
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Claire has decided to highlight two novels by Irish writers. The first, “This is Happiness” by Niall Williams, is one of the most joyfully Irish books she has read in a long time. The second is “Leonard and Hungry Paul” by Rónán Hession. Both books portray a simpler, slower way of life with characters that wouldn’t be out of place in each others’ locales.
For the week that’s in it, and that week is Seachtain na Gaeilge, Stephanie decides to take on two Irish non-fiction titles. The books in question, “The Place We Call Home” by John Creedon and “Thirty Two Words for Field” by Manchán Magan, have a shared passion for the roots of names and their attendant folklore.
On our special Valentine’s episode Claire gives her take on the original and thought provoking “Love and Other Thought Experiments” by Sophie Ward. She also offers a frank assessment of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” which sees a fictional Hollywood icon being interviewed by a staffer from a top selling glossy magazine.
This week Stephanie follows up on a recommendation from Jessica, one of Clonmel library’s book club members. “The Salt Path” tells the story of Raynor Winn and her husband moth, a couple who are rendered homeless just when a tragic medical diagnosis is revealed. They decide a 630 mile walk from Somerset to Dorset is the best remedy.