131 ratings | 100 reviews | avg rating:4.37

Ethel’s Bookshelves

read (133)
currently-reading (0)
to-read (29)

Ethel’s Friends (875)

Kathy

10,377 books | 272 friends

Christopher

276 books | 276 friends

Oliver Bateman

1,552 books | 370 friends

Dawn Corrigan

37 books | 157 friends

Scott James

1,488 books | 473 friends

Cooper Renner

1,653 books | 156 friends

Kristin

1,914 books | 49 friends

Lisa

2,303 books | 27 friends

More friends…

Ethel Rohan

Goodreads Author

Born

Dublin, Ireland

Website

http://ethelrohan.com

Twitter

ethelrohan

Genre

Literature & Fiction

Member Since

September 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/ethelrohan

edit data

Ethel Rohan is an award-winning novelist, essayist, and short story writer. She won the Bryan MacMahon Short Story Award and a Silver Nautilus Award for her debut novel, The Weight of Him. Rohan was also shortlisted for the CUIRT, Roberts, and Bristol Short Story Prizes, and longlisted for The 2017 Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. Her story collections Goodnight Nobody and Cut Through the Bone were longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize and the Story Prize respectively. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, PEN America, The Washington Post, The Irish Times, The Stinging Fly, BANSHEE, and elsewhere. From Dublin, she lives in San Francisco.

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Ethel Rohan questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Ethel Rohan’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 1,484 ratings · 434 reviews · 17 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Weight of Him 3.81 avg rating — 829 ratings — published 2017 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cut Through the Bone 4.30 avg rating — 116 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hard to Say 4.45 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Goodnight Nobody 3.95 avg rating — 42 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Out of Dublin 4.13 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Flash Fiction International: Very Short Stories from Around the World by James Thomas (Editor), Robert Shapard (Editor) , Christopher Merrill (Editor) 3.82 avg rating — 272 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nothing Short Of: Selected Tales from 100 Word Story.org by Grant Faulkner (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Lynn Mundell (Editor) , Beret Olsen (Editor) 4.16 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers by Richard Thomas (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Laura Benedict (Goodreads Author) , Paula Bomer (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pear Noir! (#4) by Daniel Casebeer (editor), David Erlewine , Adam Gallari 4.70 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Stripped by Nicole Monaghan (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Amber Sparks (Goodreads Author) , Jeanne Holtzman 4.24 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Ethel Rohan…

471 posts
Ethel Rohan's Blog

Everywhere She Went

Hello, anyone there?

Yikes, it has been a long time since I posted here. My supposedly monthly but actually random newsletter has largely replaced this blog. Click here if you’d like to subscribe to my newsletter. I’ll be sending another one out soon. Meanwhile, back to this post.

Last week The Irish Times published my short story “Everywhere She Went.” It’s gotten a lovely response from readers...

Upcoming Events

No scheduled events. Add an event.

