I haven‘t read Strange Flowers but heard a lot of good things about it, so I jumped at the chance to read this. Unfortunately this is only a soft pick. According to the blurb this is a ‘searing, jubilant novel about 4 generations of women‘. It really concentrates on only 2 generations but seems to skim over the surface, and the large chronological leaps meant that I never felt fully invested in the women or their stories.

What a special book this is - it was my first experience of reading Donal Ryan, but it certainly won’t be my last. The Queen of Dirt Island centres on four generations of Alyward women, all living in a small rural town, and dealing with all this entails. Told in almost vignette-like slices of short chapters, this book weaves a mesmerising portrait of rural family life, as well as being a testament to the towering strength of women. It is seriously impressive how well Donal Ryan captures the Alyward women; I don’t think I’ve read such well written women by a man before.

Told largely from the perspective of “the baby”, Saoirse, and so we focus on her coming-of-age. Saoirse is a gentle yet fierce young girl, who grows into herself as the novel progresses. The earlier chapters are written simply, in keeping with her young age, maturing and becoming more complex as she grows which is a wonderful device that made me feel like I was watching Saoirse mature in real time. It’s hard not to fall for her, but the real gems in this novel, for me, were Eileen and Mary, Saoirse’s mother and grandmother.
Foul-mouthed, sharp and completely hilarious, I found myself highlighting every other line uttered by these women, as they were poignant and gas in equal measure.

I will say that this book is in no way all sunshine and rainbows, though - through the prism of this family, Ryan considers some of the biggest issues facing Irish families in the 1980s onwards - it never feels heavy handed, or like “an issues book” but it nonetheless runs the gamut of societal problems. It’s interesting that the Church is rarely mentioned, but instead the fear of breaking society’s rules comes from ostracisation in the community. While these things are masterfully intertwined into the plot, make no mistake, this is a character driven novel - my very favourite kind, where multiple characters light up the narrative. Clear-eyed, compassionate, hopeful and hilarious, the Queen of Dirt Island is one of my favourite reads of 2022 thus far. I am so grateful to have read it.

Donal Ryan possesses the wonderful skill of being able to take the minutiae of rural Ireland and weave tales that are evocative, endearing, and enthralling. One of my favourite authors, his stories of the people and families who live in the villages and townlands of his narrative world are crafted with such finesse and nuance that you cannot help but get drawn in to the lives of those we meet, rooting for them and being heartbroken when tragedy or disaster hits.
In "The Queen of Dirt Island", we meet the Aylward ladies, a close-knit matriarchal family who deal with their trials and tribulations with hardiness, heart, and, more often than not, humour. Revolving around the daughter of the family, we follow her from when she is only a few days old to many decades later, when she has established a life of her own. The fierce love that she and her family show each other is breathtaking, making the moments of heartbreak like a punch in the gut to the reader, but there is always a thread of hope and togetherness, and this bond that ties them together is what makes this story so magical.
This isn't plot driven (though there are important storylines), and it isn't quite a character study, it is more a study of characters together - the unit that is the Aylward women - and their impact on each other and those around them.
I smiled, I laughed, I cried. Just gorgeous. All of the stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

This book is an absolute masterpiece! It hooked me right from the first lines and by the end of the first chapter it had already cast a spell on me and I felt I couldn't stop reading it.
It is beautifully written and cleverly structured using short chapters narrated by Saoirse's point of view.
The characters are so real I can still hear nana Mary's voice in my head.
This was my first book by this author, but definitely won't be my last: I would heartily recommend The Queen of Dirt Island to anyone, such a stunningly beautiful book.,

Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for this ARC

A big thank-you to Donal Ryan, Random House UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
There are not too many novels about women that have moved me as much as The Queen of Dirt Island did! A wonderful saga of a family in which men appear and vanish and women are left behind to soldier on against all odds. The tale of ordinary lives lived by extraordinary Irosh women unaware of how beautiful souls they have. The bond between them is as strong as it can be and becomes stronger with every stone thrown under their feet. An emotional read that was totally unputdownable for me. Thank you!

