FictionHe may not have been nominated for this year's Booker Prize, much to the surprise of many observers, but with A Star Called Henry, Roddy Doyle has written a book that, for my money, far surpasses Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, the work that won him the prestigious literary award in 1993. Henry Smart is the larger-than-life hero of Doyle's latest work, but it's his infamous … [Read more...] about The Book SHELF: A sampling of the latest Irish books on offer
Books
A Winter’s Tale
Christmas may be over but winter isn't. You can still curl up with a good book and ginger cookies.By Edythe PreetJust because I live in Los Angeles doesn’t mean I’m an Angeleno. Natives here love that it’s sunny and quasi-summer all year long. Not me. Locals think I’m crazy.Crazy like a fox, I say. When it’s cold, you can put on a sweater. When it’s hot, you’re out of luck. I … [Read more...] about A Winter’s Tale
August 2021 Book Reviews
By Tom DeignanBeautiful World, Where Are YouBy Sally RooneyGet ready for a new crop of Dublin 20- and 30-somethings, rambling about and chatting, trying to look like they don’t care about life and love. Which means they care very much about life and love. In her first two novels – Conversations with Friends, and Normal People – Mayo native Sally Rooney proved there was a large … [Read more...] about August 2021 Book Reviews
Recently Published Books
of Irish Interest
By Darina Molloy
December/ January 2021
Big Girl Small Townby Michelle GallenWriter Sinead Moriarty has probably gifted Big Girl Small Town with the best synopsis ever – “Milkman meets Derry Girls. A cracking read’ – which is proudly emblazoned on the Irish version of the cover. Majella is one of those outliers – ignored by most people, and reasonably content to potter on with her life. She lives with her alcoholic … [Read more...] about Recently Published Books
of Irish Interest
Crime Pays for John Banville
By Tom Deignan
Will Real John Banville Please Stand Up! Wexford native and Booker-prize-winner John Banville has spent his celebrated literary career exploring the slippery nature of identity and reality. Characters in Banville’s dazzling, challenging novels, such as The Untouchable or Athena, slip in and out of personas, and conceal so many secrets from friends and family (not to mention … [Read more...] about Crime Pays for John Banville