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Have any of us read Jennifer Johnston's novels?
My first ever of hers was "The Christmas Tree" from then on I was her follower

One of my favourite authors & a very lovely lady.
I read the award winning The Captains and the Kings in my teens and have been a firm fan ever since. I love all her books but in particular Truth or Fiction, Two Moons, Truth or Fiction & This is Not a Novel. I got Shadowstory, her most recent book, as part of my Christmas purchases but believe it or not I actually haven't got to reading it just yet .. ah well sure it's only June!

HI Fran,

I am sure that you would enjoy "The Christmas Tree", I must follow up on her latest "Shadow Story".

Another Irish author is Edna O'Brien, I can recommend "Down By The River" and "House Of Splendid Isolation".

Also I have not long discovered another of your authors Colum McCann, I began with "Song Dogs" I adored it, and followed up with his short story collections.

hazelk wrote:HI Fran,

I am sure that you would enjoy "The Christmas Tree", I must follow up on her latest "Shadow Story".

Another Irish author is Edna O'Brien, I can recommend "Down By The River" and "House Of Splendid Isolation".

Also I have not long discovered another of your authors Colum McCann, I began with "Song Dogs" I adored it, and followed up with his short story collections.

@hazelk
I will add The Christmas Tree to the never-ending list
I actually live quite close to Enda O'Brien's birthplace, a beautiful writer & an absolutely fascinating woman to hear interviewed, she is so knowledgeable on books and authors & wears her knowledge so lightly and has such a beautiful speaking voice.
Colum McCann is brilliant, I loved Let The Great World Spin and I actually purchased his recent book, Translantic, last week.

Fran, The good thing about Jennifer's book is that they are nice and slim, almost novella size, and make perfect TBR queue jumpers , thinking back, another very special of Jennifer's is How Many Miles to Babylon. I have read almost all of her novels. I have ordered her latest from my on-line local library.

I believe that Edna O'Briens novel "Down By The River" was banned in Ireland (and a few of her others) it is based on a true story, very dark, touching on incest and abortion. Again she writes nice slim novels.

I love reading about Ireland, have you read Frank Delaney's "Ireland"

@hazelk
My nephew, who isn't a great reader, has How Many Miles to Babylon on his school reading list & he actually loves it (he's 18)
Who knows maybe he will be on here in time naming Jennifer Johnston as the author who turned him into a reader .. I live in hope!
Many of Edna O'Brien's early books (e.g. The Country Girls) were banned here in the 1960s but thankfully we have matured somewhat since then & banning books is now a thing of the past. I have heard Edna in interviews relate many amusing anecdotes of the lengths Irish readers went to to get their hands on her books, you could probably argue that banning was the best thing that happened to her as a writer, in terms of publicity anyway, and of course she was in good company as James Joyce was also on the banned list. Personally I came to her books first because, although they were no longer banned at that stage, they were unsuitable reading, ... best incentive ever to send me in search of a book.
I haven't read Frank Delaney but will add him to the TBR
If you are interested in books about Ireland could I suggest Morgan Llywelyn ... her Lion of Ireland in particular is a great read.

Fran,
I hope that your nephew is still enjoying Jennifer Johnston's "How Many Miles to Babylon?" the ending of this little novel is heart wrenching, it is really a very special read, it goes from beautiful rural Ireland to the trenches in WW1 with wonderful comradeship.
I would so like him to read if possible "A Long Long Way" by another wonderful Irish writer Sebastian Barry, it is also set in the trenches WW1, the novel may be a too long for him, if so he would like I am sure "Fly Away Peter" by Australian author David Malouf, this is a slim little novel, dealing with young Australians' also in the trenches the same period.
Maybe your nephew will blossom into a keen reader

I intend a reread of another of Jennifer's novels "Fools Sanctuary", I will also track down "The Captains and the Kings" for a reread, it is just so special.

Thanks for the tip re Morgan Llywelyn.

@hazelk
You are my soul mate .. I love Sebastian Barry's work also & especially A Long Long Way. Have you read On Canaan's Side or Annie Dunne both also a super reads.

I keep working on my nephew but it is difficult to get boys in particular reading but I shall keep fighting the good fight!

Fran,

I loved Annie Dunne, I am not familiar with On Canaan's Side, I shall investigate!!

Good luck with your nephew

BTW we do seem to be soul mates