Reviews of books on the Dublin Literary Award 2025 shortlist
Published on 9th May 2025
We celebrate 30 years of the Dublin Literary Award in 2025. Our international judging panel had the unenviable task of selecting 6 titles from a longlist of 71 titles. The 83 libraries from around the world who nominated this year’s books introduced us to exciting new authors and some literary gems. The 30th Winner of the Dublin Literary Award will be announced on Thursday 22 May.
In the meantime why not read this year’s shortlisted novels which are available to borrow from your local library.
Not a River by Selva Almada (translated from the Spanish by Annie McDermott)
Set in the Entre Ríos region of Argentina, Not a River by Argentinian author Selva Almada tells the story of three men who go on a weekend fishing trip. Each member of the trio is haunted by a traumatic past event. Shifting timelines are an interesting feature of this novel. However, toxic masculinity is the root cause of all the misfortunes that befall its main characters.
We Are Light by Gerda Blees (translated from the Dutch by Michele Hutchison)
Set in a commune and based on real life events, We Are Light is an accomplished debut novel by Dutch author Gerda Blees. Blees uses a unique literary device at the beginning of each chapter where people and objects play witness to the events of the story. We Are Light highlights how vulnerable people can be manipulated by those maintaining to have their best interests at heart. It also shows that manipulators generally justify their actions and show little remorse for poor decisions.
The Adversary by Michael Crummey
The Adversary by Canadian author Michael Crummey is set in Mockbeggar, a remote fishing community in late eighteenth-century Newfoundland. Siblings, Abe Strapp and the Widow Caines own rival mercantile firms in Mockbeggar and detest each other. When Abe’s plans to marry the daughter of another powerful merchant are foiled by his sister, a vicious feud ensues and wreaks havoc on the lives on the local community. Crummey skilfully depicts the grimness of life in eighteenth century Newfoundland and the plight of those struggling to eke out an existence in a harsh landscape.
James by American author Percival Everett reimagines Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the black slave Jim. Set on the Mississippi river in the 1840s, James highlights the injustice and inhumanity of slavery during this era. James is forced to go on the run to avoid being sold on to another slave owner and teams up with tearaway Huck Finn, who is escaping an abusive father. On their journey downriver they get into all kinds of scrapes while encountering an array of dubious and dangerous characters.
Prophet Song by Irish author Paul Lynch is set in contemporary Ireland where a totalitarian government is in power. When her husband is arrested by state forces, Eilish Stack, a mother of four, desperately tries to protect her family from the mounting political turmoil and violence. As her world falls apart, Eilish is faced with difficult choices and suffers devastating losses but her courage in the face of adversity shines through. Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize in 2023 for this novel.
North Woods by American author Daniel Mason brings the reader on a four century time journey through a house set in the remote woods of New England. We meet the various characters who have lived in this house over time and we get a taste of American history from the time of the Puritan settlers’ right up to contemporary times. Mason shows a great love for nature and captures the beauty of the woodlands throughout the seasons. Heinious crimes, humour, heartbreak together with a hint of the supernatural combine to make North Woods a hugely enjoyable read.
Click here to borrow the books.
Review by Catherine Neville, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature