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The News from Dublin: Stories
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From Colm Tóibín, “one of the world’s best living literary writers” (The Boston Globe), comes a brilliant collection of nine short stories, many never-before-published, set across Ireland, Spain, and America—about the complexities of family, longing, loss, and love.
Celebrated as “his generation’s most gifted writer of love’s complicated, contradictory power” (Los Angeles Times), Colm Tóibín is a master of short fiction as well as the novel, able to summon an extraordinary intensity of emotion in a brief tale. The eleven stories transport readers across continents and eras.
In “The Journey to Galway,” a mother who has learned of the death of her son, a fighter pilot in World War I, travels to Galway to inform his wife and their three now fatherless children. “Sleep,” originally published in The New Yorker, explores the rift between two lovers as one of them cannot reckon with his grief and fear after the death of his brother. Death, again, is a central character in the title story, “The News from Dublin,” as Maurice Webster travels to Dublin to try to save his younger brother who is dying of tuberculosis. Maurice must petition the health minister for access to a new experimental drug, and this is the only hope.
Tóibín’s stories are rich with the complexities of family dynamics, the haunting pull of the past, and the quiet revelations that define our lives. His characters, whether navigating the aftermath of war, or forbidden love, or the desires of a girl in Catalan, or the quiet struggles mundane life, are rendered with illuminating, unforgettable empathy and insight.
The News from Dublin is an exquisite introduction to Tóibín’s short fiction for new readers who may have discovered Tóibín with the publication of Long Island, and a glorious new collection for longtime fans of this “achingly beautiful writer…with infinite compassion” (The Miami Herald).
Celebrated as “his generation’s most gifted writer of love’s complicated, contradictory power” (Los Angeles Times), Colm Tóibín is a master of short fiction as well as the novel, able to summon an extraordinary intensity of emotion in a brief tale. The eleven stories transport readers across continents and eras.
In “The Journey to Galway,” a mother who has learned of the death of her son, a fighter pilot in World War I, travels to Galway to inform his wife and their three now fatherless children. “Sleep,” originally published in The New Yorker, explores the rift between two lovers as one of them cannot reckon with his grief and fear after the death of his brother. Death, again, is a central character in the title story, “The News from Dublin,” as Maurice Webster travels to Dublin to try to save his younger brother who is dying of tuberculosis. Maurice must petition the health minister for access to a new experimental drug, and this is the only hope.
Tóibín’s stories are rich with the complexities of family dynamics, the haunting pull of the past, and the quiet revelations that define our lives. His characters, whether navigating the aftermath of war, or forbidden love, or the desires of a girl in Catalan, or the quiet struggles mundane life, are rendered with illuminating, unforgettable empathy and insight.
The News from Dublin is an exquisite introduction to Tóibín’s short fiction for new readers who may have discovered Tóibín with the publication of Long Island, and a glorious new collection for longtime fans of this “achingly beautiful writer…with infinite compassion” (The Miami Herald).
272 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 31, 2026
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About the author
Colm Tóibín
232 books5,435 followersColm Tóibín FRSL, is an Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, journalist, critic, and poet. Tóibín is currently Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University in Manhattan and succeeded Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 31, 2025
3.5
This story collection spans the world through Ireland , Spain, New York in various time frames , but the burdens of grief, loss, and fear told introspectively are universal as families deal with death and despair. The writing as I have come to expect from Colm Toibin is beautiful, but the collection for me was uneven . Some I loved and others left me unsatisfied with abrupt endings . I enjoyed , “ THE JOURNEY TO GALWAY” , the first story which is a contemplative story of the depth of a mother’s grief , carrying the burden of having to relate the sad news. My heart was heavy throughout. The opening sentence drew me in :
“She remembered an unusual silence that morning—a stillness in the trees and in the farmyard, and a deadness in the house itself, no sounds from the kitchen, and no one moving up and down the stairs. But she wondered if the silence had been real, or, instead, if it had been something she had merely imagined afterwards.
A few others are commendable. “A FREE MAN” is both disturbing and sad . A man out of prison, but not free . I was taken by this story , but ended up not fully satisfied, not feeling I knew the truth . “SLEEP” is about grief untold. “THE NEWS FROM DUBLIN” depicts the desire for hope in the face of death. “BARTON SPRINGS” is another full of grief affecting a man’s life. “ SUMMER OF “38” at its heart is beautiful love story . “A SUM OF MONEY” reflects on how desperation to fit in makes for desperate choices , mistakes on the part of a young man .
Hoping to start the new year on a less depressing book, but I have to acknowledge the writing which at times had me rereading sentences just to experience them again.
I received a copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley and Edelweiss.
