I just wanted to let you know that Mel’s Irish Short Story Week is upcoming in March. Because it was such a success in the last couple of years the week has been extended to a whole month and therefore runs from March 1 until March 31 2013.
I discovered some great new writers like Órfhlaith Foyle and Kevin Barry last year, but I also rediscovered old favourites like Elizabeth Bowen. I read a few of her short stories and had sworn I would read more. This year I’m planning on reading several of her stories contained in the Collected Stories which seems to be a great collection.
To stay in line with this month’s theme my Literature and War Readalong, which takes place at the end of the month, also features a book by Elizabeth Bowen – The Heat of the Day.
Because I loved the stories I read last year so much I also got her book Love’s Civil War which contains letters and diary entries and Victoria Glendinning’s biography which was recommended by Mel u. I might start the one or the other or even both.
For more details and Irish reading suggestions please visit Mel u at The Reading Life.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
Sounds excellent – I may try and join in as it would give me an excuse to read more Bowen!
She is such a wonderful writer. I’m really looking forward to finally read a novel as well. I hope you can make it.
Thanks for the post, Caroline! I was a late entrant last year, but enjoyed participating in Irish short story week which morphed into a month 🙂 I hope to join in for a while this time and read a short story or two. Elizabeth Bowen sounds like a wonderful writer. Happy reading! Will look forward to hearing your thoughts on her book. ‘Love’s Civil War’ is a really interesting title.
It really morphed into a month but he decided to keep the title which I understand.
Love’s Civil War should be interesting as well.
I’m glad that you will join.
Vishy and Caroline-now I have officially changed it to Irish Short Story Month-Vishy-I really would be honored if you would join us again-there is a large list of Irish short story resources on my blog for anyone interested-many consider the WWII short stories of Bowen her best work.
But you kept the name Irish Short Story Week or has it changed after all?
yes I have changed the name-Irish Short Story Month-at first I was going to keep the old name but I now have changed it
I’ll adjust my post later.
I wonder if Maeve Brennan qualifies. She was born in Ireland, moved to the US in 1934, and was a writer for the New Yorker who wrote humorous stories.
Last year he did accept her. This year, I think the rules are slightly different but born in Ireland still qualifies, I guess.
Not so humorous, actually!
I ordered The Visitor last year and for some reason it never arrived. It sounded very good.
It’s good, but her other stuff is better I understand.
I’d be happy to send you my edition if you’d like Caroline.
That’s so nice of you. Thanks for the offer but I’m not sure I would have the time to read it any time soon.
I know that feeling!
It’s the downside of being a greedy book hoarder. At least in my case.
anokatony-yes for sure Maeve Brennan qualifies-she always saw herself as Irish-in fact she refused to even read the work of Elizabeth Bowen as Bowen was Anglo/Irish-descended from a man who was given property in Ireland by Cromwell-I love her stories-her life is very tragic and a biography of her would also be a good pick-basically if someone wants to post something for the event they can, no riigid rules on who is Irish and who is not-please join us
I’m on line for the Bowen book next month
That’s great. There will still be a special intro post.
I looked for both Bowen books but neither are in Kindle format-my preferred reading mode-I in fact recently read the Bowen biography by Glendinning a second time-really good work
I ordered cheap used copies of both books, they are in excellent condition but unfortunately really not available for kindle.
Ooh I really hope to join in with you for this readalong. It’s been years since I read a Bowen novel, and some of her work I deeply admire. But just let me check – this is February’s literature and war novel? Sorry that probably sounds daft but I just want to get it clear in my mind!
The BOwen is the March Literature and War novel. There is still plenty of time to join.
I admire her sentences very much, they are so artful and complex, I wonder how that is in a novel,
I really hope you can join. I’ll post a separate intro for the readalong beginning of March.
So many books and so many countries!
Interesting that you will be reading a novel about wartime London. I am currently reading Five Days in London by John Lukacs. It is an account of both the War Cabnet and the common people of Englad during what may have been the darkest five days of the war in Great Britain.
That sounds intersting, Brian. I hope you will review it, I’ll be interested to hear more about it.
I didn’t know Bowen was an English writer at first because she sets so many of her stories in wartime London.
Of her many stories only about three are for sure set in Ireland-Ireland was neutral in WWII but Bowen spent the war years in London where she worked as an air raid warden-she said she never felt more alive than during the war years in London. I am planning to post on at least one set in Ireland story during the event
I thought the one I read last year was set in Ireland. Interesting that the war made her feel more alive. In any case it inspired her to write some amazing stories.
