similar to Dale, Colin is trying to find an escape. Unlike Dale, Colin’s behaviors are already hard wired; it’s hard to heal from trauma the older you are. So when Dale slides further into destruction with his choices though metaphorically, it’s Colin that ends it all. For all the cruelty the novella puts our characters through, Dale would’ve still had a chance. Colin doesn’t, even though his choices are less destructive (save for the end, of course).
In all honesty, the novella has a lot of potential. It shows an accurate picture of what it means to live in a community perpetuated by socioeconomic inequality, mental illness, and substance misuse. I would have been more engrossed had it not been for the wording. There are times when I could barely understand what the characters were saying, and sadly, it did detract from the story. Moreover, I would’ve preferred if the author focused more on Dale, Colin, and their family, rather than the plethora of characters around them. If the story were longer, I would’ve loved for the characters to be fleshed out, but because of the brevity of the story, I don’t think there’s a place for it.
Thus, I would give the book a 3.5 out of 5.
July 2, 2023
Out of the many characters that appeared in this well written short novel, Colin was the only one I had any sympathy for, with his vile controlling wife Clare and his deadbeat stepson Dale, whilst having to endure his unfulfilling job and his dreams of promotion in his football refereeing weekend job. Most of the characters, Clare, Shona and Kenny for example, had no redeeming qualities, maybe due to their upbringing or maybe victims of the circumstances they now find themselves in. Virtually everyone featured is on drugs of one sort or another, and it was a miracle some were even still breathing, let alone capable of conscious thought. Even Bryn the local bus driver is driving passengers around whilst high on speed! Anti-English feeling is still high, echoes of the Sons of Glyndwr that saw the spates of arson attacks on holiday homes years ago. Dale initially looked promising, spying on a cruel farmer neighbour and liberating the farmer’s feed stores to feed his starving animals, although I did wonder what his motive was for reporting Caradog but then seemed to spend his time endlessly drinking and taking drugs and getting involved in criminal activity, along with his best friend Kenny. Set against a rural backdrop with low incomes, high unemployment (or maybe some were just unemployable) and drug addiction, it’s a raw and grim depiction of life in this community and their struggle to escape, whether by legal means or not. Clearly there were also many undiagnosed mental health issues and personality disorders mixed in too, Hywel being a prime example, but being poor and struggling is no excuse on its own for the lack of morality which was demonstrated by most of them. I was left wondering if everyone there was bad or whether the story only focussed on the unsavoury ones. Definitely written in the vernacular, there was a bewildering array of slang terms in the narrative, some new to me that I could guess at but at times I got bogged down looking up some of them which slowed the reading experience and I wondered if that would put off some readers from finishing the book or maybe the language was aimed at a younger generation than mine? It’s a dark and depressing story, a damning depiction of unhappy lives which left me desperately hoping for some glimmer of light occasionally (I did want to cheer whenever Colin got one over on his awful family) and possibly more accurate than many of us would like to think. I think it would definitely work as a screen play, particularly if made into a full-length story with more fleshed-out characters and in-depth back stories for some. Not an easy read or for the faint hearted but certainly an eye-opener.
September 12, 2024
And welcome to the third book from George Veck featuring alcohol and drug abuse around Bangor in North Wales. Like the 2 previous novels, this is a rough, gritty tale of life for people with an alcohol or drug dependency.
None of the characters from the previous novels are carried over but the author’s voice is exactly the same. Ogwen Blues is another short read running to only 128 pages but starts off very differently. Ogwen Blues was written for all victims of domestic psychological abuse. There is an offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship (CCB). WOW! What a way to start a story - even before the reader starts chapter 1.
Okay then, Ogwen Blues is very similar to One Visit and Spurious Scrapper in that there are lots of parties heavy on drink and drugs. Where Ogwen Blues goes further is with social issues. Fully explored is the problem of domestic psychological abuse which can be hard for people not involved to spot as there are no bruises or cuts. In popular tourist areas, like North Wales, local people can be priced out of the housing market by holiday lets or second homeowners.