rss
Ethel’s Recent Updates

Ethel Rohan wants to read Home Baked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco by Alia Volz (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 02, 2019 09:19AM · like
Ethel Rohan rated a book really liked it The Fire Starters by Jan Carson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I struggled with the novel's opening, found it confusing, but once I settled into this story, I was captivated. Gritty and gorgeous, real and magical, this is ultimately a finely written, imaginative, and wonderful read.
Oct 29, 2019 08:51AM · like · see review
Ethel Rohan rated a book really liked it On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Incredibly sad. Incredibly beautiful.
Oct 13, 2019 10:05AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ethel Rohan liked Shauna Daly's review of The Weight of Him: "TW: suicide I loved this book! So relatable , having been very overweight myself I compleatly felt Billy's pain, when it came to being emotionally dependant on food, the words just resonated with me. There is so much more to this book besides weigh..." Read more of this review »
Sep 16, 2019 04:53PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ethel Rohan liked Brie's review of The Weight of Him: "I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest. Passing this book on to a group of ladies who read and share books with one another. I am sure they will love to put it into the reading rotation."
Sep 16, 2019 04:52PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ethel Rohan liked Nikki Houghton's review of The Weight of Him: "Most of this book I read through tears. A beautifully written, intense, sparse novel of loss and (perhaps) redemption. I loved the way I could hear the Irish writer’s voice; she was mesmerising and profound. The ending I found a little too didactic..." Read more of this review »
Sep 16, 2019 04:41PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ethel Rohan rated a book it was amazing A Thin Bright Line by Lucy Jane Bledsoe (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was a deeply satisfying and moving read. The novel is written with such skill, and is of itself an immersive, rewarding story. Then there's the added layer of the author's relationship to the protagonist, her aunt. Both women share "writing ...more
Aug 26, 2019 03:45PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Thin Bright Line by Lucy Jane Bledsoe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Thin Bright Line by Lucy Jane Bledsoe <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ethel Rohan rated a book it was amazing Educated by Tara Westover (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This memoir is extraordinary. An incredible story and life, woman and writer. Most of all, I was struck by Westover's perspective throughout, which is startlingly honest, wise, empathetic, and compassionate. Unforgettable.
Jul 28, 2019 07:50AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Educated by Tara Westover. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Educated by Tara Westover <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ethel Rohan rated a book really liked it The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This fittingly stark, fragmentary story depicts many fractured lives with startling brevity and honesty. The would-be family of three at the center of this story are tested to their limits and beyond, and must withstand various and varying traumas, ...more
Jun 16, 2019 09:30AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ethel Rohan rated a book really liked it The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 16, 2019 09:23AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Risk of Us by Rachel Howard <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Ethel's books…

Quotes by Ethel Rohan

“Billy felt he would burst. He knew that feeling well. But never in a good way. Until now.”
― Ethel Rohan, The Weight of Him

2 likes

“He'd never known he had so much fight in him. Never known he could be capable of so much... He was going to change the world.”
― Ethel Rohan, The Weight of Him

tags: fiction, inspirational

0 likes

“People were mostly good. He had to remember that.”
― Ethel Rohan, The Weight of Him

0 likes

See all Ethel Rohan's quotes »

Polls

June BoTM Side Read Nominations ~ 1st Poll

Top 5 books move onto next round.

A Monster Calls

by Patrick Ness

12 votes, 19.7%

The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

by Nadia Hashimi

12 votes, 19.7%

The Sleepwalker

by Chris Bohjalian

8 votes, 13.1%

Here Comes the Sun

by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn

5 votes, 8.2%

The Swans of Fifth Avenue

by Melanie Benjamin

5 votes, 8.2%

City of Thieves

by David Benioff

5 votes, 8.2%

After You

by Julie Buxbaum

4 votes, 6.6%

The Marriage Lie

by Kimberly Belle

3 votes, 4.9%

Desperation Road

by Michael Farris Smith

3 votes, 4.9%

The Weight of Him

by Ethel Rohan

2 votes, 3.3%

The Bone People

by Keri Hulme

2 votes, 3.3%

61 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: Spring Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS)	2883	1021	May 31, 2011 09:01PM
Beyond Reality: What are you reading in May 2011?	106	83	Jun 01, 2011 04:49AM
The Next Best Boo...: Dionisia's 2011 Road to 100	39	118	Dec 11, 2011 10:34AM
2019 & 2020 Readi...: Wayne's 200 books in 2017	4	31	Apr 03, 2017 06:39PM
The Seasonal Read...: Spring Challenge 2017: Reading Plans	49	289	May 19, 2017 06:01AM
The Seasonal Read...: Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD	2842	439	May 31, 2017 09:01PM
500 Great Books B...: 19 - A book from the Reading Woman Award 2017 shortlists	2	14	Jan 17, 2018 07:17PM
The Challenge Fac...: A Million Pages	424	547	Nov 23, 2019 06:55PM

More…

Ethel’s Quotes

“I'm looking for a writer who doesn't know where the sentence is leading her; a writer who starts with her obsessions and whose heart is bursting with love, a writer sly enough to give the slip to her secret police, the ones who know her so well, the ones with the power to accuse and condemn in the blink of an eye. It's all right that she doesn't know what she's thinking until she writes it, as if the words already exist somewhere and draw her to them. She may not know how she got there, but she knows when she's arrived.”
― Sy Safransky

tags: the-sun

15 likes