this isn't directly related to itm, but i've recently read four hard-boiled noir-type novels set in galway by the wonderful if occasionally grand-guignol-esque writer ken bruen. an irish contemporary of edinburgh's ian rankin, whose "tartan noir" series has been a fave of mine for years, ken bruen has said in interviews that he began this series to write about his anger and sadness at changes wrought by the celtic tiger in the galway of his youth, and to take an honest look at alcoholism in irish society (in noir tradition, his hardboiled, outside-the-rules, disgraced-former-garda protagonist is of course a drinker to end all drinkers)....in these extremely music-literate books, rock&roll, country-western, and blues/jazz, even showband music, get oodles of allusions, but i've only counted one, and a mildly derisive one at that, reference to itm, but these books, which among other things are bluesy valentines to pre-tiger ireland, are still fascinating food for thought....one book has focused on tinkers, another the priesthood, another on the magdalene sisters, and more......any other fans?
If you're into celtic noir, don't forget Malcolm Pryce's rather more humerous "Aberyswyth Mon Amour", "Last Tango in Aberystwyth", and the new one I haven't got yet, so I don't remember it's title...these are even more funny if you've been in Aberystwyth, even for just a day.
They take the noir genre and put a wonderfully provincial twist on it.
galway noir: anybody reading ken bruen?
galway noir: anybody reading ken bruen?
this isn't directly related to itm, but i've recently read four hard-boiled noir-type novels set in galway by the wonderful if occasionally grand-guignol-esque writer ken bruen. an irish contemporary of edinburgh's ian rankin, whose "tartan noir" series has been a fave of mine for years, ken bruen has said in interviews that he began this series to write about his anger and sadness at changes wrought by the celtic tiger in the galway of his youth, and to take an honest look at alcoholism in irish society (in noir tradition, his hardboiled, outside-the-rules, disgraced-former-garda protagonist is of course a drinker to end all drinkers)....in these extremely music-literate books, rock&roll, country-western, and blues/jazz, even showband music, get oodles of allusions, but i've only counted one, and a mildly derisive one at that, reference to itm, but these books, which among other things are bluesy valentines to pre-tiger ireland, are still fascinating food for thought....one book has focused on tinkers, another the priesthood, another on the magdalene sisters, and more......any other fans?
# Posted on May 19th 2007 by ceemonster
Re: galway noir: anybody reading ken bruen?
Dublin Noir by ken Gruen is on my to read shelf as well as Los Angeles Noir. Haven't gotten to it- in the middle of the Oppenhiemer bio
# Posted on May 19th 2007 by I_Fel
Re: galway noir: anybody reading ken bruen?
If you're into celtic noir, don't forget Malcolm Pryce's rather more humerous "Aberyswyth Mon Amour", "Last Tango in Aberystwyth", and the new one I haven't got yet, so I don't remember it's title...these are even more funny if you've been in Aberystwyth, even for just a day.
They take the noir genre and put a wonderfully provincial twist on it.
# Posted on May 19th 2007 by Guernsey Pete