Burning Books Ireland

Burning Books
  • 4.8 (6)
  • BOOKS
Burning Books Ireland

If your house was on fire, what books would you save from the flames? The Books Ireland podcast features authors and well-known cultural figures discussing the titles that have formed the backdrop to their lives—their childhood memories perhaps, or books they fell in love with. Maybe there are authors they return to over and over, or novels which formed their world view—stories that shaped them or books which offered a refuge or a life raft. Editor Ruth McKee asks each guest which books they’d save, which they’d leave behind, and what other non-book treasure they would rescue from the flames.

  1. 6 DEC

    Ashwin Chacko

    Ashwin Chacko talks about Curdie and the Goblin, Lord of the Rings, The Shack by Paul Young, the Bible and more as he tells Ruth McKee which books he’d save if his house was on fire. Ashwin Chacko is an author, illustrator, and motivational speaker who specialises in positively playful, visual storytelling. His books include Keep At It, Little Optimist, Everybody Feels Fear, and his most recent, Wild City which is published by The O’Brien Press.

    45 min

  2. 1 NOV

    Julianne Mooney Siron

    Julianne Mooney Siron talks about growing up in Greystones, her travels after college, and returning to Ireland and the Dublin Book Festival as she tells Ruth McKee which books she’d save if her house was on fire. Julianne Mooney Siron has been programming the Dublin Book Festival since 2010. Alongside the festival, she has worked at The Ark, is author of The Time Out Guide to Ireland and was Reader-in-Residence for Dublin City Public Libraries and DLR Libraries.

    37 min

  3. 25 OCT

    Jessica Traynor

    Poet Jessica Traynor talks about The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Linda Gregg’s All of it Singing, and Mary Ruefle as she explores growing as an artist, a time of loss, and the joy of mystery in poetry as she tells Ruth McKee which books she’d save if her house was on fire.   Jessica Traynor is the author of Liffey Swim (Dedalus Press), The Quick (Dedalus Press), and Pit Lullabies (Bloodaxe Books), and is the poetry editor of Banshee. Her forthcoming collection is New Arcana, which will be published by Bloodaxe Books.

    48 min

  4. 18 OCT

    Eoghan Smith

    Eoghan Smith talks about the influence of philosophy, learning the piano, and staying curious in his reading and work as he tells Ruth McKee which books he’d save if his house was on fire. Eoghan Smith is the author of The Failing Heart,  A Provincial Death, and A Mind of Winter (Dedalus Books).

    54 min

  5. 16 AUG

    Cauvery Madhavan

    Cauvery Madhavan talks about Mulk Raj Anand, Amitav Ghosh, Khalil Gibran and more as she talks to Ruth McKee about starting school early, a tragedy in her life, and moving to Ireland when she was 23. Discover the books she’d save if her house was on fire in the latest episode of Burning Books.   Cauvery Madhavan was born in India and moved to Ireland thirty-three years ago. She is the author of Paddy Indian, The Uncoupling, and The Tainted. Her latest novel, The Inheritance (HopeRoad Publishing), is out now.

    33 min

  6. 9 AUG

    Michael Magee

    Michael Magee talks about his early life, finding the path to becoming a writer, and the influence of Hemmingway and Chekhov—and much more—for this special live recording of Burning Books at the West Cork Literary Festival. Michael Magee’s debut novel Close To Home won the Rooney Prize for Literature, the Nero Book Award for Debut Fiction and the Waterstones Irish Book of the Year in 2023.

    49 min

  7. 12 JUL

    Sarah Webb

    Sarah Webb talks about her early days in Waterstones, how she doesn’t write for the market, and learning to give time to what’s important, as she tells Ruth McKee which books she’d save if her house was on fire.   Sarah Webb is an award-winning Irish children’s writer and creative writing teacher. She is also the events manager at Halfway up the Stairs children’s bookshop in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Her books include Blazing a Trail: Irish Women who Changed the World (illustrated by Lauren O’Neill) and I am the Wind: Irish Poems for Children Everywhere (co-edited by Lucinda Jacob, illustrated by Ashwin Chacko). Her latest book is The Weather Girls (The O’Brien Press) which was inspired by real WW2 events in Ireland.

    42 min

  8. 21 JUN

    Catherine Dunne

    Catherine Dunne talks about her childhood in Clontarf, an inspiring teacher, and what led her to write her new novel as she tells Ruth McKee which books she would save if her house was on fire.  Catherine Dunne is the author of several award-winning novels, essays, and one work of non-fiction. She received the 2018 Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Literature and is a member of Aosdána. Her latest book, A Good Enough Mother, is out now (Betimes Books).

    50 min
See All (45)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

If your house was on fire, what books would you save from the flames? The Books Ireland podcast features authors and well-known cultural figures discussing the titles that have formed the backdrop to their lives—their childhood memories perhaps, or books they fell in love with. Maybe there are authors they return to over and over, or novels which formed their world view—stories that shaped them or books which offered a refuge or a life raft. Editor Ruth McKee asks each guest which books they’d save, which they’d leave behind, and what other non-book treasure they would rescue from the flames.

Information

  • Creator
    Burning Books
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Burning Books
  • Show Website
    Burning Books Ireland

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