George’s writing style is very television soap opera, with reference to British attitudes to current events occurring in Syria and the Ukraine plus personalities like Nigel Farage and Prince Andrew. Popular shopping demographics like Aldi lager, Rustlers cheeseburgers and Home Bargains are highlighted. Benefit culture claiming EMA, PIPS and Universal Credit raises it’s head as does scams, including the takeaway scammer when the diner lies to obtain a refund. Oh yes, all human life is here in North Wales. This is not the North Wales that the tourist boards promote but the dirty, poverty stricken rough end.
I found Ogwen Blues to be an OKAY 3 star read. It is light reading, there is no real plot as such, more of a family or social drama. There are people around living like the characters in Ogwen Blues but you would not want to make friends with them. So, if you want to slum it with the lowest members of society from the cleanliness and security of your own home, then Ogwen Blues will make you appreciate how lucky you are in the lottery of life. Reading pleasure, not quite, more like window shopping but boyo, those windows are dirty not like the sparkling clean windows of Cardiff.
None of the characters from the previous novels are carried over but the author’s voice is exactly the same. Ogwen Blues is another short read running to only 128 pages but starts off very differently. Ogwen Blues was written for all victims of domestic psychological abuse. There is an offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship (CCB). WOW! What a way to start a story - even before the reader starts chapter 1.
Okay then, Ogwen Blues is very similar to One Visit and Spurious Scrapper in that there are lots of parties heavy on drink and drugs. Where Ogwen Blues goes further is with social issues. Fully explored is the problem of domestic psychological abuse which can be hard for people not involved to spot as there are no bruises or cuts. In popular tourist areas, like North Wales, local people can be priced out of the housing market by holiday lets or second homeowners.
George’s writing style is very television soap opera, with reference to British attitudes to current events occurring in Syria and the Ukraine plus personalities like Nigel Farage and Prince Andrew. Popular shopping demographics like Aldi lager, Rustlers cheeseburgers and Home Bargains are highlighted. Benefit culture claiming EMA, PIPS and Universal Credit raises it’s head as does scams, including the takeaway scammer when the diner lies to obtain a refund. Oh yes, all human life is here in North Wales. This is not the North Wales that the tourist boards promote but the dirty, poverty stricken rough end.
I found Ogwen Blues to be an OKAY 3 star read. It is light reading, there is no real plot as such, more of a family or social drama. There are people around living like the characters in Ogwen Blues but you would not want to make friends with them. So, if you want to slum it with the lowest members of society from the cleanliness and security of your own home, then Ogwen Blues will make you appreciate how lucky you are in the lottery of life. Reading pleasure, not quite, more like window shopping but boyo, those windows are dirty not like the sparkling clean windows of Cardiff.
November 2, 2023
"Ogwen Blues" by George Veck is a riveting and thought-provoking tale that takes us deep into the heart of a family's tumultuous journey in the picturesque yet unforgiving mountains of Bethesda, North Wales. George Veck masterfully weaves a narrative that explores the complexities of human relationships, dreams, and the harsh realities of life in a way that is both haunting and evocative.
The story follows Colin Tudur, a fifty-year-old football referee who decides to chase his lifelong dream of reffing on S4C. His decision to leave his job as a bin-man sends ripples through his family, particularly impacting his wife, Clare, and stepson, Dale. Veck skillfully portrays the dynamics within the family, revealing the parasitic and coercive nature of Colin's relationships, and the co-dependent reliance that has grown over the years.
In the backdrop of a housing shortage driven by second-home owners, the novel delves into the life of twenty-year-old Dale, who is trapped within the confines of the family's isolated mountain-top farm cottage. Veck's portrayal of Dale's struggles is both poignant and raw, exploring themes of addiction, despair, and the relentless cycle of family dysfunction.
As the story unfolds, the narrative takes a gripping turn when Dale seizes an opportunity to enter the drug-dealing world, in a desperate bid to escape the nightmare that engulfs him. The consequences of this choice echo through the family, and Veck skillfully peels back the layers of their shared history to reveal the depth of their collective pain.
"Ogwen Blues" is a compelling exploration of human resilience in the face of adversity. George Veck's writing is sharp, unflinching, and deeply empathetic. He invites readers to confront the dark corners of human nature and consider the weight of choices made when one's back is against the wall. This novel is an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact, making it a must-read for those who appreciate powerful storytelling and complex characters. George Veck has delivered a literary gem that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.
