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Irish Book Discussion for 2024-2025: Women in Irish LiteratureWomen have featured prominently in Irish literature, both as authors and as subjects of novels. No longer dismissed as inferior to their male counterparts, many are hailed as award winners. They are seen along with their fellow male novelists as exploring many of today’s complex issues. We will be looking at some of these contemporary artists and examining the skill and artistry found in their works. We will also look at two novels by men that feature women as main characters.
In fact, we begin with a novelist whose works have won prestigious awards and an outstanding male novelist who takes on the troubling problem of abuse. In December, we are discussing two short works by Claire Keegan. If names on this list look familiar, it’s because we’ve read other works by Doyle, Keegan, Barry, and O’Brien. We hope you enjoy the challenges presented by the familiar writers and the opportunities to explore new ones.
We will also occasionally include poems to complement the work being discussed.
** Availability of texts: We’ve tried to be sensitive to the costs of these works and their availability, but you may want to find a “reading buddy” to share the costs. Most of these will be in local libraries, in bookstores (new and used) and available from on-line sources (Amazon, Abe Books, and Powell’s books). Amazon offers new, used, and Kindle editions for sale. Members of the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library can check out library books!
September 28, 2024: “The River Capture” by Mary Costello (2019)
October 26, 2024: “The Woman Who Walked into Doors” by Roddy Doyle (1996)
December 7, 2024: “Small Things Like These” (2021) & “So Late in the Day” (2023) by Claire Keegan
January 25, 2025: “The Secret Scripture” by Sebastian Barry (2008)
February 22, 2025: “The Gathering” by Anne Enright (2007)
March 29, 2025: “The Little Red Chairs” by Edna O’Brien (2016)
April 26, 2025: “How to Build a Boat” by Elaine Feeny (2023)
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1106 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, United States, Arizona 85004