I love Donal Ryan’s work. So I felt completely privileged to receive this proof.
The story begins with a young man who is overjoyed at the birth of his baby girl. He and his wife discuss baby names. On his way home, tragedy strikes - leaving behind baby Saoirse, his wife, Eileen, and his mother, Mary. The Queen Of Dirt Island is a generational story of the Aylward women who navigate betrayals, loyalty, grief, desire and, ultimately, fierce love.
I adored this book. Who is surprised? Not me. There is something about Donal Ryan’s writing that hits me in a way no other writer can. He writes with such sincerity and empathy. It honestly feels like a hug - that’s the best way for me to describe his writing (even when it is devastating!).
Naturally, most male writers struggle to capture female characters in an authentic way in my opinion. But this is not in Ryan’s case. He portrays them beautifully, making them feel like women you would know easily. They are fierce, strong and powerful women who I warmed to so quickly.
I loved how the book itself was structured - told in little vignettes from Saoirse’s worldview. The short vignettes make this a page-turner and it is just done so cleverly. I adored the relationship dynamics between the Aylward women - through their fierce arguments, through their compassion and through their loyalty towards one another.
I could not say enough good about this book. Donal Ryan is a true master at his craft. He genuinely deserves to be given awards for this book. It is just stunning. If you haven’t read any of his work, I implore you to because you will not regret it.
Overall, he has done it again with The Queen Of Dirt Island - a complete and utter masterpiece.
Huge thank you to Random House & NetGalley for this ARC.

In The Queen of Dirt Island several generations of strong Aylward women live closely together in a village in Ireland. We follow their story through all the good and bad times. Throughout, the story is a sense of belonging and love, they may not always agree with each other but when needed there is a sense of togetherness.

The author brings his characters, with their colourful gritty dialogue, to life. I enjoy books that have a strong female character and this didn’t disappoint. It’s beautifully written and captures exactly what living in Rural Ireland is like. My first time reading Donal Ryan’s books but not my last. I felt as if I was sitting in the corner watching the story unfold. Loved it!

I've read a few books by Donal Ryan but this is my favourite. After her father is tragically killed when she is less than a week old Saoirse is brought up by her mum Eileen and nana Mary, her dad's mum. As Saoirse grows up she has her own relationships outside the family and we also see the strong bond between the three Aylward women and the complicated relationship Eileen has with her parents/brother.

This is a great book about love, family and loyalty. There events in the book that I didn't see coming at all so it really kept me gripped and I loved the way the relationship between the Saoirse, Eileen and Mary was written. It felt so believable, like you were there listening to them chat.

I highly recommend this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers randomhouseuk and transworldpublushers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Everything had a glow about it " says one of the characters in Donal Ryan's latest novel. Every book Ryan writes has a glow about it. A glow of subtle and superb authenticity and stunning literary style.
I admired his first novel 'The Spinning Heart' and have devoured every word since. He is one of my favourite authors. He has collected awards and nominations for years. Please someone - do give him the Man Booker Prize this year!
This tale of women in small town in Ireland evokes the classic Irish novel genre and such a lot more. The narrator is Saoirse - left tragically fatherless but with the strongest of female family. Her mother and Nana who form an amazing circle of protectiveness around Saoirse and eventually those who become part of a wider family-dominated in so many ways by wayward men and steadfast females (with one or two exceptions).
Location is also a star - the town, the Lake, the land from which Nana was born and to which Irish disputes, family revenge and death evoke yet more shocking episodes in their lives. Dirt Island and the Celtic Tiger. The land so often left to die and desperate flourishes again for another generation.
The vignettes of these chapters will stay in your mind for a long time. Each is carefully crafted into a whole story, characters circling, loving, arguing, dying until the matter is resolved.
There are the usual bigger pictures beyond the town but which seep into the souls of those for whom the outside world enter and mess with memories and minds. Politics, the IRA, pregnancy, religion. of course there is death and funerals. Ireland must have its endings - even before some of the beginnings (encapsulated in the shocking start of the novel).
Friends, sex, teenagers, the world of rock stars. The lives of those prejudiced not by their religion but by their skin colour. Yet all are immersed in strong and strident care by the main women in this tale.
I loved it. Can't you tell!

