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Tag: irishWriters

Posted on March 12, 2023March 12, 2023

Where I end by Sophie White. Quite the book.


Where I end by Sophie White.
Quite the book.

Posted on August 15, 2022February 16, 2023

*Review* Brouhaha by Ardal O Hanlon. I am always surprised when someone not from a


*Review*
Brouhaha by Ardal O Hanlon.
I am always surprised when someone not from a writing background ( whatever that is) pens a novel. We all know Ardal as a comedian and actor but here we go on his next novel!
This is a crime mystery novel set in a border town full of murders, dodginess and crime.
The story opens with the apparent suicide of localad, Dove and brings us back to the event the town just can't let go-the disappearance of a young girl under very dubious circumstances.
The book revolves around three main characters. Kevin, the retired garda who handled the disappearance case originally. Sharkey, Dove's best friend and a local reporter Joanne.
The writing is good,  heavy but quite observant in terms of a small Irish town. In places, it does go on a bit where it doesn't need to,  which pulls the drama back.
Overall I really enjoyed it. A crime mystery with a mix of creepy,  bloodthirsty and morally good characters. Sad too.

Posted on December 27, 2021February 16, 2023

Wunderland by Caitriona Lally. I love when you get a gift of a book that


Wunderland by Caitriona Lally.
I love when you get a gift of a book that you maybe would not have picked up yourself. Thank you to @hamsterfox, fellow book-nerd and very fast reader too.
I've heard of Caitriona Lally, of course. She's won some pretty big writing prizes and Wunderland is her 2nd novel.
I really really liked many things about this book.
I admired Caitriona's ability to tell a unique, often untold and not understood story of depression, mental lllness and suicide. Yes, it's a hard read but I read it quickly.
The story centres around a brother and sister. The brother has been effectively banished by his family to Hamburg and his sister stays with him for 6 days. Roy, the brother is a cleaner in a Wunderland museum, a museum of miniature lands and people. Gert, the sister is running away from her married life, her children and her husband who suffers from depression and has attempted suicide many times.
Gert and Roy rub off each other in bad ways. They annoy each other. At times they dislike each other.
Roy is also odd, different, strange. He is building his own miniature world in his bedroom which culminates in a wonderfully paced ending. And the ending is great. It dangles a small bit of hope yet it reminds us we can never run away from what's in our own heads. What's in the head needs to be dealt with first.
As I said I did really like this. Caitriona writes inner thoughts superbly. At times I thought the inner thoughts could have been pulled back a bit and I would have liked to see why Roy and Gert were so wounded. Their parents were quite normal. But maybe that's the point.
@newislandBooks

Posted on March 27, 2021May 22, 2022

A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion. I have always admired Una's short fiction so I


A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion.

I have always admired Una's short fiction so I was excited to get my hands on her debut novel.
It doesn't disappoint though it's a slow, slow start and it remains slow but by the time you get to end, you will enjoy that relaxed pace as it suits the story and the characters.

Libby is out for a drive at night with her siblings. Her mother is driving. We feel the tension but when Ellen, Libby's younger sister frustrates her frazzled mum, her mum basically dumps Ellen on the roadside and speeds off.
 
The story rocks on from this one awful decision and we learn about Libby and her connection with her father who has passed away.

This novel, set in an 80s rural Philadelphia, has all the feels of a  Goonies movie or an episode of Stranger Things. Una's writing never falters but I found the descriptions of nature and trees a little bit lengthy at times. It's clear she revels in writing about nature.

Overal, I found it to be a mesmerising read. Una's writing is carefully placed throughout and her plotting is excellent.

Posted on March 27, 2021February 16, 2023

A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion. I have always admired Una's short fiction so I


A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion.

I have always admired Una's short fiction so I was excited to get my hands on her debut novel.
It doesn't disappoint though it's a slow, slow start and it remains slow but by the time you get to end, you will enjoy that relaxed pace as it suits the story and the characters.

Libby is out for a drive at night with her siblings. Her mother is driving. We feel the tension but when Ellen, Libby's younger sister frustrates her frazzled mum, her mum basically dumps Ellen on the roadside and speeds off.
 
The story rocks on from this one awful decision and we learn about Libby and her connection with her father who has passed away.

This novel, set in an 80s rural Philadelphia, has all the feels of a  Goonies movie or an episode of Stranger Things. Una's writing never falters but I found the descriptions of nature and trees a little bit lengthy at times. It's clear she revels in writing about nature.

