February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
REFLECTIONS ON THE IRISH STATE
Garret FitzGerald
Also an achievement is the former taoiseach’s success in making this book a fairly rapid read. Such is the construction of FitzGerald’s mind that there could be a million side roads tempting to his pen. But the pace in maintained through a range of subjects including the Irish Constitution, the Republic’s electoral system, Irish education, the relationship between church and state, Ireland in the EU and of course the tangled weave that is the relationship between the South, the North and Britain. U.S. by Irish Academic Press (c/o ISBS, 5824 N.E. Hassalo St., Portland, Oregon, 97213 or www.iap.ie). 202 pp. $30.
BEYOND
Michael Foley
Derry native Michael Foley’s fourth work of fiction focuses on the adventures of a young accountant in 1960s Ireland. Life in a small town provides more excitement than expected and the protagonist has various sexual adventures, illustrating the growing sexual revolution in Ireland. His involvement with two different women leads to problems. The novel provides a light-hearted and irreverent look at Ireland forty years ago, a place that was in the grip of change, where young people were testing the boundaries and challenging the moral high ground. Black Staff Press (distributed by Dufour Editions, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007; (610) 458-5005; tlavoie@dufoureditions.com). 292 pp. $16.95.
AN IRISH LOVE STORY
Tom Bannon
This love story follows a well-worn path. A young man leaves Ireland in the 1940s, goes to America, makes his fortune and returns to the country of his birth. Not so typically, Bannon was inspired to write this book as a counter to the Frank McCourt-style “difficult Irish childhood” books on the market. He read “Angela’s Ashes” and said he felt that while there were certain parallels to his own poverty-stricken childhood, there was a pride and personal honor to the people that has been forgotten. 1st Books (www.1stbooks.com or 1 (888) 280-7715). 332pp. $15.50.
THE RISING
Bairbre T