Lucy Collins of University College Dublin explains that Duncan refuses what we expect of a novel. The ideas of visual art matter more here than the plot and character that usually drive fiction. Our focus is on the restorative sculptor John Molloy, and the narrative takes us into his craft. While Chris finds Molloy a frustratingly repressed character, a crisis forces Molloy to confront his past. His interest in sculpture recalls both his father's accident at the local quarry and his mother's vision of a Blessed Virgin statue moving. Molloy remains unemotional despite establishing a relationship with fellow-artist Bernadette, but the imminent death of a friend compels him to grieve. Lucy and Chris discuss how Molloy's day among the artworks of Bologna, minutely observed, offers means for Molloy to engage with old trauma and new bereavement. In all of this author Adrian Duncan avoids obvious literary techniques so that the reader must encounter Molloy on his own terms as an artist.

LINKS:
Irish Books Podcast on Blogspot: https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com

Follow the Irish Books Podcast channel on WhatsApp

https://serpentstail.com/work/the-gorgeous-inertia-of-the-earth/

<a href="https://people.ucd.ie/lucy.collins">Lucy Collins</a> of University College Dublin explains that Duncan refuses what we expect of a novel. The ideas of visual art matter more here than the plot and character that usually drive fiction. Our focus is on the restorative sculptor John Molloy, and the narrative takes us into his craft. While Chris finds Molloy a frustratingly repressed character, a crisis forces Molloy to confront his past. His interest in sculpture recalls both his father's accident at the local quarry and his mother's vision of a Blessed Virgin statue moving. Molloy remains unemotional despite establishing a relationship with fellow-artist Bernadette, but the imminent death of a friend compels him to grieve. Lucy and Chris discuss how Molloy's day among the artworks of Bologna, minutely observed, offers means for Molloy to engage with old trauma and new bereavement. In all of this author Adrian Duncan avoids obvious literary techniques so that the reader must encounter Molloy on his own terms as an artist.
LINKS: Irish Books Podcast on Blogspot: <a href="https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com/">https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com</a>
<a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBq5wu4SpkCEVjepD42">Follow the Irish Books Podcast channel on WhatsApp</a>
<a href="https://serpentstail.com/work/the-gorgeous-inertia-of-the-earth/">https://serpentstail.com/work/the-gorgeous-inertia-of-the-earth/</a>

Each episode focuses on a single book to offer in-depth exploration of contemporary Irish writing, one of the the dominant presences in book shops, book groups, and writers’ festivals around the world. Guest experts on Irish culture join author and critic Chris Murray to explore the techniques, cultural resonances, and deeper meanings of the nation’s recent literature. Irish Books tackles prize winners and some of the biggest names in Irish writing today while also calling attention to emerging voices that deserve notice. Listeners will learn more about the books they loved and find out what they should read next.

Host @drchrismurray.bsky.social (Bluesky)

Read the blog at https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com

The Irish Books Podcast is produced by East Coast Studio with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University

Each episode focuses on a single book to offer in-depth exploration of contemporary Irish writing, one of the the dominant presences in book shops, book groups, and writers&rsquo; festivals around the world. Guest experts on Irish culture join author and critic Chris Murray to explore the techniques, cultural resonances, and deeper meanings of the nation&rsquo;s recent literature. Irish Books tackles prize winners and some of the biggest names in Irish writing today while also calling attention to emerging voices that deserve notice. Listeners will learn more about the books they loved and find out what they should read next.
Host <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/drchrismurray.bsky.social">@drchrismurray.bsky.social </a>(Bluesky)
Read the blog at <a href="https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com">https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com</a>
The Irish Books Podcast is produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/">East Coast Studio</a> with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University