The Queen of Dirt Island follows the trials and tribulations of the 4 generations of Aylward women. 4 fierce women living their lives.

This book was so beautifully written with real poetic quality to it. The ebb and flow of words reminded me of the sing song quality of "White Oleander."

While lots happened in this book, a lifetime of events. There were also quiet times of growth and reflection. I really loved this book and would definitely recommend it!

This is the sixth novel by the best selling and much recognised (including twice Booker longlisted) Irish author Donal Ryan, whose previous novel “Strange Flowers” won the Irish Book Awards Best Novel Prize in 2020 (he having previously won the Best Newcomer and Best Short Story categories).

This book will I think appeal hugely to “Strange Flowers” as it is a fairly direct follow up to that book (albeit one which can easily be read standalone) featuring a new and very striking four generational group of women alongside a group of characters from the previous novel.

The book begins with a tragedy – as a new father (of a girl of less than two weeks and as yet unnamed) is killed in a car crash. Then we move forwards to the family left behind – the young girl Saoirse, her mother Eillen and the matriarchal Nana (already widowed and now bereft of her favourite son, leaving her two remaining sons, the rather simple Chris and the increasingly IRA-missed up Paulie to run the nearby farm).

Unlike “Strange Flowers” which I described as having “writing [which] is languid and full of empathy, character insight and gentle description” – this book is set out in a series of 2 page chapters/vignettes, which makes the book very easy to navigate and read, but I felt on balance subtracted from the book’s literary merits.

It does however showcase Ryan’s ability, alongside quieter writing (the book opens with two melancholic, reflective chapters) to bring to life the lively and abusive dialogue between Mother and the quick witted and foul mouthed Nana – as well as their reputation among and interaction with the locals around them.

What it also does is allow the story to move forward naturally over the years at a pace: we see Saoirse grow up and grow increasingly rebellious herself, we come to realise that Eileen is estranged from her posher/more respectable own family due to her unmarried pregnancy, that Paulie’s paramilitary involvement becomes more serious and results in torture and then detention, that Chris’s resulting solitude turns him away from what seems a life of inevitable bachelor-hood to marriage to a town girl (Doreen) who has a wary relationship with the other women in the family. Saoirse then has a baby (after a fleeting encounter with a later famous singer) – Pearl who forms the fourth generation of the family but whose birth also reveals a terrible void at the heart of Doreen’s life .

At one stage when Nana has one of a number of turns (which later develop into more serious medical incidents) she is found by Kit Gadney and later jokingly mistakes a black nurse for Alexander Elmwood – and suddenly we are in the world of “Strange Flowers”, even more so when the prodigal Joshua and Honey return to Ireland and become friends of Saoirse.

In a meta fictional conceit Joshua - who we remember as a writer from the first novel – asks Saoirse to write down her memories and stories for him to use as a base for a novel. I was unclear in the first novel if we were meant to see Joshua as a good writer (as some of his work – in particular his biblical story rewrite - is included as part of the novel) but here there is less doubt as Joshua turns Saoirse’s family story into a sensationalist terrorist one, and there is a nice twist at the end as Pearly sits her Leaving Exams (which I must preferred to the deliberately withheld but not terribly dramatic revelations of “Strange Flowers”.

Overall for me, while enjoyable, this felt not just as a “novel of two halves” but more like two disparate novels stitched together. I very much enjoyed the opening but as the book progressed I missed the main focus being on the two oldest women and the teenage Saoirse and their lively interactions and rather resented the “Strange Flower” characters having a greater influence on this one at the same time that the novel seemed to lose much of its uniqueness. However, this probably reflects my ambivalence towards that novel and fans of “Strange Flowers” will I think feel very differently.

The Queen of Dirt Island is a bit of a curate's egg.

Set in Nenagh, County Tipperary, in the 1980s. we meet Saoirse, her mother and her grandmother. The threesome live almost in defiance of the world around them. Soirée's mother has been cut off from her family - wealthy landowners - because she married the wrong sort. And widowed at a young age, she lives with her mother in law in a love-hate relationship. The situation os reminiscent of John McGahern - perhaps Amongst Women but perhaps even more That They May Face the Rising Sun. Just like a McGahern novel, there are hints and snippets of interesting lives, of scandal, but the focus is always more on the people than their deeds.

And on the other hand, there are shared of Patrick McCabe's The Butcher Boy in the telling - heavily stylised almost to sounding like a folk story. This can bring a sense of something from the 1950s, perhaps even earlier, and the intrusion of more modern day references can feel rather jarring.

