When Irish Writers are Writing...

Yes - I had to do it. Go Irish themed for St. Patty's Day! But instead of party hats and green beer I thought I'd do a shout out to some great contemporary female Irish writers. Why female you ask?

1 - Because the boys are too buys with the green beer.
and 2 - Because Oprah's list was mostly men and I felt like doing the opposite of what she did.

So, in no particular order, here are some Irish authors to take note of OR revisit if it's been awhile:

Maeve Binchy is the author of numerous best-selling books, including Whitethorn Woods, Nights of Rain and Stars, Quentins, Scarlet Feather, Circle of Friends, and Tara Road, which was an Oprah’s Book Club selection. I must admit I have never read her, but I did love the movie of Circle of Friends with Minnie Driver and Chris O'Donnell. Isn't he just dreamy?

Nuala O'Faolain burst upon the literary scene in 1998 with Are You Somebody?, a fiercely candid account of her youth and adulthood as an Irish woman that became a bestseller around the world and launched a new life for its author. Almost There is her later book and begins at that moment when O'Faolain's life began to change and it both tells the story of a life in subtle, radical, and, above all, unforeseen renewal, and meditates on that story. It is on one level a tale of good fortune chasing out bad--of an accidental harvest of happiness. But it is also a provocative examination of one woman's experience of "the crucible of middle age"--a time of life that faces in two directions, forging the shape of the years to come, and clarifying and solidifying relationships with, friends and lovers (past and present), family and self.

Marian Keyes is one of the most successful Irish novelists of all time (at least that's what her website says!). Her first book Watermelon was published in 1995 and I believe I read it (and loved it) that same year. Her other titles include: Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (1996) Rachel's Holiday, Last Chance Saloon, Sushi for Beginners and The Brightest Star in the Sky.

Cecelia Ahern is most famous for her novel P.S. I Love You which was made into a movie with Hilary Swank. She is currently one of the writers on the ABC Show Samantha Who? which I think is cool and therefore we should all read her. (Is that logic working for you? If not have another green beer and then it will start making sense!)

And here's a few more to round out the list!
Cathy Kelly
Carol Snow
Clare Dowling
Claire Allan
Sheila O’Flanagan
Martina Reilly
Anne Enright

Happy St. Patty's Day - and be sure not Read and Drive!

--Dana Barrett, Contributing Editor