Posted on March 16, 2020 at 4:18 PM by Michael Lang
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! March is here with warm golden sunshine and so much green we can’t help but think of the great books we’re lucky to have in our collection. Check out one of these books celebrating Irish authors, heritage, and culture, across the pond or here in the States. Slainte! (That’s Irish for “Health!”)
--Aaron Heil
DB083050 Celtic Twilight: Faerie and Folklore by W.B. Yeats
Consists of stories recounted to the poet by his friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. All of the stories focus on the mythic and magical roots of Irish folklore, venturing into the world of fairies, ghosts, and spirits. Includes commentary based on Yeats's own experiences. 1902
DB091054 Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly
1839. Soon after Honora Keeley is accepted to the convent, she meets Michael Kelly and they fall in love. As the Great Starvation sweeps across Ireland, they struggle to feed their growing family. Then, an opportunity to immigrate to America is offered to them. Conflict follows the family. Some violence. 2009.
DB058484 St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography by Philip Freeman
Life of St. Patrick based on his two surviving letters: one a defense of his work in Ireland, the other condemning a slave-raiding king and his pirates. Recounts Patrick's kidnapping by Irish pirates, years of slavery, escape, and eventual return to minister to the Irish people. Debunks many myths. 2004.
DB065753 Plum Lucky: Stephanie Plum Holiday Series, Book 3 by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie's grandmother finds a bag of money on Saint Patrick's Day and hightails it to Atlantic City. She is followed by a leprechaun-like thief and by Stephanie and her fellow bounty hunters, including mysterious Diesel. They must win the money back to save a ransomed horse. Some strong language. 2007.
DB072592 A Pot o’ gold: A Treasury of Irish Stories, Poetry, Folklore, and (of course) Blarney by Kathleen Krull
Limericks, ballads, poetry by Joyce and Yeats, and retellings of legends about mermaids, fairies, and leprechauns. Selections from the cultural heritage of Ireland balance child-friendly material with original sources. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2004.
DB084611 The Pint Man: A Novel by Steve Rushin
Rodney's social life revolves around Boyle's Irish pub in New York City. When his best friend, Keith, prepares to get married and move to Chicago, Rodney is at a loss. Then, he meets Mairead. Determined to be an adult, Rodney must survive the mishaps that befall him. Descriptions of sex. 2010.
DB019994 Ulysses by James Joyce
Annotation: Deals with a single day--June 16, 1904--in the life of Leopold Bloom, a Dublin advertising salesman. The stream-of-consciousness style and the use of interior monologues expose the personalities of the characters. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1922.
DB096145 Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Best friends and former lovers Frances and Bobbi meet renowned writer and photographer Melissa at a poetry performance in Dublin. When Frances becomes attracted to Melissa's husband, Nick, things get complicated. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017.
DB066071 In the Woods: Dublin Murder Squad, Book 1 by Tana French
Irish detective Rob Ryan and his partner Cassie Maddox investigate the murder of a twelve-year-old girl from Knocknaree at an archaeological site near Dublin. The crime's similarities to the disappearances of Ryan's best friends twenty years ago in the same woods cause him intense personal anguish. Strong language. 2007.