Kevin Barry | Raging Biblio-holism

Beatlebone

November 4, 2015 by Drew

The Short Version: It’s 1978 and John Lennon has fled the peaceful torpor of his New York life to find the island he bought years earlier, off the western coast of Ireland. But getting to the island is a little more difficult than he planned and so, accompanied by a deeply Irish driver, he finds himself on a dark, comic, existential wander through space, time, and Clew Bay. The Review: There is no one else quite like Kevin Barry in […]

Categories: Fiction, Literature • Tags: Advance Review, Beatlebone, Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Ireland, John Lennon, Kevin Barry, Literature, Magic, Magical Realism, Reviews

2013 – The RB Lit Review

December 31, 2013 by Drew

Well hello, dear readers. Amazingly, we’ve come to the end of another year – our fourth, here at Raging Biblioholism. Can you believe it? 2014 is upon us – who’d’ve ever imagined it? But, before the year turns over and starts anew, it’s time to take a quick look back on the year that’s passed. We successfully expanded the content of the blog into editorials and features and recaps – all of which will continue to expand in our fifth […]

Categories: Fiction • Tags: 2013, 2014, Bad Writing, Book Reviews, Books, Chris F. Holm, Christmas, Douglas Rushkoff, Eric Smith, Favorites, Features, Fiction, FSG Originals, Good Writing, Harper, Joe Hill, Kevin Barry, Literature, Marisha Pessl, New Year's, Non-Fiction, Not Favorites, Quirk Books, Reviews, TNBBC, year in review

Kevin Barry – In Conversation

October 10, 2013 by Drew

A mischievous glint in his eye, Kevin Barry braced himself at the podium and launched into “Fjord of Killary”, a story from his newest collection Dark Lies the Island. He did not read the story, he told it – a fine line of distinction but an important one. His mannerisms, his voice (and voices), and his writing all combined to make the story (which is terrific on the page) come alive in the listener’s ear. It was an auspicious beginning. I’ve […]

Categories: Events, Features • Tags: City of Bohane, Dark Lies the Island, Elissa Schappell, Events, Fiction, Graywolf Press, Irish Arts Center, Kevin Barry, There Are Little Kingdoms

There Are Little Kingdoms

September 30, 2013 by Drew

The Short Version: Kevin Barry’s debut collection of short stories – featuring more tales of strange folk, drinking folk, family folk, and that uniquely Irish magic. The Review: It’s always strange to step back through an author’s canon in reverse. It is only natural that an author’s style will mature – for better or for worse, I’ll admit. Chuck Palahniuk’s later novels are, we all know, not as good as his earlier ones – but authors like Kevin Barry and […]

Categories: Fiction, Short Stories • Tags: Fiction, Graywolf Press, Kevin Barry, Short Stories, There Are Little Kingdoms

City of Bohane

September 10, 2013 by Drew

The Short Version: Logan Hartnett, leader of the Hartnett Fancy, is struggling a bit. The Norries are getting rowdy and spoiling for a fight, his lieutenants are starting to cast eyes towards ascension, his missus wants him out of the game, and his ma’ can’t be trusted. When rumor hits him that the man he once deposed is back in town, it sets off an interesting year in the city of Bohane – yes it does. The Review: What an exceptional […]

Categories: Fiction, Literature • Tags: 6, BEA13, City of Bohane, Fiction, Graywolf Press, Ireland, Kevin Barry, Literature

Dark Lies the Island

April 5, 2013 by Drew

The Short Version: A collection of cloudy, slightly dark Irish tales – stories of drinkers, lovers, losers, and a few who might be something else entirely… The Review: Kevin Barry’s first novel, City of Bohane, has been on my radar for a little while, although I’ve consciously passed it over a few times. But I was lucky enough to (long after the time had passed) come upon a copy of Powell’s Indiespensable #37 (a novel called Familiar) – which included a well-in-advance-of-pub-date copy […]

Categories: Fiction, Short Stories • Tags: Advance Review, Dark Lies the Island, Fiction, Graywolf Press, Ireland, Kevin Barry, Powell's, Short Stories

Raging Biblio-holism

The overwhelming urge to collect, consume, and consider books

Tag: Kevin Barry