Goodreads Ireland discussion
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Recently bought (acquired) books!
Donna, I'm an Irish shade of green over many things in Allan's life. I like that I get to live vicariously through him. It brings some excitement to my hum drum life. :)Allan, you know you've been a bad influence on us for quite some time. It's that Irish charmer in you.
Well, if you ever make it to N Ireland, I'll be happy to give you the highly exciting McKinty tour of Carrickfergus, McKinty's home and setting of the Duffy trilogy. Barbara found it worthwhile anyway! :)
Cphe, I would to ask you a favor. I have a friend from Australia that moved here in the 60's. She has never become an American citizen and identifies herself as Australian. Anyway, can you recommend some books about Australia by Australians? I would like to get her some for Christmas. Thanks for your input.
Mod
and preordered
Destroyer Angel by Nevada Barr
Both Liz and I read these 2 authors.
Susan, I know I'm not Cphe, but I've read and enjoyed a couple of titles that might fit your plans for your friend's Christmas present.The first was shortlisted, if I remember, for the Booker, and was something of an epic and comic family tale set in Australia.
A Fraction of the Whole - Steve Toltz
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The second was a memoir, if I remember, and tells the story of a serial killer on the loose in 1950s Perth. I read this a long time ago, but can remember being struck by the sense of vastness of Australia and the isolation of Perth from the rest of the country. I never managed to get there when I was in Australia, but my friend lived there for a while and absolutely loved it.
The Shark Net - Robert Drewe
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
You might also want to check out some of the Tim Winton novels, many of which are set in Australia.
I'm sure Cphe will have many better ideas...!
I'm starting to think you are getting some form of commission from Amazon, Allan. :P
I wish, Kevin! :) I'm a big fan of second hand titles, so heartily advocate buying off third party sellers on Amazon, though not, of course, in this case, as the books are presents!
I work in O'Mahonys' in Limerick every Summer and for Christmas but I have to say there is something special about Chapters and of course Charlie Byrnes' in Galway!
Susan wrote: "Cphe, ... Anyway, can you recommen..."Susan, I've read several Austrailian authors I liked a lot.
any of Kate Morton's but I liked The Secret Keeper best.
People of the Book if she likes good historical fiction
The Rosie Project whih is laugh out loud funny especially if she likes The Big Bang Theory
The Book Thief but probably everyone has read that by now.
And last but not least, Burial Rites
Cphe wrote: "Susan wrote: "Cphe, I would to ask you a favor. I have a friend from Australia that moved here in the 60's. She has never become an American citizen and identifies herself as Australian. Anyway, ca..."Cphe, I'm also going to use your recommendations but for myself. I've liked all the Australian writers I read so far.
Kevin wrote: "I work in O'Mahonys' in Limerick every Summer and for Christmas but I have to say there is something special about Chapters and of course Charlie Byrnes' in Galway!"Kevin, I was in Ireland last March--and two of the highlights were visiting Charlie Byrne's and Chapters. I barely had enough room in my suitcase for all of my book purchases. If I lived in Galway or Dublin, I'd be there every week..
Diane wrote: "Susan wrote: "Cphe, ... Anyway, can you recommen..."Susan, I've read several Austrailian authors I liked a lot.
any of Kate Morton's but I liked The Secret Keeper best.
[book:Peop..."
Diane, I am also a big fan of Kate Morton.
Thank you everyone. I ordered Allan's suggestion of Shark's Net as it's set in Perth where she is from. She's read all of Tim Winton's and Kate Morton who she does not really care for but reads my copies. I am hesitant to order any of the older books as I am sure she's probably read them. Thanks for the help though.
Mod
How could I have forgotten A Town Like Alice?
A list for Historical fiction"
Thank you Cphe for these two lists. I added some books to my TBR pile.
Yesterday and today the following new books entered my house:Paperboy by Tony Macauly
Frederick Douglass in Ireland: The 'Black O'Connell'
Lovely Knitted Lace: A Geometric Approach to Gorgeous Wearables
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan
and surprise, surprise, weeks before it's supposed release Belfast Noir from Amazon. I saw that 17 copies were available and didn't believe it. So I ordered it and in 2 days it is in my grubby hands!
Bizarre that you managed to get an 'advance' copy of the Belfast Noir book, Barbara, but bizarre in a good way! I'll have to look into seeing if I can get a copy myself.
