Joseph O'Connor's Ghost Light
I've just started reading aÌýproof copy of Joseph O'Connor's new book. "Ghost Light".
It's a press review book which isn't the final, final version. It's officially out in June.
The last time I saw Joseph wasÌýtwo years and 10 months ago.ÌýThe date is exact cosÌýI was 5 months pregnant, June 2007 and had gone down to his house outside Dublin to meet him for the radio show.
In a twist on men and theirÌýpotting shed obsession, his office where he does all his writingÌýis at the bottom of his garden. All mod cons, plug sockets, telephone, computer, printer,Ìýheating, this was a proper home from home.ÌýÌýRather than sink into the sofa and fear I would never be able to get up again,Ìý I sat at his desk on his chair (the exact same chair and deskÌýat which he wrote his best selling Richard & Judy endorsed ").Ìý
His computer was on.Ìý Of course I looked!!! It was just emails and no I didn't look any further. And noÌýI didn't seeÌýif Richard and Judy were in his friendsÌýinbox!!!Ìý
It's mad to think thatÌýthe book I'm now reading was only being started.ÌýProbably on the hard drive of that exact same computer!
He sketched it out for meÌýin generalÌýterms. After "Star of the Sea" and "Redemption Falls" it would be the third and final book in his fascination with historyÌýand Irish history in particular.
The two main characters are the Irish playwright Synge and anÌýIrish actress Molly Allgood.ÌýHe was engaged to her at the time of his death.ÌýEveryone disapproved of their love affair. She was still in her teens when the affair began. He was in his thirties. Ìý
We meet her in a lodging room house in London 27th October 1952. It's 6:43am. She is now an old woman, with only her memories and one letter from Synge remaining.
I'm only at page 51 and it's one of those books that I'm waiting forÌýthe hurry of the day to end so I can curl up with it.Ìý
That'sÌýif theÌýchild, who was only in embryonic form whenÌýJoseph and IÌýfirst talked about "Ghost Light", goes to her bed and sleepsÌýand letsÌýme have some down time to myself! Ìý
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