The IE Book Review - September, 1997 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ======================================================================= THE IE BOOK REVIEW _______________________________________________________________________ Editor: Pauline Ferrie September, 1997 Issue No.26 ======================================================================= This monthly supplement to the Irish Emigrant reviews books recently published in Ireland, and those published overseas which have an Irish theme. Back issues are on our WWW pages > > > > > > > > > CONTENTS < < < < < < < < < Bestseller Lists Reviews: - The Siege of Derry in Ulster Protestant Mythology - Ian McBride - Ancient Celtic Romances - P. W. Joyce - Irish Local Names Explained - P. W. Joyce - The Art of the Celts - Iain Zaczek - The Book of Kells - Iain Zaczek - Ballyknockan - Seamas O Maitiu & Barry O'Reilly - Stone Mad - Seamus Murphy - New Series: Departures Volume 2 - ed. John Doorty - The World of Hibernia - Autumn 1997 General News: - Shortlist for Irish Times Literary Prizes - New publishing house launched - Scriobh Festival in Sligo - Collaboration on book by Irish authors - Hennessy Cognac Literary Awards - Book launch for Clare family - Brian Moore reading in Belfast - Booker Prize shortlist - Aspects festival of contemporary Irish writing - Autobiography by 103-year-old Aran woman ***** - Kenny's Bookshop and Art Gallery, High Street, Galway - Email: Provide a mail order service for books mentioned in the Irish Emigrant. > > > > > > > > > BESTSELLERS LIST < < < < < < < < < Paperback Fiction: 1. Finbar's Hotel, Ed. Dermot Bolger, New Island - IR9.99 2. Woman to Woman, Cathy Kelly, Poolbeg - IR5.99 3. Bridget Jones' Diary, Helen Fielding, Picador - Stg5.99 4. Evening Class, Maeve Binchy, Orion - Stg6.99 5. Promises, Promises, Patricia Scanlan, Poolbeg - IR5.99 Paperback Non-fiction: 1. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt - Harper Collins, Stg6.99 2. Little Book of Calm, Paul Wilson - Penguin, Stg1.99 3. Diana, Her New Life, Andrew Morton, Ml. O'Mara - Stg6.99 4. The Star Spangled Final, Mick Dunne, Gaelsport - IR4.99 5. Shattered Faith, Sheila Raunch Kennedy, Poolbeg - IR7.99 Hardback Fiction: 1. Love Like Hate Adore, Deirdre Purcell, Townhouse - IR15.99 2. Four Letters of Love, Niall Williams, Picador - Sth12.99 3. 10lb Penalty, Dick Francis, Michael Joseph - Stg16.99 4. Women with Men, Richard Ford, Harvill - Stg14.99 5. Scalpel, Paul Carson, Heinemann - Stg10.00 Hardback Non-fiction: 1. Diana, Princess of Wales: A Tribute, Tim Graham, Weidenfeld & Nicholson - Stg12.99 2. Anam Cara, John O'Donoghue, Bantam Press - Stg15.00 3. Irish Stone Walls, Patrick McAfee, O'Brien Press - IR14.99 4. The Woman who took Power in the Park: Mary Robinson, Lorna Siggins, Mainstream - Stg14.99 5. Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess, Peter Donnelly, Bramley Books - Stg7.99 Children's: 1. Irish Legends for Children, Retold by Yvonne Carroll, Gill & Macmillan - IR7.99 2. Goosebumps 44: Say Cheese and die again, R.L. Stine, Scholastic - Stg3.99 3. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Mildred Taylor, Penguin - Stg4.50 4. Goosebumps 43; The Beast from the East, R.L. Stine, Scholastic - Stg3.50 5. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank, Puffin - Stg5.25 > > > > > > > > > REVIEWS < < < < < < < < < - In "The Siege of Derry in Ulster Protestant Mythology" Ian McBride follows the development of the ceremonies and traditions associated with the defence of the city by 13 young boys in 1688. He records the establishment of the first Apprentice Boys Club in 1714 and the first well documented account of commemorative celebrations almost 60 years later, in a local newspaper of 1772. At this time bells were rung and flags flown, and the civic dignitaries dined in the town hall after a service in the cathedral. Catholic clergymen took part in the procession to mark the centenary of the siege in 1788 and, interestingly, the sermon was preached by one Reverend John Hume, the dean of Derry. That year also saw the beginning of effigy burning as part of the ritual, a practice which has continued and which was even observed on the Western Front in 1915. It was in the early years of the 19th century, when the celebrations had become more military, that the first objections were made and by 1824 the Apprentice Boys had taken control of the Derry rituals. McBride dates the rise of nationalism in the 19th century, and the polarising of feelings, from the period of growth of the Catholic population in the city. The "siege mentality" emerged, fuelled by preachers such as the Rev Richard Barrington and "Roaring" Hugh Hanna of Belfast, and Derry became the symbol of rebellious loyalism. The author has produced a detailed and fascinating study of the way in which the historical event has been used by Protestants and the Orange Order to reflect both disillusionment and triumphalism. Today the "myth" has been brought into the marketplace with the introduction of the Tower Museum, the Captain Browning Cruelty Free Cosmetics Shop and the Roaring Meg Picture Gallery, all tourist attractions in the city of Derry. (Four Courts Press, ISBN 