Goodreads Ireland discussion

I just finished Sworn to Silence
My review, 4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished The Watson Girl
My review, 4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Colleen wrote: "In the beginning I was confused but then I realized the person speaking name was underneath ,I like that . Have you read The Dirty Dust: Cré na Cille? That was very hard to follow I..."

took a few pages to get the narrators straight for Lincoln in the Bardo
have not read The Dirty Dust: Cré na Cille

Currently reading Skin Deep Skin Deep and it's not what I expected from the opening chapter, only 30% in at the moment so too early to say what's coming. If a book can stir up emotion it must be good and this one is making me feel agitated and frustrated with the main character Delia.

Andy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "In the beginning I was confused but then I realized the person speaking name was underneath ,I like that . Have you read The Dirty Dust: Cré na Cille? That was very ..."

The Dirty Dust: Cré na Cille is very confusing I never knew who was speaking until the end of the passage than I would reread it so it made more sense . It was slow going for me . I like the tone of Lincoln in the Bardo The Dirty Dust: Cré na Cille was very bleak.

Currently reading Norse by Neil naiman its great but it's kind of written for kids. The elder Edda paints a different picture of the Norse gods

I must be a kid. It was a great for me. :). But I agree. Kids could really get into it.

starting into The Count of Monte Cristo
still have Bleak House on the go, as a long slow read

between them should last the year

getting into Dissolution by C.J. Sansom, which I think was recommended to me by someone in this group a year or two ago

I hope it was me because I love the series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

is very good so far Susan

Here is my non spoiler review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recommended by 2 Goodreads friends.

I’m reading These Dividing Walls by Fran Cooper. Being sick this week I got through several books.

I just finished Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation and was pleasantly surprised to find among others, an essay by Colm Tobin. Small world, huh.

Ali wrote: "I just finished Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation and was pleasantly surprised to find among others, an essay by Colm Tobin. Small world, huh."

I have this book on my shelves, though still unread. I was attracted to it by the Irish writers included which in addition to Toibín, are Eimear McBride, and Colum McCann. Other writers that I admire who are included are Madeline Thien, Mario Llosa Vargas, Hari Kunzru, Geraldine Brooks and Rachel Kushner. I have to get to this sooner rather than later.

Barbara wrote: "Ali wrote: "I just finished Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation and was pleasantly surprised to find among others, an essay by Colm Tobin. Small world, huh."
..."

I must say, I enjoyed every single essay included in the book. For some reason though it was particularly Tóibín's name that I was surprised to see there. Pleasant surprise.

Ali wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Ali wrote: "I just finished Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation and was pleasantly surprised to find among others, an essay by Colm Tobin. Sma..."

I read the first 3 essays. As I am in the middle of a few books, I hope to get back to it soon.

Been quite a while since I posted a comment here. Currently reading the soon to be published Trouble Songs: Music and Conflict in Northern Ireland and listening to Uncommon People: The Rise and Fall of the Rock Stars 1955-1994, in preparation for attending events at the CQAF in Belfast in May. Both fantastic books right up my street...

I was able to get The Dry at my library a few days ago, and it’s an engrossing read. Once I get further along, I’ll post in the discussion.

I really liked it. I finished it last night.

I listened to the audiobook a year ago. I don’t like to reread “average” books. I gave this 4 stars but it was closer to 3.5. Sometimes I’d be better off reading rather than listening to get a grip on the story. I don’t get why there’s so much fuss over this book. It was OK.

Cathleen wrote: "I was able to get The Dry at my library a few days ago, and it’s an engrossing read. Once I get further along, I’ll post in the discussion."

Oh, you lucky!! I'm waiting for mine to arrive to the local branch.
I'm not reading the discussion thread until I read the book. Can't wait!

I' m reading "The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper" by Phaedra Patrick

I just finished After Anna
My review, 3.5/5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Allan wrote: "Been quite a while since I posted a comment here. Currently reading the soon to be published Trouble Songs: Music and Conflict in Northern Ireland and listening to [book:Uncommon Pe..."

Both look interesting. Trouble Songs isn't out til May.

a bit outside my normal reading habits
started What Does This Button Do?: An Autobiography by Bruce Dickinson
enjoying it so far

Barbara, I contributed to the Kickstarter for the book, hence my receiving an advance copy. Given the book's niche market, I think he's only printing 2000 copies initially. In fact, it was me who added the book to the GR database.

Allan wrote: "Barbara, I contributed to the Kickstarter for the book, hence my receiving an advance copy. Given the book's niche market, I think he's only printing 2000 copies initially. In fact, it was me who a..."

I did find the Kickstarter info when I googled the book. Glad you added it to the GR database. I've done that a couple of times and have librarian status to help in doing that.

I just finished Stay with Me - amazing! And also ""read" (audio) The Female Persuasion last week and really liked it. It's a book for young and old feminists. I have switched to a crime novel Dead Woman Walking from the library and just picked up 2 more crime novels I requested at the library Let Me Lie by Claire McIntosh and After the Fire by Jane Casey.

Has anyone read "The Orchardist" by Amanda Coplin?
I hope to read more by this author.

Just started reading "A Different Familiar" by Rhian J.Martin

Finn wrote: "Has anyone read "The Orchardist" by Amanda Coplin?
I hope to read more by this author.

Just started reading "A Different Familiar" by Rhian J.Martin"

I read (audiobook) The Orchardist 4 years ago and gave it 5 stars which was higher than the average rating. But the story really touched me.