Overal, I found it to be a mesmerising read. Una's writing is carefully placed throughout and her plotting is excellent.

Posted on February 13, 2021February 13, 2021

The Art of Falling by Danielle Mc Laughlin-REVIEW I read a review of this novel


The Art of Falling by Danielle Mc Laughlin-REVIEW

I read a review of this novel last weekend. The reviewer shared a quote that says a reviewer should never review a book on what it should or could be but only on what it is.
I may have the quote slightly wrong but it does pay to keep this in mind when reviewing Danielle Mc Laughlin's debut novel. Danielle is a supreme and natural short story writer and I, and many people, were very excited about this novel.
It does not let down in many aspects. The plot is pacey. Plots should be pacey, shouldn't they? Lots of stuff happens to the characters in the novel and that's always a good thing. I find the floating around and discussion, thinking heavy type of novel less generous for me.
The ideas and the drama are interesting too.
It's set in Cork, the setting is described beautifully and I couldn't think of a better way to escape in a pandemic. All the settings in this novel are fresh and alive. Setting is done extremely well here.
It's tells the story of Nessa. Nessa is a strange fish. She comes across as cold and unthinking but plausibly so for the reader. Nessa is in a right mess. She's about to display a statue from a very famous artist in her art gallery and a woman from his past comes forward to claim it as her work.
Nessa also has a mixed up and naughty past as does her marriage.
I'll say no more about the plot!
I read this extremely quickly. That's a brilliant sign.
Though I said at the beginning that I should not compare this work with Danielle's short fiction working, I struggled not to but I am rewarded throughout with many, many fine instances of beautiful prose and the last chapter won it for me. The atmosphere and essence that is conveyed in these few pages alone are beautiful and I'm left happy and satisfied as a reader.

Posted on February 13, 2021February 16, 2023

The Art of Falling by Danielle Mc Laughlin-REVIEW I read a review of this novel


The Art of Falling by Danielle Mc Laughlin-REVIEW

I read a review of this novel last weekend. The reviewer shared a quote that says a reviewer should never review a book on what it should or could be but only on what it is.
I may have the quote slightly wrong but it does pay to keep this in mind when reviewing Danielle Mc Laughlin's debut novel. Danielle is a supreme and natural short story writer and I, and many people, were very excited about this novel.
It does not let down in many aspects. The plot is pacey. Plots should be pacey, shouldn't they? Lots of stuff happens to the characters in the novel and that's always a good thing. I find the floating around and discussion, thinking heavy type of novel less generous for me.
The ideas and the drama are interesting too.
It's set in Cork, the setting is described beautifully and I couldn't think of a better way to escape in a pandemic. All the settings in this novel are fresh and alive. Setting is done extremely well here.
It's tells the story of Nessa. Nessa is a strange fish. She comes across as cold and unthinking but plausibly so for the reader. Nessa is in a right mess. She's about to display a statue from a very famous artist in her art gallery and a woman from his past comes forward to claim it as her work.
Nessa also has a mixed up and naughty past as does her marriage.
I'll say no more about the plot!
I read this extremely quickly. That's a brilliant sign.
Though I said at the beginning that I should not compare this work with Danielle's short fiction working, I struggled not to but I am rewarded throughout with many, many fine instances of beautiful prose and the last chapter won it for me. The atmosphere and essence that is conveyed in these few pages alone are beautiful and I'm left happy and satisfied as a reader.

blog awards ireland

My Goodreads

Rozz's books

Tender
3 of 5 stars
Tender
by Belinda McKeon
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
4 of 5 stars
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
by Sara Baume
Foster
5 of 5 stars
Foster
by Claire Keegan
Superb, perfect short story telling from the genius of the form.
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
4 of 5 stars
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
by Wells Tower
hilarious and dark and funked up!
The Good House
1 of 5 stars
The Good House
by Ann Leary

goodreads.com

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Comments

  • Brian Condron on A little cloud by John Kelly, a short story from Dubliners 100
  • Deirdre on Current short story read is Nicole Flattery’s debut collection, Show
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My Goodreads

Rozz’s books

Tender
3 of 5 stars
Tender
by Belinda McKeon

Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
4 of 5 stars
Davy Byrnes Stories 2014
by Sara Baume

Foster
5 of 5 stars
Foster
by Claire Keegan
Superb, perfect short story telling from the genius of the form.

Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
4 of 5 stars
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
by Wells Tower
hilarious and dark and funked up!

The Good House
1 of 5 stars
The Good House
by Ann Leary




goodreads.com

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