25 years after the events of Brooklyn, Eilis Lacey has integrated to American life successfully, but faces a crisis in consequence of her husband's infidelity, a crisis that propels her home to Enniscorthy. Guest Matthew Ryan, a specialist in Modern Literature at the Australian Catholic University with an expertise in Tóibín's work, stresses that Eilis is a more assertive character than we meet in Brooklyn. But can we ever go home? Much has changed. Eilis attempts to revive old relationships, unaware of complications that have arisen in her absence, leading host Chris Murray to wonder whether the migrant character can treat multiple locations as fully real, or always treats one place as a dream. Yet the locals can be selfish too, with characters like the disappointed Jim Farrell and widowed Nancy Sheridan identifying each other as means to their own self-transformation. Small-town Ireland is a place in which characters feel watched, and Tóibín's cast agonises over whether their desires are respectable. For this reason, what is unsaid is vitally important in Tóibín's work, and his characters' paralysis looks back to writers like James Joyce: Chris and Matt ask whether Tóibín indicates an essentially Irish condition.

Contains spoilers.

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

Follow the Irish Books Podcast channel on WhatsApp

https://colmtoibin.com

 

25 years after the events of Brooklyn, Eilis Lacey has integrated to American life successfully, but faces a crisis in consequence of her husband's infidelity, a crisis that propels her home to Enniscorthy. Guest <a href="https://www.acu.edu.au/research-and-enterprise/our-people/matthew-ryan">Matthew Ryan</a>, a specialist in Modern Literature at the Australian Catholic University with an expertise in T&oacute;ib&iacute;n's work, stresses that Eilis is a more assertive character than we meet in Brooklyn. But can we ever go home? Much has changed. Eilis attempts to revive old relationships, unaware of complications that have arisen in her absence, leading host Chris Murray to wonder whether the migrant character can treat multiple locations as fully real, or always treats one place as a dream. Yet the locals can be selfish too, with characters like the disappointed Jim Farrell and widowed Nancy Sheridan identifying each other as means to their own self-transformation. Small-town Ireland is a place in which characters feel watched, and T&oacute;ib&iacute;n's cast agonises over whether their desires are respectable. For this reason, what is unsaid is vitally important in T&oacute;ib&iacute;n's work, and his characters' paralysis looks back to writers like James Joyce: Chris and Matt ask whether T&oacute;ib&iacute;n indicates an essentially Irish condition.
Contains spoilers.
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://colmtoibin.com">https://colmtoibin.com</a>
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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