So in total, this is a beautiful novel which is a magnificent technical accomplishment. Yet the story just doesn't feel quite enough to warrant such a rich and luscious telling. Some of the ideas in the novel - Dirt Island being the most obvious example - never feel quite fulfilled. The novel is short, but it still feels quite long in parts. Maybe I am not Donal Ryan's target audience; I feel as though I ought to enjoy his novels rather more than I do.

The Aylward women live in a village outside Nenagh in southwest Ireland. All strong and single-minded women. There are worries and concerns, disputes over land, family rows, and begrudges, but above all, there is an immense and powerful love. And women who will do anything to protect those they love.

What a poetic novel! If you like family sagas, you will love this novel. Exquisite, with vivid, developed characters and written with deep compassion and vulnerability.

Donal Ryan is a brilliant narrator.

In 'The Queen of Dirt Island' Donal Ryan exquisitely tells the intergenerational story of strong Irish women who fervently stand by each other and stubbornly live on their own terms. I loved this book. The writing style is at times descriptive and evocative conjuring up a real sense of people and place; at other times it is curt and hard-hitting and stuns the reader as exemplified in the opening chapter. This, combined with the short chapters, provides a structure that lured my involvement with the characters to an emotional level. So, in conclusion, I loved everything about this book. Thanks for the ARC 📚

This is my third title by Donal Ryan and I loved this one just as much as the others. I felt myself immersed in the lives of the central female characters. He writes so beautifully, vividly capturing the women's personalities through their dialogue, and even in their arguments their closeness shines through.

His descriptive writing is exquisite. I found myself re-reading passages just to revel in the beautiful lilting rhythm, and visualizing the word pictures he paints.

If I have one minor reservation, it's that events advance at a hurried pace towards the end. I wanted to spend more time in this world!

I’ve not read many of Donal Ryan’s books but I figured I’d give The Queen of Dirt Island a go as it sounded interesting. This is a quiet, slow book, but contains multitudes. I found I had to keep reading it, always wanting just one more chapter before I put it down. It is heartbreaking, uplifting and raw in equal measure. Recommended for sure.

This is the first book I have read by Donal Ryan and It was so beautifully written and such a joy to read.
It is a story of isolation and togetherness, of transgression, forgiveness, and desire. Set in rural Tipperary, where four generations of Aylward women live together. Eileen and her daughter Saoirse; Eileen's mother-in-law, Mary and Saoirse's daughter, Pearl. These strong characters are fiercely loyal to each other, their lives are shaped by tragedy, betrayal and conflicts but also love and happiness. The Queen of Dirt Island is definitely worth a read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and the author Donal Ryan for the opportunity to read this stunning ARC.

Having enjoyed previous books by Donal Ryan, (particularly ‘From a Low and Quiet Sea’ which I think is sublime), it’s great to have the opportunity to review his new one.
Set in rural Tipperary like its predecessor ‘Strange Flowers’ and although some characters from the Gladney family play a part, this one is about the womenfolk of the Aylward family.
Told in short chapters the reader learns about the lives of Nana and her daughter-in-law Eileen, left a widow a week after giving birth to Saoirse, as well as wider family issues.
These two are constantly arguing but their disagreements are underpinned by a fierce loyalty and complete disregard for the opinions of others, sometimes difficult in a place where everyone’s business is known.
As Saoirse grows up she learns how to deal with bad decisions and the consequences of deception, but however cross they get with her on occasion, she always has these two strong role models to protect her.
Donal Ryan writes about rural Ireland and family with empathy, humour and a real understanding of human nature. It was a joy to read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an ARC

This is the first book I have read by Donal Ryan and I am already on the lookout for more of his work. The titular Queen of Dirt Island is Eileen Aylward, widowed three days after the birth of her daughter Saoirse. This novel is the story of Eileen and Saoirse; Eileen's mother-in-law, Mary and Saoirse's daughter, Pearl. This four generation family of women live together in a small house on an estate in rural Tipperary, outside the town of Nenagh, the author's home town. The book's strengths are its characterisation, dialogues and sense of place over a period of just under forty years in the women's lives. The author writes the ordinary lives of these ordinary women beautifully, developing the extra-ordinariness of each woman through a series of vignettes and their interactions with other family and community members.. There is tragedy, grief, family feuds, nastiness --- but throughout there is humour and the power of real love between four fabulous women. I highly recommend connecting with the Aylward women whether you want a lovely, lyrical read or you want reminded of what is really important in life. Thanks to the publisher via Net Galley for a complimentary ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 is Donal Ryan’s seventh and latest novel, due out on 18 August. It’s an homage to mothers and strong Irish women who will do anything to protect those they love. The Aylward women live in a village outside Nenagh in the south west of Ireland. There’s Nana, her daughter in law Eileen and her daughter Saoirse. All strong, opinionated single minded women. Nana also has two sons living on the family farm, who are the main source of her worries and concerns. There’s gun running, disputes over land as well as a good measure of Irish begrudgery and family rows.

