Declan Burke brings us Red Menace, a thrilling 1980s police drama sequel to the impressive White Riot from Joe Thomas, centred on UK police misconduct. The Shame Archive, from Oliver Harris, is a standout espionage narrative of the year, delving into the aftermath of an MI5 records breach. Jo Spain, the reigning Irish thriller expert, offers another tension-filled masterpiece with The Trial, influenced by Irish scholarly circles. Chris Brookmyre’s The Cracked Mirror, a delightfully humorous nod to Agatha Christie expected to be out the following month, is definitely a must-read. The Lammisters is the latest publication by Burke under No Alibis Press.
Jan Carson was greatly impressed by Orla Mackey’s novel Mouthing, an affectionate but harsh examination of life in a small Irish village, filled with laugh-out-loud humour, profound sadness, and relatable experiences. The intriguing narratives of the characters bring the tale alive. The attention-grabbing debut, Mouthing, will be followed by Phil Harrison’s second novel Silverback, shedding light on contemporary Belfast’s masculinity, vulnerability, and violence. Carson’s most recent book is Quickly, While They Still Have Horses.
Edel Coffey reminisces about Long Island, the much-anticipated sequel to Brooklyn from Colm Tóibín, a wonderfully composed examination of life choices. Coffey effusively praised Glorious Exploits, an impactful debut from Ferdia Lennon. Set in 412 BC Sicily, the narrative intertwines today’s war echoes into a comical and disconcerting story told in Dublin accents. Coffey also enjoyed James, Percival Everett’s humorous and sharp reinvention of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn protagonist, Jim, which brilliantly questions literature and history. A book saved for the holidays was Francesca Segal’s Welcome to Glorious Tuga, a glittering tale about a woman exploring a remote island, filled with friendly locals, unique wildlife, and an attractive doctor.
Edel Coffey’s most recent literary offering is titled In Her Place, as shared by renowned author Helen Cullen. In her view, this year’s most notable novel has been Two Hours, penned by Alba Arikha. In the realm of poetry, Elaine Feeney’s fresh anthology, All the Good Things You Deserve, intimately and intensely explores how art can serve as a healing force. Additionally, the reunion with Eilis in Colm Tóibín’s Long Island, a lovely refurbishment of characters from Brooklyn, was a cherished experience. She is also anticipating the comeback of the familiar literary figure, Lucy Barton, with the release of Elizabeth Strout’s Tell Me Everything, anticipated in August. Helen Cullen is best known for writing The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually.
Critic Niamh Donnelly expressed her enjoyment of books revolving around characters called Nell, recognising authors such as Niamh Mulvey, Sinéad Gleeson, Anne Enright. She was captivated by Mulvey’s expertise in handling complex themes in The Amendments, Gleeson’s distinctiveness and lyrical quality in Hagstone, and Enright’s The Wren, The Wren from last year continues to resonate with her. She had previously given an ardent review of Maggie Armstrong’s initial short story amalgamation, Old Romantics, which she stands by as being a thrilling read. Additional commendations go to Sarah Crossan’s Hey, Zoey, and Overstaying, an eccentric debut from Switzerland’s Ariane Koch, translated by Damion Searls. For her summer reading, she intends to immerse herself in the works of the legendary Alice Munro and in the interim, Hard Copy by Fien Veldman, translated into English by Hester Velmans from Dutch, will be explored. Donnelly has been following Veldman’s impressive writing ever since their encounter years ago. Her first novel spins the tale of a woman fixated on her office printer, merging the bizarre and the comedic in a manner that attracts readers like Donnelly.
Martin Doyle also contributed his reflections.
Ferdia Lennon’s masterful work, Glorious Exploits, is set to be a tough contender to outshine this year due to its brilliant blend of fantasy and reality. The setting is vintage Sicily, but the dialogues echo the endearing charm of Dublin speech. The narrative revolves around a pair of friends, one in mourning, the other infatuated, scheming to enact their beloved traditional dramas with captive Athenian soldiers in their detention quarry. A playful yet profound tragicomedy that possesses the resilience to endure the passage of time. Caoilinn Hughes sparked recognition through The Wild Laughter, recognised with the Encore Award for the best second novel. I would wager that her third offering, The Alternatives, rich with an analysis of four gifted Irish siblings, glittering with wit, intellect, and linguistic flamboyance, is equally worthy of accolade. Niamh Mulvey’s offering, The Amendments, is an exceptional, intimate cross-generation portrayal of young Irish women navigating their path amid a harsh social environment, shaped against the two abortion referendum backdrop. Mouthing by Orla Mackey provides an amusing, affectionate, yet discerning representation of Irish countryside living, painting an engrossing image of a community over the course of several decades and through diverse, at times conflicting, viewpoints.