In a small bungalow on the outskirts of a village in Co. Tipperary live three generations of Aylward women - Eileen, her mother-in-law Mary, and daughter Saoirse. It isn't a peaceful household, yet, despite the arguments and fallings-out, it's a place filled with love; a home that's far more than bricks and mortar, but a haven, a place of belonging and nurture.

It'll come as no surprise to readers of this blog that I'm an ardent admirer of Donal Ryan's writing. I've been hooked since I first read The Thing About December, and he's one of the few authors whose books I can pick up knowing I'll be enthralled and moved. This new story is no exception. Two pages in there's a body blow of a shock and such is Ryan's writing that the reader already feels for this character, has shared their hopes and dreams, and mourns their loss - and like the women left behind by this tragic death, we readers too have to pull ourselves up and start over again.

This unexpected start sets the tone for the book. Revolving around these three generations of women, The Queen of Dirt Island is a story of resilience despite what life throws at you, about love and family ties, told with compassion and understanding. Their lives aren't easy - by any standards they seem to attract more than their fair share of tragedy, disappointment, loss, and straight forward bad luck - but together they pull through, and we're left with an impression that the future is bright.

It's set in the same general location as most of Ryan's work (an unnamed village somewhere near to Nenagh, Tipperary), and characters from other novels put in an appearance - most noticeably from Strange Flowers, to which it feels like a companion piece, but I'm fairly sure there are others too. I love this way of setting a particular story against a backdrop where other tales are unfolding; the postman, policeman, schoolgirl, the passers-by on the street, as in real life they all have lives of their own (and if we haven't been told about them yet, maybe we will be soon).

I also particularly enjoyed what seemed like a sly criticism of male authors or teachers of writing courses - the way Saoirse's story is taken by someone claiming to know better than her, and twisted into something more dramatic, full of violence and extreme emotions, but essentially untrue. I'd love to know if Donal Ryan had someone in mind when he wrote this.

A book that takes its characters through devastation and anger but is ultimately filled with the redemptive power of love.

The story begins with a young man driving home elated on the birth of his first child and he dies before learning her name. He leaves behind three generations of women – his beloved wife Eileen, his mother Mary and baby Saoirse. We follow the lives of these women as Saoirse grows up from a young child, to a rebellious teenager and then young women in a small tight-knit community in Nenagh, Tipperary. It’s a simple family story, detailing their lives, the love and loyalty between them and the tragedies. I loved the structure of the book telling the stories in short little vignette chapters all from Saoirse’s memory. I loved all the characters but I especially loved the relationship between Eileen and her mother-in-law the imitable matriach Mary.

Honestly, this is such an absolute Gem of a book, Ryan’s writing is so subtle and compassionate - I absolutely cherished every word in this book, I was drawn into the story of the Aylward women right from the first page until the last word when I was drying my tears. This has quickly become my favourite book from an Irish writer this year – it’s just beautiful.

Huge thank you to @netgalley @randomhouseuk and @transworldpublishers

The Queen of Dirt Island is Donal Ryan's fifth novel and its true to say that his lyrical style of writing remains in place is this beautiful multigenerational love story around the female characters of the Ayland family.

The story begins with the precious homecoming of newly born baby Saoirse . Her besotted parents discuss her potential name and how others would view it. 'Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".Their precious cargo. Tragedy strikes and three women join forces to grieve a man they would never know.

