It has gotten a little hot here in Ireland so it is that time of the year where you pretend that you will read something on holiday. We all know you will spend most of it on your phone.
Just a quick word on this ‘drought’ nonsense. Whatever way you slice and dice it, the very idea that Ireland, rainy Ireland, would experience a drought because we had three days over 20 degrees is just laughable.
The Irish Times “Water supplies across 31 catchment areas in 12 counties have officially entered “drought status”, with Uisce Éireann appealing to customers to “really consider” their usage.
Water supply catchment areas in 12 counties including Tipperary; Waterford; Offaly; Cork; Galway; Donegal; Meath; Kilkenny; Westmeath; Laois; Clare and Wexford are under drought status, according to the water utility.”
I just can’t be doing with this level of ludicrousness. I know someone who lives in Tipperary and it seems to rain there every day. Well, almost every day. The next article that follows this is where they tell us we will all die of skin cancer should we have the temerity to enjoy the three days of sun that is coming our way and that it is actually wrong to look forward to a day at the beach with your children ‘because climate change.’ Sure, it is hot. You do not need a coat (although I did wear a wool jumper at the playground due to the east wind) but it is still not as hot as London, as I and the Economist have said before.
Where was I? Ah yes books. Here are my summer recommendations but I shall recommend authors, not individual books. Usually if I come across an author I like, I then read all her books. And when I say her, I mean her – all my recommended authors are female.
Sure I like Ian McEwan and Sebastian Faulks and have read some Dickens, but for summer, something light yet also thought provoking, here are my favourites. None of them are Sally Rooney you will be glad to know but you each to their own. There is also Margaret Atwood who I enjoyed reading immensely but that was quite some time ago.
My favourite author you will not have heard about is Mary Lawson. Lord that woman can write. She can spin a yarn, drawing wonderful complicated characters, building the tension to a knife edge, all set in beautiful rural Canada. I have read all four of her books, The Other Side of the Bridge, a Town Called Solace, Crow Lake and Road Ends. If you want to skip dinner, go to sleep very late and generally not be able to put a book down read Mary Lawson.
Similar to Mark Lawson is the famous Anne Tyler. Tyler does women, especially wives and mothers very well. I have just finished her latest, Three Days in June which was good. I also read Ladder of Years, French Braid, Spool of Blue Thread and a Redhead by the Side of the Road. Ladder of Years concerns a married woman with three almost grown up children who goes for a walk on the beach while on holiday. She keeps walking. And walking. She walks all the way to a small town. It came close to bone, that’s all I’ll say.
My third author is Anne Pratchett. I really enjoyed The Dutch House. The Patron Saints of Liars was also good.
Kate Grenville, the Australian author who tells the stories of settlers and natives in early Australia is excellent. These three books about one family you have to read in order: The Secret River, The Lieutenant and Sarah Thornhill. The Idea of Perfection and A Room Made of Leaves are standalone books which I fondly remember. Lilian’s Story and Dark Places are outstanding but for some reason I have not read the middle book, Joan Makes History.
Finally I recommend, Kristin Hannah. This American author writes well researched historical fiction. The Nightingale which is set in Nazi occupied France was excellent. The Four Winds is set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The Winter Garden is set during the Siege of Leningrad and although it starts slow, once it gets going it really brings the horror of the siege to life. The Women, set during the Vietnam war I found disappointing and formulaic but my sister – in – law thought it was brilliant. She has a few other novels, which I thought were unrealistic although emotionally touching. My husband cried on the plane while listening to one of them on audiobook.
This summer put down your phone and read a book. You will enjoy your holiday more.