Last week, my Goodreads buddy, David, remarked on my reference to ‘Irish misery porn’ – I don’t think I coined that phrase (although a quick search suggests that the most frequent use of the phrase is on this blog…hmmm) but for the purposes of this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, I’ll claim it as my own.
Irish misery porn refers to those particular types of stories that involve bleak childhoods, mams full of woe (usually with husbands that spend the money on pints of Guinness rather than pints of milk) and relentless rain. I love them.
The genre* ranges from the truly grim (that’s where I hang out) to lighter fare (think authors such as Maggie O’Farrell). I’ve picked my top five and another five that are on my reading list**.
1. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
‘When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.’
2. The Green Road by Anne Enright
3. Academy Street by Mary Costello
4. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
5. The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin (it’s a different kind of miserable but qualifies because of the family).
And on my TBR list –
6. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
7. The Fields by Kevin Maher
8. The Guts by Roddy Doyle
9. The Story of Esther Costello by Nicholas Monsarrat (okay, he’s not Irish but the book is set in an Irish town and is supposedly miserable).
10. A Monk Swimming by Malachy McCourt
*see, not only am I claiming the phrase, I’ve now made it a genre.
**it’s actually the start of Reading Ireland Month today, so pop over to 746 Books for lots of good Irish author suggestions.
The Fields is a great book. It’s nice to see it on a list!
Excellent! Glad I have some great Irish Misery in my reading future.
I’ve never read Irish misery porn, but I love that you have possibly coined your own phrase *and* created a genre lol. Though maybe I should check one of these out since I do like books set in other countries and Irish seems to be the only accent I can even remotely do in my head while reading, haha.
Brooklyn is also on my tbr – the movie looks fantastic and I hope to see it soon. 🙂
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Hurray for coining a term & genre! I believe you are indeed the only blogger I know who uses the phrase Irish misery porn 😉 Anyway, I have yet to read any of the books on your list, especially Brooklyn, The Green Road, and Academy Street.
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I loved Academy Street and Brooklyn is great too – my favourite Toibin novel.
I’ve only read Nora Webster by Toibin and although I liked elements of it, it didn’t capture me. That said, I enjoyed the movie of Brooklyn so much that I’ll certainly read the book.
All Roddy Doyle books are kind of bleak (of course not his children’s books those are hilarious!) Have to read other authors on your list!
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I think what I enjoy about this ‘ genre’ is that although bleak, they’re often very funny as well – Roddy Doyle the perfect example of this.
Great idea! If you wanted another title for your list you could try John McGahern’s The Barracks – possibly the most miserable Irish novel I’ve ever read but excellent nonetheless.
Kate…I’m very happy to hear that you’ve stepped up and laid claim to the “Irish-misery-porn” literary genre moniker. I’m thinking that there should be an annual award presented in the category, like the Booker or PEN/Faulkner. Perhaps Dublin’s own Brendan Gleeson could be Master of Ceremony for the 1st Annual presentation, offering up his best constipated frown to the attending audience? Daniel Day-Lewis would work if Brendan is unavailable.
I happen to be a big fan of Mary Costello, adored the bleakness of “Academy Street” and happily wallowed in the sadness of her book of short stories, “The China Factory”.
And, Thank the Lord that Maggie O’Farrell finally has a new novel coming our way in July!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385349424/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=390TYIYJS9FCT&coliid=I3ODLAABWGLJ67
My personal nomination for 2016’s IRISH-MISERY-PORN Award is Sara Baume’s “Spill Simmer Falter Wither” (which was actually published in late 2015). This story, a beautifully written debut novel, even includes a miserable, one-eyed dog, who is impossible to adore, and bites children.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25261902-spill-simmer-falter-wither
Regards, David….”misery, Irish or otherwise, loves company?”.
I very much like your idea of an annual award David. Firstly because Daniel Day Lewis and secondly because I would need an annual trip to Ireland. As would you, given that you came up with this excellent idea (any plan that involves a trip is a good plan, IMO).
How good was Academy Street? But a bit underrated by reviewers, I thought. I haven’t read her short stories but will add them to my list, as I will do with your other suggestions. Of course, I’ll begin with the Baume.
Angela’s Ashes still haunt me to this day, even though I read it years ago in high school. I haven’t heard of too many of the other books on your list but I’m keen to try them. Thanks for the recommendations!
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Agree – I read it when it was first released and it has stayed with me (plus it has one of the best last lines ever!).
What a great list and topic! The only one I’ve read is Angela’s Ashes, but I’d like to read A Monk Swimming and Brooklyn too!
Have you read the sequel to AA, ‘Tis’? It’s as equally as good.
Yes, it was great! I haven’t read the 3rd one though, but I really should. (Fun fact: I have an old friend who had “Mr. McCourt” as a high school English teacher!)
Excellent bragging rights!
I would never have thought of this as a genre. I let out a quick chuckle… then I admitted to myself how interesting I found the concept of Irish misery porn.
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Well I don’t think it’s officially a genre 😉
Should I just cave in and add all of these to my tbr-list?
Of course 😉 That said, it is a genre to read in small doses. If you haven’t read any of them, start with Angela’s Ashes – it’s just brilliant. I also loved The Green Road (although others weren’t so keen) – Enright’s writing is beautiful.
Your title literally made me laugh out loud. Haha! I liked Angela’s Ashes a lot. Have you ever read Trinity by Leon Uris? I can’t remember how explicit the romance gets, but there’s definitely some good old Irish misery. 🙂 Here’s my list: Top Ten Fairytales Reimagined
Thanks for the recommendation – always happy to add more Irish Misery to my list.
Have you read the sequel to Angela’s Ashes, Tis? Also very good.
“Irish Misery Porn” One of the best titles I’ve seen. Great list too!
Angela’s Ashes would absolutely have to be on this list 🙂 My TTT
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