Irish Examiner book reviews
21 of the 23 Irish Examiner reviews here with a stated verdict were positive.
PositiveLook What You Made Me Do · John Lanchester“master of writing topical tales that entertain”PositiveFly, Wild Swans · Jung Chang“a poignant, powerful memoir”Verdict not statedWill There Ever Be Another You · Patricia Lockwood“Wayward connection in chaos”PositiveAfter Oscar · Merlin Holland“Revealing dive into the ripple effects of Wilde’s scandal”PanCountry People · Daniel Mason“Scattered tale lacks momentum”PositiveFlat Earth · Anika Jade Levy“Witty jab at smartphone era”MixedThe Land of Sweet Forever · Harper Lee“will likely get a kick out of the fiction here — but the stories are uneven”Verdict not statedA Rebel and a Traitor · Rory CarrollVerdict not statedDooneen · Keith Ridgway“Strange world, familiar sadness”Verdict not statedThe Rise and Fall of the Artificial State · Jill LeporeRaveSaid the Dead · Doireann Ní Ghríofa“Struggling to find a book as genius as Doireann Ní Ghríofa's genre-defying offering”PositiveThe Benefactors · Wendy Erskine“beautifully tackled tale of consent”PositiveThe Fallen · Louise Brangan“Grim story of Magdalene laundries just short of steaming with rage”PositiveThe Paris Express · Emma Donoghue“All aboard for an enthralling ride in this explosive historical thriller”PositiveThe Traitors Circle · Jonathan Freedland“A true story of courage and betrayal of those who fought Hitler’s villainy”PositiveA Beautiful Loan · Mary Costello“a thoughtful portrait of the drift of life”PositiveI Want to Go Home But I’m Already There · Róisín Lanigan“gives a detailed account of a difficult year in the protagonist’s life”PositiveAll Them Dogs · Djamel White“Gritty debut garnering acclaim”PositiveFrogs for Watchdogs · Sean Farrell“left our reviewer, normally an impassive reader, in tears of happiness”PositiveFun and Games · John Patrick McHugh“Darkly comic depiction of adolescence portrayed by an authentic teenage voice that never falters”PositiveMy Sister and Other Lovers · Esther Freud“this elegant novel is more than memoir”PositiveOne of Us · Elizabeth Day“Elizabeth Day’s smart writing expertly weaves the tales of five major characters”Verdict not statedOur Better Natures · Sophie WardRavePick a Colour · Souvankham Thammavongsa“this debut is a certifiable knockout”PositiveThe Boy from the Sea · Garrett Carr“brilliantly evoked”PositiveThe Lamb · Lucy Rose“memorable and nightmarish”Verdict not statedWater · John BoynePositiveBelgrave Road · Manish Chauhan“The forbidden love of two lonely strangers seeking a port in a storm”Verdict not statedThe Chronicles of Doom · S. H. Fernando Jr.“the mythology seems as important as the music”PositiveUnderdogs · Louise Powell“delivers originality and empathy in spades”