Book Club Kit Titles
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
'Dear Edward' by Ann Napolitano tells the story of Edward, a young boy who survives a plane crash that kills his family and 183 others. As he copes with his grief while living with his aunt and uncle, he discovers letters from other victims' families, which help him connect with their stories and start to heal. Through these connections and new friendships, Edward gradually learns to embrace life again, finding hope amid his sorrow.
The Optician of Lampedusa by Emma Jane Kirby
A true story about the European migrant crisis. It follows an optician and his friends from Lampedusa who encounter drowning migrants during a boat trip. Their rescue efforts highlight the human aspects of the crisis and the moral dilemmas faced by witnesses. Through the optician's perspective, Kirby emphasizes the desperate conditions of migrants and the profound effects on those who assist them.
The Giver Of Stars by Jojo Moyes
'The Giver of Stars' by Jojo Moyes is a historical novel set in the 1930s, focusing on Alice Wright, an Englishwoman who moves to Kentucky. Feeling trapped, she joins the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky, delivering books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt's initiative. The women face challenges but form strong friendships and discover the transformative power of books. The novel emphasizes female empowerment, community, and the impact of education.
Idol by Louise O'Neill
'Idol' by Louise O'Neill is a novel exploring fame, friendship, and truth through the story of Samantha Miller, a wellness guru and social media influencer. After writing a confessional essay about her past, she faces unforeseen consequences that challenge her perception of reality. The novel examines themes of identity, social media's impact, and the hidden darkness behind celebrity allure.
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
‘The Lost Man’ by Jane Harper is a gripping mystery set in the Australian outback, focused on the Bright family after brother Cameron is found dead near a grave. Eldest brother Nathan investigates, uncovering dark family secrets and confronting past traumas, revealing complex family dynamics. The novel explores themes of isolation, loyalty, and the harsh realities of outback life.
The Hungry Road by Marita Conlon-McKenna
'The Hungry Road' by Marita Conlon-McKenna is a historical novel set during the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. It follows three characters: Mary, a poor farmer's wife; John, a dedicated doctor; and Padraig, a struggling schoolteacher, whose lives intersect as they confront starvation, disease, and loss. The novel emphasizes the resilience and spirit of the Irish people, exploring themes of survival, community, and hope in the face of tragedy.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmus is a novel set in the 1960s about Elizabeth Zott, a talented chemist facing sexism in her field. Her life changes when she stars in a cooking show, using it to teach science and challenge societal norms. The story explores resilience, gender equality, and the power of knowledge, blending poignant themes with humour.
Strumpet City by James Plunkett
'Strumpet City' by James Plunkett is a novel set in early 20th-century Dublin, depicting the lives of various characters during the tumultuous period of the 1913 Dublin Lock-out. The story weaves together the struggles of the working class, the political tension, and the impact of poverty and social injustice. Through its rich, interconnected characters, the novel paints a vivid picture of the hardships and resilience of the city's inhabitants during this critical historical moment.
Twelve Thousand Days by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne
'Twelve Thousand Days' by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is a poignant memoir that delves into the author's life and her enduring love story with her late husband, Bo Almqvist. The book is a touching reflection on their 30-year relationship, exploring themes of love, loss, and memory. Through heartfelt anecdotes and personal reflections, Ní Dhuibhne captures the essence of their shared journey, providing readers with a deeply moving account of the joys and sorrows that come with a lifelong partnership.
American Dirt by Jeannine Cummins
Yesterday, Lydia had a bookshop. Yesterday, Lydia was married to a journalist. Yesterday, she was with everyone she loved most in the world. Today, her eight-year-old son Luca is all she has left. For him, she will carry a machete strapped to her leg. For him, she will leap onto the roof of a high speed train. For him, she will find the strength to keep running.
August by Callan Wink
August is an average twelve year old. When his parents' marriage falls apart and he has to start over in a new town, he tries hard to be an average teen but he struggles to form friendships, and when a shocking act of violence pushes him off course once more, he flees to rural Montana. There, as he throws himself into work on a ranch, he comes to learn that even the smallest of communities have secrets and even the most broken of families have a bond.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all - and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face - they must journey to find each other again.
D
rive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
In a remote Polish village, Janina Duszejko, an eccentric woman in her sixties, recounts the events surrounding the disappearance of her two dogs. She is reclusive, unconventional, and she is fond of the poetry of William Blake. When members of a local hunting club are found murdered, Duszejko becomes involved in the investigation. By no means a conventional crime story, this existential thriller by `one of Europe's major humanist writers' (Guardian) offers thought-provoking ideas on our perceptions of madness, injustice against marginalized people, animal rights, the hypocrisy of traditional religion, belief in predestination - and caused a genuine political uproar in Tokarczuk's native Poland.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Danny Conroy grows up in the opulence of the Dutch House. Though his father is distant and his mother is absent, Danny has his beloved sister Maeve: Maeve, with her wall of black hair, her wit, her brilliance. The siblings grow and change as life plays out under the watchful eyes of the house's former owners, in the frames of their oil paintings.Then one day their father brings home Andrea, a new stepmother. Though they cannot know it, her arrival to the Dutch House sows the seed of the defining loss of Danny and Maeve's lives: exiled from the house and tossed back into the poverty from which their family rose, Danny and Maeve have only each other to count on.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
On 21 June 1922, Count Alexander Rostov - recipient of the Order of Saint Andrew, member of the Jockey Club, Master of the Hunt - is escorted out of the Kremlin, across Red Square and through the elegant revolving doors of the Hotel Metropol. Deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the Count has been sentenced to house arrest indefinitely. But instead of his usual suite, he must now live in an attic room while Russia undergoes decades of tumultuous upheaval. Can a life without luxury be the richest of all?