1-85182-299-2, pp93, IR14.95) - Two books by P. W. Joyce have been reissued this year. "Ancient Celtic Romances", which Joyce translated from the Irish, was first published in 1894 and contains such well-known tales as The Fate of the Children of Lir, and The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne. With the eleven stories, Joyce also provided notes on the manuscripts from which they were taken. (Parkgate Books, ISBN 1-85585-390-6, pp446, IR3.99) - "Irish Local Names Explained" is a very much shortened version of Joyce's "Irish Names of Places", first published in 1923. In addition to giving an alphabetical list of common placenames and their meanings, Joyce also provides a guide to pronunciation and a list of common root words so that readers can attempt to translate the names of places not listed in the book. (Roberts Books, ISBN 1-901140-02-4, pp107, IR4.99) - Iain Zaczek, whose "Chronicles of the Celts" was listed in the March edition of the Review, has published two new books on a similar theme. "The Art of the Celts" concentrates on the origins, history and culture of the tribal group whose work can be found all over Europe, but particularly in Britain, France and Ireland. Zaczek gives a short history of the Celtic people and describes their artwork as depicted in metalwork, jewellery, stonework and carving, and the text is accompanied by drawings and photographs of some of the artefacts. (Parkgate Books, ISBN 1-85585-322-1, pp128, IRnot supplied) - A similar study has been made by the same author in his book "The Book of Kells". In this Zaczek gives the background to the work, discusses the themes underlying the illustrations of the Gospel Books, and includes an interesting chapter on the techniques involved. Each page is set in an intricate border and contains a number of illustrations, and the result is an attractive and informative volume on one of Ireland's great treasures. (Parkgate Books, ISBN 1-85585-312-4, pp96, IRnot supplied) - The County Wicklow village of Ballyknockan, situated close to Blessington Lake, is the subject of a book by Seamas O Maitiu and Barry O'Reilly. Ballyknockan, also known as The Granite Village, is the home of a stonecutting industry which dates from the beginnings of large-scale quarrying in 1824. The authors give an account of a working day at the quarry, the social life enjoyed by the stonecutters and their families and some notable historical events. A significant section is devoted to the different styles of houses and other buildings in the area, accompanied by both photographs and line drawings. Many notable Dublin buildings owe their stonework to the men of Ballyknockan, including the entrance to the RDS, and St Francis Xavier Church in Gardiner Street. (The Woodfield Press, ISBN 0-9528453-5-0, pp97, IR9.99) - To read Seamus Murphy's recently reissued "Stone Mad" in conjunction with the book on Ballyknockan is to bring to life the men who worked the stone down through the years. Murphy gives us a wonderful insight into the closed world of the "stonies", many of whom wandered the country from quarry to quarry seeking work in a trade which suffered harsh physical conditions. The various characters inhabiting the Cork workshop are affectionately drawn, but pervading the work is the feeling that theirs is a doomed craft - the news that concrete is to be used in the construction of a church at Turners Cross causes organised protests. The immediacy of the use of the present tense in the narrative draws us into the author's world, as does the humour which he extracts from the eccentricities of his fellow-craftsmen. (Blackstaff Press, ISBN 0-85640-617-1, pp230, IR9.99) - Volume 2 of "New Series: Departures" contains the winning short stories and poetry from this year's Nora Fahy Literary Awards, with comments on the award winners and a number of short book reviews. There are actually four stories included, since there were two winners of the third prize, and each reflects the originality sought for by the judges. I would certainly agree with their choice of Elizabeth Carty's "Daisy Chains" for first prize, with the very dramatic telling of a young girl's traumatic move from rural Ireland to Dublin. Of the three winning poems, that awarded second prize was not available for publication; Gabriel Fitzmaurice, in choosing the winners, expressed the belief that they would have been published even without the help of the competition. Editor John Doorty includes interviews he conducted with Clare musician Micho Russell and publisher Jessie Lendennie. (John Doorty , ISSN 1391-4279, pp75, IR3.95) - The Autumn edition of "The World of Hibernia" has as its main feature the Hollywood Irish, an extensive article on actors such as Liam Neeson, Kenneth Brannagh, Pierce Brosnan, Aidan Quinn and Stephen Rea. The Irish influence on the island of Montserrat, John Hume's Derry, an interesting article on the "Missing Friends" column of a Boston newspaper, and some truly beautiful photographs of County Sligo are among the contents of this latest edition of the magazine, which can be viewed at . - Of those books mentioned in the Bestsellers List which have not been reviewed, "The Star Spangled Final" is Mick