First of all, happy birthday, blog! Exactly one year ago today, I published my very first blog post. You can read that here, but I will be writing a "looking back" type post soon.
So now to our regularly-scheduled programming.
Happy St. Patrick's Day, all!
I haven't done a "recommended reads" list for a while, so I thought this was a good occasion to do so!
So here, without further adieu, my list of top 8 books to make you wish you were Irish, or help you celebrate the day. (Green beer not required.)
For Those Who Didn't Want to Sleep Tonight Anyway:
IN THE WOODS
This psychological suspense novel features children, blood, secrets and a Dublin suburb. It's chilling and perfect to cuddle up with, maybe with an Irish coffee.
For Those Who Liked the Movie:
BROOKLYN
Did you see this Oscar-nominated movie a year or two ago? The contrast between a little Irish town and bustling New York is highlighted. Personally, I'd prefer the quaint Irish town.
For Classicists and Epic People:
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
The films for these classics were shot largely in Ireland, and now every time I think of the epic journeys of the characters, I see the rolling green hills from the film.
For Book Clubs:
ANGELA'S ASHES
This Pulitzer-Prize-winning memoir takes the reader into the heart of Irish immigrants and Limerick, Ireland. It isn't a happy book, but it is lovely and heart-wrenching.
For the Young and Young at Heart:
ARTEMIS FOWL
This popular YA novel is magical, exciting, and features the capture of a fairy - not the tiny happy creatures, but more like the faeries of traditional Irish stories, the ones you don't want to mess with.
For the Artists and Those With Artistic Souls:
THE PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN
Art and identity are interwoven in this book, and identity for Stephen Dedalus largely means being Irish. While he tries to escape the grips of expectations, even of Ireland, there is a self-acceptance, too, that helps cement this as a classic.
For Those Who Like the Love Stuff:
PS, I LOVE YOU
The movie made me bawl from the opening credits to the closing, and left me with eyes so swollen shut I could hardly see. The novel isn't quite that intense, and more developed. It's a lovely love story, about "holding on, letting go, and learning to love again." And yes, there's Ireland.
For Fantasy and Fairy Tale Fans:
DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST
One of the book clubs I've been a part of over the years largely read fantasy and science fiction, something I generally don't turn toward. This book was my favourite thing read of all the choices from that club, though, and I really, really loved it. I recommended it, reread it, lent it out. It's the beginning of a series, but I loved the way this ended so much I couldn't bring myself to read the rest.
It's based on a fairy tale, but set in Ireland, complete with fairy folk and enchantresses and a super amazing young woman who has to save her six older brothers. There's a romance, and I really liked the couple, but there are also some truly horrific things that happen. There are definitely dark moments, and I'd even put a serious trigger warning on this one. But it's also, like I said, one of my favourite books I've read in the past ten years or so. (Yes, I know it came out in 2002; but I didn't read it until maybe 5 or 6 years ago, so there.)
What are your favourite books set in Ireland, about Ireland, or somehow reminiscient of St. Patrick's Day?
I know I've missed a lot; I'd love to read your favourites below!