Irish Readers discussion

only 2 irish people :( that suxs

I love Ireland!! soz that was random.Stupid- people-who-are-Irish-on-Goodreads-and-dont-Join-this-group-!-!-!

Yep :D

i'm here now. :D

Yay! more Irish people!! Ireland ROCKS!!

thought there would be a few more people from Ireland alright - aren't we the land of saints and scholars?

glad you found us :)

Hey everybody,glad to have finally found the Irish group. When I was looking for it found 1 group for people who are scared of Irish??? Very odd indeed.

scared of the Irish! lol have never heard of that before!

As I said very odd but it was right there when I put Irish into the
groups search bar.
Anyway I'm new to this group thing,what exactly goes on?

I guess this is a place to exchange ideas and thoughts on the books we are reading/read/want to read etc...
So if you would like to comment on what you are reading please post here :)

Hello from Dublin.

I have found a very interesting writer, Alan Glynn, whose work is within the noir/thriller genre.

I thought members here would be interested to know about him.


Gerard Brennan Interviews Alan Glynn

hi just found a really interesting website, localbooks.ie. Really interesting books on irelands history

Hello, everyone. What's happeneing?

I'm not Irish but I live in Galway. I'm sure that counts...

Hey guys :D as you can tell there isn't much interaction or convos in this group..:(

I have to say, I'm a little bit disappointed that so little happens in this group. I normally only read authors who've been recommended. I was hoping that people could steer me towards some new Irish authors. I've only really read Roddy Doyle, Joseph O'Connor and John Connoly. I know there are a lot of great Irish authors, but I'm reluctant to pick up a new novel without a strong recommendation. Hence, signing up to good reads in the first place. BTW, Matt, you're very welcom. And, Aoife. Why not get the ball rolling?

That's true. I have no excuse :P I'll try and think of some new topics tomorrow, but for now I must study for my last two Christmas exams :(

Good luck with the exams, Aoife! You should have plenty of time for some recreational reading, in the new year.

Hey from an Irish-gal recently relocated to the Pacific NorthWest - it rains a lot here too so kind of like being at home really...

I've set myself a reading challenge for 2011 and part if it includes reading more 'homegrown' works so I have Samuel Becket's 'Malloy' on my list and I randomly came across an Irish author called Eilis Dillon who wrote 'The Bitter Glass'. I'd never heard of her before but it's on one of those 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die lists. Anyone read it? Anyone have any Reading Resolutions for the coming year?

Declan wrote: "I have to say, I'm a little bit disappointed that so little happens in this group. I normally only read authors who've been recommended. I was hoping that people could steer me towards some new Iri..."

Try 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde and 'Ulysses' by James Joyce.

Both by admirable Irish authors delivering their best.

@ Saira,

The Picture of Dorian Gray has been on the long finger for a while, I'll have to buy it soon.

I'm still debating whether or not to tackle Ulysses. I live right beside Watling Street in the Liberties. Every year James Joyce fans take over the Quays around the new Bloom's Bridge. I've spoken to lots of these people and was surprised that lots of them haven't read it, or are still getting around to finishing it. If Joyce's own devoted fans are struggling with it, it doesn't exactly encourage me to pick it up.

Maybe I should persevere? Then I could get more involved, next June 16th.

And thanks, for the recommendations.

Deborah wrote: "Hey from an Irish-gal recently relocated to the Pacific NorthWest - it rains a lot here too so kind of like being at home really...

I've set myself a reading challenge for 2011 and part if it inc..."

I'm going to cast a wider net. Once I find an author I like, I tend to keep reading their work until I'm completely up to date. I plan on being a little more adventurous, as my New Year's resolution.

Anything Wilde ever wrote is worth reading. I know reccommending Wilde seems a bit obvious but it's true. I'm re-reading the Importance of Being Earnest and it's gorgeous. Not to mention that Dorian Gray is my Fave book.

That settles it, guys. I've a couple of books that I have to put to bed, but I'll be reading The Picture of Dorian Gray as my first book of the New Year.

Thanks, guys. ;)

Happy New Year! :)

Happy New Year! ;)

And to you all - may the year bring you only success.

Martin :)

Happy New Year everyone...tonight is the last night of Christmas, Nollag na mBan and special wishes to all Irish ladies out there.