If you like family sagas, then you’ll love this book. The author creates a very authentic sense of place immersing the reader in rural contemporary Irish life. One of the joys of this book is the inclusion of a couple of familiar characters from Ryan’s previous book, 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. An Elizabeth Strout touch, which I enjoyed. The only thing that irked me about the book was the language which at times veered on being too “Oirish”. I’m from rural Ireland and it felt discordant and jarring at times. Overall, a very enjoyable lyrical novel which sings the praises of modern Irish women.

I enjoy books that have a strong female character and this one had four each influenced by the last . It’s beautifully written and captures exactly what living in rural Ireland is like. My first time reading one of his books but not my last, I felt as if I was sitting in the corner watching the story unfold.

I haven’t read a book quite like this before. Donal Ryan has a distinctive style and his writing is somehow both succinct but rich and vivid.

This book tells of 4 generations of Aylward women. Mary, Eileen, Saoirse and Pearl, I loved them all. Peripherally there are other characters, uncles, brothers and friends but this is a story of women.

I enjoyed the choppiness of the chapters and how each was almost a story in its own right. It’s very cleverly done. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

I have loved all I’ve ever read from Donal Ryan and The Queen of Dirt Island is no exception. It’s different from this previous masterpieces. The chapters are short, the writing is even more eloquent I felt, his style has changed somewhat, but his standards remain as high as ever. He once again showed his deep understanding of human nature, of our faults and failings, of what makes us tick and what can cause our demise. Four women, four generations, linked by blood or by marriage, who fight and who love, but who remain loyal to the core to one another through thick and thin. Nana was amazing, a force to be reckoned with, as too was Eileen, Saoirse was a cause for concern regularly throughout the novel but her greatest achievement was Pearl. It started with a bang and ended wonderfully. I really enjoyed this wonderful thought provoking read.

Wasn't sure what to expect but I enjoyed this book. Hadn't read their previous books but I understand some of the characters have featured before. The community reminded me of growing up in a small village. Recommended.

I absolutely LOVED this book, an ode, I feel, to a mother's fierce loyalty. The story will stab your heart one second, and have you laughing out loud the next.

Central to everything is the dialogue between the characters and one of my favourite quotes 'You're a fucking old cow, Nana, said Saoirse, and Nana just smiled, and picked up her Sacred Heart Messenger, and opened it ostentatiously', had me chuckling for ages.

Each chapter is short but packed to the brim, with not a single word wasted. You'll be cheering and high fiving in parts, and in other's you'll forget to breathe as you wait to see how a beautiful scene unfolds.

Overall , a gloriously exquisite book, full of stunning prose and vivid characterisation, some of whom featured in Donal Ryan's previous book, Strange Flowers, which I also highly recommend; although it won't spoil this one for a second if you don't read it first, I think it will add to your enjoyment if you do. So go on, give yourself a double treat and get both, I promise you won't regret it.

Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review; it was a privilege

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written with powerfully beautiful narrative, a compelling storyline and well developed characters which honestly was the best part of the book for me, they were incredibly well developed. This was such an engaging read that I found it really hard to put down.

Queen of Dirt Island centres around the Aylward women in Nenagh, Tipperary. They are an ordinary family whose everyday lives are touched by tragedy, betrayals and family conflicts. But also by love and forgiveness and happiness. Just as ordinary families are.

Ryan created some amazing characters in Mary, Eileen, Saoirse and Pearl. They are the epitome of fierce women and I felt like I knew them. The compelling narrative is presented as short and snappy, named chapters. I loved the language used when speaking as Eileen and Mary - I could hear their exchanges clearly in my head, with the barbed but ultimately loving quips volleying between them.

I read this book very quickly as it was just so comforting to read. It was like entering the room with a family I know and feeling the warmth of their love. This is the first book I’ve read by Donal Ryan, but I will certainly be picking up others.

I had a smile on my face for a lot of this book, I was just so warmed by the strong female characters that got on with life with humour, strength and the odd foul language, no matter what life threw at them.
Put that together with a small village life, and it made for a cracking book that had me feeling nostalgic.
I missed strange Flowers somehow, this makes me think I need to get to it ASAP.

STRANGE FLOWERS, a searing, jubilant novel about four generations of women and the love and stories that bind them.
Makes your heart skip a beat… Will have the hairs on your head standing… OH BOY…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️