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"Definitive" Irish Books To Read

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    #62
    bullpost
    Registered Users Posts: 4,230 ✭✭✭bullpost


    This side of Brightness by Colum McCann
    The Lamp and the Lullaby by Bill Long
    In my Fathers House by Sean Dunne


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    #63
    chasmcb
    Registered Users Posts: 278 ✭✭chasmcb


    Given the year that's in it, have to give a mention to James Plunkett's 'Strumpet City'


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    #64
    The Princess Bride
    Registered Users Posts: 18,599 ✭✭✭✭The Princess Bride


    Would recommend Alan McMonagle's Liar Liar and Psychotic Episodes- both are a collection of short stories, some funny, some sad and moving-all enjoyable and because they are based in Ireland, you can almost imagine yourself being there.


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    #65
    Harry Angstrom
    Registered Users Posts: 19,351 ✭✭✭✭Harry Angstrom


    The Dork of Cork by Chet Raymo.


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    #66
    pugwall
    Registered Users Posts: 464 ✭✭pugwall


    No one mentioned Colm Toibin, I would recommend any of his novels


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    #67
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,931 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    pugwall wrote: »
    No one mentioned Colm Toibin, I would recommend any of his novels

    I've read Brooklyn and The Blackwater Lightship, wasn't that impressed.


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    #68
    emeraldstar
    Registered Users Posts: 5,383 ✭✭✭emeraldstar


    TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »
    I've read Brooklyn and The Blackwater Lightship, wasn't that impressed.
    I really struggled with Brooklyn. Very dull and with the most irritating narrator.


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    #69
    CeannRua
    Closed Accounts Posts: 470 ✭✭CeannRua


    Claire Keegan? I really liked Walk the Blue Fields and Foster.


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    #70
    Sebastian Dangerfield
    Registered Users Posts: 1,812 ✭✭✭Sebastian Dangerfield


    The Ginger Man by JP Donleavy is one of the few books to make me laugh out loud - a great read


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    #71
    sophya
    Registered Users Posts: 204 ✭✭sophya


    I have to say that At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O'Neill is, in my opinion, a gorgeous book and is on my top 10 list. Certain passages of it still pop into my head randomly.


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    #72
    Mardy Bum
    Registered Users Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭Mardy Bum


    Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth.


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    #73
    Harry Angstrom
    Registered Users Posts: 19,351 ✭✭✭✭Harry Angstrom


    TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »
    I've read Brooklyn and The Blackwater Lightship, wasn't that impressed.

    I second that. I can't understand the sycophancy shown towards Colm Toibin in the Irish media.


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    #74
    Mr.Nice Guy
    Registered Users Posts: 45,558 ✭✭✭✭Mr.Nice Guy


    I'd recommend The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen. It was written in 1929 and describes the life of an Anglo-Irish family in Cork during the War of Independence.

    Bowen herself came from an Anglo-Irish background, and her life had similarities to the female protagonist, so it has an authentic feel to it.

    Apparently there was a film version made in 1999 which featured among others Maggie Smith, Keeley Hawes and David Tennant, but I haven't seen that.


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    #75
    Harry Angstrom
    Registered Users Posts: 19,351 ✭✭✭✭Harry Angstrom


    Lies of Silence by Brian Moore was a great read. I recently discovered it's on the Leaving Cert syllabus. If only they had that in my day. We had to put up with Silas feckin Marner.


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    #76
    Up The Bare Stairs
    Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭Up The Bare Stairs


    Harry Angstrom wrote: »
    Lies of Silence by Brian Moore was a great read. I recently discovered it's on the Leaving Cert syllabus. If only they had that in my day. We had to put up with Silas feckin Marner.

    +1. His debut novel, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, is a good read also. One that springs to mind for me is William Trevor's Felicia's Journey.


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    #77
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,931 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    I finally got started on this by reading Amongst Women by John McGahern. I can't say I was terribly impressed.


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    #78
    Harry Angstrom
    Registered Users Posts: 19,351 ✭✭✭✭Harry Angstrom


    TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »
    I finally got started on this by reading Amongst Women by John McGahern. I can't say I was terribly impressed.

    The TV adaptation wasn't much better.


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    #79
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,931 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Harry Angstrom wrote: »
    The TV adaptation wasn't much better.

    I can imagine. Hours of an old man ranting and raving.


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    #80
    emeraldstar
    Registered Users Posts: 5,383 ✭✭✭emeraldstar


    Harry Angstrom wrote: »
    The TV adaptation wasn't much better.
    God, it was so grim.


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    #81
    echo beach
    Registered Users Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭echo beach


    TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »
    I finally got started on this by reading Amongst Women by John McGahern. I can't say I was terribly impressed.
    I was, but then tastes differ. I also loved That They May Face the Rising Sun but somebody else told me it was the most boring book they ever read because 'nothing happens'.


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    #82
    Mardy Bum
    Registered Users Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭Mardy Bum


    echo beach wrote: »
    I was, but then tastes differ. I also loved That They May Face the Rising Sun but somebody else told me it was the most boring book they ever read because 'nothing happens'.

    I think people from rural Ireland will find McGahern's style and themes much more interesting than those from the more urban areas.


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    #83
    Swiper the fox
    Registered Users Posts: 6,746 ✭✭✭Swiper the fox


    I've lived in the city all my life and I really liked That they may face the rising sun. It's quite boring of course because not a lot happens but the prose is outstanding and the characters/themes etc are very believable. In saying that I was never terribly encouraqed to read more of McGaherns stuff after it, it's like doing an enjoyable penance.


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    #84
    ivytwine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,114 ✭✭✭ivytwine


    Just finished my first John Banville, Ancient Light. The writing- oh, just beautiful. Very good book, will be reading more of his.

    The Secret Scripture was mentioned a few pages back, excellent book.

    Another recent Irish novel I loved was The Gamal by Ciaran Collins. It really captured rural Ireland wonderfully, poignant and beautiful read.


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    #85
    Harry Angstrom
    Registered Users Posts: 19,351 ✭✭✭✭Harry Angstrom


    ivytwine wrote: »
    Just finished my first John Banville, Ancient Light. The writing- oh, just beautiful. Very good book, will be reading more of his.

    The Sea is well worth reading.


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    #86
    johnthemull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 202 ✭✭johnthemull


    Harry Angstrom wrote: »
    The Sea is well worth reading.

    Reading the sea at the moment and already thinking about reading it again...which I hardly ever do
    There is such a poignant quality to the book it makes you want to hug it!


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    #87
    johnROSS
    Registered Users Posts: 209 ✭✭johnROSS


    I was pleasantly surprised by John B Keane's short stories. I went into it expecting the sort of romanticised portrayal of rural Ireland that gets on my nerves, but I really enjoyed them. God that man had a dark sense of humour.


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    #88
    ivytwine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,114 ✭✭✭ivytwine


    johnROSS wrote: »
    I was pleasantly surprised by John B Keane's short stories. I went into it expecting the sort of romanticised portrayal of rural Ireland that gets on my nerves, but I really enjoyed them. God that man had a dark sense of humour.

    Oh definitely. Very evident in his plays too, especially Sharon's Grave and Sive.


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