Dunne's account of the 1947 All-Ireland football final which took place in New York;"Shattered Faith" is Sheila Raunch Kennedy's account of the dissolution of her marriage to Joe Kennedy; "Love Like Hate Adore" is Deirdre Purcell's latest novel; "Four Letters of Love" is a novel by playwright Niall Williams; John O'Donoghue's Anam Cara" draws on the spiritual wisdom of the Celtic world; and "The Woman who took power in The Park: Mary Robinson" is an analysis of the recent presidency by Lorna Siggins. > > > > > > > > GENERAL NEWS < < < < < < < < < - Judges in the Irish Times Literature Prizes for 1997 have shortlisted the following 11 authors for this year's awards: International Fiction Prize - Seamus Deane's "Reading in the Dark, "The Blue Flower" by Penelope Fitzgerald, Rohinton Mistry's "A Fine Balance" and Robert McLiam Wilson's "Eureka Street". The books by Seamus Deane and Robert McLiam Wilson also appear in the shortlist for the Irish fiction prize, along with William Trevor's "After Rain". Works by John Montague, Paul Muldoon and Eavan Boland appear in the poetry section, while Declan Kiberd, A.T.Q. Stewart and Breandan O Buachalla have been chosen for the non-fiction award. The awards will be announced in October. - Steve MacDonagh, previously of Brandon Press, has launched a new publishing company which is based in Dingle, Co Kerry. Mount Eagle Publications, named after a local mountain, will this autumn publish new works by Gerry Adams and Alice Taylor. - Earlier this month the fourth Scriobh festival was held in the Model Arts Centre in Sligo and featured writers from South America, New Zealand, Scotland and the UK as well as Mary O'Malley and Eva Bourke from Galway. The festival was also the occasion of the launch of a collection of poetry by Michael Fanning, and the award ceremony for the first Martin Healy Short Story competition. This was presented to Wexford writer Claire Keegan, a previous winner of both the RTE Francis McManus Award and the William Trevor Prize. - Seven Irish authors have each contributed a chapter to the novel "Finbar's Hotel" and it is left to the reader to guess each one's contribution. Edited by Dermot Bolger, the book includes chapters from Roddy Doyle, Jennifer Johnston, Joe O'Connor, Hugo Hamilton, Anne Enright and Colm Toibin. - A major fire in Tullamore during the 18th century, caused by a hot- air balloon, was commemorated this month with the Great Balloon Fire Literary Weekend in Tullamore. Participants included Claire Boylan, whose latest novel, "Room for a Single Lady", was launched at the festival, Joe O'Connor, Marian Keyes, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Kevin Myers and Paula Meehan. - This year's Hennessy Cognac Literary Awards, with prizes of IR1,000 and a silver trophy for each of the three category winners, will be judged by Roddy Doyle and short story writer Patrick Gale. The shortlist for the awards will be published next month. - Three members of a Clare family will have books launched at a combined ceremony in Dublin next month. Retired superintendent Tim Leahy, who lives in Kilrush, has written about his career in the gardai; his son Gerard's work is called "Towards a Jobless Society", while Gerard's brother Michael will launch his book for children, "Freddie the Ballinahinch Fox". - Belfast-born Brian Moore this month returned to the city to read from his new novel, "The Magician's Wife", in the Linen Hall Library, which hosted the event in association with Bloomsbury Publishing and the Bookshop at Queen's University. - Bernard McLaverty's first novel in 14 years, "Grace Notes", has been shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize for Fiction. Others in the list are Madelaine St John for "The Essence of the Thing", Arandati Roy for "The God of Small Things", Tim Parks for "Europa", Mick Jackson for "The Underground Man" and Jim Crace for "Quarantine". - This year's festival of contemporary Irish writing, known as Aspects, took place this month at the North Down Heritage Centre and the North Down and Ards Institute. Literary guests included Frank Delaney, who officially opened the festival, and Seamus Heaney, who gave a public reading. This year for the first time there was a special section for young writers calledYoung Aspects. - Blackwater Press is due to publish before Christmas an autobiography written by a centenarian. Bridget Dirrane, who until recently lived on Inis Mor, will celebrate her 103rd birthday in November. She worked in Dublin as a young woman before emigrating, and then for years she worked in the Kennedy household in Boston. - Tom Phelan's novel "Iscariot", originally published in Ireland by Brandon, has just been released in Germany by Franz Schneekluth Verlag of Munich. The German title is "Keegans Geheimnis". Next month the French edition of Phelan's "In the Season of the Daisies" will be published in Paris by Editions Balland. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Irish Emigrant - Book Review Cathedral Building, Middle Street, Galway, Ireland. Editor: Pauline Ferrie Tel: +353-91-569158 email: ferrie@emigrant.ie Fax: +353-91-569178 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-09.30.97-00:56:02-10164