Books

Colum McCann related a story on RTÉ Radio last week, which is also published as a Village column, swearing to us of its truth despite how fantastic it sounds.

The IMPAC book prize was most recently contested by an Irish writer in 2003 when the sadly departed John McGahern was nominated for That They May Face the Rising Sun.

GRANTA SPRING ISSUE 93: The Magazine of New Writing, €15 in bookshops
Always use the word “Africa” or “Darkenss” or “Safari” in your title... Also useful are words such as “Guerillas”, “Timeless”, “Primordial” and “Tribal”.

The author of Cloud Atlas recreates the sense of wonder of his earlier works – and brings back some familiar characters – in a more intimate tale of a 13 year old boy's adventures in a quiet English village. By Nell Freudenberger

From a shed in Howth, Ferdia Mac Anna set out to conquer the world. In his memoir, he charts his teenage years of acting and playing, his unsuccessful rock career, his work in Irish media and his grace in overcoming critical illness. By Edward O'Hare

Riverside The Movie is number ten in the Riverside series and is bound to be read with delight both by Irish fans and young Norwegians into whose language all the books have been translated.

The British Book Awards, televised by Channel 4 last week were again presented by television's favourite librarians, Richard and Judy, proving itself to be the oddest beast on the awards block.

BROOKLAND. By Emily Barton. Farrar, Straus & Giroux €18.60

Andrew Biswell's biography of A Clockwork Orange author Anthony Burgess succeeds in rescuing this eccentric character's reputation from literary oblivion. By Edward O'Hare

Joseph Mary Plunkett was of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916. After the surrender, he was held in Kilmainham Gaol, courtmartialled and executed. His sister, Geraldine Dillon, recalled these events for a 'witness statement' she gave to the Bureau of Military History during the 1950s. She had married Thomas Dillon on Easter Sunday, and they were staying at the Imperial Hotel on O'Connell Street. This is an extract from her statement