I think the library has a copy of The heat of the day–not sure the website is a little confusing. But I’ll wander down in a week or two and make sure. I’m not sure I’ve read anything by Bowen.
I hope they have the book. Her style is pretty awe inspiring. She write such artful sentences. But the stories are captovating as well and she has a way to capture wartime London which I’ve seen called WWII Goth. Never heard that expression before but it makes perfect sense. You will see. Hopefully. 🙂
In honour of the event I will try to get to the William Trevor collection I have sitting on the shelf, a constant reminder of this most glaring hole in my reading of both Irish and short story writers.
I read hims last year for the event. My House in Umbria. It was much more edgy than one would think when wathcing the movie. But I’ve also rea some of his other short stories a few years back and really liked them. And novels. I think he’s good in the shorter and longer form. I’m curious to hear your thoughts.
Leroyhunter-that would be great-I have neglected Trevor on my blog-this year I will post on his very good story, “The Potato Man”-I hope you can join us
Leroy has no blog, so maybe indeed it would be an opportunity for a guest post or via twitter.
I’ll be joining this one too…but I am not going to write an introduction as I have already have difficulty publishing my reviews.
you mentioning the war literature reminds me to watch the flower of wars asap.
Novroz -I hope you can post on some more Irish Ghost stories this March!
I will 🙂
Yes, you only have a few days left to watch it. 🙂
I have just finished watching it 🙂
despite the bad ratong in Rotten Tomatoes…I love the movie. it has to wait till Monday for the review as I have just posted another review
Caroline-thanks so much for this mention-to all interested-the event is very open-I am mostly posting on those born in Ireland but I am open to Irish writers whose parents left Ireland like the great Australian writer, Barbara Baynton-You can post on an Irish short story you like, the Bowen biography Caroline mentioned (great book), a history of the famines or anything you think is relevant. This year i will be hosting a number of interviews with Irish authors including one mentioned by Caroline, Órfhlaith Foyle. There will be posts on short stories by very early Irish short story writers like Maria Edgeworth and Samuel lover and on writers just starting their careers. To participate you can write a post on your own blog and let me know about it via a comment on The Reading Life or I am sure sure Caroline would allow a comment her advising us. If you do not have a blog or just prefer to, guest posts on my blog are also welcome.
All are very welcome to join us and there really are no rigid rules (which do not work in Ireland anyway!)
please leave a comment either on my blog or here with any questions or thoughts or suggestions you may have
That’s great Mel. I’m looking forward to it. Now that I know I can read biographies I might really start the boo on Maeve Brennan and will try to get her short stories.
some of Maeve Brennan’s short stories can be read on Google Books-in the posthumous collection of her stories-Springs of Affection-you can also read the full introduction to her collection by her editor at the New Yorker where she worked for years, William Maxwell-her life story is heartbreaking
I read that she had a very sad life. Thanks for the tips, I’ll see what I find.
I’m really looking forward to reading the Bowen novel–I’ve read a couple of her books but it’s been a while, so I’m looking forward to getting back to her work. I may have to join you in reading a few of her short stories. Will have to see what else I have by Irish authors, too! The Glendinning book sounds interesting as well–I’ve added it to my wishlist, and look forward to seeing what you think of it as well!
I was tempted to organize a Bowen month but things are too hectic at the moment. I’ve got so many of her books and books about her.
Since it has meanwhiele turned into Irish Short Story Month, there will be a lot of opportunity to read more Irish literature. Mel’s easy anyway, you can read almost anything Irish, as he has explained in one of the comments.
I’m very tempted by the Maeve Brennan biography I have as well.
I just wanted to let everyone know that Irish Short Story Month Year III is getting off to a good start-I already have in twenty six short stories by Irish authors that I will be publishing plus lots of Q and A sessions with Irish writers, a feature on the Cork County Short Story Festival and posts on Irish Gothic and Irish/Australian gothic writers-
anyone who likes is more than welcome to guest post or post on your own blog and let me know-perhaps if you like you can also leave a link here, if Caroline will be so kind, as I will be monitoring here
my great thanks to Caroline for her support.
I’m tracking things too, so if I see a post on someone’s blog you didn’t cath, I’ll let you know. I started the Bowen biography now as well and it’s wonderful so far.
No Irish short stories on my TBR, I’m afraid, and I’m still on a book buying ban, so not participating. Have fun.
I abandoned the Bowen I tried to read so I’m curious about your review of her short stories.
I love her wriring. I reviewed one story last year “Summer Night” which seems to be one of her best. I’ve read a few others by now and find them all equally good.