Thanks, Barbara. I just ordered a copy. It is bizarre because it says it's due out in Nov. There are only 4 left now.
Cphe wrote: "Let us know what you think of Belfast Noir please Barbara."I have 2 books on the go right now, but because this is individual stories, I may be able to start soon.
Susan - maybe you and I will have it before folks on the other side of the pond:) When I looked just now, the Amazon page still said they had 17 copies left. Barnes and Noble on line still have it.
It's still on preorder over here, but I'll definitely be buying a copy! :)
It's unusual it's available here before Belfast.
Allan wrote: "It's still on preorder over here, but I'll definitely be buying a copy! :)"This is really a mystery to me. Perhaps it has something to do with the publisher Akashic Noir.
I haven't seen a copy of Ruth anytime I've been in there either. On a side note, when I was in Easons the other day I noticed The Rosie Effect is out. I didn't think it was being published til later in the year.
yeah I really enjoyed it too, I'll probably pick up The Rosie Effect in the next few weeks.
Until someone mentions another grwat book
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is a wonderful book as I remember. I read it in high school so it was about 100 years ago.Today in the mail, I received The Orphan Master's Son, Belfast Noir and Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops. I blame all of this on Allan.
My goodness, Susan, I can take direct blame for a couple on Barbara's list, but on yours, while I did buy it last week on audio, surely the first title can be blamed on Seraphina, who started the Buddy Read for it, and I don't think I've even heard of the last one! Given that I'm a great advocate of book buying however, I'm more than happy to be the patsi for you justifying these or any other book related purchases you may have recently made...!Over the last few days, I've ordered the following off Amazon and their third party sellers. It's getting to the stage that parcels are arriving and I honestly can't remember what I've ordered-I need to really slow down buying myself!
Us by David Nicholls https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Telling Year by Malachi O'Doherty
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Beyond by Michael Foley
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
and
Amsterdam (City Pick Series), edited by Heather Reyes
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
Emma, good to see 'Fallen' on your list. I've got that on my shelf at the mo, and will probably start it soon. I know Colleen is currently reading it...
Cphe, if you search the threads, I think Sara posted about the Carson McCullers book a few weeks ago-it's been on the American Classics table in Waterstones Belfast for a while, so I've heard of it, but have never read it-it looks good, though!
Allan, it is my new modus operandi to blame you for all the new books coming into my house. You get me lathered up and I just go out and buy. I pretend that I have a library like you and I don't.Since in the last two months I have read the following books recommended by you- our quarterly read, The Son and now the McKinty book I ordered from the library, Barrytown Trilogy and Belfast Noir (because you live there), I think it's your turn to read a book I recommended. Pick up the The Coffee Trader. It's not nearly as long as three of the books you recommended. And don't try to drag Seraphina into our argument. :)
P.S. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is very much a Southern novel and has a very strong sense of place. It is similar to William Faulkner in that there many layers and I think you get more out of it if you are reading at the same times as others so you can discuss it. Another great Southern book is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Susan, at 400 pages, The Coffee Trader is no slouch itself (unless of course it's the large print version ;) ), but I've acceded to your wishes and ordered it there. I've enjoyed many of your other recommendations, and know that this one will put me in the mood for my trip in a few months!
Emma wrote: "Ok I've just bought The Rosie Effect and Fallen. And that's my book buying quota for a few weeks."I said the very same thing to myself last week, Emma, but then yesterday I bought two books: The Organized Mind and The Teacher Wars. At least, they're directly related to my teaching so I can kind of say that they were necessary for me to buy ;) Although that reasoning won't work for all the other books I want to buy--mainly because of recommendations here:) This is definitely an enabling group!
Cathleen wrote: "Emma wrote: "Ok I've just bought The Rosie Effect and Fallen. And that's my book buying quota for a few weeks."I said the very same thing to myself last week, Emma..."
Cathleen - I often forget to include books I get through Paperback Swap here as well as the books I order, especially used books. I just got two books in the Cleo Coyle coffeehouse series from Paperback Swap. They're "cozy" mysteries. I am much more drawn to psychological and noir mysteries.
While writing this, the mail man came (on a Sunday???) to the door with my copy of Colours by Henry McDonald. I ordered a new copy, but it doesn't look new. Very odd. Well life is sometimes too short to quibble over such things.
Mod
Range of Ghosts. This was the fantasy book group selection for the book group I was at tonight. I initially didn't read it, because I thought I was going to miss the meeting due to the new job. Since I've been sick, I haven't started the new job, so I got to go! The discussion of the book convinced me that it was one I would like.
