Fluffing Apologies …

Hello, fluffsters!

Apologies for the weeks of radio silence. I’ve been busy with work and writing and other stuff, and have hardly had time to do anything with the blog.

I haven’t even been able to find the time to write a book review or a film review, and in truth I haven’t caught many films at all. It’s been weeks since I was in a cinema.

A quick fluffering of some of the stuff I have managed to do.

Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer

A big and big-hearted novel about identity, family, love and loyalty. Hilarious and heartbreaking.

The Naked Swiss by Clare O’Dea

Clare is a friend, and I was thrilled to catch up with her last week in Dublin at the launch of her brilliant examination of her adopted home. There’s more to Switzerland than chocolates and cuckoo clocks.Highly recommended.

A Very Good Chance by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

Another friend (and Clare O’Dea’s cousin – they’re a talented lot), Sarah Moore Fitzgerald’s latest YA novel is sure to be a huge success. My niece can’t wait to read it.

Sarah’s previous novels have been translated into several languages (while a guest in her home over the weekend, I perused the Estonian edition of The Apple Tart of Hope and am pleased to report the translator has done an exemplary job: hästi tehtud, as we say in Tallinin). 

Captain America: Civil War

I finally saw this just the other week. Shouty and annoying and silly and confusing and frankly, I almost fell asleep.

Deadpool

Yes, I am way, way behind in movies. Lots of fun; lived up to all the hype … more of this please.

Jason Bourne

The world’s grumpiest and most laconic amnesiac manages to make us all forget The Bourne Legacy. A high-octane thriller that was fun but forgettable (and was filled with plot-holes). I’ll stick to the original trilogy.

Hostages by Oisin Fagan

An audacious blend of science-fiction, satire and seething anger set in a futuristic, dystopian Ireland. By turns hysterical and horrific.

The Woman on the Other Side by Stephanie Conn

A beautiful debut collection of poetry. Wise, sensual and tragic.

Illuminate by Kerrie O’Brien

Another gorgeous debut by a young Irish poet. They say never to judge a book by its cover, but, I mean, Jesus, look at this:

When Black Dogs Sing by Tanya Farrelly

A wonderful debut collection of short stories. Funny, charming, cynical, and deeply insightful on our foibles and follies.

It’s been a hectic few weeks. I had a few mini-reunions with fellow John Hewitt Summer School participants at various events.

With writers Sinead Coll and Trish Bennett at Lissadell House in Sligo

 

I also took part in a Beginners Acting Class with my old friend Amy Redmond of Act the Maggot.

This mostly involved making a fool of myself, but it was tremendous fun. If you’ve never been in a room full of adults playing Pass the Parcel with an invisible ball of energy, then you don’t know what you’re missing.

Amy runs courses all year at all levels, so if you’ve ever had the acting bug, I would definitely recommend it.

At the end of the course we had to perform a monologue. This is what I came up with:

By the way, I had the beard trimmed so I no longer look homeless.

I am hoping to get back to the blog regularly soon enough. I’m desperately trying to get up to visit my Begorrathon partner in crime Cathy of 746 Books at her new gig in Seamus Heaney HomePlace.

Beanmimo and I are planning a wee blogging road trip (details to follow), and we’ll also be checking out some new releases, including Doctor Strange and Nocturnal Animals.

 

Oh, and there’s also this, which was on Irish radio last week.

For the record, my name is pronounced Nile.