Tag: Lucy Foley

Authors with Irish Roots to Add to Your Reading List

~ The Regal Writer ~ 1 Comment
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

No doubt you’ve heard of Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Jonathan Swift. Besides being well-known for their published work, they share something else in common: they were all born in Ireland.

There are many other talented authors, screenwriters and playwrights who have produced notable works from Maeve  Binchy to Roddy Doyle. Most were born in Ireland, while others were born elsewhere but make their homes there now.

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, it seems fitting to profile a few of these Irish authors, both past and present, who have given us a glimpse of life and love on the Emerald Isle.

Admittedly, I’ve only read a few of these authors, while others I’m willing to explore. There’s something for everyone here, whether you’re a fan of the classics or prefer more contemporary themes. While they represent a wide variety of genres and writing styles, they bring wit and intelligence to their work and provide an insider’s view of Ireland.

Authors I’ve read:

* Frank McCourt. Though born in Brooklyn, N.Y., McCourt and his family moved to Ireland when he was four years old to the town of Limerick where his mother grew up. He recounts his childhood in Angela’s Ashes. Unable to find work in Ireland, his father became an alcoholic, forcing the family to live in poverty. In his father’s long absences, McCourt, the oldest of four siblings, took it upon himself to look after the family, often stealing food and taking on odd jobs to survive. It’s a sad and compelling story that won McCourt a Pulitzer Prize.

* Maeve Binchy. I remember reading Binchy’s first novel, Light a Penny Candle, many years ago. I barely remember it now, but It was my introduction to women’s fiction. Binchy went on to publish 16 novels and numerous short stories, many set in Ireland. She’s known for writing about Irish life after World War II, often with themes dealing with the conflict and tension between urban and rural life.

* Lucy Foley. Okay, I know Foley wasn’t born in Ireland, but her book The Guest List makes my list because of its setting on a secluded island off the coast of Ireland. Written from the points of view of five different characters, readers are taken on a suspenseful journey that unfolds between two timelines—the night of the murder of one of its characters, and the few days leading up to that moment. One of the best page turners I’ve read in long time.

Authors on my reading list:

* Tana French. Though born in Vermont, French now makes her home in Dublin, and she has become known as a leading lady of psychological thrillers in the same vein as Ruth Ware and Megan Abbott. Her first novel In the Woods, is probably the best known and is the first in the Dublin Murder Squad series which contains six books, all taking place in Dublin. She’s also published several standalone novels of psychological suspense.

* Marian Keyes. Born in Limerick, Keyes writes contemporary fiction that tackles some darker issues like alcoholism, depression, cancer, grief and domestic violence. According to her profile on Wikipedia, her stories are often written with a light, humorous tone and feature strong female characters who overcome challenges to find lasting happiness and hopeful futures. Her first novel, Watermelon, was published in 1995.

* Emma Donoghue. Born in Dublin and now living in Canada, Donoghue has made a name for herself writing historical fiction featuring lesbian characters. Her best-known work, Room, became a feature film. Donoghue wrote the screenplay for that film and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Her latest novel, Learned by Heart, explores the relationship between diarist Anne Lister and Eliza, an orphaned Indian heiress during their time at a boarding school in 1805.

* Cecelia Ahern. Since 2004, Ahern has published 18 novels of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, P.S. I Love You, was published when she was 21 and was later adapted to film starring Hilary Swank. Her stories feature characters at transitional points in their lives, dealing with loss or who feel lost and powerless themselves.

* Tricia O’Malley. I enjoy a little magic with my romance, so O’Malley’s work appeals to me, though I have yet to read any of her novels. She has published several series: the Althea Rose Mysteries, romance with a touch of mystery; Siren Island, feel-good romances with a touch of fantasy; Mystic Cove series, combining magic and romance with Ireland as its backdrop; and The Enchanted Highlands, set in Scotland.

Other notable Irish-born authors, not on my reading list, but other readers might enjoy:
Roddy Doyle – novelist, children’s author, playwright, and screenwriter. His novel, The Commitments, was turned into a film of the same name in 1991.
Sally Rooney – The only millennial writer on this list, she’s just getting started with three award-winning books published so far: Conversations with Friends, Normal People, and Beautiful World, Where Are You?
Frank Delaney – writer of historical fiction set in selected areas of Ireland.
Edna O’Brien – novels often take a bleak view of the despair and plight of women in contemporary society

Of course, we cannot forget the classics:
Oscar Wilde –The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jonathan Swift – Gulliver’s Travels
James Joyce – Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man
Bram Stoker – Dracula

Do you have a favorite Irish-born author or book about Ireland? What did you enjoy most about it? What other authors would you recommend?