This story collection spans the world through Ireland , Spain, New York in various time frames , but the burdens of grief, loss, and fear told introspectively are universal as families deal with death and despair. The writing as I have come to expect from Colm Toibin is beautiful, but the collection for me was uneven . Some I loved and others left me unsatisfied with abrupt endings . I enjoyed , “ THE JOURNEY TO GALWAY” , the first story which is a contemplative story of the depth of a mother’s grief , carrying the burden of having to relate the sad news. My heart was heavy throughout. The opening sentence drew me in :
“She remembered an unusual silence that morning—a stillness in the trees and in the farmyard, and a deadness in the house itself, no sounds from the kitchen, and no one moving up and down the stairs. But she wondered if the silence had been real, or, instead, if it had been something she had merely imagined afterwards.
A few others are commendable. “A FREE MAN” is both disturbing and sad . A man out of prison, but not free . I was taken by this story , but ended up not fully satisfied, not feeling I knew the truth . “SLEEP” is about grief untold. “THE NEWS FROM DUBLIN” depicts the desire for hope in the face of death. “BARTON SPRINGS” is another full of grief affecting a man’s life. “ SUMMER OF “38” at its heart is beautiful love story . “A SUM OF MONEY” reflects on how desperation to fit in makes for desperate choices , mistakes on the part of a young man .
Hoping to start the new year on a less depressing book, but I have to acknowledge the writing which at times had me rereading sentences just to experience them again.
I received a copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley and Edelweiss.
January 20, 2026
This is a collection of short stories by best selling author Colm Tóibín that has a central connecting theme of either living far from home, perhaps with a longing to return, all are a distance from their past lives and perhaps from their former selves and there’s grief and loss, as well as misunderstanding.
The collection begins with a Journey to Galway, with a grieving mother, reflecting on a time before and after her son‘s wartime death. It’s short, sad and sharp and how the author packs so much into such a short story is admirable, this is probably my favourite in the collection. Another one that I think is especially good is News from Dublin which gives the collection its title. Here a brother goes from his family home in Enniscothy to Dublin to desperately seek help for a sick brother. It starts with optimism and hope but what news will he bring back from Dublin? One of the reasons I particularly like this one as it takes the storytelling into the Dail and the government of De Valera. It’s an island of a very different time to the present day and I like the glimpse into its past.
A.Sum of Money is a rather enigmatic tale of a boyhood mistake born out of desperation which takes us into another institution, this being a boarding school run by The Brothers. It’s a bit of an odd one, but there’s a recurring theme of the church/The Brothers which brings me neatly to A Free Man. This is an unsettling story but which confronts an uncomfortable past but does so well and very carefully. In Barcelona we meet Joe, whose family have severed all ties and he’s gone to Spain in search of anonymity after a very chequered past. It’s a reflective story as whilst Joe is free to wander the streets of Barcelona, he’s chained to his past whatever darkness lurks therein.
The final story is the longest and is entitled The Catalina Girls and concerns three sisters, taking the storytelling from Spain to Argentina and then back again to Catalonia. This is an immersive tale but which captures the sisters story and with distinctive characterisation.
Overall, this is a very well written series of short stories as you would expect from this talented author. It’s low-key, quiet, poignant and reflective and the stories span several decades. The heart of them all bar the final one, lies in Ireland and from their dispersing far and wide. If you like short stories and admire this author then I can recommend this immersive collection.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan/Picadour for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
The collection begins with a Journey to Galway, with a grieving mother, reflecting on a time before and after her son‘s wartime death. It’s short, sad and sharp and how the author packs so much into such a short story is admirable, this is probably my favourite in the collection. Another one that I think is especially good is News from Dublin which gives the collection its title. Here a brother goes from his family home in Enniscothy to Dublin to desperately seek help for a sick brother. It starts with optimism and hope but what news will he bring back from Dublin? One of the reasons I particularly like this one as it takes the storytelling into the Dail and the government of De Valera. It’s an island of a very different time to the present day and I like the glimpse into its past.
A.Sum of Money is a rather enigmatic tale of a boyhood mistake born out of desperation which takes us into another institution, this being a boarding school run by The Brothers. It’s a bit of an odd one, but there’s a recurring theme of the church/The Brothers which brings me neatly to A Free Man. This is an unsettling story but which confronts an uncomfortable past but does so well and very carefully. In Barcelona we meet Joe, whose family have severed all ties and he’s gone to Spain in search of anonymity after a very chequered past. It’s a reflective story as whilst Joe is free to wander the streets of Barcelona, he’s chained to his past whatever darkness lurks therein.
The final story is the longest and is entitled The Catalina Girls and concerns three sisters, taking the storytelling from Spain to Argentina and then back again to Catalonia. This is an immersive tale but which captures the sisters story and with distinctive characterisation.