Anne Enright’s readers should not overlook Clair Wills’s Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother’s Secrets, seeing it merely as a gripping and gloomy familial memoir about austere past times. Such viewing neglects the detail and accuracy Wills’s social historian role brings to the narrative rendered so delicately. Without a doubt, this is a much-needed perspective on Ireland. Richard Flanagan’s Question 7 is another non-fiction piece that grapples with monumental historical issues. This consistently engaging philosophical exploration, which defies definition, is penned with a refreshingly genuine and perhaps uniquely Australian lack of ostentation. As an added boon, novelist Helen Garner’s work, renowned in both the fiction and non-fiction realms, has been republished in paperback on this hemisphere. A moment of pure joy indeed.
Anne Enright’s latest offering is The Wren, The Wren. End of review by Sarah Gilmartin.
During the summer months, I find short stories a refreshing literary indulgence. Maggie Armstrong’s inaugural short story collection, Old Romantics, is a delightful hodgepodge of humour, sublime prose, and a consistent narrative voice that gives it a novelistic substance. Lucy Caldwell’s Openings marks her third venture into a narrative form she has truly embraced. Additionally, returning to Mary Costello’s Barcelona, which I critiqued earlier this year, and delving into each story entirely for enjoyment, has been a true pleasure. The Choc-Ice Woman, in particular, stands as a contemporary masterwork.
Sarah Gilmartin’s novel, Service (One) is currently available in paperback.
Rónán Hession
This year has seen a surge in brilliant Japanese fiction that includes Cannibals by Shinya Tanaka (translated by Kalau Almony), Asa: The Girl Who Turned Into a Pair of Chopsticks by Natsuko Imamura (translated by Lucy North), and The Bridegroom was a Dog by Yoko Tawada (translated by Margaret Mitsutani). The Physics of Sorrow, authored by Bulgarian luminary Georgi Gospodinov and translated by Angela Rodel, left a distinctive impression. Donal Ryan’s anticipated novel, Heart, Be at Peace, and Aidan Mathews’ exemplary poetry anthology, Pure Filth, were both commendable. Looking ahead, I am keen to explore Spent Light by Lara Pawson, and Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel. For long journeys, I’ll be engrossed in Big Beacon by Alan Partridge, an audiobook.
Rónán Hession’s most recent work is Ghost Mountain.
Christopher Kissane
Colin Barrett’s novel, Wild Houses, extends his mastery of the short story form. Anne de Marcken’s It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over delivers a chillingly brilliant narrative of a zombie-agitated journey full of death and violence and heading West. Minor Detail from Adania Shibli, with its repetitive concision, offers heart-rending reading set against the backdrop of the Gaza atrocities. The Great Potato Famine and the Making of Irish New York, shares the story of the one million Irish immigrants who arrived in New York during the famine, making Tyler Anbinder’s Plentiful Country a pertinent study given contemporary migration debates. Olga Tokarczuk’s The Empusium heightens my anticipation, with its exploration of horror and thought-provoking perspectives, as does Rachel Cusk’s upcoming novel, Parade, with its potential to once again disrupt the traditional novel form. As election season approaches, Diarmaid Ferriter’s The Revelation of Ireland 1995-2020 is likely to be crucial reading.
Christopher Kissane is a proficient historian, writer and critic.
Mia Levitin
The trailblazing forms of Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti, Melting Point by Rachel Cockerell, and I Will Crash by Rebecca Watson all left a profound mark on me. Similarly, The Hearing Test, Eliza Barry Callahan’s debut about a film composer coping with sudden deafness, Percival Everett’s novel James and Lucy Caldwell’s short-story compilation Openings, were all drawing books. This summer, I am excited to immerse myself in Mammoth by Eva Baltasar (tr. Julia Sanches); The Memo by Lauren Mechling and Rachel Dodes; and Sarah Manguso’s Liars, voraciously described by Nick Hornby as “a howl of rage”. Additionally, I will not hesitate to flaunt my Sally Rooney proof copy as a covetous accessory.
Mia Levitin is a critic and the author of The Future of Seduction.
Ruth McKee
Echoing the sentiments of Murakami, I find myself captivated by the same readings as everyone else, and mirroring their perceptions when it comes to Ghost Mountain written by Rónán Hession. Its profound, philosophical, and humorous nature makes it my most cherished book thus far. Recently, I find myself magnetised towards works by authors blessed with wisdom and experience. A Good Enough Mother by Catherine Dunne has beguiled me with its eloquence, proving Dunne to be a talented weaver of tales. Similarly, I find myself immersed in Kerry Hardie’s poetic collection, We Go On, that currently resides on my desk. Come summer, I’m revisiting the writings of Alice Munro, initiating with the compelling book, Runaway.
Ruth McKee is notable as the editor of Books Ireland magazine.
