Irish reading

stannseniors · Veteran Member

Irish reading

Michele Erdvig · Host

stannseniors,

Just off the top of my head try An Excess of Love & So Many Partings by Cathy Cash Spellman: http://cathycashspellman.net/

Nora Roberts has written a few trilogies set in Ireland that were very entertaining: http://www.noraroberts.com/

Morgan Llewellyn lives in Ireland and has written many historical novels about Ireland.

I can spot a fiction book a mile away where the author has never visited Ireland. One of my favorite's was the hero going out and picking a bunch of gorse (furze), bringing it to the heroine, who then buried her face in the blossoms. Ouch! What about the thorns? That one was laugh-out-loud funny.

Anyone else care to add to the list?

Michele

Dude · Guru

There's Maeve Binchy, who has the great local colour.

mcval · Veteran Member

I do like Niall Williams and Christine Breen. He grew up in Dublin, she in New York. They met at college in Dublin, married and moved to Manhattan. A few years later moved to County Clare where she had inherited a thatched cottage. Their books that they wrote together chronical their lives year by year in Ireland. How they cut peat, raised their animals, farmed, met neighbors, etc. I read this just before going in June and loved it! It made me feel very much a part of the country. We almost stopped in their town to have them autograph it.

The books name is "O Come Ye Back To Ireland" and the sequel is "The Pipes are Calling".

Niall also writes historical fiction of Ireland and it's wonderful up to a certain extent. For some reason, the men waste away, quit their jobs, pine away when they're in a one-sided love. I've never seen a man do this, or even heard of it. If it's true of Ireland men, WOW! Then the books are VERY romantic. They were very touching and made me cry at times, (during the more believable parts).

stannseniors · Veteran Member

Okay, the more i read - this book has an R rating!!! Yikes - but if you ignore all that - the book on tape brings you back there with the descriptions and her Irish accent.....love that about it!

Just wanted to warn you about the language and sex.....

-- Edited by stannseniors at 12:36, 2005-09-19

youngka · Guru

I am a little late in reading this, but if you haven't read Nora Roberts Triology based on Ireland, do read it. Made me want to go right over and find the little cottage and the Irish bar!! Eventho I knew it would never exist.

Think I will try some that were mentioned on your site. Thanks. Love to read about other countries when the author has done his/her research......

Youngka

susan · Senior Member

youngka
Have you every read Nora's trip reports to Ireland?They are a good read.
http://adwoff.com/nora-travelogues/
Susan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Youngka,

The Robert's books were good. I just finished Quentins by Maeve Binchy and enjoyed it. If you want a very funny book get McCarthy's Bar.

Michele

Irisheyesrdreaming · Veteran Member

I just finished reading a novel that emphasized actual historical events in Ireland. It was called "The Princes of Ireland". I found it fascinating how the author described things that really happened. Unfortunately, I cannot remember his name, but I'm sure I read on the cover that it was on New York Times bestseller list.

oopsy · Senior Member

Irisheyes,

The author is Edward Rutherford. The sequel is Rebels of Ireland. I really enjoyed both!

Irisheyesrdreaming · Veteran Member

Thank you Oopsy, I wasn't aware that there was a sequel. Can't wait to read it!!!! And of course Maeve Binchy is my all time favourite author!

cbuchwa1 · Member

I'll go ahead and suggest "Ireland" by Frank Delaney. No, it's not completely historical, but it's not completely fictional -- and you get so drawn in by the way he weaves everything today. He really makes you understand the community of small town Ireland and the history of the country in a way no other book has done for me.

China Cat · Veteran Member

I was reading Frank Delaney's "Ireland" during my trip, and it is very good. I do recommend it.

Also, if you enjoy a mystery from time to time, Peter Tremayne has a series about Sister Fidelma of Cashel. She's a Irish nun in th emid 7th century, and also a lawyer/investigator for the early Irish courts. The historical background about the Irish legal system, and the early Irish christian church is really fascinating. Especially as it takes place during a time period when Roman Catholicism is starting to spread in Ireland, and displace the original Irish Catholic church. Plus the characters are good, and the plots suitably interesting to keep you entertained. The first one is called "Murder by Absolution", and then there are a whole series after that.

Willie · Veteran Member

It's great reading this thread. I've either read or have in my To-Be-Read pile nearly every book mentioned.

For more "modern" mysteries, I've been reading Bartholomew Gill's books. Most of them have "Death" in the title..."Death of an Irish Lover," "Death of an Irish Tradition," etc. The main character, McGarr, is based in Dublin, but travels around the country solving various cases with help from his colorful colleagues and his wife.

I loved Niall Williams & Christine Breen's "O Come Ye Back to Ireland," and will be looking for their other books soon. They leave you with a very clear idea of what their first year in Ireland was like.

I recently read Andrew Greeley's "Irish Gold," which ties in a bit of mystery surrounding Michael Collins' death. It's a period of Irish history I'm trying to read more about, so I enjoyed the storyline very much.

Rick Steves has a suggested reading list for Ireland...just found it recently. Many of the titles have already been recommended, but he adds a few more...

http://tours.ricksteves.com/tours06/IRE/reading.cfm/rurl/code/IRE/

maureencol · Member

I have read quite a few of the suggestions on this link. In addition, I would highly suggest "Round Ireland with a Fridge." I rarely laugh out loud at a book and this one had me rolling!