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
Micah Mortimer is a creature of habit. A self-employed tech expert, superintendent of his Baltimore apartment building, cautious to a fault behind the steering wheel, he seems content leading a steady, circumscribed life. But one day his routines are blown apart when his woman friend (he refuses to call anyone in her late thirties a "girlfriend") tells him she's facing eviction, and a teenager shows up at Micah's door claiming to be his son. These surprises, and the ways they throw Micah's meticulously organized life off-kilter, risk changing him forever. An intimate look into the heart and mind of a man who finds those around him just out of reach, and a funny, joyful, deeply compassionate story about seeing the world through new eyes, Redhead by the Side of the Road is a triumph, filled with Anne Tyler's signature wit and gimlet-eyed observation.
Snow by John Banville
Following the discovery of the body of a highly respected parish priest at Ballyglass House - the Co. Wexford family seat of the aristocratic, secretive Osborne family - Detective Inspector St. John Strafford is called in from Dublin to investigate. Strafford faces obstruction from all angles, but carries on determinedly in his pursuit of the murderer. However, as the snow continues to fall over this ever-expanding mystery, the people of Ballyglass are equally determined to keep their secrets.
The Wild Laughter by Caoilinn Hughes
It's 2008, and the Celtic Tiger has left devastation in its wake. Brothers Hart and Cormac Black are waking up to a very different Ireland – one that widens the chasm between them and brings their beloved father to his knees. Facing a devastating choice that will put their livelihood, even their lives, on the line, the brothers soon learn that their biggest danger comes when there is nothing to lose. A sharp snapshot of a family and a nation suddenly unmoored, this epic-in-miniature explores cowardice and sacrifice, faith rewarded and abandoned, the stories we tell ourselves and the ones we resist.
The Years that Followed by Catherine Dunne
Dublin. Calista falls in love with the charming, older Alexandros and moves to his native Cyprus, never imagining that her whirlwind courtship would lead to a dark and violent marriage. But Calista learns to survive and knows she will find peace when she can finally seek retribution.
Madrid. Pilar finally escaped growing up with nothing. Determined to leave poverty behind her, she plunges into a life of working hard and saving money. Enchanted by an older man, Pilar revels in their romance, her freedom, and accruing success. She's on the road to achieving her dreams. Yet there is one thing that she is still searching for, the one thing she knows will make her truly happy.
As two wronged women plot for revenge, their intricately crafted schemes send shockwaves through their families that will echo for many generations to come.
Circle of Friends by Meave Binchy
Big, soft-featured Benny, an adored only daughter, and Eve, the little bird-like orphan brought up by the nuns, are best friends in the small Irish town of Knockglen. On their first day at University College, Dublin, an accident brings the pair together with fellow students Nan Malone and Jack Foley, and new friendships are quickly struck. But beneath their carefree student existence, trouble is brewing for the circle of friends.
Benny, the good-natured clown of the group, always seems to draw the short straw in life, while Nan, selfish and very attractive, takes what she wants without expecting to pay for it. And Eve, intensely loyal to Benny, and resentful of Nan’s careless optimism, becomes obsessed with the need to avenge Benny’s disappointments.
Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins
Young Christopher Hurley is a tinker, a Pavee gypsy, who roams with his father and extended family from town to town, carrying all their worldly possessions in their wagons. Christy carries with him a burden of guilt as well, haunted by the story of his mother’s death in childbirth.
The wandering life is the only one Christy has ever known, but when his grandfather dies, everything changes. His father decides to settle briefly, in a town, where Christy and his cousin can receive proper schooling and prepare for their first communions. But still, always, they are treated as outsiders.
Let Them Lie by Florence Gillian
Aoife O’Driscoll travels home to Sligo for a family gathering to mark the twentieth anniversary of her father’s death. While there, the discovery of a long-buried box and its disturbing contents sends her on a terrifying journey through her family’s past. Chasing secrets, while trying to hold her life together, becomes increasingly difficult. Breaking up with her fiancé Connor at a point when she desperately needs support, she falls deeper into an obsession with finding the truth, knowing that her investigations threaten to shatter the lives of everyone she loves – her mother, her sister, her young niece and nephew. And what of her older brother Sam? Has he been guarding the family secrets all these years? She is left to face the question: how high a price is she willing to pay to protect her family and can she live with the consequences?
Small Thing Like These by Claire Keegan
It is 1985, in an Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, faces his busiest season. As he does the rounds, he feels the past rising up to meet him - and encounters the complicit silences of a small community controlled by the Church.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman.