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher I've been wavering back and forth on this one due to the mixed reviews, but I finally decided I couldn't pass it up due to the name.
The Thing About December This one is the December selection for the Irish book group Barbara and I belong to, so it will definitely get read!
Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick This is one of a couple graphic novel series that I've been wanting to try.
What a surprise indeed! I've still got the Ryan on my tbr shelf, despite buying it about a year ago - I must read it soon.Glad to see that the illness hasn't effected your book buying appetite anyway... :)
Btw, I forgot to mention that I bought 'Rainey Royal' on audio, and will be aiming to start it at the beginning of next week. :)
Allan wrote: "Btw, I forgot to mention that I bought 'Rainey Royal' on audio, and will be aiming to start it at the beginning of next week. :)"Allan - you're reminding me that I have Rainey Royal on my pile.
I've been stocking up on audiobooks thanks to the BOGO sale and daily deals. Got The Third Policeman (finally I will finish it:), and a Mo Hayder book Hanging Hill. Also picked up Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children and To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie (that one for one credit). Also this week I bought Colours: Ireland - From Bombs to Boom by Henry McDonald.
Via Paperback Swap I got The Teammates: A Portrait of a Friendship by David Halberstam, Holiday Grind and Through the Grinder by Cleo Coyle.
I picked up a few books in Chapters yesterday. shocking I know. I got Striding Folly by D.L. Sayers which is one I don't have. I got The Importance of Being Seven by Alexander McCall Smith. I am aiming to read the entire Scotland Street series so I got this while I saw it even though it's No.6. I also got The No.I Ladies Detective Agency for €1. And lastly I got a complete unknown for me, Time after Time by Molly Keane. It sounds fun anyway.
I behaved a little better but still bought John Scakzi Zoes Tale, Three by Sarah Lotz ( A horror for Halloween) and Edgar Allen Poe Tales of Mystery and Imagination as it has the 6 horror stories we might be doing for a buddy read ☺
Nice hauls. Should we set up a Halloween 2014 buddy read then?
Trelawn wrote: "I picked up a few books in Chapters yesterday. shocking I know. I got Striding Folly by D.L. Sayers which is one I don't have. I got The Importance of Being Seven by Alexander McCall Smith. I am ai..."
It's a while since I've read Molly Keane, but she's very funny in a droll sort of way. I can't remember one book from another though so will be interested to hear how you get on.
It's a while since I've read Molly Keane, but she's very funny in a droll sort of way. I can't remember one book from another though so will be interested to hear how you get on.
Paul and Trelawn, I'm glad that your trip to Chapters was so profitable yesterday-for both the business and yourselves!I've been bold myself this afternoon. We were down in the Cathedral Quarter for breakfast this afternoon, and I took the notion of driving on across to No Alibis to see if they had the Belfast 1972 book that I'd posted the review of yesterday. When I got there, I found that, not only did they have it, but they also had Belfast Noir, which isn't supposedly released until November. Of course, I just had to buy both...!
That book seems to have popped up a fair bit pre release
Allan, I plan to buy Belfast Noir at No Alibis as it is the perfect place to make the purchase :)
@ Allan your purchases sound perfectly justified :-) @ Emma and Theresa I'll let you know how I get on with the Molly Keane book.
Allan - I am sure you were delighted they had both books! I always feel as though I am "being good" when I buy books on my to buy list, rather than finds I stumble across. After all, you were planning to buy them...Trelawn - I have read a few Molly Keanes, as she is an important figure in the history of Irish women writers. Like Theresa I don't remember the details as it was a while ago. But these are books I have held onto as part of my "Irish" library.
Barbara, before yesterday I had never even heard of Molly Keane but I am looking forward to reading it now.
Trelawn wrote: "Barbara, before yesterday I had never even heard of Molly Keane but I am looking forward to reading it now."Years ago I got a few bundles of books sent to me in Boston from Kennys. Those were the says of snail mail and no email. They would put together a selection of books on a topic at request. I asked for books on Irish women's history or by women writers and that was how I came to discover Molly Keane. Some of her titles were republished by Virago, a UK press that specializes in books by women. I picked up a lot of the Virago titles here and there used and on remainder, and they are high quality stuff.
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Allan, I am a very Irish shade of green over the fact that you have a library of your very own.