Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 429
New Irish Fiction
The Gift by Cecelia Ahern
Hardback; Publishers Recommended Price: 20 Euro. Read Ireland Special Price: 16 Euro / 22 USD / 11 UK
Step into the magical world of Cecelia Ahern If you could wish for one gift this Christmas, what would it be? Everyday Lou Suffern battled with the clock. He always had two places to be at the same time. He always had two things to do at once. When asleep he dreamed. In between dreams, he ran through the events of the day while making plans for the next. When at home with his wife and family, his mind was always someplace else. On his way into work one early winter morning, Lou meets Gabe, a homeless man sitting outside the office building. Intrigued by him and on discovering that he could also be very useful to have around, Lou gets Gabe a job in the post room. But soon Lou begins to regret helping Gabe. His very presence unsettles Lou and how does Gabe appear to be in two places at the same time? As Christmas draws closer, Lou starts to understand the value of time. He sees what is truly important in life yet at the same time he learns the harshest lesson of all. This is a story about people who not unlike parcels, hide secrets.They cover themselves in layers until the right person unwraps them and discovers what's inside.Sometimes you have to be unravelled in order to find out who you really are. For Lou Suffern, that took time.
Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
Hardback; Publishers Recommended Price: 28 Euro. Read Ireland Special Sale Price: 20 Euro / 28 USD / 15 UK; 452 pages [Add To Basket]
A brand new novel from No.1 bestselling author Maeve Binchy - Clara Casey has more than enough on her plate. Her daughters Adi and Linda were no problem at all during the usually turbulent teens. Now in their twenties, Adi is always fighting for or against something: the environment or the whale or battery farming; while Linda lurches from one unsatisfactory relationship to the next. As if this wasn't enough, Clara, a senior cardiac specialist, has a new job to cope with...For Anya, meeting Clara Casey is a miracle: she had never intended to leave her beloved Poland, but after the love of her life has turned sour, her world seems rather empty. Perhaps a new job in a new country will mend her broken heart? Declan is looking forward to joining the clinic - but the six-month posting brings him much more than he expected. Then there's Father Brian Flynn, who finds his doubts about his calling are assuaged by work in his new parish. But when an acquaintance turns into a nightmare he needs help to rescue his reputation...
Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden
Trade Paperback with Endflaps; 15 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK; 222 pages
Dublin, Midsummer: While absent in New York, the celebrated actor Molly Fox has loaned her house to a playwright friend, who is struggling to write a new work. Over the course of this, the longest day of the year, the playwright reflects upon her own life, Molly's, and that of their mutual friend Andrew, whom she has known since university. Why does Molly never celebrate her own birthday, which falls upon this day? What does it mean to be a playwright or an actor? How have their relationships evolved over the course of many years? Molly Fox's Birthday calls into question the ideas that we hold about who we are; and shows how the past informs the present in ways we might never have imagined.
Country of the Grand by Gerard Donovan
Paperback with Endflaps; 12 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 230 pages [Add To Basket]
A young man driving across Ireland with his wife asks her how long she would wait before being with another man if he died. A man is trapped, hidden, in a small changing room by the sea on Galway Bay, as he listens to his friends discuss his wife's infidelity. An anguished young boy and his widowed mother struggle to reconstruct their lost father and husband in their own respective ways. The stories in "Country of the Grand" magnify a New Ireland as it copes with the rewards and pressures of its fresh success: immigration, mid-life crisis, adultery and divorce, a lost sense of place and history, and of course, what to do with all that prosperity.
The Idea of Love by Louise Dean
Large Format Trade Paperback; 13 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 274 pages
When foreign families converge on Provence for a better life, it seems as if sunshine, drinking and partying will create an idyllic little community of like-minded sorts. But compelled to venture far from this Eden to Africa, two of the couples lives are changed irrevocably when each begins to doubt themselves, who they are and why they're there. For Richard, life unravels alarmingly quickly when he loses his marriage, his home, and his job in pharmaceutical sales and finally maybe even his mind; for his wife Valerie and for their friends Jeff and Rachel it's the pursuit of the idea of love that salvages what they hold dear and only love itself that grants any enlightenment. But for the children in the story, the awkward unsettling Maxence and angelic little Maud, The Idea of Love is much simpler.
