Sunday, July 26, 2009

Wing-ed Things and Sisters with Issues


The Behaviour of Moths is one of those books that you come across now and again that feels truly unique, unlike anything you've read before, and even more enjoyable for that reason.


It's the story of two sisters, told from the perspective of Ginny - one of the sisters who is in her later years - as she rambles aimlessly and alone around her crumbling deserted gothic mansion. Her sister Vivi has been long gone, for more than 40 years, and the reasons for this departure are revealed torturously slowly through flashbacks and very furtive reveals from Ginny as she relects on her life and family.


Throughout the story the motif of moths, an academic speciality of Ginny's, illustrates the various peaks and valleys of the sisters' relationships and emotions.


Alternately claustrophic and spacious, haunting and subtle, menacing and gentle, this novel is dripping with atmosphere. It's dark, grim, at times gruesome but always intriguing and through it all, remarkably addictive and strangely beautiful.


I simply loved every single word of this novel and would urge anyone to pick it up and read it, it's immensely engrossing and satisfying and one of my favourite reads so far this year.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Eileen Battersby's review of "Peace" by Richard Bausch




Eileen Battersby's review in today's Irish Times is about Richard Bausch's book "Peace"
Battersby gives the book a very favourable review, stating that American fiction is "Outstanding, judging by the publication of work as superb as this edgy short novel by the gifted and still seriously unsung Richard Bausch"
"Peace" is a classic war story set in Italy, it is both funny and critical.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Recommended Crime- July 09


Gone Tomorrow- Lee Child









Long Lost- Harlan Coben













Trust Me- Jeff Abbott













Nobody Move- Denis Johnson













City of the Sun- David Levien








Swan Peak- James Lee Burke








Wicked Prey- John Sandford









The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-Stieg Larsson








RyanTubridy's Summer Reads


The Tubridy Show Summer Reads were chosen by Morning Ireland's Aine Lawlor, Actor Eamon Morrissey and Author Niamh Greene


they choose...

Brooklyn - Colm Toibin
Ulysses and Us - Declan Kiberd
Judging Dev - Diarmuid Ferriter
The Polish Officer - Alan Furst
Zoo Station - David Downing
Liberty - Lucy Moore
Downriver - John Hart
The Help - Kathryn Stockett
Heart and Soul - Maeve Binchy
The Scret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
Missing You Already - Pauline McLynn
The Believers - Zoe Heller


Friday, July 17, 2009

The Grass is Singing - Doris Lessing. Reviewed by Audrey Cole


I enjoyed it very much, she drew the characters brilliantly, the decline of Mary was interesting and very sad, likewise Dick, none of his aspirations or dreams worked, so his decline was equally sad. The scheming of Moses was clever and well thought out, the way he made Mary so dependant on him. The desolation of the farm reminded me of Ireland after the war, I remember the bleakness of it, and the poverty.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Top 10 New Fiction for July 2009




July 09 Top 10 New Fiction


1. Burnt Out Town of Miracles- Roy Jacobsen





2.The Help- Kathryn Stockett







3. Sweeping Up Glass- Carolyn Wall













4. American Rust- Philip Meyer







5. The Garden of Last Days- Andre Dubus












6. Man Gone Down- Michael Thomas









7. Home- Marilynne Robinson







8. A Fraction of the Whole- Steve Toltz















9. Go With Me- Castle Freeman









10. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wa0- Junot Diaz























Saturday, July 4, 2009

Irish Times " Summer Sleuths"







This is a really good article about crime novels for the summer in The Irish Times.


The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus


“The Garden of Last Days” Andre Dubus

This book was both riveting and disturbing. His writing style is very clear but he has a particular talent for drawing his characters from a different perspective and making even the baddies motivation understandable and human.

The reader feels torn by feelings of sympathy for the baddies, but it is hard to root for the good guys as there aren’t any, except for the child Franny.

The story is set in Florida and the action takes place on one night when April takes her daughter to work with her as the babysitter is sick. April works in a strip joint.

What I really liked was how Dubus draws the reader into the lives of the characters and tries to find explanations for their actions.

By Mary Farrell