The story follows Colin Tudur, a fifty-year-old football referee who decides to chase his lifelong dream of reffing on S4C. His decision to leave his job as a bin-man sends ripples through his family, particularly impacting his wife, Clare, and stepson, Dale. Veck skillfully portrays the dynamics within the family, revealing the parasitic and coercive nature of Colin's relationships, and the co-dependent reliance that has grown over the years.
In the backdrop of a housing shortage driven by second-home owners, the novel delves into the life of twenty-year-old Dale, who is trapped within the confines of the family's isolated mountain-top farm cottage. Veck's portrayal of Dale's struggles is both poignant and raw, exploring themes of addiction, despair, and the relentless cycle of family dysfunction.
As the story unfolds, the narrative takes a gripping turn when Dale seizes an opportunity to enter the drug-dealing world, in a desperate bid to escape the nightmare that engulfs him. The consequences of this choice echo through the family, and Veck skillfully peels back the layers of their shared history to reveal the depth of their collective pain.
"Ogwen Blues" is a compelling exploration of human resilience in the face of adversity. George Veck's writing is sharp, unflinching, and deeply empathetic. He invites readers to confront the dark corners of human nature and consider the weight of choices made when one's back is against the wall. This novel is an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact, making it a must-read for those who appreciate powerful storytelling and complex characters. George Veck has delivered a literary gem that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.
May 26, 2023
Thanks to George for the gifted copy of his new book in return for an honest review.
I am not a prude by any means, and I do swear, but I've never been a fan of swearing just for the sake of it, and there is an awful lot in this. For some people, this may not be an issue, they may not even notice it much. But for me, it's really jarring, and it stops me fully absorbing the actual plot of the sentences.
I also have very little interest in football beyond the England games, and so a lot of the scenes were lost to me, for their refereeing terms and whatnot. Again, if you're more into that side of things then you'll probably get more enjoyment out of it.
George has clearly got an interest and a knack in writing about people on the lower end of society, shall we say, down on their luck and struggling. Which means I often don't find his books particularly cheerful. But I can appreciate his work in that. For giving voices to those that may otherwise be silent.
I will admit I got thrown with the characters for quite a while. There's not many of them to be honest, but I felt they flowed into each other, and at times I wasn't particularly sure who was who at the item, which means I didn't get invested in their stories much. And what I did invest in, I didn't like. I didn't find any of them endearing or loveable or even likeable, I'm afraid.
Whilst I admire George's ability and passion to write about struggling people in our society, and particularly those in Wales, I sadly did not enjoy this book. The topic and themes of it just weren't my thing. But I've seen 5 star reviews of it online so this is most definitely about personal taste rather than his writing ability.
I am not a prude by any means, and I do swear, but I've never been a fan of swearing just for the sake of it, and there is an awful lot in this. For some people, this may not be an issue, they may not even notice it much. But for me, it's really jarring, and it stops me fully absorbing the actual plot of the sentences.
I also have very little interest in football beyond the England games, and so a lot of the scenes were lost to me, for their refereeing terms and whatnot. Again, if you're more into that side of things then you'll probably get more enjoyment out of it.
George has clearly got an interest and a knack in writing about people on the lower end of society, shall we say, down on their luck and struggling. Which means I often don't find his books particularly cheerful. But I can appreciate his work in that. For giving voices to those that may otherwise be silent.
I will admit I got thrown with the characters for quite a while. There's not many of them to be honest, but I felt they flowed into each other, and at times I wasn't particularly sure who was who at the item, which means I didn't get invested in their stories much. And what I did invest in, I didn't like. I didn't find any of them endearing or loveable or even likeable, I'm afraid.
Whilst I admire George's ability and passion to write about struggling people in our society, and particularly those in Wales, I sadly did not enjoy this book. The topic and themes of it just weren't my thing. But I've seen 5 star reviews of it online so this is most definitely about personal taste rather than his writing ability.
October 18, 2024
The Review
A genuinely compelling and thought-provoking read, author George Veck once again captures the raw, visceral, and emotional tidal wave that often overpowers everyday people in harsh living environments. The culture and social aspects of life in Northern Wales are skewed by the toxicity of this family dynamic and the chilling nature of the drug trade and life lived immersed fully into the world of drugs. The author creatively weaves the tension and heavy atmosphere into the narrative, allowing the painful memories and layers of the family’s toxic history to manifest and bloom naturally on the page.
