Day 7 at the Belfast Book Festival and a discussion between Jan Carson and Martin Doyle on the latter’s book “A Hosting” - interviews with Irish writers. Congratulations and thanks to all at the Crescent for getting this online at such short notice.
Belfast Book Festival means reading only local authors and this by @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social has entranced me over the last 3 days. She creates characters so wonderfully and with such sympathy and understanding. The Ark is a great creation - magical but illuminating the legacy of The Troubles.
Day 5 at the Belfast Book Festival and the charming, funny and always interesting @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social talking about her latest novel, Few and Far Between and I’ll agree with the interviewer tonight, Heather Parry in calling it her best so far.
Book 2 in reading local authors during the book festival - Close To Home by Michael Magee - tender and touching, beautifully observed story of family, masculinity, trauma and Belfast.
Day 1 of the Belfast Book Festival and a very interesting and well organised discussion on short stories and anthologies with @lucycaldwell.bsky.social and @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social and others. The flow of ideas and insights was invigorating.
A compelling story, several characters brought vividly alive for you and insight into our society - fiction at its best.
Nuala McKeever’s Everybody Knows is both funny and touching. Performed with her wonderful skill in switching between characters on stage (at times up to 5!). If you have seen one of her plays before you know how good she can be and if not go and treat yourself. On at the Lyric to the end of May.
Day 2 of the Belfast Book Festival and a discussion on monuments. Bought the book, got it signed and then accidentally soaked it in Coke. Will read the crinkly pages after they dry out.
Programme of music by JS Bach by the Ulster Consort at St Colmcille’s in Ballyhackamore tonight. Great to see and hear this in what was a new venue for me. The most joyful, glorious Alleluia at the end of the last piece
Days 3 & 4 at the Belfast Book Festival - new writers showcase, wide ranging and beautiful talk on swifts and nature and lastly tonight the pictured panel on capturing contemporary Belfast - articulate and interesting. Happy and intellectually buzzing after a weekend of ideas and insights.
