This was the April book choice of our reading group. Prompting a lively discussion, it proved to be an overall enjoyable read, described by the group as ‘a complex read, very sad and tragic but beautifully written’.

Barry tells the story of Roseanne McNulty who having spent most of her adult life in Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her 100th...

In many ways this book is a challenging read. On the surface it is a love story between an older established yet damaged artist and a young, unknown idealistic one. Roderick has survived his demons, and his marriage break-up to start again with Julia. The supporting characters colour and give life to this book, making it a much more demanding read. It’s about...

A wonderful book, a meticulously researched treasure trove of Irish folklore and mythology, covering the well known Cú Chulainn, Fionn Mac Cumhail, Saint Patrick and Saint Bridget to more obscure subjects such as as Flidais (apparently a deer goddess). It traces the development of various gods, goddesses, heroes, ghosts and fairies, using linguistic and literary evidence to...

A riotous hoot of a novel, charting the continuing insanity of the unhinged Mystery Man, a crime-fighting Belfast bookshop owner, whose latest case superficially involves uncovering the identity of a mental patient, The Prisoner of (Nurse) Brenda, but which really involves psychotic mothers, a hypochondriac son, a new baby, shady property developers, Latin curses, arson and even bouts of midnight...

A ghost light is a light left on the stage when a theatre would otherwise be completely dark in order to keep evil spirits away (or for the less superstitious to make it easier to find the lighting console!).The theatre is at the heart of this novel by the author of Star of the Sea. He has drawn on what is known about the doomed affair between playwright J.M. Synge...

This may not be the typical beach read but this story, set in Ireland in the 1950’s is a perfect summer read. It documents the relationship between a shy young farmer’s wife Ellie and a stranger – a restless amateur photographer - who cycles into town. As the long summer progresses they fall in love but Ellie is warned about this reckless attachment – she is well...

The Misremembered man is not the type of book I would normally read and almost stopped reading it several times but was so glad I didn’t. It is a wonderful story, well written and totally captivating, set in Northern Ireland in the 1970’s. 

Lonely bachelor Jamie McCloone’s kind hearted neighbours decide that it is time he found a wife so they place an...

A powerful, poignant and beautifully written novel from John ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Boyne, "The Absolutist" is the story of two British WW1 soldiers who are bonded through the terrors of the trenches and the horrors of warfare. One survives - forever damaged - and the other one is brought down by a firing squad on charges of cowardice.

Tristan Sadler survived the...

Has a friend ever said you must read this? You reply alright but in reality will only read the book if it lands on your lap. But my friend was so persistent and asked every time I spoke to him so I decided to read afore said book. 

I really enjoyed this evocative story. It is an enchanting look at a young boy living in Belfast before the Troubles. In a catholic neighbourhood he is...

Browsing for a book and I thought – this looks good. I always like a cover which intrigues. Yet the cover is the clue to the plot and I did not see it until the end. This was a compulsive read, set in Ireland – well observed and plotted book of family relationships. 

The death of an Irish architect’s wife leaves him to bring up his three year old daughter alone....