Happy People Read and Drink Coffee.
by Agnes Martin-Lugand
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It’s been a year since Diane’s husband and small daughter died tragically, and she hasn’t left her Paris apartment. Her friend Felix has been running their bookstore cafe, Happy People Read and Drink Coffee, into the ground. Her parents and in-laws think she simply needs to move on. That doesn’t seem possible, but one day she decides to move to Ireland, choosing the spot by placing her finger on a map. There, the volatile weather, the tiny village, and a hostile neighbor all contribute to her cigarette and wine-fueled return to life. She makes bad decisions, makes better decisions, and navigates her revised existence mostly on her own. Translated from the French by Sandra Smith, movie rights have already been sold and a sequel is imminent. For readers of women’s journeys and tales of hope, this slim volume engages the thoughts and feelings without whitewashing grief.
Reviewed by Alene
Tagged: Fiction, Grief, Inspiration, Ireland, Women
Haunted Ground
by Erin Hart
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This character-driven mystery introduces us to Irish archaeologist Cormac Maguire and American pathologist Nora Gavin, who team up to learn more after a decapitated woman is found preserved in a bog in Ireland. Nora is running away from a personal tragedy back in the United States, and Cormac is recovering from the death of a close friend. Together they search for answers in the historical death of a woman, and a current missing woman. The characters are richly drawn, as is the countryside of Ireland, with a strong dose of Irish folklore and musical tradition thrown in.
Reviewed by Molly
Tagged: Fiction, Ireland, Mystery
Heart’s Blood
by Juliet Marillier
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In 12th Century Ireland, Caitrin is fleeing an abusive suitor and finds work as a scribe to a struggling and crippled chieftain, Anluan. Caitrin goes through his family documents and begins to uncover an evil sorcery that has plagued Anluan’s family. With enemies approaching, Caitrin must help Anluan overcome this evil and save their budding romance. Heart’s Blood is an adventurous love story and reminded me of Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorite fairy tales.
Reviewed by Jennifer
Tagged: Fantasy, Fiction, Ireland, Romance
