If you like to read...

[macnab]

Bit random but I've only recently discovered Donal Ryan and I devoured "The Spinning Heart" and "All we shall know" in the last week. If you enjoy a good book and are Irish (or "get" Irish dialect etc) then I can thoroughly recommend

We read both of these in our book club and one of the things we said was that if you weren't Irish, you really wouldn't be able to understand his books. I really enjoyed them.
Another recent read that I loved was Nora Webster.

Oh I must look her up, thanks.

No I can't imagine "getting" Donal Ryan's books if you're not Irish!

Currently reading The Herbalist, absolutely love it.

A Slanting of the Sun

My first introduction to Donal Ryan.
Beautiful writing....I don't know about it being for an Irish only audience.

Yes, his use of the vernacular is very distinct and a lot of his phrases are midlands/south west.

But the topics dealt with- isolation, loneliness, sorry, empathy, violence etc should be identifiable to everyone.

I really like his writing- I find him very empathetic to people and their weaknesses.

I have one of his books in my 'pile to be read' for ages. Must definitely read it now.

Nora Webster isn't an author, macnab, but the title of a novel by Colm Toibin. Who is, IMO, a far better novelist than Donal Ryan. I think CT has a new one out in the spring, also, for any passing fans.

I read The Spinning Heart as a result of reading this thread. I really enjoyed it, thanks for the heads up.

the early Colin Tobin stuff is beautiful