Judy

Angel: I agree with your description of Nora Robert's Murphy, wonderful character. And I love Maeve's books too, AC. Ann: Maeve's books are perfect for more than just plane rides, IMHO. Judy

Ann

Mary-thanks. Didn't know you could get The Van here. <BR> <BR>Also try Jennifer Johnston. <BR> <BR>When you're in Ireland, head for Waterstone bookstore. They always have a section for Irish writers. While they throw the romance and leprechaun crap in with the good writers, you can sort through yourself and find some great stuff.

xxx

Everytime I read a Maeve Binchey book I swear she knows my family - (all Irish born). It cracks me up. All the names and expressions. Its great. A Circle of Friends was the first I read and within 2 pages I was convinced my mother had taken up writing and didn't tell anyone. <BR> <BR>Also would recommend Peig by Peig Sayers, Twenty Year's a Growing by Maurice O'Sullivan. Neither is current but they are classics in Irish language literature (widely available in translation). Both take place on the Blasket Islands off the Dingle Pennisula and tell the story of real struggles to survive on an isolated island. Absolutely beautifully told stories.

AC

<BR>Oh, the characters Nora Roberts creates are amazing! <BR>The Gallaghers from the Jewels trilogy are wonderful. <BR>The Concannons from the "Born" series are diverse and charming. <BR>The male characters are handsome, sexy, warm, compassionate and excellent lovers! Not bad for a bit of fantasy reading. Her other stuff is not bad either! Enjoy!

Judith

Could someont tell me what good bookstores are in Cork City? Is there a Waterstones - or some other large bookstore there? My sister will be living outside of Cork and instead of sending her books from the states,I would like to order books for her and have them sent from Cork City rather than all the way from the States. Also,<BR>besides great Irish books, would there be a possibility that they might carry some American best sellers? Thanks for any help.

Cathy

Judith<BR>Easons, an Irish book store, have a branch in Cork and they also have a web site. I think their address is www.easons.ie - not sure. If that fails try www.eircom.net and do a search<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR><BR>Cathy

Lynn

Use amazon.co.uk.

Judith

To Lynn and Cathy:<BR> Many thanks on your help regarding ordering books in Ireland<BR>--and information on bookstores in Cork.I'm very grateful for your help.<BR> Judith

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Why?

David D.

Lynn,<BR><BR>Relative to its size, Ireland has produced - or at least inspired - a remarkable body of quality, memorable fiction. You've already received a good many tips, but allow me to chime in with just a few more:<BR><BR>Edna O' Brien's &quot;The House of Splendid Isolation&quot;<BR><BR>William Trevor's latest novel,&quot;The Story of Lucy Gault&quot;<BR><BR>John McGahern's &quot;The Barracks&quot; and his latest work of fiction, &quot;By the Lake&quot; <BR><BR>Colm Toibin's &quot;The South&quot; (Toibin, by the way, also wrote a remarkable memoir, titled &quot;Bad Blood,&quot; about his travels along the border separating Northern Ireland and the Republic.)<BR><BR>Dermot Healy's &quot;A Goat's Song&quot;<BR><BR>Good reading and best of luck.

anotherone

One of the best romance-type books I have read recently , based in Ireland is <BR> Jewels of the Sun, by Nora Roberts. While I was reading it, I could close my eyes and let her descriptions take me back there. I could see the village , the countryside and the view of the water , all as if I were there yesterday. It captured the feel of the place &amp; the people. <BR> ( there are 2 more books in the trilogy - Tears of the Moon &amp; Heart of the Sea - both good, but I loved the 1st one best) .

Bree

Troubles, by J.G. Farrell, is a wonderful novel that was written in the 1970's but has recently re-published by the New York Review of Books. It would make a great companion piece to William Trevor's The Story of Lucy Gault (one of David D.'s recommendations), in that it's also about an Anglo-Irish family in the 1920's. <BR><BR>Speaking of Trevor, he's one of my favorite writers and I loved The Story of Lucy Gault, but I think his real strength is as a writer of short stories, so I'd recommend starting off with one of his short story collections, like The Hill Bachelors. (But any time spent reading Trevor is time well spent.)<BR><BR>For a more humorous take on the decaying Anglo-Irish gentry in the 1920's and 1930's, you can't beat Molly Keane, whose books were originally published under her pen name, M.J. Farrell (no relation to the J.G. Farrell who wrote Troubles, as far as I know). Good Behavior is one of her best.<BR><BR>Hugh Leonard, the Irish playwright who is probably best known for having written Da, has written a novel called A Wild People, about a bunch of literary and theatrical types in contemporary Dublin. It's amusing, but light: it made the perfect airplane book for my flight home from London to New York last summer.