Dislocation: Stories from a New Ireland
How defineIrish writerin the global century? Some of the best live in America and England, while others, living in Ireland, grew up elsewhere.Irish Timesliterary editor Walsh decided on "the broadest possible definition" to select these new examples of what is arguably the most Irish literary form (although Anthony Burgess cracked that the Irish don't write novels because they have such short attention spans, Ireland's rich oral tradition is more likely the reason). The resulting, superlative collection of specifically commissioned stories will introduce many to writers whose reputations date from the 1990s, and who make the book stunningly diverse in content, style, and approach as well as impressively even in quality and strong in voice. Claire Keegan updates and expands the traditional supernatural tale with one whose protagonist is a woman seduced by a priest, thereby discovering her psychic abilities. Blanaid McKinney's mirror story centers on an almost failed priest who returns to his vocation. Eilis ni Dhuibhne limns the life of the modern expatriate. Tom Humphries offers a social satire of pub life in a yuppifying village. Meanwhile the frightening giant in Keith Ridgway's contribution lives aboard airplanes, conducting there the invisible work that sustains global business. Not a story in the lot couldn't become a classic. If you buy one Irish collection this year, here it is.Patricia MonaghanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved