Skip to content
Rozz.ie
Rozz.ie

Rozz.ie

Me. Writing. Stuff.

  • Home
  • About me
  • Short story collections that I LOVE
  • Creative Writing Prompts/Ideas

Tag: irishWriters

Posted on March 27, 2021March 27, 2021

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.

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

Recent 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
  • Dee on If reading doesn’t affect our lives, doesn’t change us or
  • admin on Can we trust new writing? Is it any good? Reading
  • Deirdre Carroll on Can we trust new writing? Is it any good? Reading

Categories

Awards

blog awards ireland blog awards ireland

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
  • Dee on If reading doesn’t affect our lives, doesn’t change us or
  • admin on Can we trust new writing? Is it any good? Reading
  • Deirdre Carroll on Can we trust new writing? Is it any good? Reading

Categories

  • baby books
  • Bantry
  • bookshops
  • borris
  • carlow county council
  • Carlowartsfestival
  • Chekov
  • CISS Festival
  • competitions
  • courses
  • creative writing exercises
  • drama
  • dubliners
  • Edna O' Brien
  • emotional intelligence
  • events
  • Featured
  • flannery o connor
  • flash
  • food
  • Guest articles
  • heading out?
  • historical fiction
  • In the papers
  • interviews
  • jamie o connell
  • kevin barry
  • Listowel
  • magazines/journals
  • Mel Ulm
  • novels
  • penfest
  • podcasts
  • Poetry
  • radio
  • reading
  • reviews
  • Short stories
  • sixteenmag
  • social media
  • Submissions
  • teaching
  • theatre
  • travel
  • tv
  • Uncategorized
  • visual
  • vlog
  • writing

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

Proudly powered by WordPress