Month: December 2016

London, Again…

Posted Rick O'Shea

Was lucky enough to be in London for a couple of days early this week on RTE Radio 1 duty and with a bit of time to spare. We were there for this – thanks to the Irish Literary Society for organising a room, guests and an audience for our one hour Poetry Programme Special. It’ll go out on Xmas Eve at 7pm. Managed to fit in a few other pretty picture taking opportunities along the way… And then it was to the new extension of Tate Modern for the first time after lying around in the Turbine Hall for […]

Book Club Books Of The Month – December 2016

Posted Rick O'Shea

Two jewels for you to read along with in December – Jess Kidd’s new debut novel “Himself” and, from 1938, the absolute classic that is Daphne DuMaurier’s “Rebecca”. First is one that really should have been in last month’s pair if I’d gotten my act together and read it when I got it! For someone brought up in London in an Irish family, Jess Kidd’s touch with voice and character is as assured as if she’d lived in the fictional Mayo village she’s writing about. It’s a murder/mystery (but much more than that) with incredible characters. Stylish, genuinely creepy, warm, […]

Books To Buy – Xmas 2016 (And January 2017!)

Posted Rick O'Shea

As it’s something I get asked at the end of every year this has now become a sort of annual thing. So if you’re looking for ideas for books to buy as presents or to get for yourself if Book Tokens are your drug of choice this Xmas here are quite a few ideas with shortened reviews to give you at least a few starting points for your trip to the book shop. Also, before someone says X is missing (as they always do) this is far from a definitive list of the best books of the year, just the […]