Burning Books Ireland

Author Wendy Erskine talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about Molly Keane’s Good Behaviour, Ian Hunter’s Diary of a Rock and Roll Star and how reading a book when you’re twenty is very different to encountering it at fifty—as she reveals which books she would save if her house was on fire. From Friday 17th December, wherever you get your podcasts.

Author Donal Ryan talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about empathy, the mystery at the heart of writing, Doris Lessing, and having a crush on Sylvia Plath—as he reveals which books he would save if his house was on fire. Donal Ryan is an acclaimed Irish novelist and short story writer, with best-selling books including The Spinning Heart (2012), which was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize,...

Author Donal Ryan talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about empathy, the mystery at the heart of writing, Doris Lessing, and having a crush on Sylvia Plath—as he reveals which books he would save if his house was on fire. From Friday 26th November, wherever you get your podcasts.

Nuala O’Connor talks about miniature dolls, the beauty of short things, quitting alcohol and clearing the decks at fifty as she tells Ruth McKee which books she would save if her house was on fire.  Nuala O’Connor is the author of Becoming Belle (2018), Miss Emily (2015), The Closet of Savage Mementos (2014), You (2010) and six short story collections, her most recent being Joyride to Jupiter . He...

Author Nuala O’Connor talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about miniature dolls, the beauty of short things, quitting alcohol and clearing the decks at fifty in the next episode of Burning Books, out on Friday 12th November on all podcast platforms.

Novelist and short-story writer Kit de Waal talks to Ruth McKee about The Bible, Donal Ryan, Penguin classics, the sea and much more as she reveals what books she would save if her house was burning, and which text she studied at school she’d leave in there to burn… Kit de Waal’s debut novel My Name is Leon was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and her second, The Trick To Time was longl...

Novelist and short-story writer Kit de Waal talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about Donal Ryan, Penguin classics, revenge, the sea and much more for the next episode of Burning Books , released on Friday 24th September on all podcast platforms.

Ethel Rohan talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about Emily Brontë, John Irving, and Elizabeth Strout as she reveals which books she would pull from the flames (and which classic Irish text she would leave in there to burn!). Ethel Rohan is the award winning author of The Weight of Him (St. Martin’s Press and Atlantic Books, 2017) and of the new short story collection, In the Event of Contact...

Rick O’Shea talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about a precious edition, his love of art, and Yoko Ono as he reveals what books he would save from the flames (and if he’d leave any behind to burn). Rick O’Shea is a man of many talents, but is best known as a radio presenter on RTÉ and as the founder of the much loved Rick O’Shea Book Club.

What books would you save if your house was on fire? Patrick Freyne talks to Books Ireland editor Ruth McKee about comics, clutter, music and much more as he reveals what books he would save from the flames (and which he’d happily leave to burn). Patrick Freyne is a short story writer, essayist, and feature writer with The Irish Times . His latest book Ok, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea is published by...

What books would you save if your house was on fire? Books Ireland Editor Ruth McKee asks Jan Carson about growing up in Co. Antrim, religious hardwiring, magic realism and much more as she reveals the books she would pull from the flames—and the ones she’d leave behind.  Jan Carson is the author of Malcom Orange Disappears , Children’s Children , Postcard Stories (The Emma Press) and The Fire Sta...

If your house was on fire, what books would you save from the flames?    The Books Ireland podcast features authors and well-known cultural figures discussing the titles that have formed the backdrop to their lives—their childhood memories perhaps, or books they fell in love with. Maybe there are authors they return to over and over, or novels which formed their world view—stories that shaped them...