The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine
Wendy Erskine’s frenetic enthralling debut is a sharp, moving and thought provoking novel on real lives in the North of Ireland. It tackles gender and class inequality, what parents will do to protect their children, and is both dark and bloody funny.
Quickly, While They Still Have Horses by Jan Carson
This collection of 16 short stories are sometimes dark, quirky, moving, occasionally absurd, and always inventive and readable. A fine book from one of my favourite modern Irish writers.
Book Review - Factory Girls - Michelle Gallen
Michelle Gallen’s ‘Factory Girls’ is a scabrously funny and accurate story of a teenagers summer spent working in a factory in the north of Ireland in the mid nineties. If you’re missing ‘Derry girls’ you’ll love this.
Book Review - Trespasses - Louise Kennedy
Powerful, evocative and incredibly readable story of a love affair told against the backdrop of Ireland’s troubles.
Book Review - Boys Don’t Cry - Fíona Scarlett
Gritty and emotional tale of two brothers living in flats complex in Dublin. After Finn falls ill, gifted student Joe finds his world falling apart.
Book Review - The Raptures - Jan Carson
Jan Carson’s book is about a mysterious illness affecting a group of school children in the North of Ireland in the nineties. Sometimes dark, sometimes hilarious, it’s an incredibly readable book that looks at belief, family, community and trauma.
Book review - The Nothing Man - Catherine Ryan Howard
Superior Irish thriller about a survivor who decides after 18 years that she wants to hunt for the serial killer who murdered her family.
Snowflake - Louise Nealon - Book Review
An accomplished debut by young Irish writer, Louise Nealon, about 18 year old Debbie growing up in rural Ireland before moving to Dublin, about family, mental health and relationships.
Book Review - Beautiful World, Where are you - Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney’s third novel focuses on the friendships and loves of four people finding their way in the modern world.
