Recently published books by Irish and Irish-American authors. ℘℘℘ In the Galway Silence by Ken Bruen The Galway Tourist Office must just brace itself every time there’s a new book out by Ken Bruen. For every delight that Galway is known for, Bruen has the down-at-heel, dark-side alternative version. Quirky shops? Dead swans. Lovely pubs? Out-and-out alcoholism. Friendly … [Read more...] about Review of Books
Books
Book Notes
Anna Burns Wins Man Booker Prize Novelist Anna Burns won the 2018 Man Booker Prize for her third book, Milkman. Burns is the first writer from Northern Ireland to ever win the award, and the first woman since 2013 to do so. The experimental novel takes place in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, the armed conflict in the region in the late 20th century. It is narrated by an … [Read more...] about Book Notes
Mary Todd, Abraham Lincoln, and their Irish Maids
An excerpt from Lincoln and the Irish: The Untold Story of How the Irish Helped Abraham Lincoln Save the Union, by Irish America publisher, Niall O’Dowd. Mary Todd Lincoln was of solid Irish stock. Mary's paternal great-grandfather, David Levi Todd, was born in County Longford, Ireland, and came to America, via Pennsylvania, to Kentucky. Another great-grandfather, Andrew … [Read more...] about Mary Todd, Abraham Lincoln, and their Irish Maids
How to Conquer Cravings
A new book by folk singer and author Judy Collins reveals all about her battle with food. ℘℘℘ Leonard Cohen is dead. Joni Mitchell is ailing. Judy Collins stands out in the crowd of ’60s folk artists as blooming. I recently caught her concert at the Metropolitan Museum – her skin glows, she wears high-heeled boots, she plays guitar and piano (and makes you realize what a … [Read more...] about How to Conquer Cravings
Taunting Death with Malachy McCourt
There is something fitting about where Malachy McCourt is calling from as I speak to him about his dark and hilarious new book Death Need Not Be Fatal. McCourt is at a Manhattan rehabilitation facility, where he will spend the next few weeks recovering from a “severe attack” of gout. “I’m doing pretty good now,” he says, sounding lively and cheerful enough given what he’s … [Read more...] about Taunting Death with Malachy McCourt