“Where do I start?” I often ask myself. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right book to fit your mood. Take a look at a few of our favourites, you never know, maybe one of them will inspire you to pick up a book.

Biography 

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

I know this is almost a cliché to read but I found great solace in this book during the COVID-19 lockdown. It gave me a real sense of perspective; how lucky I am and how far we’ve come. This biography is a collection of diary entries written by Anne Frank, a Jewish girl whose family went into hiding during World War II in Amsterdam. What I found most interesting was how her entries become more introspective and mature as Anne herself grows and develops.

Open by Andre Agassi

This is an honest searing autobiography written by the tennis guru on his life and rise to fame. He charts his struggles and challenges in a sincere and frank manner. A captivating read, the book offers a delightful treat not just for tennis fans, but for all who can understand an open honesty about life.

Marie Curie by Kathleen Krull

This insight into the life and work of Marie Curie is original and fascinating in parts. Krull manages to show us a woman who struggled to balance work and family commitments while at the same time achieving huge fame both scientifically and socially. It is a testament to the power of women especially in an age when men dominated the work force. 

Scientific

Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky

This book was on my reading list in my final year of college. As someone interested in environmental issues, consumerism and sustainable living, this book was a great read. The book gives a fascinating account of the fish Cod and how it has played such an important role in society. What intrigued me the most is how extremely high populations of Cod in our oceans have depleted so much due to growing populations, mis-management and greed. 

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

This was another book on my reading list in college. A great way to get an overview of science in general sprinkled with humour and easy-to-swallow facts. This book does exactly what it says on the tin. Bryson explores history from the very beginning to the development of civilisation right up to the present day.

History

An Atlas of Irish History edited by Sean Duffy

This book is a colourful and illustrative way of getting an overall handle on Irish history from the very beginning. Every page has a map showing the activity of that particular time, which really helped me visualise the events described. What I like about this book is the neutrality of its writing, presenting facts rather than sensational opinions or views. This was a collaborative effort from a number of experts in specific areas of Irish history, so each section is expertly researched and written.

A Land as God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America by James Horn

I bought this book in Jamestown during a visit in 2014. I felt I wanted to know more. I was not prepared for the true Pocahontas/John Smith story! Unlike the film, the real story is bloodier and grimmer than I had imagined in my childhood. This book gives a comprehensive account of the events surrounding the birth of North America. While the arrival of the Mayflower and Plymouth are considered the beginning, Jamestown was in fact founded 13 years previously, being the first of the British colonies in America. 

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall

This is a fascinating read. It explores the geography of countries and how their geographical situation exerts a strong political influence.  The author examines Russia, China, the USA, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Japan and Korea, and Greenland and the Arctic—their weather, seas, mountains, rivers, deserts, and borders and he provides a context so often missing from our political analysis of events: What does it mean that Russia must have a navy, but also has frozen ports six months a year? How does this affect Putin’s treatment of Ukraine? One learns that China will never invade India because there is a huge mountain range  in between these two vast countries. Africa has many waterfalls which hinder the development of trade by river. We learn how Tibet is important to China because all the major rivers of China have their estuaries in Tibet. Marshall sustains the reader with fascinating pieces of information about the countries he describes and gives explanations for many of our geo-political conflicts today.

Science Fiction 

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

This dystopian story really got me thinking about many issues that affect us in the world nowadays. Although it is a fictional story, many of the themes are relevant, especially the relationship between the two sisters in the story. The story follows a young girl, Katniss, who volunteers to enter the annual “Hunger Games” in place of her younger sister who was selected to take part. 

Fantasy

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

I couldn’t go without mentioning probably my favourite story of all time. The Harry Potter books are wonderful for many reasons, but for me it’s the investment in the characters that draws me back to this story time after time. Set in England in the 1990s, the story centres around Harry Potter, who discovers he is a wizard when he is 11 years old. As time goes on, he discovers that he is part of a bigger picture and the fate of the Wizarding World rests on his shoulders. 

The Discworld Novels by Terry Pratchett

If I need a good laugh, I reach for a Discworld novel. These are a series of stories set in another world which is flat, disc-shaped and sits on top of 4 elephants which stand on top of a giant turtle swimming through space. Terry Pratchett has a way of creating a wonderful parody of our world, which makes the stories so endearing. 

Travel

Into the Heart of Borneo by Redmond O’Hanlon

This personal account of a trip to Borneo is a laugh-a-minute. Although I have never been to Borneo myself, it did remind me of some of my own adventures. Redmond O’Hanlon and his friend, James Fenton, take a difficult and rare trip into the centre of Borneo with a handful of native guides to help them on their way. 

Fiction 

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

This is a delightful read. It is set in Faha, rural Ireland in the 1970s and it shows Williams at his most witty and sharp in intellect. As the people of Faha anticipate the advent of electricity, Williams manages to draw a tender portrait of a rural community in Ireland. In a lovely lyrical style he examines faith and memories and explores how the community deals with love and grief.  It is about the power of stories and the invisible roots which run deep in the community’s  everyday lives.  

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

This novel paints a vivid picture of an era in Russia through the story of a Count who is under house arrest. A charming read, it bristles with humour and detail, and captures powerfully his emotional discovery during this time of isolation.

The Great Alone, by Kristen Hanna 

This is a book that gives us a wonderful insight into Alaska and its wild and unpredictable atmosphere. It centres on a family who have their own troubles as the father has just returned from Vietnam and is deeply affected psychologically. The story gives us glimpses into the darkness and also the light that exists in every human soul, the fight for survival and the cost as well as the power of resilience in the human spirit. It is quite a powerful and intense read depicting the latent passions which can cause a lot of damage and harm, and yet the enormous depths of love that are latent within every person.

And there you have it. Some of our favourites!