Donal traces the lives of these women over the course of forty years.Their banter, fierce loyalty and devotion is apparent amid what is said and unsaid among these strong and resilient women. Their unique relationship and family bond shield them from a world where men have let them down. Nana the head of the small household rallied her women to be stronger than they knew . The Queens of Dirt Island.

If you haven't read anything by Donal Ryan try this one. It wont disappoint.

Some quotes from the book I enjoyed "Time will wind its own sweet way.We have no choice but to keep up."

"There's nothing anyone can do to stop the tide, but the tide will always turn itself. Nana thinned and soured a little for a while, and retreated into rituals of intercessional novenas and daily masses."

Thank you to Net Galley for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully written, truly Irish novel set in Tipperary with 4 generations of the Aylward women of Nenagh - Saoirse, Mary, Ellen and Nana. They are close knit, with all the rows and crossed words that go with living in each others pockets but they would fight to the death for each other.

We begin with the birth of Saoirse and the death of her father, leaving the family's women to mourn and plough on.

The writing is lyrical and the chapters short, each focused on a different subject making it easy to race through this to the stunning conclusion.

My first (and not last) of Donal Ryan’s books. A definite 5 star read.

Once I figured out when this book was set, I could understand the storylines moving along in the background and feel how life was like during those times.

I enjoyed the relationships between the Aylward women and could sense their love and bond easily through the writing. The dialogue between Mother and nana was hilarious and raw in its honesty in equal measures.

Families are complex at the best of times. And the Alyward women have made their family unit a fortress. A fortress to be reckoned with at times!

The ending had me teary and has left me thinking about it a while after reading. Wonderful stuff!

The baby girl, born 2 weeks early, hasn't even been named when her father tragically dies 3 days after her birth. The novel is about the lives and relationships of the Aylward women left behind from this death: his mother Mary, his widow Eileen and his daughter Saoirse. These 3 generations of women live a slightly unconventional life filled with laughter, arguments, disappointments, tragedy, joy, loyalties and betrayals

I was hesitant to pick this up, purely because the other Donal Ryan books have left me in a blubbering mess on completion and I wasn't sure I wanted that emotional ruin right now! The end of the first chapter left me open mouthed in shock, but while the rest of the book had me tearing up, it's definitely on the lighter side.

The story isn't plot driven nor is it overly character driven. At least, not from the point of view of seeing the characters deepest hidden thoughts and feelings. Instead, it's driven by the characters and their relationships. It's like looking in the window at this family and being enthralled by what you see. Donal nails the characterisation of these rural folk: turns of phrase, the typical family fall outs, their hopes and disappointments for each other, the types of characters that are friends and neighbours. This, along with Donal's lyrical prose, made me love the story and these women. It feels almost timeless, I wasn't sure when this was set until 15% through the book and even when you do find out, it remains this way bar the mention of certain items or events.

The chapters are short and it spans about 40 odd years, things never go super in depth. Because it's so wide spanning, it could feel like it's rambling but everything pulls together near the end. This style won't be for everyone but I enjoyed these vignettes. It was enough for me to fall in love with the Aylward women and those lucky enough to orbit their odd coven

Thanks to #Doubleday for an ARC of #The QueenofDirtIsland by Donal Ryan in return for an honest review.
I am a fan.of Donal Ryan's writing & books, so I was delighted to receive an ARC & can say without hesitation I was not disappointed.
TQODI is set in the same area as Strange Flowers, a fictional rural townland near Nenagh in County Tipperary. The story centres around the Aylward women - Mary, Eileen & Saoirse. Their loves & losses are written in the wonderfully lyrical style that Donal Ryan is renowned for. The story is an insight into the lives of the 3 women, at times heartbreaking but also touched by an ironic humour. I am in awe of the use of language in the book. Certain sentences made me pause & say yes I understand this.
The portrayal of the three women is a combination of emotion & pragmatism. The relationship between Eileen & her mother-in-law Mary is touching & funny & explores how Eileen's lack of a relationship with her own mother leads to a strong and at times verbally robust one with Mary. This is a love story on so many levels & explores how we love in a variety of ways & on different levels.
I love the way the author writes about life in Ireland but yet is so invested in his characters. The history of the area, local characters & the minutiae of each life is so well written I found myself drawn into the world of the Aylwards.
The writing flows beautifully & is emotional to read which is one of the many reasons I recommend reading this book. Donal Ryan is one of the few authors I reread which is highest compliment.

