Books Read by the Club
The late Fergal Tobin’s A City Runs Through Them ambitiously explores the urban evolution of central Dublin through its bridges. Tobin adopts a conceptually intriguing approach, weaving the chronological development of Dublin with the construction and significance of its bridges.…
“Dead in the Water” attempts to unravel the enigmatic events surrounding the alleged hijack and attempted scuttling of the Brillante Virtuoso, an oil tanker embroiled in a complex web of ownership and insurance connections. The book’s initial sections hint at…
I dove into “Prophet Song” during the Christmas break, and I can’t say it provided the festive cheer I may have hoped for. The dark, Stalinesque future it paints for Ireland is undeniably bleak. While I have a soft spot…
My rating: 3.5 of 5 starsIn “Act of Oblivion,” Robert Harris undertakes an ambitious narrative journey, spanning decades, which is a significant departure from the more concentrated temporal scope of his previous works like “V2” and “Munich.” While this expanded…
What a thought-provoking wee read. Short, pithy, hinting, and intriguing.
The club as a whole had a bifurcated experience tonight – apologies to all those who could not join in via Zoom. I won’t go on about the experience of being able to have a face-to-face book club after such…
Last year as I was compiling the year’s Book Club end of year considerations, I decided to add to some of our tabulating since starting the club. As we have finished our 10th year, I wanted to update our look…
Another ‘non-normal’ year. No repast in the cosy cellar of the RIYC or a pre-dinner reception at the house of distinguished members. Nonetheless coming together on Zoom we found that festive frivolity but as always very serious reflection both on…
There was a healthy divergence of appreciation for the Rise and Fall of Christian Ireland by Crawford Gribben. I believe that all found it a useful contribution to a broader discussion about the trajectory of the practice of Christianity in…
Tòibín wades into fertile territory by attempting an expansive biographical novel of Thomas Mann and the broader circle of his family. The Magician reflects the extensive research by the author in crafting this engaging and informative novel. However, remembering that it is…
Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars Following my quick review of The Housekeeping and the Professor, I felt obliged to offer a brief review of David Badiell’s Jews Don’t Count. This book is unabashedly…
Empire of Ants: The Hidden World and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors by Susanne Foitzik and Olaf Fritsche My rating: 5 of 5 stars An absolutely spellbinding read on what seems to be everything you could want to know…