The Silence of the Glasshouse by Martin Malone
Trade Paperback; 12 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 252 pages [Add To Basket]
Ireland 1922. A deeply divided country is coming to terms with the fall out of the Civil War and the creation of the Irish Free State. Using this backdrop, Martin Malone's powerful novel tells the story of the Civil War and the execution of seven IRA men for illegal possession of arms. At the same time, four Kerry volunteers sentenced to death for identical offences are pardoned after undertaking to make their peace with the new government. The prisoners' last six days unfolds through the eyes of one of the condemned men, Stephen 'Chalky' White as he awaits his execution, while his mother, at her home in Kildare patiently waits for news of her son's fate. The prison chaplain, Father Pat Donnelly, and the psychotic Captain Art Murray add to the conflicting perspectives that make this novel so authentic. This is a novel that brings to life the impact that the Civil War had on the Irish people, their small communities scarred for decades.
The Likeness by Tana French
Large Format Trade Paperback; 15 Euro / 22 USD / 11 UK; 554 pages [Add To Basket]
Detective Cassie Maddox is still trying to deal with the events of In the Woods. She is out of the Murder Squad and has started a relationship with fellow detective Sam ONeill but is too badly shaken to commit to Sam or to her career. Then Sam is allocated a new case, that of a young woman stabbed to death just outside Dublin. He calls Cassie to the murder scene and she finds the victim is strangely familiar. In fact, she is Cassies double. Not only that, but her ID says she is Lexie Madison the identity Cassie used, years ago, as an undercover detective. With no leads, no suspects and no clues, Cassies old undercover boss spots the opportunity of a lifetime: to send Cassie undercover in the dead girls place. She could pick up information the police would never hear and tempt the killer to finish the job. So Cassie moves into Whitethorn House, poses as a post-grad student, and prepares to enter Lexies world
Find the Lady by Tom Mac Intyre
Trade Paperback; 15 Euro / 22 USD / 11 UK; 170 pages [Add To Basket]
"Find the Lady" is a the latest collection of short stories by acclaimed writer Tom MacIntyre. Written as a series of 'dreamscapes', many of them are influenced by the writer's vivid dreams and imaginative life, as well as the great mythologies of the classical and Celtic traditions. MacIntyre imagines himself in scenes with great figures of myth and literature in a way that reflects on how writers use myth and history, and the relationship of the general and particular, while his unique talent with language brings each tale alive.
The Bright Side by Alex Coleman
Large Format Paperback; 15 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK; 340 pages [Add To Basket]
All is not well in Jackie's world. Her relationship with her son has deteriorated badly and her relationship with her daughter seems to be going the same way. She's lost her parents to a drunk driver and in the aftermath of that blow has become estranged from her only sibling. Then, one day, Jackie comes home early from work and catches her husband Gerry with their next-door neighbour. Horrified, she packs a bag and flees the house with no clear idea where she's going. And then she has a thought. This crisis is going to win her a lot of sympathy. Maybe it's just the thing she needs to kick-start her fractured relationships? Although she feels guilty about making such cynical use of her predicament, Jackie is initially delighted with the results. But it doesn't last. Before long, she's forced to confront the real reasons why her relationships have been failing and to deal with some unfinished business from her past...
Saving Grace by Ciara Geraghty
Large Format Paperback; 15 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK; 450 pages [Add To Basket]
When Grace O'Brien wakes up with more than just a hangover, she has reason to worry. She's in bed with Bernard O'Malley, newest addition to IT. He's not going to be easy to explain to Shane, gorgeous boyfriend of nearly two years. Shane may be distracted with his high-flying city job but he was there when it mattered. Like that night in Spain, when tragedy struck and her brother Patrick died. So Grace is determined to put all guilty thoughts of Bernard O'Malley out of her head. With her sister's upcoming nuptials, strange goings-on at work, and a loved-up flatmate, she has enough to keep her busy. Then things get a little more complicated when she meets her flatmate's new man ! Tensions mount as her sister's wedding day nears and Grace is finally forced to face up to things. Starting with Patrick's death -- and how her mother still blames her for what happened. Saving Grace is a sharply observed, touching and hilariously funny story with an unforgettable heroine who will stay with you long after you've finished reading.
Someone Special by Sheila O’Flanagan
Large Format Trade Paperback; 15 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK; 440 pages [Add To Basket]
A delicious new novel about families, friends and finding love from the ever-popular, bestselling Sheila O'Flanagan. Romy Kilkenny loves her life in Australia. She has her dream job, lots of mates, and a best friend in Keith, who understands her better than anyone. Best of all, she couldn't be further from her family. But when her brother rings to say she's needed back in Ireland right away, Romy's world is turned upside down. Flying home to see her mother and her half-siblings, Romy doubts she'll fit in better now than she ever did, and she's still not ready to forgive her mother for her truly disgraceful behaviour a few years earlier. Romy also worries that the accidental half-kiss with Keith at the airport may have brought their easy friendship to a sudden end. Whatever lies ahead, it's not what Romy's expecting. Even the people we grow up with can surprise us, and if love is to be found, it will find a way.
