Long Island by Colm Tóibín, published in 2024, is a compelling sequel to his acclaimed novel Brooklyn. Set over two decades after Eilis Lacey's initial journey to America, the story delves into her return to Ireland amidst personal turmoil.
Eilis, now in her forties and living in Long Island with her husband Tony and their teenage children, faces a crisis when she learns of Tony's infidelity and the impending birth of his child with another woman. This revelation forces Eilis to confront her past and the unresolved emotions tied to her homeland.
The novel explores themes of loneliness, the pressures of small-town life, and the tension between desire and duty, all while highlighting Tóibín's masterful storytelling and deep understanding of human relationships.
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK * INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “Stunning.” —People * “Dazzling yet devastating...Tóibín is simply one of the world’s best living literary writers.” —The Boston Globe * “Momentous and hugely affecting.” —The Wall Street Journal *
From the beloved, critically acclaimed, bestselling author comes a spectacularly moving novel featuring Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of Brooklyn, Tóibín’s most popular work in twenty years.
Eilis Lacey is Irish, married to Tony Fiorello, a plumber and one of four Italian American brothers, all of whom live in neighboring houses on a cul-de-sac in Lindenhurst, Long Island,…
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, winner of the 2023 Booker Prize, is a gripping dystopian novel set in a near-future Ireland that has descended into totalitarianism.
The story follows Eilish Stack, a biologist and mother of four, whose life is upended when her husband, Larry, a union leader, is arrested under the new regime's draconian laws. As Ireland spirals into chaos and civil war, Eilish struggles to protect her family amidst increasing violence and oppression.
The novel poignantly explores themes of survival, the resilience of the human spirit, and the devastating impact of authoritarian rule. Lynch's narrative style, marked by its poetic prose and unflinching portrayal of societal collapse, makes Prophet Song a powerful and thought-provoking read.
WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023 • NATIONAL BESTSELLER
"A prophetic masterpiece." — Ron Charles, Washington Post
On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find two officers from Ireland’s newly formed secret police on her step. They have arrived to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist.
Ireland is falling apart, caught in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny. As the life she knows and the ones she loves disappear before her eyes, Eilish must contend with the dystopian logic of her new, unraveling country. How far will she…
A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro is a thought-provoking novel that delves into themes of memory, guilt, and the impact of the past on the present.
The story follows Etsuko, a middle-aged Japanese woman living in England, as she reflects on her life in post-World War II Nagasaki. Through her recollections, Etsuko recounts her friendship with Sachiko, a fellow survivor, and Sachiko's troubled daughter, Mariko.
As Etsuko navigates her memories, the narrative explores the complexities of rebuilding life after trauma and the haunting nature of unresolved grief. Ishiguro's debut novel is marked by its subtle, evocative prose and its deep exploration of the human psyche.
From the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and author of the Booker Prize–winning novel The Remains of the Day
Here is the story of Etsuko, a Japanese woman now living alone in England, dwelling on the recent suicide of her daughter. In a novel where past and present confuse, she relives scenes of Japan's devastation in the wake of World War II.
This book tells the story of veteran Ernie as he returns to Italy, transformed by his experiences during the Second World War, in search of the girl he left behind in the back streets of Naples half a century before.
The novel is a story of love in a world without room for romance. Both Ernie and Preghiera see in each other the hope of happiness. But they live in a world that seems set on keeping them apart. Just as love can last a lifetime, so too can heartache. For fifty years, Ernie dreams of returning and taking the hand of the true love of his life determined nothing will stop him from being with Preghiera in the end.