Overall, this is a very well written series of short stories as you would expect from this talented author. It’s low-key, quiet, poignant and reflective and the stories span several decades. The heart of them all bar the final one, lies in Ireland and from their dispersing far and wide. If you like short stories and admire this author then I can recommend this immersive collection.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan/Picadour for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
December 29, 2025
3.5 stars. I've read and enjoyed several of this author's books but this was my first time reading any of his short stories. I thought the first, second, and last ones were the strongest of this collection, but the rest of the stories didn't engage me as much, unfortunately. Having said that, I would still recommend this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
November 25, 2025
The News from Dublin is a gentle and thoughtful collection of stories. Colm Tóibín writes about everyday people dealing with love, loss, and change, using clear and calm language. The stories are quiet but full of feeling, and they leave you thinking about the characters long after you finish reading.
January 10, 2026
Huge thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. Out March 26th.
There’s something quietly magnetic about this collection. No histrionics, no grand flourishes, just a steady, attentive gaze, fixed on people living with distance: from home, from their past selves, from the lives they thought they might have. Colm Tóibín has always excelled at this kind of emotional cartography, and The News from Dublin feels like a masterclass in how much can be said with restraint.
The stories unfold at an unhurried pace, rooted firmly in character and place. Streets, cafés, institutions, homes, all rendered through small, telling details that immediately ground you. There’s a faintly sepia-toned quality to the collection, as though many of these lives belong to a shared historical moment, even when the timeline nudges closer to the present. It feels retrospective without being nostalgic, reflective without being indulgent.
I have a complicated relationship with short stories. I often find them frustrating — just as I’m settling in, they’re over. That never quite happened here. Each story feels carefully shaped, complete in itself, leaving space for reflection rather than bafflement. You’re brought in, allowed to observe closely, and then gently released, often with a small emotional bruise you only notice later.
Tóibín is particularly good on difficult people. Some of these characters are frankly unlikable, but they are always convincing. There’s no judgment in the writing, just psychological precision. You believe them, even when you don’t want to sit with them for long. That believability is the collection’s backbone.
A subtle connective thread runs through the book, news originating in Dublin and filtering outward, and I didn’t fully cop it until I reached the story titled The News from Dublin itself. Once it clicks, it’s quietly brilliant. Messages carried, delayed, misinterpreted. Lives altered by information arriving too late or in the wrong way. It’s understated and deeply effective.
Place matters enormously here. Dublin, Wexford, Enniscorthy, New York Tóibín writes from terrain he knows intimately, and it shows. The specificity is a pleasure: the Dáil, Bewley’s, the texture of institutions and everyday routines. Religion is threaded throughout, too: convents, nuns, faith woven into daily life, adding to the sense of a particular social and historical moment pressing softly against the present.
The collection gradually builds towards longer pieces, culminating in The Catalina Girls, which feels closer to a novella than a short story. It almost catches you out, especially if you’re reading digitally, and I was utterly absorbed. Three sisters, lives unfolding across countries and years, and a sense that you could happily stay with them for much longer. It lingered with me long after the final page.
This does feel slightly old-fashioned, as though it belongs to another era, but that sense of looking back is part of its quiet power. There’s a confidence here in silence, in place, in the unsaid. The emotional economy is impressive.
Readers who love Brooklyn or Long Island will feel very much at home. This occupies the same emotional terrain: inner lives rendered with care, history hovering at the edges, and a deep trust in the power of small moments. Subtle, restrained, and quietly addictive. Be warned, you may well read it in one sitting.
There’s something quietly magnetic about this collection. No histrionics, no grand flourishes, just a steady, attentive gaze, fixed on people living with distance: from home, from their past selves, from the lives they thought they might have. Colm Tóibín has always excelled at this kind of emotional cartography, and The News from Dublin feels like a masterclass in how much can be said with restraint.
The stories unfold at an unhurried pace, rooted firmly in character and place. Streets, cafés, institutions, homes, all rendered through small, telling details that immediately ground you. There’s a faintly sepia-toned quality to the collection, as though many of these lives belong to a shared historical moment, even when the timeline nudges closer to the present. It feels retrospective without being nostalgic, reflective without being indulgent.
I have a complicated relationship with short stories. I often find them frustrating — just as I’m settling in, they’re over. That never quite happened here. Each story feels carefully shaped, complete in itself, leaving space for reflection rather than bafflement. You’re brought in, allowed to observe closely, and then gently released, often with a small emotional bruise you only notice later.
Tóibín is particularly good on difficult people. Some of these characters are frankly unlikable, but they are always convincing. There’s no judgment in the writing, just psychological precision. You believe them, even when you don’t want to sit with them for long. That believability is the collection’s backbone.
A subtle connective thread runs through the book, news originating in Dublin and filtering outward, and I didn’t fully cop it until I reached the story titled The News from Dublin itself. Once it clicks, it’s quietly brilliant. Messages carried, delayed, misinterpreted. Lives altered by information arriving too late or in the wrong way. It’s understated and deeply effective.
