In The Irish Times this Saturday, leading Irish writers and critics select their favourites books of the year. Acclaimed Indian writer Amitav Ghosh’s new work explores how the climate crisis has its roots in European colonialism. He talks to Tommy Greene. Teachers Leah O’Shaughnessy and Melanie Martin explain why they wrote Are We Human?, a book about the experiences of people seeking refuge in Ireland, in the wake of the Dublin riots. Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov discusses the dangers of nostalgia, his 2023 International Booker Prize-winning novel Time Shelter, and Irish writers he admires
Reviews are Vona Groarke on The Frontier of Language: A Study of Seamus Heaney’s Prose edited by Ian Hickey and Eugene O’Brien; Citizen Poet: New & Selected Essays by Eavan Boland; and Thomas McCarthy’s Questioning Ireland; Alvin Jackson on Southern Irish Protestants: Histories, Lives & Literatures. Exploring Minority Identities by Ian D’Alton; Declan Burke on the best new crime fiction; Peter Murphy on Randy Newman: A Few Words in Defence of Our Country by Robert Hilburn; Donal Fallon on The Lost & Early Writings of James Connolly, 1889-1898, edited by Conor McCabe; Nicholas Allen on Wake of the Whale by Alice Kinsella and Daniel Wade; Frank McDonald on Irish Cities in Crisis, edited by David Browne, Jim Coady and Carole Pollard; Paddy Woodworth on The Irish in the Resistance by Clodagh Finn and John Morgan; Sara Keating on the best new children’s fiction; and Michael Cronin on Thirst by Giles Foden.
This weekend’s Irish Times Eason offer is Thin Twice by Harlan Coben, just €5.99, a €6 saving.
Asako Yuzuki’s “bold and exciting” Butter (Fourth Estate), translated by Polly Barton, has been named Waterstones Book of the Year 2024. Ross Montgomery’s “heartwarming” I Am Rebel (Walker Books) is its Children’s Book of the Year 2024.
Bea Carvalho, head of books at Waterstones, said: “Butter is the ultimate word-of-mouth sensation, a deliciously rich treat of a novel which quickly established itself as the most talked about book of the year. Weaving tense mystery with blistering social commentary and skewering the media’s obsession with true crime, fans of fiction of all kinds will devour Butter.
“At a time when children’s literacy and reading for pleasure should be at the top of everyone’s agenda, I am Rebel stands out as the perfect book to press into the hands of children and the adults who care for them.”
Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo, Long Island by Colm Tóibín and Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, winner of this year’s Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, were on the 14-strong shortlist for the award.
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Profiles, the Dublin-based annual literary and vis-arts journal, will be celebrating the launch of their third issue on November 30th at the James Joyce Centre. Profiles showcases character-driven writing and portraiture by both emerging and established authors, translators and artists. As the journal grows, the editors Clare Healy and Sarah Sturzel have been developing its interdisciplinary nature, with the forthcoming issue featuring a commissioned collaboration between writer Tom Roseingrave and artist Salvatore of Lucan. Pick up a copy or subscribe at profilesjournal.com – it’s also available at select independent bookshops.
An exhibition featuring work by artists Aisling Dunne, Éadaoin Glynn, Thom Kofoed, Marie Le Men, Salvatore of Lucan, Juliette Morrison, Glenn Quigley and Philip Rainey will be held at the James Joyce Centre in December and entry is free to the public.
In December, a Profiles radio special by Ruaidhrí Kiersey will be aired on Dublin Digital Radio, featuring interviews with the journal’s contributors and original compositions by Kiersey inspired by their work in the journal.
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The Society of Authors is adding a new award to its Translation Prizes – the John Calder Prize. Unlike most of our other prizes for translation, the winning translation in this case can be from any European language. It’s named in honour of John Calder, who championed daring and avant-garde literature.
The prize, which opens for submissions in January, will see the winner awarded £3,000 and a runner-up awarded £1,000 at the Society of Authors’ Translation Prizes ceremony in February 2026.
Submissions can be from any European language into English, and source texts can be from anywhere in the world. Works must be full-length, but can be fiction, non-fiction or poetry.
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Bookselling Ireland is encouraging shoppers to shop local this Christmas and support their local bookshop and Irish authors, by offering some recommendations.
Nature lovers will be thrilled with Eoghan Daltún’s new book, The Magic of an Irish Rainforest, which combines stunning photography with beautiful nature writing to document the rich flora and fauna in Ireland’s remaining temperate rainforests.
Sports fans of all ages will enjoy The Racket, Conor Niland’s account of his career as Ireland’s most successful tennis player. This fascinating read gives an insight into the life of the 99 per cent of players who struggle to make ends meet while living in the shadow of the world’s most famous tennis stars.
Encourage family or friends to brush up on their ‘cúpla focal’ this Christmas with Hector Ó hEochagáin’s The Irish Words You Should Know or Gaeile I Mo Chroí by Molly Nic Céile.
Not forgetting our younger readers, the latest instalment in the series, Milly McCarthy & the Christmas Catastrophe by Leona Forde and illustrated by Karen Harte sees Milly taking part in her school’s Christmas concert with the inevitable disasters to be sorted out in time for the big show.
Dawn Behan, Chair of Bookselling Ireland, said, “With the Christmas countdown now well under way we would encourage everyone to visit their local bookshop where our experienced booksellers will be on hand to offer help & advice on great Irish books for everyone on your list this festive season.”
