City of Books: New Episode
Published on 1st April 2020
‘I am Tatty and Tatty is me’ Christine Dwyer Hickey spoke these words at the launch of Dublin One City One Book in February and she explains more about this in the 3rd episode of the City of Books podcast, which is produced and presented by Martina Devlin for Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in association with MoLI.
The podcast begins with an interview with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue about his favourite books – some very interesting choices there, then a brief chat with Alison Lyons, Director of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, about Dublin One City One Book Festival, followed by the interview with Christine Dwyer Hickey.
Books were a huge part of Christine’s childhood and Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre, Brideshead Revisited, Ulysses and Mrs Dalloway are all mentioned with affection. “I love when I find a book that I can step into and close the door behind me and stay there until I’m ready to go out – you just wrap yourself in the world of the book’, she says.
In the interview Christine speaks honestly and passionately about her book Tatty which is this year’s Dublin One City One Book choice. Originally published in 2004, the book, which is set in 1960s and 1970s Dublin, tells the story of a young girl who grows up in a house dominated by alcoholism. “It’s my shortest book but took the longest time to write’ she says as she explains that it is based on her own childhood and how speaking about alcoholism in a family can cause guilt and shame but can also help people resolve issues arising from being a child of alcoholic parents.
It’s also a very funny book and near the end of the interview we are treated to a short reading from Tatty by Christine.
Christine recommends lots of classic books which readers may be familiar with, as well as the new book by Colum McCann – Apeirogon “It is an extraordinary work of art. Not since Ulysses has a book had such an effect.”
City of Books can be downloaded for free from Spotify, iTunes, Googel Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, or just listen now.
Tatty is available to download free from Borrowbox or to buy from directly from New Island Books. The audio version is read by actor Cathy Belton.
For more details see www.dublinonecityonebook.ie