Between the Sheets by Colette Caddle
Large Format Trade Paperback; 13 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 481 pages [Add To Basket]
Dana De Lacey, bestselling romance novelist, has the world at her feet. The words on the page flow easily; an exciting new book deal beckons, and life at home in Dublin is good. But Dana's self-confidence and success depend on one person: her gorgeous husband, Gus. Without him, she has no fall-back. No children, no close family of her own to call upon. When Gus leaves her, she is devastated. The words fail to come. The alcohol flows too freely. She cannot sleep. Then her estranged brother, Ed, arrives to take care of her out of the blue, and memories which she has buried for many years begin to surface: startling recollections of a childhood and a little girl long-forgotten, which inspire Dana at last to write from the heart. Which Dana was it that Gus walked out on -- the glamorous party girl, whose romantic novels always have a happy ending? Or someone with a different name, whose life tells a very different story? Forced to face up to the past, can she find the real Dana, recover her career, and try to make Gus love her for the person she really is?
Loves Lies Bleeding by Kate Thompson
Paperback; 10 Euro / 15 USD / 7 UK; 520 pages [Add To Basket]
Love Lies Bleeding sees the return of Deirdre O'Dare, the actress protagonist of It Means Mischief and More Mischief. Allow yourself to be wooed and won over by a classy cast of characters who will waltz you from the glitzy spin of Los Angeles, via the Celtic mist of Ireland, to the laidback Languedoc region of France. Described by Marian Keyes as her best novel yet, this is sure to be one of the hottest summer reads of 2008!
Notions by Colin Fox
Paperback; 10 Euro / 15 USD / 7 UK; 176 pages [Add To Basket]
Notions is a collection of stories that covers everything from how we deal with extraordinary circumstances in our everyday lives through to how we cope with impossible situations. This book offers something for everyone whether you're a fan of human drama or someone with a sense of wonder.
Where the Heart Is by Mairead O’Driscoll
Paperback; 9 Euro / 14 USD / 6.50 UK; 535 pages [Add To Basket]
It's true the grass is greener on the other side ... Jennie Kelleher has it all a fantastic home, two beautiful children and the rich and handsome Vincent on her arm. But even Paradise had its serpent ... and now there's one gnawing away at Jennie's peace of mind. Emily Gordon's future is shattered when her wonderful life in Dublin comes to a grinding halt. Back home, she finds that most of her old school friends are now way out of her league. Maybe buying her own home will get her back on track? But when Sandra Coyne looks at Jennie and Emily, she feels like a walking disaster. A single mother in a council house, her personal debt like that of a small nation, a boyfriend more attached to the local pub than to her Sandra need a miracle. Everybody needs a hero sometime and luckily there's one at hand ...
Na Comharsana Nua by Eamonn O Loingsigh
Paperback; 8 Euro / 12 USD / 6 UK; 120 pages [Add To Basket]
Liam and Siobhan O Maoilmhin are the central characters in this novel, a young couple who have just moved back to their home town of Galway after spending several years working in America. Delighted to be home, they settle into their new lives in the suburbs relatively easily and all seems to be going well until their new neighbours, Learai and Deborah O Duill, move in. Initially, it seems that the couples will become friends and they spend lots of time together, going out for drinks and meals. Slowly but surely, however, Liam and Siobhan begin to have doubts about their affluent new neighbours. How have they become so wealthy? Who are all the mysterious visitors coming to their house every day? What is behind the string of accidents, threats and problems that the O Maoilmhins have experienced since their new neighbours moved in?This light and funny novel is written in fairly simple Irish and includes a glossary of difficult words at the back. Na Comharsana Nua was awarded first prize in the Oireachtas Literary Competition for reading material for learners in 2007. The book is in Irish.
