Irish fiction Archives - Page 4 of 4

Cover image for Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume

Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume: Spring summer autumn winter

6 November 2015 / 17 Comments

The trouble with marketing is its constant use of superlatives – too much hype. We’re all over familiar with ‘dazzling debuts’, ‘stunning achievements’ and the like so that when a book comes along that is truly original, absolutely dazzling, those descriptions ring hollow. Sara Baume’s Spill Simmer Falter Wither comes into that category for me. […]

Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume: Spring summer autumn winter Read More »

Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann: A novella and three stories

21 October 2015 / 16 Comments

I’ve been a fan of Colum McCann’s novels since way back in the late ‘90s when I read This Side of Brightness. His fiction ranges far and wide – from Dancer’s Rudolf Nureyev to the Roma of Zoli – and his writing is often strikingly poetic. Unsurprisingly, then, I’ve been looking forward to his new

Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann: A novella and three stories Read More »

The Last Four Days of Paddy Buckley: A nice slice of Irish black comedy

11 September 2015 / 12 Comments

This one’s a little outside my usual literary purview. It’s a smart little black comedy all wrapped up in a thriller with a bit of a love story thrown in. The title puts you in the picture: Paddy Buckley is an undertaker who has landed himself in deep trouble with Dublin’s chief gangster and is

The Last Four Days of Paddy Buckley: A nice slice of Irish black comedy Read More »

Tender by Belinda McKeon: Enduring love

17 June 2015 / 13 Comments

There’s always a moment of worry when you’re about to plunge into a book you’ve been looking forward to for some time. I remember Belinda McKeon’s Solace being surrounded by a great deal of pre-publication buzz, lots of well-known names singing its praises one of whom was Colm Tóibin which made me pay more attention

Tender by Belinda McKeon: Enduring love Read More »

The Lives of Women by Christine Dwyer Hickey: An old, old story, and a sad one

29 April 2015 / 20 Comments

Christine Dwyer Hickey is the kind of author about whom there’s not a great deal of brouhaha – no fanfare of Twitter trumpets heralding her next novel or drip feed of showy publicity – which in some ways is a relief and in others a shame. I’m not sure how many readers are acquainted with

The Lives of Women by Christine Dwyer Hickey: An old, old story, and a sad one Read More »

Academy Street by Mary Costello: ‘A life fitting on one page’

7 November 2014 / 15 Comments

Irish – and Irish-American – writers seem to specialise in a particular style of pared-back, elegant prose from which shines out the occasional lyrical gem: William Trevor, John McGahern, Colm Tóibin, Sebastian Barry, Jennifer Johnston, Elizabeth Bowen, Deirdre Madden, Alice McDermott… I could go on. Mary Costello joins that (very long) list with her debut

Academy Street by Mary Costello: ‘A life fitting on one page’ Read More »

Black Lake by Johanna Lane: A sad story, quietly told

9 May 2014 / 15 Comments

I’ve a weakness for Irish writers many of whom seem to specialise in spare, almost terse yet elegant prose from which the occasional lyrical gem shines out. Colm Tóibín, John McGahern and William Trevor – whose The Story of Lucy Gault is one of the saddest books I’ve ever read – are amongst my favourite

Black Lake by Johanna Lane: A sad story, quietly told Read More »