Author and RTÉ News Arts and Media Correspondent Sinéad Crowley rounds up her books of 2020
Well that was quite the year. I know many people vowed to read more books during the dark days of 2020, and I also know many of them ended up playing with their phones instead and that’s perfectly fine, because just getting through 2020 was an achievement in itself, without any need to feel bad about unrealised goals.
But for those of us who do enjoy reading, books were a lifesaver this year, transporting us to other places and, crucially, other times, where people shook hands with each other and exhaled indoors with wild abandon.
Sadly, libraries were closed for part of the year, but they did valiantly keep up a click and collect service when it was possible to do so, and the free online BorrowBox service was a valuable tool, allowing members to borrow e-books and audiobooks no matter what restriction level we were living under.
And speaking of audio books, they really came into their own in a year when 'going out' meant going for a walk and going 'out out' meant a walk in a park more than 5km from your front door. For that reason, I haven't differentiated between printed books and audio in this year's list, all that matters is that I really enjoyed them.
Here, then, are some of my favourite books from a year we won't forget in a hurry.
NOVELS
My debut novel of the year was Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan. Telling the story of a young Irish woman's adventures in Hong Kong, it was witty, fresh and insightful and I can't wait to see what Naoise does next.
Leonard and Hungry Paul, by Ronan Hession really belonged to 2019 but it took me a while to get around to it, and when I did, I enjoyed every page. This nice, gentle book tells the story of two nice, gentle guys in a world that can sometimes move too quickly. Ronan's next book is due out in 2021 and I'm really looking forward to it.
In the commercial fiction world, two standout novels were The Paper Bracelet by Rachael English and The Liberation of Bridget Dunne, by Patricia Scanlan. Both books looked at the difficulties faced by Irish women in the second half of the last century and were important and moving reads.
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Let’s be frank, publishing a novel set during the Black Plague could have gone either way this year but Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell which tells the tragic story of the death of one of William Shakespeare's children was a triumph. This beautifully written book gave the reader new insights into a well-known story and provided a timely link with the world of today.
Mayflies, by Andrew O'Hagan was another beautiful story, and I'm very surprised that neither O'Hagan nor O'Farrell were on the Man Booker shortlist this year. The first half of Mayflies, which tells the stories of teenage friendship in 1980s Glasgow, would have been a gorgeous read on its own but the second half, which revisits the characters in middle age, moves the novel into award winning territory. A heart breaking, yet life affirming read.
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Writing authentically about music takes incredible skill, but with Utopia Avenue David Mitchell proved he was the man for the job. This story of a baby British rock band has a razor-sharp sense of place with characters so real, you'll go looking for their Spotify playlist after the final pages.
CRIME FICTION
It was another wonderful year for Irish crime fiction, with new books from Liz Nugent, Jane Casey and Jo Spain among many others but I want to give a special mention to The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard. A book in a book, wrapped around an investigation, it was gripping, beautifully constructed and very original.
This was also another great year for Australian crime fiction and among the books I enjoyed was Silver by Chris Hammer. Featuring a journalist who returns to his hometown to find that his childhood friend has been murdered, it's a rich and satisfying thriller.
Another book with a captivating central character was Long Bright River by Liz Moore, the story of a Philadelphia cop forced to investigate her own sister's disappearance. Meanwhile 2020 saw Tana French publish what I think is her best book yet. The Searcher is an Irish western with a classic 'stranger in town' hook and combines great characters with a wonderful sense of place.
I also loved Snow, by John Banville. Both a gripping crime novel in its own right and a tribute to Golden Age fiction, I got the impression that Banville really enjoyed writing this one, and I certainly enjoyed reading it. An atmospheric, wintry read.
NON-FICTION
Everyone was talking about A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa this year and the attention was well deserved. The book weaves together Doireann's own story with that of the poet Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, and looks at the epic poem Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire through an utterly modern lens. Proof, once again, that the independent Irish publisher Tramp Press has the knack for unearthing quirky jewels with international appeal.
I spent my summer holidays in West Kerry this year, along with half of Dublin, or so it seemed anyway, and picked up a copy of The Making of Ryan's Daughter in the lovely Dingle bookshop. Written by Paul Rowan, this story of the making of the famous movie which transformed the town of Dingle was well researched and often hilarious and the perfect book to read, quite literally, on location.
Finally, although I'm not finished it yet, I'm certain A Promised Land by Barack Obama will be one of my books of 2020 and possibly 2021 too, given its considerable length. It is, of course a gripping story but Obama's skill as a writer lifts it high above its neighbours on the political shelf, and I'm already looking forward to volume two.
Speaking of next year, keep an eye out for Danielle McLaughlin's debut novel, The Art of Falling, due out in February. In the meantime, happy Christmas, happy reading, and support your local bookshop, they've had a tough year too.
