Many of you have been very kind in both commenting & emailing me the names and titles of Irish authors/books that should top my must-read list before I make my way to Ireland in September. I have also received feedback from John Banville himself. I know, you didn't know I was that well-connected, did you? Before you worry your pretty heads about how I achieved such a coup (Irish author recommendations from the master!), I'll let you in on a little secret: Salon's Literary Guide to the World. How have I lived my life thus far without knowing about this nifty tool? It's very cool and you must check it out, although I must say that several countries are not represented (at all!) and some of the book recommendations seem...odd. No matter, I'm here to share the Banville wisdom and my plan to tackle all these books before I embark on my own honeymoon (take that Sarvas!) in the fall.
Banville recommends:
- At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien
- Dubliners by James Joyce
- Heaven Lies About Us by Eugene McCabe
- The Collected Stories of John McGahern
- The Collected Stories by William Trevor
- The Tower by W. B. Yeats
You recommend:
-The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin
- Dublin: A Cultural History by Siobhan Kilfeather
- The Barrytown Trilogy by Roddy Doyle
- The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe
- The Real Charlotte by Sommerville and Ross
- Sound Bites by Alex Kaprano
- The works of Jonh Banville
- The works of Niall Williams
- The works of James Joyce
I have already read several of these titles, but so long ago and without a view to an impending visit that I will strike the "i've already read this" option from the criteria selection list. Except, of course, for Banville. He doesn't count as I've read everything the man has ever written (everything, every essay, every blurb, everything) so that would seem rather unnecessary to repeat with so little time ahead of me and so many books to read.
So, what do we have? We've got crossover. John McGahern appears on both lists. Highly recommended by readers, highly recommended by The Master. So, I think it's safe to say I should start there. Or with Dubliners, which could always use a quick re-read and is, thankfully, not as thick as Ulysses. I'm also intrigued by Niall Williams and Colm Toibin...especially The Blackwater Lightship recommendation. It also seems sensible to toss in Dublin: A Cultural History for good measure, no? That's settled. A least there's a place to begin.
The larger question is how to accomplish all of this while maintaining my newly re-found writerly nature & whilst doing all the other things I've promised I'll do? So glad you asked. I've started an Irish Reading column at left (seemed far too cheeky to include the irish writers in the shamrock green column) to track my progress. With so many new books and author signings just around the corner, I felt it was important to keep the "currently reading" separate from the "irish books I'm trying to read also" section.
We'll see how it goes. Please feel free to add in recommendations via email or comments as the next six months unfold. I'll update you on progress, reviews, what the books have taught me, and how they might shape my upcoming trip. I may also need to stock up on Guinness for the long road ahead as I feel very much like I'm embarking on a worthwhile activity that, sadly, when combined with all other planned activities might make the whole thing race forward too quickly and the wheels will eventually fall off. Bottoms up!
