Tag: Non-fiction

Contemplation, Writers Read

Reading and Consideration

Now that the brighter days are here (though they have already started to shorten), I’m starting another reading and consideration bout; a lovely mix of stories, poetry, philosophy, essays, fiction and non-fiction. I assembled the pile for physical balance rather than any particular order. The following books appear from top to bottom in the photograph above:

  • Mary O’Donnell Walking Ghosts (Mercier, 2025)
  • Mary Oliver A Poetry Handbook (HarperCollins, 1994)
  • Max Porter Shy (Faber, 2023)
  • Susan Sontag As Consciousness is Harnessed to Flesh (Picador, 2012)
  • Nóirín Ní Riain Sacred Rituals (Hachette, 2023)
  • Greg Dinner Fragments (Ogham & Dabar Books, 2025)
  • Gerald Dawe Catching the Light (Salmon, 2018)
  • Philip Marsden Under a Metal Sky (Granta, 2025)
  • Jan Zalasiewicz How to Read a Rock (The History Press, 2022)

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, 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.