I am reading a book from NetGalley called "Beyond the Pale" about two American professors who get involved in a spy operation in Ireland over a supposed play by Brendan Behan. I thought it might be crap but it's actually quite fun. For one thing, one of the supposed bad guys is named Declan and what could be better than that? There was an interesting quote by Yeats, "Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy that sustained him through temporary periods of joy." I am having a good time reading it.

I just read The Marsh King's Daughter. It’s narrated by the daughter of a kidnap victim. She lived her first 12 yrs in captivity and never knew it. Her mother was 14 when she was kidnapped and had her daughter the narrator, at about the age of 16 while in captivity. It was really good. I’ve never read anything like it.

Sherry wrote: "I just read The Marsh King's Daughter. It’s narrated by the daughter of a kidnap victim. She lived her first 12 yrs in captivity and never knew it. Her mother was 14 when she was ki..."

I liked The Marsh King's Daughter. It was certainly unique and broke my heart for what the two women endured.

Susan wrote: "I am reading a book from NetGalley called "Beyond the Pale" about two American professors who get involved in a spy operation in Ireland over a supposed play by Brendan Behan. I thought it might be..."

Hmm... sounds interesting : )

Sherry wrote: "I just read The Marsh King's Daughter. It’s narrated by the daughter of a kidnap victim. She lived her first 12 yrs in captivity and never knew it. Her mother was 14 when she was ki..."

Is this non-fiction?

100th volume of Dublin Review of Books, May 2018 -- here is a link:

http://www.drb.ie/?utm_medium=email&a...

Let me know if the link doesn't work....

Barbara wrote: "Sherry wrote: "I just read The Marsh King's Daughter. It’s narrated by the daughter of a kidnap victim. She lived her first 12 yrs in captivity and never knew it. Her mother was 14 ..."

No.

J.S. wrote: "100th volume of Dublin Review of Books, May 2018 -- here is a link:

http://www.drb.ie/?utm_medium=email&a......"
Thanks. It was quite interesting.

J.S. wrote: "100th volume of Dublin Review of Books, May 2018 -- here is a link:

http://www.drb.ie/?utm_medium=email&a......"
I get the DRB emails and they are quite informative. I encourage others to sign up.

Thank you & Susan also --
It's been many moons since I posted about the Dublin Review, so thought I'd renew the link for the group's new members.

I'm reading another thriller - Let Me Lie by Claire Mackintosh. Another library book. It is not as "thrilling" as the Sharon Bolton I recently read and may end up being between 3 and 4 stars.
I'm listening to Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II by Liza Mundy. Not to be confused with The Code Girls. This is an interesting story but there are far too many tedious details. Almost finished. Plan to get to Of Mice and Men this weekend.

starting my second by Jess Kidd, The Hoarder
early days, but excellent so far

Andy wrote: "starting my second by Jess Kidd, The Hoarder
early days, but excellent so far"

You've reminded me I have Jess Kidd's Himself on my "to be read soon" pile.
I got When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy after Simon Savidge raved about it. Not a pleasant topic, but just into it, it's already powerful.

I was reading The Break by Marian Keyes for my workplace bookclub but I had to abandon it. I don't like Marian Keyes' books. Firstly, there is the spelling of the daughters' names (it's not Kiara but Ciara and not Neeve but Niamh!) then there is the whole 'husband has a mid-life crisis and goes off to 'self-actualise' in Thailand. I got about a quarter of the way in and said to myself "Life is too short to read Marian Keyes' novels that I don't like". I have to face the music in bookclub tomorrow where I think everyone else is going to have loved it!

Bookworm with Kids wrote: "I was reading The Break by Marian Keyes for my workplace bookclub but I had to abandon it. I don't like Marian Keyes' books. Firstly, there is the spelling of the daug..."

Lady Marian? Just tooooooo confusing. A West Brit who left and lives in London. Maybe she drinks her g&t from a pint glass, ya nivver know. ....It's like a bad sitcom that won't go away, gets a new title and there it is out on the expensive table again at the airport bookstore because that's where the real literary types buy their reading material.

Edited to add [ the snark is strong today ] : Have you ever wondered how a brand new book says BESTSELLER on the jacket? Think about that. Do the top 5 publishing congloms have a crystal ball?

Susan wrote: "Sherry wrote: "I just read The Marsh King's Daughter. It’s narrated by the daughter of a kidnap victim. She lived her first 12 yrs in captivity and never knew it. Her mother was 14 ..."

Sorry so late responding. I liked the way she showed the innocence of the daughter. She really didnt understand what normal life was and seemed unaware that her abuse wasnt normal. I thought it was very well done.

Bookworm with Kids wrote: "I was reading The Break by Marian Keyes for my workplace bookclub but I had to abandon it. I don't like Marian Keyes' books. Firstly, there is the spelling of the daug..."

I love your "life is too short to read ...". I find myself saying that often these days. And what do you think about the spelling Shawn - jeezzz.

Well, if it's any comfort, Bookworm, Marian Keyes has worn out her welcome with me. I read one and liked it, read a second and was luke warm and then a third and said never again, It's like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I loved them at first and used to laugh my head off. Then it became apparent that she was writing the same book over and over. I gave up in disgust. Lazy writing and fame certainly went to her head.

I am reading The Liar's Girl I'm not far into it but it's interesting so far.