Book Review - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Touching and tender story of family dynamics, set over five decades. It’s a book with a warm heart, told by a master storyteller.
Book Review - Magpie murders by Anthony Horowitz
A fun and extremely clever slice of detective fiction from Anthony Horowitz, a book within a book. Reads like a greatest hits tribute to the golden age of crime mystery novels.
Book Review - Beasts of the Earth by James Wade
Wonderfully dark slice of gothic southern crime fiction, with believable, troubled characters and a story that will keep you engrossed on dark winter evenings.
Book Review - North to Paradise - Ousman Umar
Short but powerful book about a boys journey from a small village in Ghana to the streets of Barcelona, and the dangers he faces on the way.
Book Review - The Brain that Changes itself - Norman Doidge
Fascinating work of non-fiction of Brain plasticity, using case studies to explain new scientific discoveries in the field. An accessible and engaging work, even for those without scientific minds.
Book Review - Ordinary Grace - William Kent Krueger
Frank Drumm looks back at a summer 40 years previously in a sleepy Minnesota town, when the discovery of a young boys body was to be the start of a fateful summer that would have an impact on his life. A well written and engaging thriller.
Book Review - Underland: A deep time journey by Robert Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlanes documents his subterranean explorations to places such as the Parisian Catacombs, ice caps in Greenland and caves in Norway. Lyrical but overly long.
Book Review - Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
The third book in Michael Connelly’s Jack McEvoy series works just as well as a stand alone thriller, with the investigative reporter on the trail of a serial killer. Feels up to date, with issues such as genetic research, the dark web, and Incel groups. Literally a cracking read.
Book Review - A long petal of the Sea - Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende’s masterful storytelling is on display in this historical epic and family sage that spans continents and decades.
Book Review - The Colony - Audrey Magee
Set on an Island off the coast of Ireland in 1979, Audrey Magee’s lyrical novel is about imperialism, identity, art and self determination.
Book Review - Stephen King - Fairy Tale
Stephen King’s new book is about a boy and his dog, who set out on high stakes adventure in a strange world. King has a lot of fun with elements of fairy tales, but how does it compare to previous efforts?
Book Review - Factory Girls - Michelle Gallen
Michelle Gallen’s ‘Factory Girls’ is a scabrously funny and accurate story of a teenagers summer spent working in a factory in the north of Ireland in the mid nineties. If you’re missing ‘Derry girls’ you’ll love this.
Book Review - Diary of a Young Naturalist - Dara McAnulty
Powerful and impassioned book about a year in the life of 14 year old Dara McAnulty, who has autism, and finds great comfort and solace in nature.
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
A classic for good reason, this gothic psychological thriller has stood the test of time.
Book Review - Rogues - Patrick Radden Keefe
12 collected pieces previously published in the ‘New Yorker’ about greed, corruption, the underworld and dark family secrets. Superbly researched and incredibly readable.
Book Review - The Queen of Dirt Island - Donal Ryan
Donal Ryan delivers again with this wonderfully written story about four generations of women living under one roof. It’s about love and loss, joy and grief, and all the stuff in between, but is mostly about family.
Book Review - Tennis Lessons - Susannah Dickey
Raw, funny and painfully honest story that follows the life of a young woman from childhood until adulthood. A strong coming of age debut from another talented Irish writer.
Book Review - The Daughter of Doctor Moreau - Silvia Moreno Garcia
Intriguing and very readable book, best described as Historical gothic fiction, about a secluded estate where a doctor who conducts mysterious experiments lives with his daughter, overseer and extended family. A new arrival upsets the balance in this idyllic place and things will never be the same again.
Book Review - Lost Connections - Johann Hari
Powerful book on what really causes depression, and what to do about it. Well researched, eloquent and persuasive..
Book Review - When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi
Paul Kalanitihi’s book is the story of a neurosurgeon who faces a terminal cancer diagnosis at the age of 36, and who moves from being a doctor to a patient. A brave, illuminating and rewarding book.