Place matters enormously here. Dublin, Wexford, Enniscorthy, New York Tóibín writes from terrain he knows intimately, and it shows. The specificity is a pleasure: the Dáil, Bewley’s, the texture of institutions and everyday routines. Religion is threaded throughout, too: convents, nuns, faith woven into daily life, adding to the sense of a particular social and historical moment pressing softly against the present.
The collection gradually builds towards longer pieces, culminating in The Catalina Girls, which feels closer to a novella than a short story. It almost catches you out, especially if you’re reading digitally, and I was utterly absorbed. Three sisters, lives unfolding across countries and years, and a sense that you could happily stay with them for much longer. It lingered with me long after the final page.
This does feel slightly old-fashioned, as though it belongs to another era, but that sense of looking back is part of its quiet power. There’s a confidence here in silence, in place, in the unsaid. The emotional economy is impressive.
Readers who love Brooklyn or Long Island will feel very much at home. This occupies the same emotional terrain: inner lives rendered with care, history hovering at the edges, and a deep trust in the power of small moments. Subtle, restrained, and quietly addictive. Be warned, you may well read it in one sitting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
‘’She remembered an unusual silence that morning - a stillness in the trees and in the farmyard, and a deadness in the house itself, no sounds from the kitchen, and no one moving up and down the stairs.’’
A woman has to travel to Galway to break the news of her son’s death to his wife. Another woman receives a visitor who sends her mind back to the days of the Spanish Civil War and her romance with one of Franco’s officers. An Irishman has to leave San Francisco and his daughter after 30 years because a new law has deemed him an ‘alien’. Men contemplate the fragility of a love still not fully accepted by society. A teacher travels to Dublin to seek a meeting that will supposedly help put an end to the nightmare of tuberculosis.
A young boy’s wish for freedom leads him to commit a crime, and the consequences might be dire. A man from Ireland believes Barcelona will provide a safe cocoon to protect him from the crimes he has committed, seeking a new life, a clean slate. In the longest story of the collection, a woman finds herself locked inside her house and narrates her life in the company of her sisters, who sought a better life in Argentina, leaving Catalonia behind. I am afraid this one was so bad that I had to subtract a star from my rating. I don’t have the patience or the sympathy to read 50+ pages about women who think the only aim in life is finding a man (married or single, it doesn’t really matter…)
In Colm Tóibín’s familiar style, these are stories of mothers who lose their sons, lovers whose past returns in strange ways, fathers who are ordered to destroy their lives for reasons no one seems to know, boys whose noble motives lead them to questionable choices. Two complaints: Too much focus on sexuality, and the last story (which went on and on) is essentially a soap opera.
Tóibín’s The Testament of Mary, House of Names, and The Blackwater Lightship are among my favourite books. On the other hand, Brooklyn was a nightmare. This collection is rich, layered and written in lyrical yet direct language. However, for me, it lacks the strength of his novels.
‘’It is strange how much unwitting effort it has taken to bring us here. The engineers and software designers could never have guessed, as they laid out their strategies and sought investment, that the thing they were making - the internet - would cause two strangers to meet, and then, after a time, to lie in the half-light of morning, holding each other.’’
Many thanks to Picador and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.word...
A woman has to travel to Galway to break the news of her son’s death to his wife. Another woman receives a visitor who sends her mind back to the days of the Spanish Civil War and her romance with one of Franco’s officers. An Irishman has to leave San Francisco and his daughter after 30 years because a new law has deemed him an ‘alien’. Men contemplate the fragility of a love still not fully accepted by society. A teacher travels to Dublin to seek a meeting that will supposedly help put an end to the nightmare of tuberculosis.
A young boy’s wish for freedom leads him to commit a crime, and the consequences might be dire. A man from Ireland believes Barcelona will provide a safe cocoon to protect him from the crimes he has committed, seeking a new life, a clean slate. In the longest story of the collection, a woman finds herself locked inside her house and narrates her life in the company of her sisters, who sought a better life in Argentina, leaving Catalonia behind. I am afraid this one was so bad that I had to subtract a star from my rating. I don’t have the patience or the sympathy to read 50+ pages about women who think the only aim in life is finding a man (married or single, it doesn’t really matter…)
In Colm Tóibín’s familiar style, these are stories of mothers who lose their sons, lovers whose past returns in strange ways, fathers who are ordered to destroy their lives for reasons no one seems to know, boys whose noble motives lead them to questionable choices. Two complaints: Too much focus on sexuality, and the last story (which went on and on) is essentially a soap opera.
Tóibín’s The Testament of Mary, House of Names, and The Blackwater Lightship are among my favourite books. On the other hand, Brooklyn was a nightmare. This collection is rich, layered and written in lyrical yet direct language. However, for me, it lacks the strength of his novels.
