4 brilliant Irish books worth reading again this long weekend

We can take a couple of lazy days to enjoy indulgently light reading material that we tend to save for beach days. These books must entertain and absorb; many avid fiction-lovers opt for escapism reads for this very reason and this list is compiled of exactly that, straight from the hearts and minds of some of our most beloved Irish authors.

The books aren’t new, but what they are is worth reading again.

Sushi For Beginners by Marian Keyes

My introduction to Marian Keyes and the book I always go back to is this. This is one of her most underrated works; Keyes’ writing sparkles with wit and as she writes of the nervous breakdown that awaits one of her three main characters. The lives of Clodagh, beautiful and bored of her family life, Lisa struggling to launch a new Irish magazine and “weirdly normal” Ashling all intertwine, and Keyes’ distinct voice means that even in the darkest of times, the reader laughs and feels uplifted. This is a “comfort” read in the best sense of the word.

Foreign Affairs by Patricia Scanlan

The ideal book for your getaway backpack, this 900+ book tells the story of Brenda, Jennifer, Paula and Rachel from young children to adulthood and all the moments in between. Scanlan’s strength has always been her characters; they are so relatable; so vividly written they jump off the page. The plot is fairly standard but what makes the book sparkle is the different characters each at a crossroad in their lives, so distinct from one another. And the fluidity of means writing means that you never feel like the story becomes laborious to read. This is one for those long summer nights and is still my favourite Scanlan novel.

The Blue Hour by Kate Thompson

Romantic reads are a guilty pleasure of mine in the summer months, and I recently re-discovered this author’s early reads online, prompting me to return to a favourite. The Irish actress-turned-author penned the beautifully written The Blue Hour years ago, the story of a trendy copywriter who leaves her busy Dublin life for a town tranquil in France and attempts to re-evaluate her place in the world. It’s unashamedly romantic, but never cheesy, and so it is the perfect staycation read.

Room By Emma Donoghue

You’ll no doubt remember the movie that was, upon release, the talk of Tinseltown and it all stemmed from the excellent source material. Seemingly inspired by Josef Fritzl’s incarceration of his daughter Elisabeth, it’s easy to start the novel with weary eyes, but Donoghue’s gift for balancing the horror with uplifting moments of tenderness and joy will enthral you.

The first half of the story takes place entirely within the 12-foot-square room in which a young woman has spent her last seven years since being abducted aged 19. Raped repeatedly, she now has a five-year-old boy, Jack, and it is with his voice that Donoghue tells their story. And what a voice it is. The bond between mother and child and the power of the love they share never lessons even when they face the outside world with its new challenges. You won’t be able to put this one down. Watch the film, but read the book first.