The 10 Best Books set in Ireland, according to the @guardian. Explore Ireland’s history and culture through these tales of loss and love by Sally Rooney, Edna O’Brien, Colm Tóibín and more: https://t.co/U76j4X7rwz pic.twitter.com/af3SqHbKHP
— National Library of Ireland (@NLIreland) July 3, 2020
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Silent People by Walter Macken
The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien
The Broadsheet Book Of Unspecified Things That Look Like Ireland edited by Aidan Coughlan
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
The Green Road by Anne Enright
Eureka Street by Robert McLiam Wilson
The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan
Normal People by Sally Rooney
The Sea by John Banville
Fight!
10 of the best books set in Ireland – that will take you there (The Guardian)
Reuters
I know it’s not a definitive list and hard to pick 10 but I would be letting Patrick McCabe and Kevin Barry get a look in somewhere…
for sure- especially Kevin Barry
I’d also include Jamie ONeill’s At Swim Two Boys
a beautiful book
I’d go for Barry’s City of Bohane. That could make a good movie in the right hands.
+1 on The Ginger Man, The Butcher Boy and The Third Policeman.
Though not novels, for me Tim Robinson’s writings on Connemara explores and reveals the nature and sense of place better than anyone.
even better than robinson in that respect: john moriarty’s nostos
i think i recall hearing that kevin barry was writing the script for city of bohane
Thanks for the heads up on Nostos.
The City of Bohane pre-production has been knocking around for a while.
ah lads, you cant be jettisoning prepositions like that-
it’s 10 *of* the best books, not the 10 best books
relief, I was going to jump on with ten best sellers does not ten best books make
John McGahern should definitely feature! Some great books there though in fairness
+1
love John McGahern
That fupper beat my Dad black and blue when he was a primary school teacher. Chap was an absolute Sh1tebag
Definitely The Butcher Boy and John McGahern..an overlooked gem is A Goats Song by Dermot Healy
Glad to see Walter Macken there. I would add Cré na Cille by Mairtin O Cadhain. but that would be asking a bit much of the Guardian in fairness.
No room for Joyce? Dubliners?
Beckett- Murphy?
Flann O Brien- emmm.. ok… not really a great novelist
I have only read 2 of those – Angelas Ashes And The Silent People. I still remember the poem within that book:
We are the silent people
How long must we be still
To nurse in secret at our breast
An ancient culture?
That was a great trilogy, along with Seek the Fair Land and The Scorching Wind. One drawback is I know a few people who took them as historical fact, not fiction.
Rain on the Wind was my favourite. It covered the tragic Cleggan Disaster. He got the darkness of North Connemara spot on.
Pffft……No McGahern, Dunleavy or Joyce?
I have not read it myself, but two friends I trust the opinions on when it comes to books absolutely hated Normal People. What’s the general consensus
Didn’t really get the fuss, was very disjointed, looked like a series of short stories stitched together
My wife read it and was of the opinion “If this is the voice of a generation then they should just stay quiet”
ouch
sharp tongue on that oul one
Think of it like reading 5 hours of SOQ’s comments.
How would that make you feel?
I only got half way through tbh
and chucked it into the pellet burner
…your lack of manners is evident,but try have some class,do you really need pick on someone who’s not even on this tread to feel better about your inability to finish a book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijhL9Y7skQs
What about Peig?
Get thee behind me!
The Beal bocht strikes again
Ah here, The Sea
shur I’d do better meself
Didn’t like it either.
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams
I loved Star of the Sea. Sometimes a book just paints itself perfectly in your minds eye and that did so for me. It was also just a really good yarn.
Two excellent Irish books I read this year, the latter of which could appear on this list, Nightboat to Tangier, and Solar Bones.
Lists will never please everyone :-)
They’ve to be set in Ireland Harry. Agree with you on The Sea. Very enjoyable.
There’ll always be Big omissions from Small book lists.