Category: On Reading

On Reading, Writers Read, Writing Life

After Writing – Reading

As always, after an intense spell of writing, I like to return to reading.

Reading for leisure, for pleasure, for the act of reading itself.

Reading to no agenda other than to follow word after word, sentence after sentence so that I might be surprised by a discovery, a nudge, a startling fact, a sense of sadness – or that in some way wonder might pass through me.

And so, my current reading:

  • This is Ear Hustle by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods. I’ve been listening to the Podcast. The book is even more thought-provoking.
  • A Slanting of the Sun by Donal Ryan. I’m late to these stories but am taking my time with them.
  • Wunderland by Caitríona Lally. With thanks to New Island books. Looking forward to diving in.
  • Bewilderment by Richard Powers. On the 2021 Booker Short List. I’d love if it won! (Results out next week). This is a slow and wonderful read with philosophical questioning throughout. One of the most tender evocations of father-son relationship I’ve ever read. I’m almost finished this beauty.

Photograph of four books: This is Ear Hustle (non-fiction)/ A Slanting of the Sun (short stories)/ Wunderland (novel)/ Bewilderment (novel)
On Reading, Writers Chat, Writers Read, Writing Life

Reading, Reading, Reading

Photograph of two books: In The Dark by Anamaría Crowe Serrano and The Garden by Paul Perry

Three photographs of the new literary journal Seed
Photograph of the book Look It’s A Woman Writer! Irish Literary Feminisms 1970 – 2020
Photograph of the book Love Stories for Hectic People by Catherine McNamara

Yes! I’ve been readings LOADS and have some very exciting new Writers Chats coming up soon – from the page-turning The Garden to the wonderfully written In The Dark to the exquisite collectively created and produced Seed and the intriguing Love Stories for Hectic People.

If you haven’t been to your local bookshop or library, now is the time to go to catch up on new readings, new ideas and you’re in for layers of treats and generous stories of writing lives with the latest from Arlen House edited by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne Look! It’s a Woman Writer!

Go forth, and read, read, read.

On Reading, Writing Life, Writing News

Life Stories: Non-Fiction

Photograph of the cover of Deborah Levy’s Real Estate and Joan Didion’s Let me tell you what I mean – both covers use shades of red and I am wearing red runners

I have been immersed in fiction and writing but for the next few weeks I am turning my attention to reading about the lives of others in a fab non-fiction selection – I’m almost finished with Solnit’s brilliant memoir.

I will also start into a wonderful collaborative research project with a trip to the archives of the National Library of Ireland. But more on this project later….

Happy Reading to you all!

Photograph of my writing notebook, Rebecca Solnit’s Recollections of my non-existence, Sophie White’s Corpsing, Rachel Kushner’s The Hard Crowd. All non-fiction titles by female authors.