Books
by Joseph O'Connor
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Ghost Light |
As the ghost light burns in an empty theatre, so in a dingy boarding house, an old woman, somewhat sozzled with gin, burns with the memories of herself as a young actress engaged to Ireland's greatest playwright, Synge, who died so many years ago. O'Connor with his Irish gift for language breathes life into their story using the novelist's prerogative to imagine and invent. If you've read his Star of the Sea (bwl 28), this is as good.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 60 Spring 2011) |
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My Father's House |
In occupied Rome an Irish Monsignor in the Vatican, which remained neutral, runs an escape line for allied soldiers, disguised as running a choir. It is based on a true story. During the relatively short Roman occupation (Sept ’43 to June ’44) the Gestapo’s actions were horrific. The risks taken by the ‘Choir’ are immense and the suspense is gripping, building to a climax at Christmas ’44. I couldn’t put it down
(Ros Cook - bwl 116 Spring 2025) |
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Star of the Sea |
The story is set during the Irish famine. The Star of the Sea has left Ireland and is heading towards the American shores. As the journey unfolds we learn more about the passengers and the lives that they have left behind. O'Connor's writing is exquisite, he creates such believable characters and writes in an almost Dickensian style yet with the pace of a modern day novel. Beautiful writing.
(Claire Bane - bwl 28 February 2005) |
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Star of the Sea |
1847 - on board en-route for America are hundreds of desperate refugees fleeing the Irish famine; travelling first class are a bankrupt landowner, his two young sons with their nanny, his wife and her lover. Murder is stalking the decks. Following multiple threads from documents, diaries, letters and interviews the lives and unexpected connections of the protagonists gradually take shape. The tension builds until the fatal deed is done and we reach the final unexpected twist.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 85 Summer 2017) |
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Yeats is Dead! |
With Joseph O'Connor as editor - Fifteen different Irish writers contribute a chapter each to this mad romp of a who-why-what-dunnit. Starting with Roddy Doyle and ending with Frank McCourt, some chapters are better than others, but it's fun to see how each writer picks up the story and carries it forward. Written in aid of Amnesty International, it's worth buying for that reason alone.
(Annabel Bedini - bwl 11 October 2001) |
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Yeats Is Dead! |
Written by 15 Irish writers for Amnesty International, this is a splendid tale of mystery and intrigue and incredible corruption in the Irish police, and it is very, very funny. From Roddy Doyle to Frank McCourt it keeps you laughing all the way through.
(Julie Higgins - bwl 21 November 2003) |
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