Books in brief: works by Jan Carson, Ben Okri, and Sima Samar with Sally Armstrong
Reviews of No Vacancy: Hotel Stories, Waking the Warriors, and Outspoken: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan
Book Reviews
Resetting the Republic. How to Build a Better Ireland: an engaging analysis of how we got here, and a vision for the future
Conor Brady outlines why the State’s political and administrative structures require a radical overhaul
Miss Bates: Emma Revisited by Catherine Cliff – A witty and ambitious debut
It’s a brave choice to use a beloved author’s characters as a springboard to create a fresh and fascinating take on a classic novel
This Modern Love by Emma Gilleece: Running the rule over most important modernist buildings countrywide
Not just a catalogue, but a veritable tour guide
Reckless Laughter: A Biography of Ian Cochrane: Author deserving of another day in the sun
Compelling biography sure to win Cullybackey-born writer many new fans
How I’ve Tried to Change the World by Alexei Sayle: The godfather of alternative comedy looks left
The memoir is most satisfying when Sayle looks at the flaws as well as the draws of the left
Gaza’s Gravediggers: A valuable historical document if, or when, Israel is finally held to account
Fascinating picture of the moral and logical contortions necessary to reach implausible decisions
All In by Peter O’Mahony and Zeebs by Simon Zebo: An authentic account of a life in rugby, and a dose of cheery insouciance
O’Mahony’s dark sense of humour is surely inherited from his grandmother, while Zebo’s swashbuckling exuberance comes through in this account of an illustrious career
New children’s books: Scoffers, squiddlers and how to find magic in your garden
New books include a pleasingly odd debut from DT Moorhouse and a deep dive into the history of witches by Hazel Atkinson
The Queerest of Folk by Russell T Davies, and Out Now by Scott Bryan: A queer obsession with TV
Two books that measure out lives through television: Davies writing them, critic Bryan watching them
The Walls by James McClean: An improbably terrific book from a genuinely fascinating figure
This is not your regular sports autobiography
On the Air and Sounding Ireland: Radio histories offer absorbing education in ‘the new confessional’
Clíona Ní Anluain and Rosemary Day’s thoroughly researched works coincide with centenary of RTÉ Radio forerunner’s founding
Crime fiction: Dark tales, with the worst people, for respite from that Christmas cheer
Ian Rankin’s The Heights, his first stand-alone book in two decades, continues crime fiction’s grand tradition of exploring corruption and exploitation
Books in brief: Encountering firefighters and football fanatics on Che Guevara’s trail
Absorbing and sometimes sobering new books by Julian Sayarer, Rowan Hooper and Ben Okri
James Joyce: A Life in Books – handsome volume does justice to remarkable collection
Luca Crispi’s record of decades-spanning accumulation of Joyce workes is a considerable scholarly achievement
The American Way of Killing by Malcolm Gladwell: A punchy but sometimes superficial polemic
The author’s tone borders on the melodramatic and there is a definite sense of him oversimplifying data before reaching glib conclusions
The City Without Jews by Douglas Smith: How Vienna turned on a once-thriving community
The author meticulously, rivetingly documenting the terror, provoked by malice and greed, that came to pass in Hitler’s city
Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger: Ambitious follow-up to the Time Traveler’s Wife
Inevitably, many readers will find the 560 pages of this sequel focusing on daughter Alba a challenge
The 50 best Irish-language books of the century so far
The Irish Times surveyed 35 experts on their favourite books as Gaeilge published since 2000
The John McGahern Companion: A refuge and resource
This book is edited by four leading scholars on the author and reviews a wide range of topics
Charles Haughey - Glory, Greed and Guns review: ‘It’s still shocking to read the scale of this immorality’
Vincent Browne’s long-anticipated biography documents the former Fianna Fáil leader’s sheer odiousness in forensic detail
Edged in Blue: A Rock & Roll Odyssey with Rory Gallagher - Ireland’s first rock star
His brother and manager Dónal Gallagher recounts the triumphs and lasting musical legacy of the legendary guitarist
Music Against The Night by Yiyun Li: A dense and complex novel worth taking time over
Li is at her most fascinating when exploring what talent really means
Dodge City by Patrick deWitt: a wise novel that contains the best insult you’ll hear all year
Exemplary Vietnam War-era road novel restores your faith in North American decency
Gift Grub & Me by Mario Rosenstock: Entertaining, very funny and extremely honest
Gift Grub & Me by Mario Rosenstock: entertaining, very funny and extremely honest
Blockers by Michael Lewis: A page-turner about civil servants, and Trump’s war on them
Although brilliant at showing the consequences of Trump administration actions, the book is limited in explaining the reasons behind them
YA fiction: Filthy is a terrific book, though perhaps a tad awkward as a class read
Plus Winterveil by Ava Reid; Firstborn by MJ Hastings; and don’t read E Lockhart’s The Pools on public transport, whatever you do
Taipei Story by Rebecca F Kuang: A compulsively paced and humorous coming of age tale
Teenage ache captured beautifully in author’s most assured work
Fresh books: Catalpa by Michael B Barry; Vigilante by Meera Syal; White Lines by Ryan Caldwell
Reviews by NJ McGarrigle, Céire Sadlier and John Walshe
In One Brief Moment All Eternity by Elif Shafak: Wonder and intrigue on every page
A work with two crowning glories: the inventive narrative architecture and the luxurious prose
Letters from Irish in the US, 1818-1972: Writing back with bitterness, fondness and more
A new collection of 62 letters shows the enormous emotional range of Irish emigrants’ experiences in the US – and complicates narratives of national loss and American opportunity
The Real Nigel Farage by John Sweeney: Author offers a trial of the protagonist
A hearing from which defence counsel is largely absent and where the voters must be the ultimate judge
Seeing What’s Hidden by Manchán Magan: Author’s last words mingle trademark lyricism and rigour
Also reviewed: Those Who Listen – New Irish Writing on the Bog
Irish Book Awards: Maggie O’Farrell, Vincent Browne, Sally Hayden and Louise Kennedy on shortlist
Debutant Djamel White, whose literary crime thriller was longlisted for the Booker Prize, is up for two awards
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices