Curiad Gwag

by Rebecca Roberts

Mae Sophie Shaw yn 24 oed, yn ddigartref ac yn ddi-waith ... ac yn ychydig o enigma. Pan gaiff ei phenodi yn Rheolwr Taith i Konquest, band roc trwm Cymraeg a reolir gan Brian Bates, ffigwr chwedlonol yn y byd cerddoriaeth, caiff ei thaflu i ganol bywyd cyffrous y sîn roc. Addas i oedolion ifanc 16+.

312 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2022

About the author

Ers iddi fod yn ferch fach roedd Rebecca wrth ei bodd yn dweud straeon, ac o fod yn ifanc iawn gwyddai mai ysgrifennu nofelau oedd hi am wneud. Ers graddio o Brifysgol Bangor gyda gradd Saesneg ac Ysgrifennu Creadigol mae Rebecca wedi gweithio fel athrawes, swyddog datblygu, gweinydd dyneiddiol a chyfieithydd. Mae hi'n byw Mhrestatyn, gyda’i gŵr a phlant. Enillodd #Helynt, ei nofel gyntaf i oedolion ifanc, Wobr Tir na n-Og 2021 a Llyfr y Flwyddyn Plant a Phobl Ifanc 2021.


​From a very young age Rebecca knew that she wanted to be a novelist. Since graduating from Bangor University with a BA(hons) in English and Creative Writing Rebecca has worked as a teacher, Welsh development officer, humanist celebrant and translator. She lives in Prestatyn, with her husband and children. Her first YA novel, #Helynt, won a 2021 Tir na n-Og Award and the 2021 Book of the Year (Children and Young People Category).

Reviews

[Bethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the typical story I would go for, but the premise sounded really interesting. Being from North Wales too instantly made me able to envisage the areas the band visited which was great.

Sophie is a complex character with a backstory that although you don't understand fully straight away, it captures you and you find yourself not only guessing what happened but also hoping for certain things for her.

I'm going to state the obvious for those who have read even the first chapters of this book - Jason is quite frankly, an idiot. It's nice that you have this common enemy (maybe a strong word but it's apt for the beginning) with Sophie (and to an extent, the other characters in the book), and can feel yourself urging her to speak out her feelings and lay down the law. My favourite character has to be Travis - he is such a lovable character with such empathy and you can tell he struck up real friendship with Sophie with no disillusions.

I have to say, the main twist I didn't see coming at first. I sort of cottoned on towards the end a bit but certainly not for a long while. Once again, Rebecca Roberts has a lovely style of writing, and has a great way of telling the stories of all of the characters, making you feel empathetic towards them.

[Cathy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wnes i mwynhau yr iaith, y cymeriadau ac y stori. 'Page turner'.

[Sam Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y math llyfr sydd ei angen yn y Gymraeg!

[L.E. Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read I gobbled it up in one day and was left hungry for more. A must read for anyone who grew up in the 00’s favouring heavy eyeliner, tattoos and ear-splitting tunes. From Wales to the big stage Konquest are a refreshingly real and dysfunctional band kept in check by Sophie - herself a misfit just trying to make rent.

Through Rock on the Road, Author Rebecca Roberts transports us back in time to grubby bars, stale beer and moshpits, celebrating our alternative early twenties in all their sticky horror and liberating glory. Through Sophie we get to experience the music scene from the road with a band of loveable misfits and dysfunctional egos.

I’ve never head-banged whilst reading before but I’m aching to do it again. Encore?

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwych! Unwaith eto mae Rebecca wedi llwyddo i ysgrifennu chwip o nofel. Cymeriadau amrywiol a’r stori yn datblygu’n gelfydd. Doeddwn i ddim wedi disgwyl mwynhau nofel am fand roc ar daith, ond waw, mi wnes i.
Fydd na ddilyniant??

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant! A really feel-good novel about music, friendship and finding yourself, kept me hooked all the way through
I absolutely recommend.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dwi wrth fy modd efo llyfrau oedolion ifanc Rebecca Roberts. Mae hi'n dilyn ffordd ei hun ac yn sgwennu am pobol ifanc sydd yn byw y tu allan i'r 'norm' a ddim yn rhan o'r criw poblogaidd (a phwy sy' eisiau bod yn un o'r criw poblogaidd?!)

Mae 'Curiad Gwag' yn dilyn Sophie Shaw a'i bywyd wedi iddi chyfarfod a band metal trwm, Konquest. Cawn ddilyn yr helynt; y da, y drwg a'r doniol tra mae Konquest yn mynd ar eu daith 'gigs' cynta go iawn o gwmpas Prydain, hefo Sophie yn eu rheolwr taith, gyrrwr bws ac yn gyffredinol yn edrych ar eu holau, a nid bob amser yn llwyddiannus. Mae'r stori yn ddiddorol, gwreiddiol a ffresh yn y byd nofelau Cymraeg, a mae yna ddarnau drwy'r llyfr a wnaeth i mi chwerthin - mae Rebecca yn sicr yn feistres (di hynny'n air iawn?!) ar yr 'one-liners' doniol!

Llwydda Rebecca i greu nifer o chymeriadau a lleisiau gwir eu byd, a does dim rhaid i chi fod yn ffan o bandiau metal trwm i adnabod ambell un. Wrth ddweud hynny, mae'n codi'n nghalon i gael y fath cymeriadau o'r byd cerddoriaeth metal trwm mewn llyfr. Fyswn wedi gwirioni efo hwn yn fy arddegau; ond dwi'n digon bodlon gwirioni efo fo rwan sawl (sawl!) blwyddyn yn ddiweddarach!

*Awgrymir oedran o 16+ i'r llyfr oherwydd natur rhai o'r pynciau sydd yn y llyfr.*