Favorite Books of 2023

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Alissa Nabiullina on Pexels.com

Hello readers! Hope the New Year is getting off to a strong start. I’m back from my holiday break feeling refreshed and ready to work toward my writing goals. Hope you are too!

Before I get too deeply into this week’s post, I want to tell you about one small change to my website. As you may know, I post a writing prompt on my site. I tried to post the prompt every week, but frankly, it got more difficult to come up with a situational writing prompt. This year, I decided to post the  writing prompt twice a month, on the 15th and 30th of the month.

Secondly, in the past, the prompts had focused on a situation, such as a surprise guest or an event that takes place during a storm. But this year, the prompt will feature a word or phrase that might conjure up a memory or inspire you to write a scene related to that word.

For example, this week’s word is “bittersweet.” What images come to mind for that word? Perhaps it’s a bittersweet moment in your life? Or perhaps you tasted something that was bittersweet. Whatever that word might mean for you will lead you to your essay or short story. Hope those words/phrases will inspire you to write your best stories.

Now back to this week’s post.

Before we get too far into the New Year, I like to reflect on the books I’ve read over the past year. As usual, I created my own reading challenge to read a variety of genres. I find that reading different genres and writing styles keeps me honest as both a reader and a writer.

That said, 2023 was not the best year for my reading. Sure, I read a variety of stories, from mystery and romance to memoir and nonfiction, but few of impressed me.

What I look for in a novel is good storytelling, an interesting premise, strong, compelling characters, surprising plot twists and a satisfying ending. Below are my favorite books that excelled in those areas.

Before We Were Yours – Lisa Wingate
Told in a dual timeline in the past and present, Before We Were Yours is one of Wingate’s best. I was immediately drawn into the story, and the events of the past and the break-up of the five children was heartbreaking. This book was hard to put down, and the story and its characters stayed with me long after it ended.

The Little French Bistro – Nina George
It’s rare to read a book featuring a main character over the age of 60. This year I read two of them. (See Arthur Pepper below.) Wanting to escape her loveless marriage and boring life in London, Marianne wants to end her life. Rescued by a good Samaritan, she decides to venture out of London, joining up with a tourist group and ending up in a small French town where she meets a cast of characters who open her up to new possibilities for the future and who convince her that her life is only just beginning.

The Guest List – Lucy Foley
This is the first novel I’ve read by Foley, and it won’t be the last. As guests gather on a remote Irish island for a wedding, several of them are nervous about events from the past. The dual timeline didn’t slow down the pace of the story, but it could be confusing at times. Readers see events unfold from the points of view of five different characters, each with a reason to kill the victim. The speedy pacing made this a difficult book to put down.

The Last Thing He Told Me – Laura Dave
Of all the books I read the past year, this one was the most suspenseful. In an interview with Dave I heard last year, she admitted that it took her 12 years to write this book. She kept going back to it ever so often, sure that there was a nugget of a story. It was worth waiting for. A strong female lead character, snappy dialogue and brisk pacing made this a fast, easy read. I’m looking forward to reading more of Dave’s books.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper – Phaedra Patrick
I adored Patrick’s last release, The Messy Lives of Book People, so I figured this novel would be just as good. Arthur Pepper is a 60-something widower who feels lost without his wife. While searching through his wife’s belongings, he comes across a piece of jewelry that belonged to her, which he knows he never gave her. He begins to wonder who is wife really is and what other secrets she may be hiding. In a series of events and journeys, Arthur begins to learn more about his wife, and about himself.

In Five Years – Rebecca Serle
Imagine waking up five years in the future in an apartment that is not yours and next to a man who is not your husband? That is the premise for this engaging novel by Serle, who takes readers on a time travel journey that makes you realize that things aren’t always as they seem. At the start, the story gives the impression of being a lightweight rom-com, only to turn somber at the midpoint. After a few interesting plot twists, the story hints at a happy ending. It’s a rare story that I still think about a whole year after I’ve finished reading it.

Honorable Mentions:
While not my personal favorites in 2023, the following books were worth reading for one reason or another.

Look Again by Lisa Scottoline – suspenseful, strong female lead
While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell – a reimagined story of Sleeping Beauty
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware – psychological thriller set on a private luxury cruise ship
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks – fun, suspenseful read, perfect for summer
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – Didn’t love the book as much as everyone else seemed to, but I felt I had to read to see what the excitement was about.

What about you? What were the best books you read in 2023?