Irish America
Irish America
Haven by Emma Donoghue It’s seventh-century Ireland. Clonmacnoise is a newish monastic settlement, with about thirty monks in residence, along with the families who work for them and an order of nuns. The monastery also offers temporary accommodation to guests who come to study or just to retreat from the world. One of these visitors, Artt, believes in harder fasting than is … [Read more...] about Fall 2022 Book Reviews
Quarantines are not without their benefits. During the early months of the pandemic, I was able to reduce my bedside leaning tower of books before it toppled over on my head. Two of the best deal with Northern Ireland. Together they are essential to understanding the conflict. Maurice Fitzpatrick’s John Hume in America: From Derry to DC tells the story of a man who, in the face … [Read more...] about Understanding Northern Ireland’s “Troubles”
Patrick Radden Keefe’s book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland was described as “a murder mystery political history,” when it was presented as a finalist for the 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award, which Keefe eventually won. “Shifting smoothly among scenes with explosive, thriller-like pacing and deeply engrossing psychological profiles,” … [Read more...] about A Conversation with Patrick Radden Keefe
Celebrating the Centenary Celebration of the Release of James Joyce Bloomsday is celebrated on June 16th each year, the day depicted in James Joyce's Ulysses. The day is named after the central character in Ulysses, Leopold Bloom, and follows the life and thoughts of Leopold Bloom and a host of other characters – real and fictional – from 8:00 am on 16 June 1904 through to … [Read more...] about Bloomsday 2022
Snowflake By Louise Nealon There’s been a huge buzz about Louise Nealon ever since word of her debut novel was announced, with many reviewers and critics calling her the next Sally Rooney. Maybe they should all leave the Mayo writer to be the current and next Sally Rooney, however, and come up with different descriptors for almost every other Irish female writer under 30. … [Read more...] about Summer Reading