‘’It is strange how much unwitting effort it has taken to bring us here. The engineers and software designers could never have guessed, as they laid out their strategies and sought investment, that the thing they were making - the internet - would cause two strangers to meet, and then, after a time, to lie in the half-light of morning, holding each other.’’
Many thanks to Picador and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.word...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Picador for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Whilst I do own a couple of Colm's books, I've only recently read any, starting with A Long Winter. But I'll definitely be picking up his others soon.
I was never a short story fan, always thinking they were a bit pointless, not enough to get your teeth into and so I tended to steer clear. But I've recently enjoyed a number of them, and combined with Colm's talents, it was surely a win-win.
There is no denying his talent for storytelling, especially when writing about normality. The characters are very real and familiar and sometimes a bit boring (not a negative), doing normal things. Whilst some parts are exaggerated, it is mostly real and recognisable an familiar, and he makes the everyday sound so special.
The stories don't seem to be linked in the sense of using the same world or characters, but they do all link with family and loss and grief and longing.
Some stories I liked more than others, which is quite normal when it comes to a collection of stories. I have picked out a few standout ones below:
The Journey to Galway: This was a short but beautiful opening story set during WW1. In just a few pages he has given us an all-too-familiar story of grief, with really human characters and I could feel myself going through what they were. I would be quite happy if he made this into a full-length novel.
Summer of '38: I liked this one but it was very different to how I felt about the first story. It's still related to war, but this gives us a look at a view we might not have considered during wartime.
Barton Springs: This one was particularly short. It is full of intrigue and mysterious characters and I'd have liked a bit more. I'm all for a bit of ambiguity but I wanted a little more meat to it.
A Sum of Money: I really enjoyed this one and I wish it had been a little longer, or that Colm expanded it into a longer standalone story. It felt a bit different to the others, there was almost a thrillery mystery vibe to it. There's secrets and lies at every corner and I was really invested.
A Free Man: This one was interesting. It could have been quite unsavoury - and there are unsavoury elements - but for me, it is mostly about redemption, second changes, about humanity and accepting help.
Whilst I do own a couple of Colm's books, I've only recently read any, starting with A Long Winter. But I'll definitely be picking up his others soon.
I was never a short story fan, always thinking they were a bit pointless, not enough to get your teeth into and so I tended to steer clear. But I've recently enjoyed a number of them, and combined with Colm's talents, it was surely a win-win.
There is no denying his talent for storytelling, especially when writing about normality. The characters are very real and familiar and sometimes a bit boring (not a negative), doing normal things. Whilst some parts are exaggerated, it is mostly real and recognisable an familiar, and he makes the everyday sound so special.
The stories don't seem to be linked in the sense of using the same world or characters, but they do all link with family and loss and grief and longing.
Some stories I liked more than others, which is quite normal when it comes to a collection of stories. I have picked out a few standout ones below:
The Journey to Galway: This was a short but beautiful opening story set during WW1. In just a few pages he has given us an all-too-familiar story of grief, with really human characters and I could feel myself going through what they were. I would be quite happy if he made this into a full-length novel.
Summer of '38: I liked this one but it was very different to how I felt about the first story. It's still related to war, but this gives us a look at a view we might not have considered during wartime.
Barton Springs: This one was particularly short. It is full of intrigue and mysterious characters and I'd have liked a bit more. I'm all for a bit of ambiguity but I wanted a little more meat to it.
A Sum of Money: I really enjoyed this one and I wish it had been a little longer, or that Colm expanded it into a longer standalone story. It felt a bit different to the others, there was almost a thrillery mystery vibe to it. There's secrets and lies at every corner and I was really invested.
A Free Man: This one was interesting. It could have been quite unsavoury - and there are unsavoury elements - but for me, it is mostly about redemption, second changes, about humanity and accepting help.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a collection of short stories, the first seven of which have been published previously. A pedant might note that the ninth is novella length. There is no obvious common theme, a few are war related but not war stories, a few have homosexual main characters but are not sexual stories, a few include criminal activities but are not crime stories. They range in time from 1917 to now, they range widely in place; Ireland, USA, Spain, Argentina. It seems to me that they all have an air of melancholy, or perhaps pensiveness. With the exception of the novella length story “The Catalan Girls”, they tend to focus on a short episode which provokes memories of a longer backstory. This can give the feeling that they are prologues, or opening chapters, for novels yet to be written. The use of language is, of course, excellent in all cases, but the stories are variable; some are three star where others are obvious 5 stars – so 4 overall seems fair.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🇮🇪"The News From Dublin" by Colm Toibin🇪🇸
Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC of Colm Toibin's latest collection of short stories, due to be released in March.
