Voices E-Book

• Herausgeber: New Island
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

The Open Door anthology brings together a collection of short stories by some of Ireland's greatest writers, all of which are written and crafted specifically for the emerging adult reader.  Featuring writing from Graham Norton, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Blindboy Boatclub, Donal Ryan, Sheila O'Flanagan, Roddy Doyle, Patrick Freyne, Carlo Gébler, Ciara Geraghty, Colm O'Regan, Deirdre Purcell, Dermot Bolger, Emily Hourican, Louise Kennedy, Martina Devlin, Melatu Uche Okorie, Nuala O'Connor, Patricia Scanlan, Paul Perry, Rachael English, Roisin O'Donnell, Ruth Gilligan, Sinead Crowley, Sinead Moriarty, Úna-Minh Kavanagh, Yan Ge and Marita Conlon-McKenna.

Leseprobe

Voices

Voices

An Open Door Book of Stories

Edited by Patricia Scanlan

Voices: An Open Door Book of Stories

First published in 2020 by

New Island Books

Glenshesk House

10 Richview Office Park

Clonskeagh

Dublin 14, D14 V8C4

Republic of Ireland

www.newisland.ie

Individual contributions © Respective Authors, 2020

Foreword © Patricia Scanlan, 2020

‘Gruyère in the Desmond’ by Blindboy Boatclub is an adaptation of the original story from Boulevard Wren and Other Stories (Gill Books, 2019). ‘Cell 13’ by Carlo Gébler has appeared in longer form in The Wing Orderly’s Tales (2016) published by New Island Books. 'Where it all Began' by Úna-Minh Kavanagh is adapted from her memoir Anseo (2019) published by New Island Books.

Print ISBN: 978-1-84840-782-4

eBook ISBN: 978-1-84840-788-6

All rights reserved. The material in this publication is protected by copyright law. Except as may be permitted by law, no part of the material may be reproduced (including by storage in a retrieval system) or transmitted in any form or by any means; adapted; rented or lent without the written permission of the copyright owner. British Library Cataloguing Data. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Typeset by JVR Creative, India

Cover design by Mariel Deegan

Cover image from Shutterstock

Printed by ScandBook, scandbook.com

New Island Books is a member of Publishing Ireland.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

‘The journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page.’

Rachel Anders

Also in the Open Door series:

Maeve Binchy

The Builders

Marian Keyes

No Dress Rehearsal

Cecelia Ahern

Mrs Whippy

Nick Hornby

Not a Star

Roddy Doyle

Not Just for Christmas

Patricia Scanlan

Ripples

Roddy Doyle

Mad Weekend

Sheila O’Flanagan

Maggie’s Story

Patricia Scanlan

Fair Weather Friend

Deirdre Purcell

Has Anyone Here Seen Larry

?

Gareth O’Callaghan

Stray Dog

Joseph O’Connor

The Comedian

John Connolly

The Underbury Witches

And many more…

Contents

Foreword

Blindboy Boatclub

Gruyère in the Desmond

Dermot Bolger

That Special Moment

Marita Conlon-McKenna

A Good Woman

Sinéad Crowley

Rock Star

Martina Devlin

When Eve Met Adam

Roddy Doyle

All Around the World

Christine Dwyer Hickey

After the Fourth War

Rachael English

Welcome Home Etty

Patrick Freyne

The Other City

Yan Ge

The Writer who Lives in a Suitcase

Carlo Gébler

Cell 13

Ciara Geraghty

Careful Lady Driver

Ruth Gilligan

The Tatty Hoker

Emily Hourican

Spirit Animals

Úna-Minh Kavanagh

Where It All Began

Louise Kennedy

Victoria

Sinéad Moriarty

To Russia with Love

Graham Norton

The Party

Nuala O’Connor

Against the Stars

Roisín O’Donnell

If I Can’t Have You

Sheila O’Flanagan

Man of the Match

Colm O’Regan

The Life Changing Magic of Murder

Paul Perry

Cutting Grass

Deirdre Purcell

Amore

Donal Ryan

The Cottage

Patricia Scanlan

I Have a Voice

Melatu Uche Okorie

The Initiation

About the Authors

About NALA

About The Reading Agency

Foreword

Voices is a collection from some of Ireland’s foremost writers. They have given their creative skills, time and energy to write a short story or piece of non-fiction to enhance the reading experience of emergent readers. Voices has been published to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the National Adult Literacy Agency.

NALA is a charity and membership-based organisation. It works to support adults with unmet literacy and numeracy needs so they can take part fully in society, and have access to learning opportunities that meet those needs. (See page 200 for more information on literacy agencies.)

Before I became a full-time writer, I worked in Dublin Public Libraries. I often met people who had issues with reading and writing. They desperately wanted to improve their skills in both. I met literacy tutors who were frustrated at the lack of suitable material for the emerging reader.

After my first novels were published in the early 90s. At that time, a literacy tutor jokingly said to me that I should write a novel for my local literacy group. It gave me food for thought. Could I write a book suitable for people who were improving their literacy skills? Could I write a story that would make the emerging reader want to turn the page?

I did write that book, and it was called Second Chance. I spent a long time writing it. In some ways I felt it was the most important book of my career, a true test of an author. At first it was difficult. I was mindful of keeping the sentences short and the language accessible. I wanted the reader to be engaged, eager to turn the page. I was nervous giving the manuscript to the literacy tutor and NALA.

Second Chance was published in 1994. Feedback from literacy groups was extremely positive. I was invited to speak to emergent readers, countrywide. I presented literacy certificates to students. Their courage and determination humbled me. It was inspiring to see people reach their goal and become empowered.

