Some Irish Writers for St. Patrick's Day - from my bookshelf

[@Tristan-L-Space-Books]

I think you would really like Claire Keegan. I can't say which one you should start with because all of her works are so impactful. Definitely one to check out.

[@sassygirl5271]

Completely agree. She is such a beautiful writer. ‘Small Things Like These’ is one of my favourites.

[@58angieb]

& her short story collection: 'Antarctica' - Claire Keegan. Contemplative, staying with you long after they're back on the book shelf!

[@majelthesurreal5723]

I loved Foster.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks. Several people have recommended her here - definitely one I must look out for!

[@tracym9225]

Patrick Taylor - The Irish Doctor series. Excellent if you like village life.

[@keldaogg2157]

YES! Especially on audiobooks. Full of the most interesting characters. And a dog named Arthur Guinness.

[@ukiewife]

Love that series, though I haven't finished all of the books yet! 🇮🇪💚🇨🇦

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Sounds good - another one to add to my list!

[@nbenefiel]

I especially like the one’s set in the 30’s while O’Reilly is in med school at Trinity. Dublin has always been the city closest to my heart. I love Irish literature. Years ago, I found a book of Irish short stories. I knew all of the writers.😊

[@morganpony2]

I'd say with James Joyce, A portrait of the artist as a young man is very accessible and readable.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you! Yes, from what I've heard, this is definitely an easier read than Ulysses!

[@nbenefiel]

@@booksfrommybookshelfI read Ulysses when I was living in Dublin eons ago. I had tried it a couple of times and given up. But I finally made it through. I found being in Dublin helped. It’s such a Dublin book. I did Bloomsday once. We started as soon as the pubs opened and staggered home after closing. Once was enough but I’m glad we did it.

[@kathleensnow5358]

I highly recommend Dervla McTiernan and Tana French for their well crafted mystery novels and their ability to infuse their writing with Irish culture. One of my favourite Irish books is A monk swimming. Sadly, the brilliant author, Malachy McCourt, just passed away last week. Happy St. Patrick's day! 💚💚💚

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks for these suggestions!

[@josephcossey1811]

Strabane born Flann O'Brien (aka Brian O'Nolan, aka Myles na Gopaleen) was a wonderfully quirky Irish writer who wrote many novels before his untimely death aged 54 in 1966. My favourite has to be "The Third Policeman" which - among other things - tells the story of one man's obsessive love for his bicycle!

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you - sounds interesting!

[@Teacup29]

Claire Keegan is wonderful, and 'The Country Girls' by Edna O'Brien is one of my favourite novels: first read as a teenager.

[@CionMohler]

I like John Banville, especially his series of murder mysteries starring Quirke. His first name has not been revealed though we’re up to #8 of the series. Banville also writes novels. His book The Sea won the Booker.

[@sharon-hermit]

The Picture of Dorian Gray is my FAVORITE movie. I'll have to read the book.

[@isabelleborges3350]

please do!!! I think you would love it

[@anitahayne8621]

When I was in my 20s and early 30s, I read a lot of Maeve Binchy’s novels. I really enjoyed her books: Light a Penny Candle, Echoes, Firefly Summer, The Glass Lake, Circle of Friends, and Tara Road. Last year I really enjoyed Louise Kennedy’s debut novel, Trespasses. I would like to try Marian Keyes, Graham Norton, and Sebastian Barry.

[@Blondie101010100]

Sebastian Barry - The Secret Scripture, I really enjoyed.

[@anitahayne8621]

@@Blondie101010100 Glad to hear. I own it but I haven’t read it yet.

[@allisonryder4781]

Maeve Binchy! And Liz Nugent! ❤

[@StephaniePatterson-jb5it]

I love that film of The Importance of Being Earnest!!

[@evapeat5020]

Great video, thankyou, I always learn something new, will definitely check out some of these books.

[@scholasticstudio]

Loved this...There's St. Patrick's Confession or course...My honourable mention: Bendan Behan...

[@nbenefiel]

Tell Dublin I Miss Her sent me to Dublin for 10 years.😊

[@barbaradegarcia6310]

You are to be commended for mentioning Irish writers near the St. Patirck's Day feast and holiday. I would urge you to branch out as far as Irish writers to consider. I easily read a few dozen Irish novels (mostly literary novels), non-fiction (every other month), and classics (quarterly), not to mention poetry every year. During the pandemic virtual book groups proliferated, and my local Irish fiction group expanded to a nonfiction group, a poetry group and a classics group. I also participate from here outside of Washington DC in a monthly fiction group at the Linen House Library in Belfast. As it that wasn't;enough, I am in a monthly group that reads James Joyce books aloud. I am definitely in the minority as far as how many Irish books I read, but you will find that there are so many quality books being published in Ireland. Three out of the Booker longest books were by Irish writers after all.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you Barbara - how wonderful to hear someone so dedicated to Irish writing. I'd certainly be happy to search for more Irish writers, especially with my heritage!

[@josephcossey1811]

An honourable mention to Irish born Nobel Prize winner Samuel Becket, perhaps most well known for his play Waiting For Godot but who also wrote numerous novels, poems and works in translation.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Yes indeed! Thanks for this.

[@nbenefiel]

Seamus Heaney

[@Blondie101010100]

Thanks for drawing attention to Irish writers on St Patrick's Day. Greetings from Ireland ☘️☘️☘️🎉 John McGahern is a personal favourite. Then there's Anna McPartlin, Emma Donogue, Roddy Doyle; just a few suggestions. 😊

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Many thanks!

[@majelthesurreal5723]

That was very nice. A tribute to the Irish writers. You mentioned some I was not aware of now added to my TBR. I'm wondering if you have seen the film the Quiet girl. My favorite film of 2022.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks - I haven't seen it, but it sounds like a good film. I'll have to add it to my Netflix or Prime list!

[@LilyWesselsSoselisa]

Hello Rosamunde, I loved Gulliver travels and the picture of Dorian Grey. The last one is indeed weird and horrifying. Personnaly I found Dorian such un unpleasant person. I enjoyed this video. Thank you. I'm currently reading an Irish writer, Colm Toibin. His book the House of names is wonderful. It is a beautiful and so clever rewriting of Clytemnestra and her revenge on Agamemnon after he sacrificed their daughter Iphigeneia and this revenge it's consequences for this dysfunctional family. Toibin tells this old Greek myth from different angles. Wonderful done. I look forward to your next recommendations. With regards, Lily

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you! This sounds interesting - I read Homer at school, so the re-writing of this story does sound intriguing!

[@lizanderson6503]

I had no idea Graham Norton was a writer! He's an all time favorite host and conversationalist so I definitely need to check his books out!

[@bzylarisa]

I love Graham Norton Show! I knew he was writing books, but somehow I was afraid of actually reading them. Now that you mentioned it with such high praise, I'll definitely grab his books.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

I know what you mean - it's sometimes scary to read celebrities' books in case you're disappointed - but he really is a good writer!

[@bettymaugeri7316]

Thank you today’s reading recommendations - may consider a couple of these reads. 😊

[@JunebugRose]

I'm currently reading The Islandman by Tomas O'Crohan which is about life on the Blasket Islands in late 1800s to early 1900s. It's fascinating. I didn't know C.S. Lewis wrote adult fiction. I'll have to look that up. Thanks for the info.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@jlstrick1]

I enjoy Carlene O’Connor’s mystery series…and I would love a cup of tea with Siobhan’s brown bread! 🍀☘️

[@NadineTouzet]

I listened to Home Stretch by Graham Norton, narrated by himself, and really enjoyed it.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Yes, his narration of his books is excellent.

[@estherfekech5279]

Thank you for this video! I love Cathy Kelly's books!

[@susanneill7142]

Hi Rosamunde! Thanks for another great vid. I watched it on 3/17 here in Virginia while enjoying a single malt Irish whiskey! I haven’t read too many Irish writers yet despite my Irish heritage. I did enjoy Patrick Taylor’s An Irish Country Doctor not too long ago, which an earlier commenter mentioned, esp bc it takes place outside of Belfast where my Irish were from. I’ve got copies of Flan O’Brien, Liam O’Flaherty, Sean O’Casey, Brian Friel (seen a couple of his plays). I also find Martin McDonagh really interesting (seen a couple of his plays too). Just ordered some Edna O’Brien books. And found it really interesting that she appeared in Ken Berns’ documentary on E Hemingway. She really admired his writing which seems a bit odd to me bc I think of her as a feminist & of Hemingway as almost a misogynist. I’ll read Ulysses when I retire! 😊 Thanks again!!

