The Wren, the Wren

by Anne Enright

W.W. Norton

    Three generations of a fascinating Irish family - Nell, the youngest, is finding her way; Carmel, her mother, is also searching for something; and Phil, their late father, a somewhat famous poet who left the family when his wife became ill. Phil said that all poetry is about unrequited love and that there is no other kind of love. The women are, many years later, coming to terms with his abandonment and discovering what love is beyond his poetry.

    This sounds dire, but it's not at all - filled with humor, beauty and poetry.

If you'd like to know more about, or own this book, please check your local independent bookstore or this great place bookshop.org . While you're there you may want to find a birds of Ireland book.

The Queen of Dirt Island

by Donal Ryan

Viking Press

    The form of this novel is superb. Each chapter is a prose poem of two pages; all connecting to create the story of the Aylward women - strong, funny, profane and loving across their generations.

    There is tragedy and heartbreak but mostly love. There is such warmth and humor in these pages you can't help but smile throughout, even when the going gets rough.

    I've enjoyed other books by Ryan but this is his best, so far.

If you would like to know more about this book or own it, please try your local independent bookstore or bookshop.org

Foster

Small Things Like These

by Claire Keegan

Grove Press

    Both of these novels are quietly moving, lyrical and brief almost to the point of poetry. There's not a stray word here. Small Things Like These tells of a man and a family making a kind decision that is beyond the norm for their small town and braver than they acknowledge. Foster has been made into an Irish language film - The Quiet Girl -  that I haven't yet seen. It tells of a young girl staying with relatives while her mother nears her due date and gives birth to another in a not-small family. With her older relatives she discovers a different, calmer way of living - filled with grief and humor and love.

    Keegan has short story collections - Walk the Blue Fields and Antarctica are also available from Grove Press. A friend reports listening to these as audio books with wonderful Irish readers.

             

If you would like to know more about or own these book, please try your local bookstore or bookshop.org