Set in Ireland, the US, Argentina and Spain, the theme running through most of these stories is of a need to return home, whether reluctantly or willingly.
Toibin writes with his typical sparseness, with very little description or imagery - and yet, somehow he draws the reader in with how realistically and vividly he captures ordinary humanity.
The story I enjoyed the most was the last and longest one: 'The Catalan Girls'. A tale of three sisters, whose widowed mother takes them from Spain to Argentina when they are still children. Toibin somehow manages to write from a woman's perspective in as convincing a manner as any woman writer.
As is often the case with short stories, the ending of each one is anti-climatic and I always think they need at least one more reading to really 'get' it.
But, if you've enjoyed Toibin's other work, I think you'll enjoy these stories too.
#colmtóibín #thenewsfromdublin #arc #netgalley
Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC of Colm Toibin's latest collection of short stories, due to be released in March.
Set in Ireland, the US, Argentina and Spain, the theme running through most of these stories is of a need to return home, whether reluctantly or willingly.
Toibin writes with his typical sparseness, with very little description or imagery - and yet, somehow he draws the reader in with how realistically and vividly he captures ordinary humanity.
The story I enjoyed the most was the last and longest one: 'The Catalan Girls'. A tale of three sisters, whose widowed mother takes them from Spain to Argentina when they are still children. Toibin somehow manages to write from a woman's perspective in as convincing a manner as any woman writer.
As is often the case with short stories, the ending of each one is anti-climatic and I always think they need at least one more reading to really 'get' it.
But, if you've enjoyed Toibin's other work, I think you'll enjoy these stories too.
#colmtóibín #thenewsfromdublin #arc #netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The short story trope normally delivers a punchy ending of some sort. A resolution, a decision, a breakthrough. Usually it surprises us. It's an ending created for dramatic effect.
Tóibín's collection The News from Dublin doesn't follow the usual formula.
He delivers endings which are thoughtful and considered. The protagonists in his short stories - parents of the boy sent home in disgrace from boarding school, the priest who has been released from prison and others - act as normal people would. There's no grandstanding. This makes his stories more meaningful.
The short story which bears the name of the collection is particularly poignant. Reuniting us with characters from one of Tóibín 's previous novels, Maurice goes to Dublin to meet the health minister on behalf of his sick younger brother Stephen. The story becomes a vivid evocation of Ireland's troubled past and Eamon de Valera's visit to Enniscorthy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
Tóibín's collection The News from Dublin doesn't follow the usual formula.
He delivers endings which are thoughtful and considered. The protagonists in his short stories - parents of the boy sent home in disgrace from boarding school, the priest who has been released from prison and others - act as normal people would. There's no grandstanding. This makes his stories more meaningful.
The short story which bears the name of the collection is particularly poignant. Reuniting us with characters from one of Tóibín 's previous novels, Maurice goes to Dublin to meet the health minister on behalf of his sick younger brother Stephen. The story becomes a vivid evocation of Ireland's troubled past and Eamon de Valera's visit to Enniscorthy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Having read several of Colm Tóibín‘s novels, I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to read this upcoming short story collection before its release on March 31, 2026.
This expansive collection of standalone stories transports you on a journey across Ireland, Argentina, Spain, and the United States. Many of these stories revolve around grief, trauma, and the profound sense of being far from one’s “home.”
The first story, in particular, is captivating as it narrates the poignant moment when a mother delivers the heartbreaking news of her son’s death to his now-wife. Toibin’s remarkable ability to weave such intense sadness and tension within a remarkably short span of pages is truly astonishing.
The second and final stories were probably my two favorites. The actual story of “The News from Dublin” seemed to be the weakest of the collection, but it was still enjoyable.
Colm Tóibín, a highly talented writer, has gifted us with so many remarkable works. Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for providing me with the ARC!
This expansive collection of standalone stories transports you on a journey across Ireland, Argentina, Spain, and the United States. Many of these stories revolve around grief, trauma, and the profound sense of being far from one’s “home.”
The first story, in particular, is captivating as it narrates the poignant moment when a mother delivers the heartbreaking news of her son’s death to his now-wife. Toibin’s remarkable ability to weave such intense sadness and tension within a remarkably short span of pages is truly astonishing.
The second and final stories were probably my two favorites. The actual story of “The News from Dublin” seemed to be the weakest of the collection, but it was still enjoyable.
