Being Various: New Irish Short Stories

Being Various brings together 24 short stories from established and emerging Irish writers, selected and edited by Lucy Caldwell. The collection features authors from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, representing multiple generations and perspectives. The stories cover a range of contemporary settings and situations across Ireland and beyond, from Dublin neighborhoods to rural communities to immigrant experiences. Characters navigate relationships, identity, belonging, and the complexities of modern life in their respective environments. The anthology showcases different writing styles and approaches to storytelling, moving between realism, experimental forms, and elements of Irish folklore. Each piece maintains its individual voice while contributing to a larger mosaic of current Irish literary voices. The collection reflects broader themes of what it means to be Irish in a changing world, exploring how tradition and modernity intersect in an increasingly diverse society. Through these varied narratives, questions of nationality, community, and personal truth emerge without easy answers.

Readers appreciate the diversity of voices and themes in this anthology, noting it captures perspectives from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and Irish diaspora writers. Multiple reviewers point to Nicole Flattery's "Track" and Kevin Barry's "Who's Dead McCarthy" as standout stories. Common criticisms include uneven quality across the collection and some stories feeling disconnected from Irish themes or identity. On Goodreads: - Average rating: 3.7/5 from 170 ratings - "A strong mix of established and emerging voices" - review by Sarah M. - "Some gems but also some forgettable entries" - review by Michael C. On Amazon: - Average rating: 3.5/5 from 22 ratings - "The collection loses focus in the middle section" - review by James H. - "Refreshing to see LGBTQ+ and immigrant perspectives included" - review by Emma D. LibraryThing readers gave it 3.6/5 from 15 ratings, with reviewers noting the anthology's contemporary urban focus over traditional rural Irish settings.

The Long Gaze Back by Sinéad Gleeson This anthology collects stories from thirty Irish women writers spanning four centuries, presenting themes of identity, family, and displacement that echo through generations.

Young Skins by Colin Barrett The short stories follow characters in a fictional Irish town as they navigate loss, violence, and connection in contemporary rural Ireland.

The Art of the Glimpse by Sinéad Gleeson This collection brings together 100 Irish short stories from both emerging and established writers, reflecting Ireland's literary heritage and modern voice.

That Old Country Music by Kevin Barry These stories capture the essence of western Ireland through characters who exist between tradition and modernity, folklore and reality.

The Glass Shore by Sinéad Gleeson This anthology presents short stories by women writers from Northern Ireland, exploring themes of borders, identity, and the complexity of life in Ulster.

📚 Lucy Caldwell selected and edited this anthology as the sixth volume in the prestigious Faber series of Irish short stories, previously edited by literary giants like Joseph O'Connor and Kevin Barry. 🍀 The collection features 24 contemporary Irish writers, deliberately including authors from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, reflecting the complex modern identity of "Irishness." ✍️ The book's title "Being Various" comes from Louis MacNeice's poem "Snow," highlighting the anthology's theme of diverse and evolving Irish identities. 🌟 Several stories in the collection address previously taboo subjects in Irish literature, including abortion, immigration, and LGBTQ+ experiences. 🏆 Contributors include acclaimed authors Sally Rooney, who wrote "Normal People," and Nicole Flattery, whose work has won both the White Review Short Story Prize and the Dublin Review's Maeve Brennan Award.