Grace Keane

Freelance journalist & RTÉ Culture book critic

Reviewed: Love by Roddy Doyle

To my shame I am a late bloomer when it comes to the literary works of Roddy Doyle and as an avid Irish reader I was overly excited for my first date with his new novel Love, writes Grace Keane. Alas this date proved to be somewhat lacklustre.

Books • 25 May 21

Patrick Freyne: his best friend reveals a general lack of belief in the project (Pic: Chris Maddaloni)

Review: OK, Lets Do Your Stupid Idea by Patrick Freyne

'Patrick Freyne has tried a lot of stupid ideas in his life. Now in his scintillating debut he is here to tell you about them" - that's the rather deprecating prefatory note for Patrick Freyne's refreshing debut, welcomed here by Grace Keane

Books • 21 Sep 20

Liz Nugent: keeps you guessing with her sinister tale of three brothers and their nefarious doings

Reviewed: Our Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

Author Liz Nugent's latest psychological thriller keeps you guessing throughout the entirety of the novel, writes Grace Keane, welcoming Our Little Cruelties.

Books • 20 Apr 20

Colum McCann: a poignant story from the Middle East

Reviewed: Apeirogon by Colum McCann

Apeirogon is a beautifully written novel set in the West Bank, in the heat of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict and explores the poignant impact of love, loss, war, hatred, reconciliation and forgiveness.

Books • 25 Feb 20

Reviewed: Actress by Anne Enright

Actress is the tale of the complex relationship shared between the protagonist Norah and her Hollywood actress mother Katherine O'Dell in post war 1940s Hollywood.

Books • 15 Feb 20

Mary Costello: she chooses a Joycean milieu for her new novel

Reviewed: The River Capture by Mary Costello

Mary Costello's The River Capture failed to capture this readers interest, writes Grace Keane

Books • 23 Oct 19

Niall Williams: captures the beauty and richness of rural Ireland wonderfully

Reviewed: This is Happiness by Niall Williams

Niall Williams' new novel, This is Happiness is the gentle story of a small village in rural Ireland, visited by the ageing Christy who is determined to address the failures of his past and make amends for a broken heart.

Books • 24 Sep 19

Paul Lynch: another triumph with
Beyond the Sea

Reviewed: Beyond The Sea by Paul Lynch

Set on the vast expanse of a never-ending sea, Beyond the Sea, is a stirring tale of two South American fishermen and their struggle to survive in the face of catastrophe.

Books • 29 Aug 19

Kevin Barry: banter and menace in the port of Algeciras

Reviewed: Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry

Kevin Barry's 224-page novel is a darkly comic, endearing snapshot of two old time Irish gangsters as they await the arrival of a loved one at the port of Algeciras in Spain.

Book Review • 19 Jul 19

Adrian Duncan: this debut novel is based on his experience of working on a German building site

Love Notes from a German Building Site by Adrian Duncan

Paul, a young Irish engineer, follows his German partner Eveline to Berlin but circumstances dictate that he is left to face the challenges of living in a new city on his own. Grace Keane has been reading this captivating Irish debut.

Culture • 28 May 19