Colm Tóibín, a highly talented writer, has gifted us with so many remarkable works. Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for providing me with the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed these short stories, and liked that they ramped up to much longer stories towards the end of the collection. Some I liked more than others. I think the best was the 2nd to last story of an Irish teacher convicted of sexual abuse who has relocated to Spain after leaving prison. It sounds like an unlikely topic for being a favourite story in a book, but it is unsettling yet compelling. There are moments of humour within the tales, but mostly they are thoughtful, quiet, reflective pieces that somehow leave you feeling slightly unbalanced on what you think. The final story of 3 sisters is much longer, and dig sag a little in places, but again it was one I enjoyed as I was never quite sure what was happening or where the story was going to go.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced copy.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin is quite unlike any short story collection I have previously read and exceeded every expectation. (Benchmark, the only short story collections I have ever really enjoyed are Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected and The Stories of Ray Bradbury) The benchmark is set high and this collection meets it with ease
The collection is not just based in Dublin, but in many other locations, creating threads transcending space but keeping the heart close. The narrative is almost conversational while still being an objective observer. Interesting, engaging and deep into the human experience, stories that you can relate to or at least empathise with. Loved it
Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan l Picador and the author Colm Toibin for this intriguing arc. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
The collection is not just based in Dublin, but in many other locations, creating threads transcending space but keeping the heart close. The narrative is almost conversational while still being an objective observer. Interesting, engaging and deep into the human experience, stories that you can relate to or at least empathise with. Loved it
Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan l Picador and the author Colm Toibin for this intriguing arc. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have, dare I say, religiously followed Colm Toibin since I discovered The Blackwater Lightship on publication, twenty five years ago. I love the issues raised by his fiction shown in both glaring and oblique ways, his eye inevitably drawn to small moments that chnage people or drive them forwards.
I find it unusual to be both master of the novel and the short story but Toibin is. to my mind, both. This is another collection that made me both want to stop and think, as well as race ahead to wallow in the next creation. Harder to review short stories than novels as I let the stories seep together however dissonant in themes and protagonists.
He is just so good at writing actions that inform whole characters for the reader.
A delight...as ever!
With thanks to #NetGalley and #Picador for the opportunity to read and review
I find it unusual to be both master of the novel and the short story but Toibin is. to my mind, both. This is another collection that made me both want to stop and think, as well as race ahead to wallow in the next creation. Harder to review short stories than novels as I let the stories seep together however dissonant in themes and protagonists.
He is just so good at writing actions that inform whole characters for the reader.
A delight...as ever!
With thanks to #NetGalley and #Picador for the opportunity to read and review
January 16, 2026
The News From Dublin is a collection of stories by Colm Tobin. All except one take place in Ireland, and several have priests that have left the priesthood, one having abused his younger students. The last story was longer and set in Barcelona.
It was definitely not easy to have empathy for the abusive priest, although I did at times which says quite a bit about Tolm’s character writing. My favorite story was the last one about the sisters in Barcelona. It reminded me a little of Elena Ferrante.
If you enjoy story collections that are disparate and well written try this collection. I much preferred his novels but am glad I read this one. Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the eARC.
February 3, 2026
The News from Dublin is a quiet, reflective novel that leans more on mood than plot. Set against an Irish backdrop, it’s thoughtful and often beautifully written, but it never fully pulled me in emotionally. I appreciated the sense of place and the gentle exploration of identity and belonging, yet the pacing felt slow and a bit distant at times. Overall, a solid read that I’m glad I tried, but it didn’t quite linger with me once I turned the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc
December 31, 2025
The News from Dublin is a beautiful collection of bittersweet tales from Colm Tóibín.
Written with his usual empathy and insight, these eleven stories set across locations in Ireland, Spain and America, all places the author has lived in himself, explore many themes including grief, exile, loneliness and the ties of family.
I particularly liked ‘The News from Dublin’ with its insight into Irish politics of the 1960’s. Maurice Webster (a nod to a character from the author’s 2014 novel Nora Webster) travels to Dublin from Enniscorthy to petition a Minister for access to an experimental drug which might possibly save his brother’s life.
‘The Catalan Girls’ a longer tale set over many years about three sisters with very different personalities who struggle after emigrating didn’t draw me in to the same extent all the other stories did - these are mini masterpieces, no doubt using influences and experiences from the author’s life, sometimes to the extent I forgot I was reading fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Picador for the ARC
Written with his usual empathy and insight, these eleven stories set across locations in Ireland, Spain and America, all places the author has lived in himself, explore many themes including grief, exile, loneliness and the ties of family.
I particularly liked ‘The News from Dublin’ with its insight into Irish politics of the 1960’s. Maurice Webster (a nod to a character from the author’s 2014 novel Nora Webster) travels to Dublin from Enniscorthy to petition a Minister for access to an experimental drug which might possibly save his brother’s life.