I'm a writer and new on this discussion. Last Irish book I read was Joseph O'Connor's 'Star of the Sea' which I thought was excellent.

es

Next on my list is Emma Donoghue's

Hi New to the group just looking for suggestions on good books to read.. Love Fantasy but will read anything that comes recommended. I've notice a few people have Dorian Gray on the list.... so i may give that a go. :)

@ Sarah.
If you enjoy fantasy, you might enjoy some of Iain M. Banks's sci-fi novels. I'd recommend Player Of Games, or Use Of Weapons.

@ Declan cool thanks il take note and let you know how i get on... :)

Recently found this group. I love Irish writers! Anyone want to share about Irish novel with me?

Tyas wrote: "Recently found this group. I love Irish writers! Anyone want to share about Irish novel with me?"

Hi, Tyas! Two of my favourite Irish novels are Star of The Sea by Joseph O'Connor and Strumpet City by James Plunkett. Both are historic fiction, and I highly recommend them.

Declan wrote: "Tyas wrote: "Recently found this group. I love Irish writers! Anyone want to share about Irish novel with me?"

Hi, Tyas! Two of my favourite Irish novels are Star of The Sea by Joseph O'Connor and..."

Hi, Declan!
Wow, historic fiction? I think I like it. I like story about war. How about Jennifer Johnston? Have you read her novel, Declan?

Hi, Tyas. No, I haven't read any Jennifer Johnston, yet. I have a lot of books to read, at the moment. They were gifts for Christmas. As soon as I've finished those I'll give Jennifer Johnston a try.

Yeah, Declan. You should read that one.
Wow, you have so many books to read? Poor me..now I just have one book to read, that is Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.

Tyas wrote: "Yeah, Declan. You should read that one.
Wow, you have so many books to read? Poor me..now I just have one book to read, that is Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman."

Let me know if it's good. I hope that you really enjoy it.

Hi, New to this group I have been on Goodreads for a while but trying now to get more involved. I recommend

, . Also for those into Spirituality John O'Donoghue is really insightful. Hopefully this group will become more active if we all join in with recommendations etc.

memoirsofgeisha wrote: "Hi, New to this group I have been on Goodreads for a while but trying now to get more involved. I recommend

I love Sebastian Barry. If you haven't already read it, I suggest reading A Long Long Way. It's about a young man, Willie Dunne, who joins the British Army in order to make his father in the DMP proud. He's soon sent to France to fight in the trenches during WWI, and he leaves an uncertain life behind him. Highly recommended.

i must make The Scripture my next read, its been on my shelf for awhile! ;)

I really enjoyed The Secret Scripture. It's an interesting look at Ireland after the establishment of the free state, the influence of the Catholic Church and the treatment of women at that time.

Best Irish novel I have read in a very long time — Mistaken by Niall Jordan. Set in Dublin over a few decades, it's beautifully written, easy style, and great story. Well worth a read.

es

Am new to group! so Hi everyone. I also loved the Secret Scripture(gave it 5 starts in my rating which is rare for me) and found it a real page turner am in the middle of Mistaken at the moment and hope to finish it this weekend.

Declan wrote: "memoirsofgeisha wrote: "Hi, New to this group I have been on Goodreads for a while but trying now to get more involved. I recommend

I love Sebastian Barry. If you haven't already read it, I sugg..."

Thanks for that recommendation will put it on my to read list..it is getting longer by the day.

Declan wrote: "I really enjoyed The Secret Scripture. It's an interesting look at Ireland after the establishment of the free state, the influence of the Catholic Church and the treatment of women at that time."
It was an fantastic book and really struck a cord with me, I had a aunt who had been institutionalized from the age of 14 because she was too VAIN.. really insightful and sad book.

memoirsofgeisha wrote: "Declan wrote: "I really enjoyed The Secret Scripture. It's an interesting look at Ireland after the establishment of the free state, the influence of the Catholic Church and the treatment of women ..."<

Fortunately nobody in my family ever suffered in such a way that I'm aware of, but with the stigma attached to it, such things may have swept under that carpet. I did however work in the laundry of Mount Carmel Hospital. There were two women who worked there since their teens. They were semi-literate, which is a generous description, and paranoid. They always felt as though they were being scrutinised. Which is not surprising when you've had almost fifty years of an omniscient and omnipresent God crammed down your throat.