Shelf Help: Well-Known Galway Locals Share Their Top Book Picks

If you’ve lost your love of reading or just can’t find the time, small steps can make a big difference. There are countless benefits to books. Studies have shown that reading increases intelligence, boosts brainpower, and even makes us more empathetic. We’re all trying to decrease screen time and become more mindful, and books are the perfect way to do just that.

Here, five Galway book lovers share their favourite recent read. Scroll on to find your next great page-turner...

Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt

“This is one of the most affecting and beautiful books I’ve ever read. It’s richly perceptive and very funny, about the realities of family love, but be warned: this is a story that sneaks up on you slowly, quietly takes your heart in its hands, and then shakes you to your very core. It’s an extraordinary book, and more people should know about it.” – Colin Walsh, author

White Women by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao

“I’m a big fan of audiobooks at the moment. This book is not a pleasurable listen. It’s confronting. It’s for people who want to try and improve, and the first step is accepting that we are all racist, simply by the environment in which we live and years of conditioning. It’s encouraging us all to do the work required and to step away from our bubble of white privilege. It’s really important. The last year for a lot of people has been eye-opening, with what is happening in Gaza. There are so many injustices in the world, and they are all connected. With all the privilege and luxury we have living in a safe country, we also play our part and a desire to want to learn and unlearn in an effort to do better is what attracted me to this book.” – Síle Seoige, broadcaster, host of 'Ready to Be Real' podcast

Ulysses by James Joyce

“Each time I re-read it (or listen to it as an audiobook nowadays), I discover something new. It’s a book of endless possibilities between the story and the ways in which it is told. I also love the many foods that appear in the book, from oysters to pig’s heads. Each Bloomsday, I try to revisit sections of the book or something on the menu that speaks of the book. In the past, we’ve done menus based on the foods from the book.” – JP McMahon, Chef, Aniar Restaurant

Solo by Gráinne O’Brien

“This was the last book I read, which is coming out in April – a gorgeous, debut verse novel about a teenage girl named Daisy learning all about love and life. I loved it. Amongst Women by John McGahern is also terrific, and one, of if not my favourite, book. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is exquisite also, and a real example of the quality of writing we have in Ireland.” – Sarah Kenny, Kenny’s Bookshop

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

“The book is set in Oxford, in a small office where a group of lexicographers work together on a dictionary (Susie, of Countdown fame, is a lexicographer herself). They start to receive mysterious letters written in code that seem to refer to the disappearance of a young woman years before, and the team decide to decode the letters and investigate both the source of the letters, and just exactly what did happen to Charlie. If you like mysteries, great writing, and gorgeous word puzzles, this one’s for you.” – Dervla McTiernan, author

Novel ideas: 4 tips to help you reignite your passion for books

1. No notions
   All books are books, so don’t be afraid of different mediums and methods. Whether it’s reading shorter pieces, listening to audiobooks or reading on a tablet or Kindle. If you want to fall in love with reading again, be open to all the ways you can consume stories.
2. Don’t force it
   We can often put pressure on ourselves to finish things, even when we’re not enjoying them. Forcing yourself to read a book that isn’t working for you won’t help, and there’s nothing wrong with realising something isn’t to your taste. Onto the next one!
3. Reread your faves
   Think of the last time you simply couldn’t put a book down, couldn’t wait for your commute so you could squeeze in more pages, or you raced to bed in the evenings to read more. Picking up a failsafe option will not only help you get your flow back, but will also remind you which type of books you love and how enjoyable reading really is.
4. Embrace brick and mortar Shops
   Take a stroll to beloved independent Galway stores like Charlie Byrne’s, Kennys or the Clifden Bookshop, chat with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, and immerse your senses in a way that you just don’t get by shopping and buying online. We’re willing to bet you’ll leave the shop with a pile of new reads.