‘The Catalan Girls’ a longer tale set over many years about three sisters with very different personalities who struggle after emigrating didn’t draw me in to the same extent all the other stories did - these are mini masterpieces, no doubt using influences and experiences from the author’s life, sometimes to the extent I forgot I was reading fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Picador for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The News from Dublin is a collection of short stories. This is my first book by Colm Tóibín and will likely be it for me. Some of the short stories were interesting, some were rather unpleasant. This was not for me.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The News From Dublin" by Colm Toibin is a collection of short stories. I would actually consider the last story the size of a book. He writes of characters I either root for or not so good people. But they are about families and the difficulties and good involved in relatives. LIked some stories more than others. but a pretty good read. I would give this book a 3.5.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A highly competent and readable collection of short stories which are linked by their exploration of loneliness, of an exploration of what constitutes the self, the idea of home and the importance of memory. Strong characterisation and a clear sense of the work as a collection that hangs together despite disparate settings and times.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the digital ARC. Thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories. Inevitably some land nearer to the heart than others but each is well-formed and engaging. A wide range of characters and scenarios. My favourite won't be the same as someone else's favourite but I recommend the journey.
December 10, 2025
I thought that these were beautiful sometimes incredible emotional, stories, about relatable characters. I personally really enjoy short story format books, so this was a great fit. This was my first read by Colm Toibin, and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Normally I am not a fan of short stories but for Colm Tobin I would surely make an exception. Each story drew me in with his unique style of writing. I received an ARC from the publisher. This is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free copy of, The News from Dublin, by Colm Toibin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I dont think I have read any of Colm Toibin's book before, I really enjoyed these short stories, some were better then others, but I really enjoyed these stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this collection of stories. Writing a short story that captures your interest is an art, Colm Tóibín manages it so well here. He has an ability to combine plot and character, together with deep emotion. I’ll definitely be seeking out more of his short stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
pretty welldone book of stories with some fantastic parts to it. the stories have great setting and plot. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
January 22, 2026
3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A top read for 2026...
Colm Tóibín is the consummate storyteller - known for incredible novels such Brooklyn, Long Island and The Magician and more..
This is a collection of short stories. Short story writing is a precarious world; some authors are able to master the skill and achieve the art of less is more whilst others... that's another story.
Colm Tóibín has created an incredible group of tales crossing from Europe to the Americas. These are stories that uncover the raw nature of being human; a diversity of relationships and a cross section of characters. These are stories that are set across different decades in the last century- one thing they have in common is to invoke a wide range of emotional responses- touching the deeper feelings of loss; confronting the impact of avarice; the exploration and consequence of crossing dark lines and the outcomes of familial - in particular sibling - rivalries and envy.
These are stories that will satisfy, unsettle and leave questions. Characters come from societies that have undergone and are undergoing transitions -the systems wanting to control and the legacies of previous regimes and fallen/falling patriarchal secrets and lies.
It is hard to pick out a favourite - each is an individual piece of art.
The Catalan Girls was a highly satisfying final story in this anthology of stories ( some previous published in other publications)
Of course, many readers may be challenged or feel a volatility from some the stories - "A Sum of Money " is an uncomfortable tale and the unspoken side of war is touched upon in the "Summer of '38" but ultimately these are stories that need to be discussed and will stay long after reading.
There is often a feeling that writers of Irish heritage use the world of fiction as a catharsis- releasing and healing the damage that has occurred in societies where the church, family conformity and societal rules have suppressed human freedom.
Long may Colm Tóibín share his talent with us- a master at the top of his game
Thank you to Netgalley and Picador for this advance copy
Colm Tóibín is the consummate storyteller - known for incredible novels such Brooklyn, Long Island and The Magician and more..
This is a collection of short stories. Short story writing is a precarious world; some authors are able to master the skill and achieve the art of less is more whilst others... that's another story.
Colm Tóibín has created an incredible group of tales crossing from Europe to the Americas. These are stories that uncover the raw nature of being human; a diversity of relationships and a cross section of characters. These are stories that are set across different decades in the last century- one thing they have in common is to invoke a wide range of emotional responses- touching the deeper feelings of loss; confronting the impact of avarice; the exploration and consequence of crossing dark lines and the outcomes of familial - in particular sibling - rivalries and envy.
These are stories that will satisfy, unsettle and leave questions. Characters come from societies that have undergone and are undergoing transitions -the systems wanting to control and the legacies of previous regimes and fallen/falling patriarchal secrets and lies.
It is hard to pick out a favourite - each is an individual piece of art.
The Catalan Girls was a highly satisfying final story in this anthology of stories ( some previous published in other publications)
Of course, many readers may be challenged or feel a volatility from some the stories - "A Sum of Money " is an uncomfortable tale and the unspoken side of war is touched upon in the "Summer of '38" but ultimately these are stories that need to be discussed and will stay long after reading.
There is often a feeling that writers of Irish heritage use the world of fiction as a catharsis- releasing and healing the damage that has occurred in societies where the church, family conformity and societal rules have suppressed human freedom.
Long may Colm Tóibín share his talent with us- a master at the top of his game
Thank you to Netgalley and Picador for this advance copy
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