By SHELAGH BRALEY STARR
RELATED ☘️ Staff (and Head Librarian)
Did you know Irish by Ancestry has its own book club just for members and friends? Do you like to read and wish you had somewhere to discuss your thoughts? Welcome to Brigid’s Library, the book club of myth and memory. This is the place for you.
At Brigid’s Library, we read a book a month. Based on the poll we just took of our interested members, our focus is on historical fiction, history, contemporary fiction, mystery, and memoir. We choose books that may or may not be well known, opting for Irish authors, books set in Ireland, and topics relevant to the diaspora.
We just announced this month’s choice: WHAT THE WIND KNOWS by Amy Harmon. We chose his book for April, for its use of the Easter Rising as a literary device, to commemorate its anniversary. (Sometimes learning about difficult topics is easier through fiction, and this book is known for its historical accuracy; that’s why it made so many bestseller lists, including the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.)
Please join us to read this riveting fictional interpretation of events in Ireland during the period of 1916-1922, the Easter Rising, and Ireland’s fight for independence. Set between modern day and early 20th century Ireland, this time-bending historical novel is rich with Irish history, atmosphere, and love—perfect for our focus on Irish and Irish-adjacent works, authors, themes, and settings.
Story Synopsis:
Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.
The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.
As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence, and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make?
So how do you join?
Go to BrigidsLibrary and fill in where it says BOOK CLUB SIGNUP, then click JOIN NOW. You will be added to our list to receive monthly notes about our books, club meetings, and special author events (We will never sell your information or otherwise breach your privacy). You can then go to the BRIGID’S LIBRARY BOOK CLUB Facebook group and join in there, to be included in our daily chats, weekly updates, and reading review prompts. That’s where all the conversation takes place! Check in and see how everyone else is liking the book. And here’s something extra special: Share a review, and you’ll receive a free Brigid’s Library gift pack!
The April Book Club Meeting
The April book club meeting (no author presentation) will take place on Wednesday, April 22 at 6pm EST. The Zoom link will be emailed to you in advance, and is available on the Brigid’s Library website as well. All are welcome! We’ll talk about the characters, plot, and big themes, discuss how the book portrays Ireland’s history and sense of place, share favorite quotes and moments, and consider how this story fits into our ongoing exploration of Irish/Ireland-adjacent literature.
Grab a copy however you like to read (library, local shop, audio, ebook, etc.) and join in! It might be helpful to jot a few notes as you read, so you can easily reference your thoughts when we gather.
Here’s a link if it’s easy:
Hope to see you at Brigid’s Library!
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