The heart of this narrative is in the character development and powerful themes the author explores. The narrative allows the reader to look behind the curtain of life in Northern Wales and glimpse the dysfunction within this family unit. The raw, nearly overwhelming nature of human cruelty and the viciousness of drug use skillfully bring this story to new heights and allow the reader to explore the complex depths of human relationships and the cruel nature of life itself.
The Verdict
Memorable, honest, and gritty, author George Veck’s “Ogwen Blues’ is a must-read suspense thriller. The seamless blend of action, drama, and suspense will keep readers invested in the developing story, and the emotional rollercoaster that these characters find themselves on will make the chilling events of the narrative stay with readers long after that final page.
A genuinely compelling and thought-provoking read, author George Veck once again captures the raw, visceral, and emotional tidal wave that often overpowers everyday people in harsh living environments. The culture and social aspects of life in Northern Wales are skewed by the toxicity of this family dynamic and the chilling nature of the drug trade and life lived immersed fully into the world of drugs. The author creatively weaves the tension and heavy atmosphere into the narrative, allowing the painful memories and layers of the family’s toxic history to manifest and bloom naturally on the page.
The heart of this narrative is in the character development and powerful themes the author explores. The narrative allows the reader to look behind the curtain of life in Northern Wales and glimpse the dysfunction within this family unit. The raw, nearly overwhelming nature of human cruelty and the viciousness of drug use skillfully bring this story to new heights and allow the reader to explore the complex depths of human relationships and the cruel nature of life itself.
The Verdict
Memorable, honest, and gritty, author George Veck’s “Ogwen Blues’ is a must-read suspense thriller. The seamless blend of action, drama, and suspense will keep readers invested in the developing story, and the emotional rollercoaster that these characters find themselves on will make the chilling events of the narrative stay with readers long after that final page.
July 28, 2023
Ogwen Blues is a novella told over eleven chapters and set in the town of Bethesda, Wales. The story mainly focuses on Colin Tudur Parry a bin-man in his fifties, an ex semi pro footballer and now referee. He is married to Clare, an obnoxious woman who has never wanted to work, although she has a degree, and she treats her husband appallingly. Clare has a twenty-year-old good-for-nothing son who is happy to join in with treating Colin as his cash cow and slave and a teenage daughter Shona.
The story is quite depressing and at just a couple of chapters in I did think about giving up but persevering the book did improve, slightly. The feelings of the characters in this small town were very anti-English and nearly all of them were unemployed and drug users which I found surprising, I mean the local dealer is certainly racking it in.
Ogwen Blues is a brutal and harsh story of a town that has seen long-term poverty, lack of jobs, lack of entertainment, and low standards. The people didn’t seem to care about themselves let alone each other. It is a raw, eye-opening, and gritty novella that was quick to read, however, it did live up to its name and made me feel down whilst reading as there was no enjoyment within the pages whatsoever. - 3.5 stars
The story is quite depressing and at just a couple of chapters in I did think about giving up but persevering the book did improve, slightly. The feelings of the characters in this small town were very anti-English and nearly all of them were unemployed and drug users which I found surprising, I mean the local dealer is certainly racking it in.
Ogwen Blues is a brutal and harsh story of a town that has seen long-term poverty, lack of jobs, lack of entertainment, and low standards. The people didn’t seem to care about themselves let alone each other. It is a raw, eye-opening, and gritty novella that was quick to read, however, it did live up to its name and made me feel down whilst reading as there was no enjoyment within the pages whatsoever. - 3.5 stars
June 18, 2024
"Ogwen Blues" by George Veck is a poignant story set in the mountains of Bethesda, North Wales. It follows Colin Tudur, a fifty-year-old football referee who finally decides to chase his dream of full-time training, leaving his job as a bin-man. His decision disrupts the lives of his manipulative wife, Clare, and his troubled stepson, Dale, who are dependent on his income. Dale, a twenty-year-old grappling with expulsion, unemployment, and addiction, sees an opportunity in the drug trade as a means to escape his despair. The narrative explores themes of ambition, dependency, and the struggle for personal freedom amidst familial turmoil
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