Review of Books

Recently published books of Irish and Irish-American interest

– Aliah O’Neill

($24.99 / 320 pages / Forge)

 

No stranger to the art of firmly captivating his readers, Alan Glynn delivers a complex thriller in Winterland. His first novel, The Dark Fields, is now being produced by Universal Pictures. Keeping with his cinematic style, Winterland paints a dark picture of contemporary Dublin complete with characters whose mystery seeps into the cracks of Dublin’s murkiest social constructs: deep into the gang culture and up through the political gears of the city.

Opening with the most heart-wrenching night in protagonist Gina’s life, the novel presents the bizarre and tragic coincidence of a son Noel Jr. murdered on the same night his father Noel Sr. dies in what appears to be a car accident. While most accept the coincidence as just that, Gina trails the story, unearthing disturbing clues that prove the events to be anything but happenstance. A page-turner complete with well-formed and dynamic characters, the novel unfolds a complex series of twists that leave the reader unsure who to root for at times. Glynn has succeeded in creating an exciting story of suspense and darkness, sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats guided by Glynn’s fearful tone.

– Tara Dougherty

($25.99 / 320 pages / Minotaur)

Irish Culture

Cork Rock by Mark McAvoy chronicles the Cork music scene as it grew from big bands in the 50s to rock and roll and punk acts in the 60s, 70s, and beyond. At the crux of this story is Rory Gallagher, who got his start touring small Cork clubs and eventually became a guitar god who played with Eric Clapton and almost became a member of the Rolling Stones. Gallagher’s blues-infused guitar licks were an inspiration to young musicians in Cork, who soon had the luxury of playing in a rising club scene.

Using interviews with Gallagher’s family members as well as local club owners and musicians, McAvoy vividly describes the growth and transformation of a music scene that both mirrored the trends of the time and produced a unique sound.

McAvoy devotes the latter half of his book to the birth of punk in Cork, a response to the psychedelic rock that dominated the 60s and early 70s. McAvoy focuses on bands such as Microdisney and Five Go Down to the Sea, but he also gives due to local legends like Sultans of Ping, to produce a comprehensive look at Cork’s musical history.

While Cork Rock is best read by diehard fans of these bands, anyone with a love of rock or punk music from this era will enjoy the first-hand accounts that McAvoy mines from the musicians and locals.              

  – Aliah O’Neill

($27.95 / 256 pages / Mercier Press & Dufour Editions)

 

With the World Irish Dancing Championships fast approaching, Kathleen Flanagan’s Steps in Time: History of Irish Dance in Chicago allows the reader to follow the journey of a small cultural tradition into an organized phenomenon sport. Her focus is on the development of dance in the city of Chicago from its early immigrant roots to the worldwide success of Chicago native Michael Flatley.

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Nster.com