You all know the drill at this point, pull up a pew, pour a cuppa and settle in for Dymphna’s Book Club.
Topping the list is a title Dymphna has been waiting for, for a very long time, and available now in The Book Centre, Waterford.
The Names by Florence Knapp
The Names by Florence Knapp is a debut novel heralding the arrival of a very exciting new voice. While, The Names is Florence’s first title, she has long been associated with sewing and craftsmanship.
Tomorrow – if morning comes, if the storm stops raging – Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she’ll formalise who he will become. It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the boy after him.
But faced with the decision, Cora hesitates, questioning whether it is right for her child to share his name with generations of domineering men. Her choice in this moment will shape the course of their lives.
Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerges.
Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will give him the opportunity to become his own person.
Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his image – but is there still a chance to break the mould?
This is the story of three names, three versions of a life and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family and how love endures, no matter what fate has in store. An extraordinary read by an author who has already made a mighty splash.
Granny National by Rachael Blackmore
Rachael has had the best, most amazing, incredible idea! She’s determined to make her Granny’s lifelong dream of becoming a jockey come true … what could possibly go wrong? From the mind of the world’s most notable jockey comes Granny National!
Easter holidays on the farm with Granny and Grandad are always great fun for Rachael, her cousin, Tom, and bestie Frankie. But this year, things are different – Rachael’s cousin David is visiting from New York! What will he be like? Will he like the farm, the ponies Bubbles and G-Pip, or will he ruin all the fun? When Rachael’s brilliant idea strikes, the gang must come together for Operation Granny National. They set out to help Granny live her dream of becoming a jockey. But will they pull it off? And what happens when everyone finds out what they’ve done? There’s bound to be BIG trouble ahead! Delightful, Irish, and in our view, suitable for young and not-so-young, this is a real treat.
Obsessed by Johnny Sexton
No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton. Just the mere sight of him on the field gave us as a nation a sense of calm and belief in equal measures. In his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny tells the story of his life and explores the sources of his unmatched will to win. The Sexton era was marked by four European Cups, four Six Nations championships (including two Grand Slams), a series win in New Zealand, two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world, and the World Player of the Year award.
Always outspoken on and off the field, Sexton offers an honest look at his childhood, his seemingly inauspicious early experiences in club and professional rugby, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game.
Obsessed is more than just a brilliantly detailed account of a legendary playing career. It is also a work of deep self-exploration, tracing the psychological arc of a player who almost always felt embattled, who struggled with self-doubt, and who was still learning new lessons about being a team-mate and a leader into his late thirties.
Intense, witty, perceptive and frank, Obsessed is an autobiography worthy of its author and the essential chronicle of an extraordinary era in Irish rugby.
Solo by Gráinne O’Brien
A novel in verse about teenage love and friendships, lost and found. Daisy can feel like a solo act at home.
On the outside of her twin brothers’ intense relationship, she leans towards her parents, particularly her father, for support. As a passionate classical musician, she is not wildly popular at school, but she has one close friend and a life filled with musical performance. Her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend suddenly breaks up with her, and Daisy is left disconnected from her one true love, music.
When she makes a new friend at school, mysterious Flora, Daisy finds a glimmer of peace in her chaotic life. Just as everything seems to be getting better, they all fall apart. Family tensions heighten as Daisy’s dad falls ill and Daisy needs to decide should she find her way back to who she was or look towards who she is going to become. We deliberately didn’t include this in the children’s read, as while it would be suitable for an older child, it is a cracker of a read for adults, teenagers, and anyone who appreciates a clever, intelligent read.
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