Hitler and Mars Bars by Dianne Ascroft
Trade Paperback; 18 Euro / 24 USD / 12 UK; 336 pages [Add To Basket]
Erich's first home is Goldschmidthaus, a Children's Home near Essen. He lives for visits with his beloved mother and longs for the day he will live with her. He is distraught when, after a heavy bombing raid, her visits abruptly cease. After the war he finds himself, with hundreds of other German children, transported across Europe to escape the appalling conditions in their homeland. Operation Shamrock brings Erich and his brother, Hans, to a new life in Ireland but with different families. During the next few years Erich experiences the best and worst of Irish life. Living in a string of foster homes, he finds love and acceptance in some and indifference and brutality in others. At Daddy Davy's he finds a loving home and is re-united with his brother. But his brief taste of happiness is dashed by circumstances he cannot control. This is the story of a German boy growing up alone in Ireland. He dreams of finding his mother. He yearns for a family who will love and keep him forever. He learns his brother is his ally not his rival. Plucky and resilient he surmounts the challenges his ever changing world presents. Set in Germany's industrialised Ruhr area during the Second World War and post-war rural Ireland this book evokes a little known episode in German and Irish history. It is the moving tale of a German child caught in war's vicelike grip and flung into a new land to grow and forge a new life.
The Queen’s Tale: The Struggle for the Survival of Ireland: A 14th Century Novel by DJ Birmingham
Large Format Trade Paperback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 14 UK; 368 pages [Add To Basket]
An Irish monk scribes the tale of an ancient Irish Queen whose tormented soul is imprisoned in a second century Gaelic brooch, The Golden Harp. The demonic destruction spread by the evil queen's spirit will lead to the death of one of every three individuals in Ireland in the early 14th Century. The Queen's Tale chronicles the journey of the brooch as it travels from Ireland into England, then to Scotland, and back again into Ireland, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Two individuals vie for the right to possess the brooch believing it to be a sacred relic of St. Patrick's that will protect the one who wears it from all danger. John de Bermingham, the second son of an Irish baron, is first to wear the brooch. He is obsessed with winning an earldom and becoming the English king's justiciar of Ireland. Despite being betrothed to one of the earl of Ulster's daughters, he rescues and falls in love with an Irish princess, deemed unsuitable. Three times he will regain possession of the brooch. Only a sacred rosary given to him by a mysterious Italian Franciscan friar protects his life. Unknown to John, he can defeat the ancient evil in the brooch if he is able to pass four preordained tests in his journey of life. The first is a test of devotion, where he bestows the brooch to an unattainable love. The second is a test of obedience, where he must give up the brooch to a weak king. For the third test he must decline to become a king. In the fourth and final test, he of Anglo-Norman heritage must become more Irish than the native Irish, and unselfishly give up his life for the undeserving king. The second to control possession of the brooch is Edward II, King of England. He is weak and easily manipulated by false friends, seeking only wealth and power. He would rather thatch and dig ditches than be king. Married to Isabella of France, he prefers the couch of his male lovers to her. He gives the brooch to three of his favorites, who die violently. He leads England into civil war and the loss of Scotland. Only after being imprisoned, by his queen and her lover, and forced to abdicate, does he grasp and repent his folly. After defeating the English at the battle of Bannockburn, the Scottish King, Edward the Bruce, gives permission to his younger brother, Edward, to invade and conquer Ireland. Edward Bruce leads his army of seasoned Scots into Ireland wearing the Golden Harp Brooch. He had taken it from the slain body of Edward II's favorite nephew at Bannockburn. After three years of Bruce's terror and defeat of defending armies, John de Bermingham steps forward to lead the Anglo-Norman militias of Ireland into the final battle against the never defeated Bruce, whom the native Irish had crowned "High King of all Ireland". The historical novel is based on actual historical events and individuals Only the motivations and inner feelings of the main characters are based on the author's imagination. Of the twenty-four characters in the novel, only four are fictional.
The Deportees by Roddy Doyle
Paperback; 9 Euro / 14 USD / 6.50 UK; 2230 pages [Add To Basket]
For the past few years Roddy Doyle has been writing stories for "Metro Eireann", a newspaper started by, and aimed at, immigrants to Ireland. Each of the stories took a new slant on the immigrant experience, something of increasing relevance and importance in today's Ireland. The stories range from 'Guess Who's Coming to the Dinner', where a father who prides himself on his open-mindedness when his daughters talk about sex, is forced to confront his feelings when one of them brings home a black fella, to a terrifying ghost story, 'The Pram', in which a Polish nanny grows impatient with her charge's older sisters and decides - in a phrase she has learnt - to 'scare them shitless'.Most of the stories are very funny - in '57 percent Irish' Ray Brady tries to devise a test of Irishness by measuring reactions to Robbie Keane's goal against Germany in the 2002 World Cup, Riverdance and 'Danny Boy' - others deeply moving. And best of all, in the title story itself, Jimmy Rabbitte, the man who formed The Commitments, decides it's time to find a new band, and this time no White Irish need apply.
Please note: Prices were correct at time of original posting but are subject to subsequent change without notice.
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