The book is about a family life in rural Ireland. The strength of the family is its women. They meet life challenges with no moaning and able to solve all problems as solid unit despite disagreements between them.
I liked the book. It looks like family saga only has big gaps in time, skipping long periods of life of the characters.

The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan.

Donal Ryan is one of my favourite writers , I have loved almost everything he has written although for a couple of reasons his last novel, Strange Flowers didn't hit me the way his other books have. I was a little bit apprehensive about reading this one as a result. I loved this, every word. I was completely captivated from the opening chapters until a section close to the end, when I put the book down as I could not see the words for tears. Ryan has managed something with this book which, in my opinion, very very few male writers achieve, writing a book where almost all the characters are female and writing these characters with huge care, empathy and realistically. I recognised many traits and elements of woman I know and love in these characters.

The Queen of Dirt Ireland is a story about family , three generations of the Aylward women. It is a story of love, tragedy, arguments, laughter, closeness and isolation, loyalty and resilience. All of it captured with searing precision and compassion that made me laugh and left my heart sore. It is up there as one of the best written books I have read this year to date, full of everyday beauty, sharp dialogue , well paced and hard to put down. I felt a bit lost when I got to the end, knowing I would miss reading about these women.

I wholeheartedly recommend. A wonderful read.

I really enjoyed this - it reminded me of Milkman, but I found it a lot easier to read. I loved the portrayal of the Aylward women and how they looked out for each other. Some humour too.

The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan is a tender and poignant multi-generational story about the Aylward women from a small, rural village in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. These are women who have known heartbreak, tragedy and judgement, and yet they love so fiercely, fight on in life, and hold each other up; and it’s this bustling household, full of shouting and cursing but also laughter, and brimming with love, which lies at the heart of this story. In Saoirse, her mother Eileen, and her paternal grandmother Mary (Nana), Ryan has created formidable and joyous characters, the two older women in particular. They are women who do things their own way, and don’t apologise for it; Ryan conjures a vivid picture of Eileen, as a woman who smokes, wears sunglasses and wears her hair long, setting her apart from her peers of the time; while Nana is sharply opinionated, equal parts wisecracks and wisdom. It’s these strong-willed, stubborn women that bring Saoirse up in the world, and Nana in particular who guides her on her way, as we follow her trials and tribulations growing up. It’s not all women though; we also follow the kindnesses and misadventures of Uncles Chris and Paudie as they, often clumsily, try to make their way in the world.

Ryan’s characters feel so deeply, and feel so deeply for each other. Both the deep love and the shattering heartbreak in his writing are palpable and enveloping, reaching out from the pages and tugging at our heartstrings; he creates a world that draws us in so completely. We meet some of the characters from his last novel Strange Flowers (which I absolutely loved) again, venturing further and elsewhere into this world that Ryan had already conjured, and this novel adapts the same beautiful, almost timeless or folkloric writing style, rendering many of the passages dreamlike. The chapters are short, moving us through the story in vignettes capturing meaningful moments, and the colloquial dialogue is, as ever, vibrant; from the great banter within the household, to the humorous interactions with neighbours, and the brilliantly drawn small-town talk and dynamics.

There is a recurring reference to the idea that ‘what will be will be’; yet, in this small world that Ryan has so tenderly created, we ultimately do see people take charge of their lives. This is a story which contains it all: joy, sorrow, pride, shame, fierce love, loyalty, betrayal, complex families and new beginnings.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for my eARC.