IrishCentral’s Book Club pick for April is “When All Is Said” by Anne Griffin

Welcome to April’s pick for the IrishCentral Monthly Book Club! Each month we will pick a new Irish book or a great book by an Irish author and celebrate the amazing ability of the Irish to tell a good story.

This month, we read “When All Is Said” by Anne Griffin. This is the debut novel from the Irish author and it has received tons of praise from the likes of Graham Norton and “P.S. I Love You” author Cecilia Ahern. The novel reached the number one spot in Ireland on its release and stayed there for over a month!

With a new book announcement on the first day of each month, stay with us throughout the month as we talk to the authors and give you a chance to discuss some great Irish works.

The best way to stay in touch with us and other book club members is to join our dedicated Facebook group here, where you can leave your comments and questions or give us even more great Irish recommendations.

If you have any further comments, questions for the author or recommendations for a future IrishCentral Book of the Month, you can email us at books@irishcentral.com.  

You can purchase “When All is Said” here.

You can also find more from Griffin herself at her website or follow her on Twitter or Facebook

IrishCentral’s April Book of the Month: “When All Is Said”

"When All Is Said" by Anne Griffin.

"When All Is Said" by Anne Griffin.

Author/Editor: Anne Griffin.

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: If you had to pick five people to sum up your life, who would they be? If you were to raise a glass to each of them, what would you say? And what would you learn about yourself, when all is said?

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual ­- though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories - of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice - the life of one man will be powerful and poignantly laid bare.

Beautifully heart-warming and powerfully felt, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said and done.

Anne Griffin at the Dublin launch of "When All Is Said." Image credit: Jennifer Momparte-Raya.

Anne Griffin at the Dublin launch of "When All Is Said." Image credit: Jennifer Momparte-Raya.

About the author: Anne Griffin is the winner of the John McGahern Award for Literature. Shortlisted for the Hennessey New Irish Writing Award and The Sunday Business Post Short-Story Competition, Anne’s work has been featured in, amongst others, The Irish Times and The Stinging Fly, and she had an eight-year career at Waterstones. Anne lives in Ireland with her husband and son. “When All Is Said” is her debut novel.

You can purchase “When All is Said” here.

Be sure to join the IrishCentral Book Club group here or to send us an email with questions at books@irishcentral.com.