I'm sure it comes to you as no surprise that March is also Irish Heritage Month. With St. Patrick's Day looming around the corner, I thought we might want to explore some well written books on the proud island race.
Fiction
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
I know what you're thinking: "Artemis Fowl doesn't sound very Irish!" But that's where you are wrong. Artemis Fowl is the lovably despicable main character of this fantastical series and the brilliant brain child of school teacher Eoin Colfer, who lives in Ireland. So there it's Irish. More over Artemis gets mixed up in all sorts of shady dealings with fairies, leprechauns, banshees, and more. Being cursed by the fae is about as Irish as you can get. A highly entertaining series with something for everyone. Pick one up from your local library today!
Nonfiction
Feed the Children First: Irish Memories of the Great Hunger Edited by Mary E Lyons
This heartbreaking book presents first-person accounts from people who remember the potato famine that swept Ireland in the mid-nineteenth-century. This famine caused widespread starvation and death. The illustrations and photographs included in the book bring this tragedy to life.
Adult Pick
I try hard not to put my personal bias on these book reviews, but this book is one of my favorites. It is in my top 5 favorite books I've ever read. I would recommend this book to a mature 8th grader, all high schoolers, and all adults. This is a must read!
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
In this riveting memoir Francis McCourt chronicles his impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland. In his poetic sty he recounts live in the 1930s and 1940s. McCourt describs in depth, with truth, and feeling his father's alcoholism and talent for storytelling. With love and honesty he recounts the challenges and tragedies his mother faced, including the loss of three children to sickness and starvation. As always McCourt balances these tragic tales and painful memories with humor and humanity.
No comments:
Post a Comment