Rónán Hession

Have been to several conferences where there was a technical glitch and the slides didn't work. AI will change that. In future the slides won't work AND the AI won't work.

If you’re around Oxford this evening I’ll be talking about Late Heaney with Fiona Stafford at Blackwell’s at 530

The Notebook Trilogy by Ágota Kristóf

The cover for the Penguin Classics edition of Ágota Kristóf's Notebook Trilogy coming later this year.

A wonderful shop. Love dropping in whenever I'm in Belfast.

Charming Irish dramedy debuts on TVNZ+ REVIEW: With its colourful characters and occasional flights of animation-enhanced fantasy, this feels like a spiritual successor to Moone Boy.

Isn't tis grand.

Leonard and Hungry Paul by @ronanhession.bsky.social

Now showing on TV in New Zealand.

@thebookseller.com

www.waikatotimes.co.nz/culture/3609...

I know you can't change world events with a book but doesn't this make you smile.

'Leonard and Hungry Paul is such a magical book. I am delighted to be a tiny part of this novel becoming a television series.' — Julia Roberts, Leonard and Hungry Paul narrator.

@thebookseller.com

I don't think Solstad is a *great* writer but he's definitely worth reading. Also very enjoyable, which is not nuthin'.

If you like mildly intellectual male public sector workers who overthink everything, then he's your man. A low stakes, corduroy jacket wearing, Norwegian Larry David.

FWIW here's my ranking of his novels, with the one I enjoyed most at the top, though I could easily have ranked them in reverse as he hits a consistent standard across them. I liked the ones I read later better probably because it took me a couple to adjust to his style, which I'll now miss.

Finished Novel 11 Book 18 by Dag Solstad translated from the Norwegian by Sverre Lyngstad.

Another enjoyable Solstad novel that starts one place and turns into several other novels.

I'm out of Solstad novels now. It has been a thoroughly pleasant project to read his novels more or less in a block.

An extract from The Deserters by Mathias Énard, translated by Charlotte Mandell | The Booker Prizes ‘He sets down his weapon, then with difficulty takes off his boots, their smell (excrement, musty sweat) adds even more to his exhaustion. His fingers on the frayed laces are dry matchsticks, slightly...

Read an excerpt from my translation of Mathias Énard's The Deserters at @thebookerprizes.com:

thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...

Celebrating 20 years of Independent publishing.

Bringing cracking stories to readers around the world.

And our first catalogue.

Galway launch of A Hosting: Interviews with Irish Writers 1991-2025 with Sarah Kenny of @kennysbookshop.bsky.social @lilliputpress.bsky.social

Woop!

Congratulations @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social and @kitdewaal.com

Good to hear. I was impressed by The Gospel of Orla.

I've only read the first two of her novels. I didn't think the depiction of men was particularly skillful and wondered whether Intermezzo did a better job. My impressions re the autistic character and then "man gets in touch with feelings" put me off tbh though friends day it's her best book.

That's the thing – I don't work without caffeine.

Some interesting insights here. Good strong showing from Irish writers, too – bualadh bos!

12.29 million books sold in the Republic of Ireland last year "... 50% of which were bought by Rónán Hession."

Dropping some icing on my lap reminds me that Proctor and Gamble never developed a cleaning product/device as effective as a licked finger.

Sadly, Heaney passed on before getting to write a poem about how there is still no tea service in the 3 1/2 hour train to Sligo.

On the early train to Carrick on Shannon, tracing the canal all the way. I have Late Heaney by @dedalusdenaries.bsky.social for company.

Dag Solstad is ingenious in all sorts of ways. For example it's such a great idea to have a character with a college age son that the father can tell is unpopular and is, in fact, a bit of a dick, even if the son doesn't realise it, & the father sees it for what it is without being overly bothered.

I dedicate that gag to @iammilliam.bsky.social

Furnishes do book a room.

Looks like Pete Townshend.

I am reborn every day so all good wishes accepted.

Always a pleasure to hear @dedalusdenaries.bsky.social speak about his writing. So thoughtful and fluent and rich in consideration.

Here he is in conversation with John Brannigan at the launch of Late Heaney @hodgesfiggis.bsky.social this evening.

Interesting question!

#Thisismylasttimeusingthemamgoingtomissthem.

This is my last time using them. Am going to miss them.

I welcome them to the cooked fry even though I'm generally against messing with the classics.