‘Must read’ recommendations for Book Week 2026
All sorts of stories
Marie-Louise Connolly
The Language of Remembering, Patrick Holloway ‘belonging, memory, healing’
Oisín is looking to rebuild a life in Ireland and reconnect with his mother, Brigid, who has early onset Alzheimer’s. As her condition deteriorates, she starts to speak Irish, the language of her youth, and reflects on her childhood dreams and aspirations.
Mandy McAuley
The Dubliners, James Joyce ‘raw, unflinching, realism’
A timeless classic of 15 short stories set in early twentieth century Dublin which depict everyday life in its different aspects and diversity.
Conor Spackman
The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson ‘engaging, revelatory, important’
A revealing portrait of Winston Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister in the midst of WW2. Based on diaries, archive documents and intelligence reports it describes the people, politics and events of this period with the pace and verve of a novel.
Barra Best
Project Children: The Legacy, Jane Buckley ‘kindness, changed, lives’
Told from the perspective of the children who took part, this book tells the story of a programme which brought young people from Northern Ireland to America during the Troubles, offering them friendship, respite and hope.
Helen Mark
Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Kate Atkinson ‘engrossing, poignant, humorous’
A century-spanning story of a woman’s life and her determination to learn more about secrets that her family are determined to keep hidden away.
Caoimhe Ní Chathail
Abair Amhrán (Sing a Song) ‘compact, musical, varied’
Originally published in 1969, Abair Amhrán, is a collection of popular traditional Irish songs.
John Toal
Who’s the Favourite?, Catherine Carr ‘true, fascinating, real-life’
Combining science with real-life stories, this book explores the role that birth-order can play in family dynamics and relationships.
Paula McIntyre
The Things We Never Say, Elizabeth Strout ‘real, compelling and bleak’
Artie Dam seems to be a typical history high school teacher. His days are spent focussed on his students and in fulfilling his role in community and family life. But he’s also facing growing feelings of isolation and disillusionment. What follows is poignant and surprising.
Mark Simpson
Ninety-Two, Oliver Holt ‘personal stories are best’
The story of an ambition, spanning over 50 years, to visit each of the 92 clubs in the top four divisions of English football. From seeing his first football match at six-years old with his mother, Oliver pieces together the story of his life through his love of the game and its stadiums.
Sara Girvin
Yesteryear, Caro Claire Burke‘unique, clever, unexpected’
Natalie is a ‘tradwife’ social media influencer, whose Instragram presence doesn’t always tell the full story of life behind the lens. Things takes an unexpected turn when she awakes to find herself in a new alternate reality and domestic hardships of 1800s America.
Chris Page
The Cosmic Trilogy, C.S Lewis ‘unique, imaginative, thought-provoking’
Dr Ransom’s adventures on Mars, Venus and Earth are explored in this imaginative fantasy series. The story begins when a Cambridge academic’s life is upended as he is taken on a spaceship to a red planet where his captors plan to steal its treasures.
Connor Philips
The Bolds, written by Julian Clary and illustrated by David Roberts ‘fun, cheeky and addictive’
A book series about a group of hyenas who pose as a human family, live in a suburban house, go to work and to school, whilst concealing their animal features from the people around them.
Richard Morgan
We’re going on a Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury ‘fun, adventurous and inspiring’
A classic story of a family’s adventure, overcoming many challenges and obstacles on their journey to find a big bear.
Catherine Morrison
Stations, Louise Kennedy ‘in a weekend’
Róisín and Red meet as teenagers in their small Irish hometown in 1982. After a brush with the law, Red escapes to start a new life in England. Years later, when Róisín arrives in London, she finds the urge to reconnect with her old friend too strong to resist but does he want to be found?
Eve Rosato
The Hearts Invisible Furies, John Boyne ‘laugh, cry and learn’
A novel that spans seven decades and tells the story of a changing Ireland and its main character’s efforts to find his place in the world.
Stephen McCauley
That They May Face the Rising Sun, John McGahern ‘slow, deliberate, life’
Joe has returned to Ireland with his wife Kate. Leaving London behind, the couple begin their new life on a tranquil lakeside farm. Through the year, they become part of the rural community and their lives immersed in the rhythm of the changing seasons.
