Book review

Mark Mordue’s book is a bold and searching account of Nick Cave’s early years, revealing the genesis of the artist he would become. We all think we know Nick Cave, the slinky vampire, ex-junkie, antipodean raised on American gothic…

Colson Whitehead is an American literary lion. Scion of a wealthy New York family, educated in a private school and an elite university, he lives and works in Manhattan. He has written seven novels, all of them well-received, a number of…

Luke and Anya get engaged on a trip to France, Luke’s parents invite them to their house in Cornwall to celebrate, and Luke finally convinces Anya to take a trip home so that he can, at long last, meet her parents. Homecoming, as it turns…

2020 has been another great year for Irish fiction. Whether you are interested in crime or literary fiction or genre fiction (I am not even sure what that is) there has been a constant stream of reading material to keep us going through the…

Exciting Times is the debut novel from Irish writer Naoise Dolan (and one of the Headstuff Picks of 2020). In addition to appearing in best selling lists in the original English, it has also been translated into Italian where it has got…

Daragh Fleming burst onto the literary scene with his debut collection of short stories in 2019. The Book of Revelations was an engaging and readable collection with a distinct voice that made it such a memorable collection. Fleming's…

Leonard and Hungry Paul is the debut novel by Irish writer Ronan Hession, though many at home will be familiar with his music, performed under the moniker Mumblin' Deaf Ro. Published by UK based Bluemoose Books, it has has built and…

Generally speaking, the Irish novel is a shifting yet clearly distinct beast. It is often rich in prose, plastered with misery and dripping black comedy, creating a cocktail potent enough to have you laughing, recoiling and tearful by the…

Exploring the Cosmos Keep on Spinning is the debut chapbook from Scottish writer and poet Jen Hughes. Hughes studies at the University of Glasgow where a course entitled 'Exploring the Cosmos' provided inspiration. Hughes utilises…

When we think of metal music, many lapse into instinctual cliches and stereotypes of darkness, volume, and anger, and, while much of this holds true, there is so much more to the genre. Dan Franklin’s engaging and expansive book encourages…