I loved the Christeen Breen/Niall Williams books. There are three of them. If anyone was thinking of moving to Ireland, they should read these. The good and the bad are reflected.

I've also read most of Nora Robert's Irish books, but the theme always seems to be the same, angry Irish woman pursued by handsome, clueless man. I had a hard time figuring out why the women were always so angry.

I love Morgan Llewellyn's books...mixture of history and fiction.

I must check out the Peter Tremayne books. Haven't heard about them.

Maureen

Laoghaire · Senior Member

I have to mention three books by James Charles Roy:

The Back Of Beyond: A Search for the Soul of Ireland

The Fields of Athenry: An Irish Saga

The Road Wet, the Wind Close: Celtic Ireland

This is a remarkable storyteller, wish he would write more!

Also:Round Ireland in Low Gear by Eric Newby (Bicycle)

Helen

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions. Now, if only I could go sit on the beach with a pile of those books for a month. Since that is not going to happen I guess I will just have to sneak them in between the work.

Michele

wojazz3 · Guru

Try "No News at Throat Lake" by Lawrence Donegan. It is along the lines of 'round Irealnd and McCarthey's Bar.

Bill

Laoghaire · Senior Member

Just thought of another great read---On Celtic Tides by Chris Duff.

A wonderful, thought provoking book. Chris is a kayaker from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, who kayaked around Ireland, visiting a wealth of early monastic sites. Including Skellig Michael, Inishbofin and many more.

Helen

Tauri · Member

I enjoy Nora Roberts. If you like her stories that are based in Ireland, you may also enjoy an author called Joanna Ross. She has a few that are set in Ireland, and a style about them that puts in the story.

Tauri

Michele Erdvig · Host

ttt

oopsy · Senior Member

For possibly a little heavier (but I'm sure interesting) reading...

I have NOT read this yet, but a colleague of mine (who grew up in western County Cork) recommended Land Matters: Power Struggles in Rural Ireland. It is a sociologist's (Ethel Crowley's) examination of changes (social and ecological) in rural ireland since Ireland entered the EEC. It's on my "to read" list...but oh that's a long list!

oopsy

http://www.lilliputpress.ie/listbook.html?isbn=1%2084351%20081%202

youngka · Guru

Oh my gosh! am I glad I re read this particular question. No I have not read what you mentioned. Thank you very much. I will! Like I had said further up on this posting -- when I read her triology I just about packed up and went over....... but then, I almost did the same thing when I saw Under the Tuscan Sun.

THANKS again

Youngka

youngka · Guru

Michelle,

I am not going back to read what others may have written to me on anothers posting! Thanks a lot for the idea to read Quentins by Maeve Binchy. Putting this one McCarthy's Bar on my list also.

You said, Michelle: "Now, if only I could go sit on the beach with a pile of those books for a month. Since that is not going to happen I guess I will just have to sneak them in between the work." Just make it happen.........

Susan: I have never checked out what you suggested: http://adwoff.com/nora-travelogues/ I will now, tho. Thanks!

youngka

Diana · Veteran Member

Hi,

Just finished the first story in Delany's Ireland. What a fantastic and mesmorizing experience.

I feel like I just took a quick and thorough plunge into the spirit and consciousness of Ireland.

Diana

youngka · Guru

Diana

People ask why I read. I read to go other places...... My friend, Julie Smith, writes mystery stories. I even thought her "Sourdough Wars", based in S.F., was very good -- since I lived in Berkeley at the time and it still took me away to S.F. all during the book. People that don't read, are missing out on a lot, whether fiction or non fiction......

Youngka

judyjo · Newbie

John B. Keane is a very funny Irish story writer. He just died in 2002 and lived in Listowel, and I think owned a bar there. One of his best is called THE BODHRAN MAKERS. One of his books, THE FIELD, was made into a movie. I want to go to Listowel someday just because of him. The books are mostly set in the old days of farming and small towns. Any Maeve Binchy books is great as allready stated. Her son, Dan Binchy is also writing now and I think has a book about golfing in Ireland. I also love the books by Niall Williams and his wife, and the ones he has written on his own. So I would also like to go visit them in their town. I've read several Roddy Doyle books but they are probably R rated.

youngka · Guru

Judyjo and everyone else who has contributed to this "reading room":

Now I am in the mood to go out and find all these books and start reading! Thanks for all your input and ideas....

youngka

Irisheyesrdreaming · Veteran Member

JudyJo, from what I've been able to find out, Dan Binchy is a cousin of Maeve's or some other relative. Apparently she has no children of her own. I had asked a book seller in Killarney about her and that is what she told me. The reason I had asked was because there was a book on tape there that was read by a Binchy, so I asked was it her daughter and was told no it was a niece because she had no children. I'm not sure if the info is correct, but this is what I've been told. I am a great fan of Maeve Binchy's and thirst for all that is told of her. I was also told for some reason(I don't know why) that "Whitethorn Woods" will be her last novel. I pray that isn't so!

Dude · Guru

Don't panic. I read or was told that "Scarlet Feather" was her last book (or maybe it was "Quentin's") and then did the happy dance when "Night of Rain and Stars" came out.