The Guardian’s BookBlog’s World Literature Tour is making a pit-stop in Ireland. There’s already a healthy selection of authors and tomes, past and present, mentioned in the comments zone but feel free to toddle over there and add some of your own suggestions.
It is difficult to believe now that one country recently sent 19 delegations to Ireland to study how well our economy was managed. The revelation that our model of economic management featured positively in political and economic discussion in countries including Estonia, Greece and Scotland may also come as a surprise. As we survey the [...] read our review »
What was life like for children of political activists during the Troubles? A new book by Bill Rolston and published by Guildhall Press during the summer has collected together the stories of twenty Children of the Revolution whose parents’ activities – and in many cases, imprisonment – had a significant affect on childhoods and life [...] read our review »
Eugene McCabe – unsung literary hero of the border counties who brought to life the beauty and the horror of our own line in the sand.
This is going to cost me a fortune Pete!
Must order William Trevor’s The Story of Lucy Gault.
What I like about Ulysses is that I can pick up my well worn copy, open it at random and read for a half hour or so, letting my imagination soar.
Add to that the fact that my wife likes me to read out loud to her.
Life can be very good.
Just finished reading Puckoon by Spike Milligan. A good send up of society in the border region around the time of partition. Gets away from itself towards the end but definately worth a look. Reminded me of an Irish Catch 22.
On the subject of books has anyone read Bogmail by the pretty unknown Donegal author Patrick McGinley? As fine an example of Irish dark humour as ever I’ve seen. If you ever see it be sure an pick it up (second hand shops are your best bet, I’ve yet to see it in a ‘proper’ bookstore). Its about a publican murdering his bartender and hiding the body in the bog (don’t worry, they’re not spoilers, its mentioned in the blurb).
I second Eugene McCabe. Tales from the Poorhouse is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read.
joeCanuck,
I agree about Ulysses. I am about a quater of my way thhrough it for the first time. I find it OK to read but I fear it is because I am too thick to find it difficult. When I bought it the shop assistant looked very impressed, he clearly (misakenly) thought I was an intelluctual. maybe if I cart it around for months folk will think I am really clever and cultured.
I vote for Amanda McKittrick Ros, a Down native and proably the single worst novelist that has ever lived… ever. Her novels reach such heights of awfulness that they possess an amazing power, they are like the perfect storm of crappiness. Everyone who I have ever met who has read one of her books considers it one of most memorable literary experiences of their lives…
Magical.
Unfortunately her novles are all out of print now (I had to pay a tidy sum to get my hands on a copy of Delina Delaney, her opus). I think there are still some copies floating around public libraries though…
A milestone in Irish literature.
“Amanda McKittrick Ros, a Down native and proably the single worst novelist that has ever lived… ever.”
What, worse than Cecelia Ahern? :0)