Joseph O’Connor
I am highly captivated by Niamh Mulvey’s literary creations, with her debut book, The Amendments, being a personal favourite. Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time has proven to be a truly captivating and influential work, interspersing thought-provoking narratives with moments of humour and poignance. When it comes to non-fiction, my favorite is The Garden Against Time, a riveting work by the accomplished Olivia Laing. The narrative is so exquisite that I am savouring it slowly, wishing it would last the entire summer period. Presently, I find myself engrossed in Colm Tóibín’s phenomenal creation, Long Island, which evokes fond memories of tranquil summer evenings spent far from home.
Joseph O’Connor’s recent book is titled My Father’s House, and its sequel, The Ghosts of Rome, is slated for a January release.
Olivia Laing: ‘It is a challenge for many people to understand concepts such as racism or misogyny simply because they fail to acknowledge their existence.’
Fintan O’Toole.
Ferdia Lennon dazzles readers with his exceptional historical debut novel, Glorious Exploits. Centred in Syracuse during the 5th century BCE, it unfolds amidst the ruins of Athens’ failed invasion. The narrative, told by two out-of-work potters, employs starving Athenian captives to enact Euripides’ plays. Lennon brilliantly uses contemporary Dublin vernacular, resulting in unprecedented immediacy, humour and emotional depth. Colm Tóibín’s sequel to Brooklyn, Long Island, picks up with Eilis Lacey, two decades later, in a masterpiece of psychological insight, exploring complex human emotions with deep delicacy and efficiency.
Christopher Clark’s Revolutionary Spring: Fighting for a New World 1848-1849 is a captivating chronicle of the revolutions that profoundly shaped modern Europe. Can’t wait for Sally Rooney’s soon-to-be-released fourth offering, Intermezzo, promising to enrapture readers again. The recent release by Fintan O’Toole, Shakespeare Is Hard, but So Is Life, is also worth mentioning.
John Self suggests two gripping novels, deeply political yet personal – Hisham Matar’s My Friends which traces a man’s life impacted by the Libyan embassy standoff in London in 1984, and Sunjeev Sahota’s The Spoiled Heart, a novel abundant in nuanced interpersonal drama, trade union politics, prejudice and passion. He also sings praises for the irresistible character in Karen Jennings’s Crooked Seeds, and the raw portrayal of adolescence and aftermath in Alba Arikha’s Two Hours.
John Self is a critic while Catherine Taylor is yet to review.
This year, the literary world has seen inspiring works such as Lucy Caldwell’s latest collection of short stories, Openings. Closely linked to her previous series, this work has confirmed her illustrious reputation, often compared to that of Elizabeth Bowen. Amongst its standout pieces is Daylight Raids, a tale of a fervent love affair during London’s Blitz. Jo Baker’s The Midnight News bears its own tribute to Bowen, specifically citing her acclaimed 1948 work, The Heat of the Day. Here, Baker intricately weaves a tale based in wartime London, showcasing her ability to masterfully adapt to various historic contexts. The Spoiled Heart, penned by twice Booker-nominated Sunjeev Sahota, delves into complex themes of politics, race, and class, set against a backdrop of a gripping union leadership struggle in South Yorkshire.
In the realm of non-fiction, notable memoirs have emerged, one of which is Cloistered: My Years as a Nun. Catherine Coldstream’s poetic and poignant narrative is an offering to be cherished. Likewise, the gripping accounts in Splinters by Leslie Jamison and the profound memoir, Intervals, by Marianne Brooker, in which she explores care-giving and receiving through her mother’s experience with multiple sclerosis, are worth a read.
In terms of translations, Jenny Erpenbeck’s Kairos stands out, brilliantly translated by Michael Hofmann, offering a potent depiction of a relationship set in pre-Cold War East Berlin. This remarkable work rightfully won the International Booker Prize. On the shortlist as well was Argentina’s Selva Almada, whose condensed yet harrowing tale Not a River, beautifully translated by Annie McDermott, is also deserving of mention. Moreover, from Chile, Alia Trabucco Zerán’s Clean, with Sophie Hughes as the translator, introduces a gripping exploration of class and domestic violence, inspired by a notorious child murder event in Chile’s evolving political arena.
This summer, I eagerly anticipate diving into diverse reads such as Monsters: What Do We Do with Great Art by Bad People? by cultural critic Clare Dederer, a series of stirring essays in the context of #MeToo, and James, Percival Everett’s bold reinterpretation of Huckleberry Finn. Not forgetting the centenary celebration of Janet Frame, one of New Zealand’s finest authors, I’ll be immersing myself in her acclaimed novels, stories, and her much-lauded autobiography in August.
Catherine Taylor, an assayist and novelist, is known for her book ‘The Stirrings: Coming of Age in Northern Time’.