Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is Green Book Covers (In honor of St. Patrick’s Day today!)
I wasn’t feeling the green book covers so I decided to feature Irish authors instead in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. I don’t pay enough attention to where authors usually come from, or even story settings – something I’d like to remedy – so I was surprised to learn about some of these authors’ roots. The first five books are ones I’ve already read, and the next five are books on my TBR I haven’t read yet. Looking forward to see what everyone else has on their list today! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Top Ten Books by Irish Authors
- Normal People by Sally Rooney – I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. I feel like the author is a “journey, not destination” type of storyteller, which I appreciate sometimes, but maybe I needed a little more with this book. I can recognize the author’s mastery while also acknowledging that I may not be the best audience for her work.
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – This is one of my favorite classics. I have read it several times and I always love how creepy and chilling it is. I also really liked the 2009 film adaptation.
- P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern – I read this book a long time ago and don’t remember much but I’m pretty sure I ugly cried.
- Room by Emma Donoghue – I know I ugly cried with this one. I read it for a book club years ago, and I remember thinking about the book and the discussions we got out of it for a long time after that.
- Dracula by Bram Stoker – I only read this book recently but I loved it and now understand why it has such an everlasting hold on popular culture and media. It’s just a really good story with really interesting characters and so much tension.
- Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell – I was very interested in this book but there was so much hype around it that I just kept putting it off. I’m still interested though, and will probably read it eventually.
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce – This has been on my TBR forever but I just haven’t gotten around to it. One day, hopefully soon!
- Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift – I was very surprised to find that I haven’t read this book because I remember reading it when I was a child, but I realized that I was reading an adapted, abridged, children’s version, so it’s still on my TBR.
- This Charming Man by Marian Keyes – One of my friends spoke very highly of this author, and then I found this book in a little free library some years ago. It’s been on my shelf a while, and I keep meaning to read it soon.
- In The Woods by Tana French – I’m familiar with this author’s name but have somehow never read any of her books. I came across this book while researching authors for this list and it sounds like something I’d enjoy so it’s on the TBR now!
Have you read any of these authors? What did you think of them? Would you read any of their books?
This is such a great way to still fit the topic! I’ve never read a novel by Cecelia but did see the film adaptation. 🙂 I think I’ve been curious about Marian’s books too.
Yeah, there are so many good books and not enough time in the day!
You got me. I love Maggie O’Farrell but didn’t know she’s Irish.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Me neither. I hope to read her book soon since there’s already a movie out.
Great idea for authors, I have a few I like. I didn’t enjoy James Joyce though, rather above me!
Oh no, now I’m scared to read Joyce! I don’t know if I’ll like his book but it was just something I always thought I should try.
A lovely take on the prompt. I don’t take notice of where authors are from, maybe I should take note too!
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2026/03/17/top-ten-tuesday-green-book-covers/
I’ve thought about doing the geographical reading challenge so that I’d be more mindful about author origins and such, but I’m quite the mood reader and sometimes a binge reader, so it’s hard to read based on a variety of locations!
I’ve read nos. 2, 5, 6, 8 and 10 on your list. I started to read Normal People but didn’t finish it, so I was interested that you think she’s ‘a “journey, not destination” type of storyteller’ – I couldn’t even get very far into the book! And I found Gulliver’s Travels hard going. I love Tana French’s books – she is one of my favourite authors.
And I like your twist of the topic!
I’m excited about reading Tana French’s books and it’s so good to know you love them!
I’m doubting myself about the “journey, not destination” comment about Rooney now because I read it quite a while ago and don’t remember much. It makes me want to reread just to remind myself but I don’t feel rereading something I don’t love when there are too many books still on my TBR!
Isn’t it interesting to learn an author’s origins? I hope you enjoy reading those you haven’t read yet.
Here’s my TTT for the week: https://readbakecreate.com/books-with-green-covers-pick-a-color/
Yes, I was surprised about some of these authors!
Ive actually read something by all these authors. almost went in the same direction though I was going to combine green covers and Irish authors but I ran out of time 🙂
Thanks for sharing your #TTT
Ooh, it would’ve been so difficult for me if I had to combined both the green covers and the Irish authors! I would’ve loved to see your picks!
I’m really bad at knowing where authors come from, too! I should maybe try to google a bit and see if there are many Irish authors on my shelves…
Google did a lot of the work for me here!
Hamnet has been on my TBR list forever. Someday I will read it.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Me too! Hopefully soon!
Love this take on the topic! 😃 Rooney (and Normal People) is one of my faves! I didn’t realise that some of these classic authors were Irish though. Tana French is an author that’s also on my TBR but didn’t realise they were Irish too. Makes me wonder who else on my list is Irish 🙂
I know! It’s so interesting to find out where some of my favorite authors are from.
Love Love Love your take on the theme!
Thank you!
I love this take. Room was a great read.
It was!! So haunting!
Ooh, great twist on the topic! I love tracking where authors are from, but I don’t use it enough when picking my next reads. It’s a great way to broaden your reads, though!
It is, but it’s a challenge for me because I tend to be a mood reader and choose books based on what I feel like reading rather than where authors are from!
I always forget that Stoker, Swift, and Wilde were Irish; I think of them as classic British authors. I should remember their actual roots—especially on St. Patrick’s Day! (Of course, they were all Anglo-Irish, so my memory lapse is at least is somewhat understandable.)
I love that you even know that about them! I don’t know anything! 😅
I did basically the same topic today. We only have two authors in common, though: Tana French and Marian Keyes. I love French and have read all of her books. I’ve never read Keyes before. I hope we both enjoy her books!
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Great spin on this week’s topic! I only read Sally Rooney, but had to DNF Cecelia Ahern.
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2026/03/17/top-ten-tuesday-how-did-i-do-on-my-winter-2025-tbr/
I love that you picked to share books by Irish authors for this day! I recently read and reviewed Show Me Where It Hurts by Claire Gleeson and I really enjoyed it!