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks Susan! Irish whiskey on St. Patrick's Day - what a good idea! Thanks for all the suggestions.

[@linbourne8731]

Thank you for your comments on Graham Norton's novels which has made me feel I should give them a go. Sometimes I have tried novels by celebrities in the past and been disappointed by them, so good to have a positive review on him 😊

[@Tokayd13]

Adrian McGinty writes a very good Northern Ireland police procedural series. His detective is Sean Duffy, a Catholic policeman in Belfast during the Troubles. He's an engaging character, the mysteries are gritty, and it's all good craic. He has another shorter series that I like, the Michael Forsyth novels, with an Irish expat in New York. I don't care for his stand-alone thrillers, but the Sean Duffy series is excellent if you enjoy detective fiction.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks for this - sounds very interesting

[@lizdorrington2851]

I loved all these suggestions. Marian Keyes and Maeve Binchy are two lovely writers for lighter reads. Have you read any of Brendan O'Carroll's books?

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks! I haven't read O'Carroll - but I will definitely look out for his books :)

[@margaretmitchell614]

John boyne. The hearts invisible furies

[@inlaterdays]

I had no idea C. S. Lewis was Irish! I love his books. Thank you for this list - I love Dracula too. I have the annotated edition, which is really interesting.

[@eliselook]

Please tell me somebody already mentioned Niall Williams???? This is Happiness and The Fall of Light are incredible books!

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks for this suggestion!

[@rwilson7019]

Love these recommendations, thanks!

[@JacquelineCaron]

another great video! love Marian Keyes books that I've read. I have a copy of The Country Girls trilogy by Edna O'Brien I've been meaning to pick up. Have you read anything by Claire Keegan? I was gifted Small Things Like These at Christmas, but haven't read it yet. Loved hearing all the writer history you shared here. I too am of Irish descent on my Dad's side - and still have relatives living in County Clare --- would love to visit Ireland some day soon. 🍀Happy St Patrick's Day! 🍀 Jacqueline 💚

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks. I'll add Claire Keegan to my list of books to look out for.

[@nbenefiel]

I can’t claim to pick up Ulysses or Finnegan’s Wake for fun but I do like Dubliners and Portrait. I adore Swift, especially A Modest Proposal, and Yeats is my all time favourite poet. I lived in Dublin for most of my 20’s and not reading in Dublin would be a mortal sin.

[@lavernehodge3320]

I enjoyed this so much. Some great recommendations. Several I need to check into. Thanks so much.

[@hippiejane2683]

Learned a lot, thanks. Highly recommend John Boyne. I read The Hearts Invisible Furies. Think you would love it.

[@MJ-in-Canada]

It's an excellent book.

[@lesleyrussell825]

This was going to be my recommendation. Read it recently and loved it. Must read more of his.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you - I'll put him on my list to look out for!

[@louiseonofrio-mills48]

I’m delighted to have found your wonderful book channel📚 I really do enjoy watching your videos and have bought a few books already going off your recommendations 🌿 Thank you for taking the time to make your videos, thoroughly enjoyable!☺️xx

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you Louise! - So glad you enjoy my videos - thanks for being a subscriber 🙂

[@starlasell5698]

❤🍀📚❤

[@lisanelson3415]

Ceceila ahern is very good 😊

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Oh yes - I knew I'd missed someone out! I have read The Book of Tomorrow, and I really enjoyed it. Thanks for adding her name.

[@lisanelson3415]

@@booksfrommybookshelf the gift is very good

[@MJ-in-Canada]

For anyone wanting a light, fun read, try the novels of Pauline McLynn, especially “The Woman on the Bus.” Some of you might remember Pauline in her role as the tea-serving Mrs. Doyle on “Father Ted.”🫖 Ah, go on and read her books. G’won, g’won, g’won.

[@Paulsmuse]

My hubby loves Father Ted 😂😂

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you - I didn't know she had written any books.