Caroline E. Farrell's Blog, page 11

The Librarian’s Cellar: At the Cinema – The Shape of Water

The story goes that at the 2014 Golden Globes awards, Guillermo Del Toro bumped into Sally Hawkins, sweeping her off her feet as he told her that he was writing a movie for her, “You fall in love with a fish man!” he added. Well, true or not, Sally’s character, Elisa, does indeed fall in love with a creature from the deep in this fantastical tale and thriller (of sorts!). With a stellar cast that also includes Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer and Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water is captiva...

Swirl and Thread: Irish Writers Wednesday

It was an absolute pleasure to chat to Mairead from Swirl and Thread.

Grab a cuppa tea or coffee, put the feet up and check out her lovely blog, with lots of great book reviews, author features and guest posts.

READ HERE

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Happy Anniversary LADY BETH!

I was prompted today to remember a very special anniversary. This day last year, when I pushed LADY BETH out into the world of Indie Publishing! It’s been a truly amazing year, so time to thank every one who bought, borrowed, read, liked, praised, reviewed, awarded, stocked, shared, placed on your bookshelf, sent me photos and recommended it to others. You are THE business and I send you heaps of gratitude!

Celebrating Women In Horror Month with an interview…

I am currently working on a new novel, an urban ghost story. More on that soon! I have always been fascinated with the complexities of human nature, specifically the unexplained, the uncanny, the strange and the magical. Real life is often frightening, and can be overwhelming at times. Horror fiction is escapism. We can explore the complex issues of life, death and everything in between – be frightened between the safety of the pages – but still control the level and intensity of that experie...

The Librarian’s Cellar: At The Cinema: Maudie

I have seen this film twice now, the second time when I was lucky enough to view it at a screening attended by director Aisling Walsh and actor Ethan Hawke. Based on a true story, the film is a compelling portrait of Canadian folk artist, Maud Lewis, played by the wonderful Sally Hawkins, and focuses on her relationship and subsequent forty-year marriage with Everett, a fisherman, living hand to mouth. A cinematic treat for the senses, Maudie reflects the 1930’s small town mentality, particul...

The Librarian’s Cellar: At the Cinema: The Lodgers

What a beautiful gothic horror film. Directed by Brian O’Malley and written by David Turpin, The Lodgers is set in rural Ireland in 1920, and filmed on location in Loftus Hall, Wexford. In a crumbling mansion filled with secrets, twins Edward and Rachel keep to themselves, cursed by the nightly visitors who keep a tight reign on the brother and sister with a set of rules that have dire consequences upon breaking. Until that is, Rachel encounters a young man from the local village, a wounded w...

The Librarian’s Cellar: At the Cinema: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Frances McDormand plays a determined mother who rents three billboards to bring attention to the unsolved rape and murder of her daughter. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, this film is searing in the level of violence and diverse characterisation that covers racism, suicide, grief and revenge. And it works, probably due to the perfect casting of McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson et al. And there is comedy, mostly black, that keeps the viewer from going under at the sheer harshn...

Lady Beth: Books By Women

What an honour to be included in BooksbyWomen.org recommended reads!

“Lady Beth is a perfectly paced page-turner of a novel which keeps the tension taut at all times. The darker side of Dublin city is perfectly judged, with well-rounded characters filling out the scenes around the titular Beth. Beth herself is a fantastic character moving seamlessly from unassuming office worker to avenging mother with an impressive lack of melodrama. Caroline has a filmic eye and the book swirls with a wonde...

The Librarian’s Cellar: At the Cinema: Lady Bird

Written by Greta Gerwig, this is also her directorial debut, and is, perhaps semi-autobiographical. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird is a delightful coming of age drama, set in 2002, that explores a teenage girl’s challenges at school and home, and in her relationships with friends, boys and quite poignantly – with her mother – played superbly by Laurie Metcalf. Christine insists on being called Lady Bird, and thinks her life will be better once she gets away from her hometown of Sacramento,...

The Librarian’s Cellar: The Accidental Wife by Orla McAlinden

A collection of short stories that won the Eludia Prize, all weaving to connect several generations of a family living through the turbulent times of Northern Ireland’s troubled history. It took me quite a while to finish this book, there was so much to absorb in each story. These narratives are succinct and deeply rooted in characterisation, connection to land and to identity. There is an energy in the writing, a defiance that emanates from the characters as we journey with them through thei...