I approached New Island in 1998. My aim was to publish a series of literacy novellas written by well-known Irish writers. Edwin Higel, the publisher, and Ciara Considine, the commissioning editor, were enthusiastic about the idea. Open Door was born. We were determined that the books would have the highest production values. We had an immensely gratifying response from the authors we approached to take part in the project. Many of these novellas are original works and are enjoyed by readers of all ages

At the moment, we are discussing our ninth series. We have now published fifty-four books. These include novellas, a poetry book and eight Irish language translations. We have sold thousands of copies and the rights have been sold abroad. The concept is very simple and effective and has far surpassed its our original vision for the series. Open Door is not only for emerging readers with literacy difficulties. It has now become an educational aid to those interested in improving their English language and reading skills. Many immigrant groups here in Ireland are now using the books to help students improve their English. They are also used for the same purpose in the UK. Many teachers are using them in secondary schools to encourage teenage readers to get into the habit of reading. The goal is to promote the joy of reading so that the students will go on to read full-length novels.

The pieces in Voices are fascinating, thought-provoking and evocative. They are written by highly acclaimed, bestselling authors, who sell millions of books worldwide.

It is a privilege and honour, as the editor of this inspiring anthology, to introduce these fine writers to a new audience. Even though they are all busy with projects of their own, they have been so generous. They have gladly shared their creativity and time to contribute, and crafted their writing to suit our guidelines. There aren’t enough words to thank them. They are all very special people who have touched the lives of many. Open Door, and this book, would not exist without them.

A big thanks also to my inspiring colleagues Edwin Higel, Mariel Deegan, Stephen Reid, Caoimhe Fox and all the team at New Island for their stellar work on Voices, and their ongoing commitment to Open Door. Huge thanks also to Helen Ryan Policy Officer National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) for her expert advice and edits.

Big thanks also to the Department of Rural and Community Development, and Libraries Ireland, for providing funding to buy these books for library services throughout Ireland.

Thanks also to The Reading Agency UK for their ongoing support and encouragement through the years, since Open Door began in 1998.

We are extremely grateful to An Post for their generous support.

Finally, and most importantly, dear reader, our collective wish for you, is that Voices, empowers you, as you continue on your journey with reading. We hope Voices enhances your reading experience in every way. May it bring as much joy and delight to you, as it has to all of us who have been involved in creating it.

Warmest wishes,

Patricia Scanlan

Series Editor

Gruyère in the Desmond

Blindboy Boatclub

‘The Greeks would want a word with themselves now with their hard cheeses.’ That was the Chin’s reaction to the halloumi, having previously tasted the feta. To which he asserted, ‘I don’t need to be hearing my food squeak inside in my head like a rat.’

The Desmond Arms was a grand pub. Nothing fancy – not manky either, though. It was grand. Bang of lemon cleaner off the jacks floor seats. It would normally be a quiet pub, too, until we would take out the cheese in front of the Chin on Tuesdays. Guppy would travel from Tesco with a selection, and there would be a blindfold for the Chin, made out of a tea-towel. And then Guppy would impale the little piece of cheese on a cocktail stick and hover it in front of the Chin’s open mouth. You would see little flickers of terror in his body, jiggling the fat belly, jolts, fear of the surprise of something new. The whole pub beyond our group, even the real old lads, would have their heads in their pints, but in the way that they would have one ear towards the Chin. Waiting, like it’s a penalty shoot-out, to hear the reactions out of him. He would take the cheese on the tongue and surrender it in, crumbs around the lips and all. And you would watch his face dragging and pulling. Head on him like a terrier with a ball. A groan would be let out. I don’t think there was ever a cheese he liked. And when the groan surfaced, we would all howl – the whole place would scream laughing. Bellies all over the place.

Guppy would say, ‘Out of ten, Chin, what is she out of ten?’ and the Chin would say, ‘She is a four. What did you call her again?’ ‘Gruyère,’ Guppy would say. ‘Gree-yair.’ The Chin would purse the lips again, and you would know the pokey tongue was searching around the gob to assess the situation. ‘She is like a Kerry-man’s dustbin.’ And the pub would shake from men’s laughter. Guppy would go up to the dartboard and write on the slate: ‘Gruyère 4/10, Kerry-man’s dustbin’. The blindfold would come off the Chin, and he would be clean into a Carr’s cracker and his IPA to wash down the cheese.

Gruyère was the last cheese the Chin tasted before they found him hanging against the door of his upstairs bedroom. He had taped off the bottom of the stairs with a full roll and stuck a little cardboard sign on the tape barrier that said, ‘Do not come up the stairs, just phone the guards. I am sorry’, so as his daughter Ciara would not have to see his body.

Stilton, Gouda, provolone, Munster, Cheddar, pecorino, Camembert, mozzarella, Havarti, ricotta, Edam, Manchego, Roquefort, Emmental. You might as well have been carving those names into gravestones up in Mount Saint Kenneth.

We started the group in 2015. There were sixteen of us. By 2019, that was down to eleven. Jarlath Purcell, 53; Ger ‘Rusty’ Riordan, 48; Caleb ‘Elbows’ Wallis, 52; Finbar Kinsella, 49; and Bernard ‘the Chin’ Collopy, 50. All dead men.

The Brothers of Gatch was a weekly meet-up of some old pals from school. A gatch is a way of walking, a stride on you, like an ‘I am not here to start hassle but I will finish it’ kind of a gatch. The group began with myself and Guppy in The Desmond Arms, 24 March 2015, for two reasons.