Episode 83: Ireland
Summary: Grab a pint and cozy up with us to talk all things Ireland on today’s episode! Whether you have Irish blood in your family like Holly or have never visited the country like Devin, the unique and salt-of-the-earth culture of this small island country has captured the hearts and imaginations of authors in every genre. With gray skies and warm, well-lit pubs creating contrast, this country is the ideal intersection between our hosts’ wheelhouses.
Topics Discussed:
The Heart (3:30): Devin discussed Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, a romance following free-spirited American singer-songwriter Rain Hart. Originally from Boston, some bad luck leaves her unable to perform and stranded in a small Irish town. Seeking solace at a pub called The Local, Raine insults and intrigues Jack Dunne, the pub’s owner. After asking her to help bring the rundown watering hole back to life, Raine and Jack must confront their growing attraction and their opposite lifestyles. Devin’s key takeaways were:
The quintessential setting of an Irish pub serves to accentuate Raine’s place as a stranger at first, but also the unique warmth and community found across Ireland that so many are drawn to. Jack’s ownership of the pub comes with baggage, but in collaboration with the red-headed American he starts to see how The Local can transcend his trauma.
Ruiz touches on neurodivergence and mental health conditions with grace and empathy. Raine manages her ADHD as best she can while enjoying her nomadic lifestyle, and Jack balances his OCD and his business. The way their situations influence how their relationship evolves is one of the deeper and more fulfilling aspects of the story.
Another hallmark of stories centered on Ireland, this book is full of deep community. The side characters are rich and heavily involved, and The Local itself increasingly becomes the center of the small town’s universe.
The Dagger (11:34): Holly discussed Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent, a crime fiction story following Sally Diamond, a socially isolated woman living in rural Ireland. When she takes her father’s directive of “when I die just put him out with the bins” literally, she draws unwanted attention to herself including police, a media frenzy, and the unearthing of long-buried secrets about her past. Sally must piece together horrifying truths and navigate an unknown figure from her past and how to integrate into a society that sees her as an outsider. Holly’s key takeaways were:
Sally's early childhood affected her development into an adult and left her emotionally detached, and the novel explores how deep-seated trauma manifests in behavior. She struggles with demonstrating emotions and understanding social cues. Her adopted father sheltered her as much as possible, so she’s never had a job, a romantic relationship, or even a friend.
Sally’s inner thoughts are super funny and this brought lightness to a very otherwise dark book. Her perspective is in some ways beautiful and hopeful amidst the dark themes and her treatment as an outsider forces readers to consider how society perceives neurodivergence or unusual behavior.
Nugent doesn’t present Ireland as a stereotypical location or even sets out to convey a strong sense of literal place, but the writing feels strongly irish in its tone; dark, doesn’t pull punches, but on sentence level well written and enriched with detail and humor.
Hot On the Shelf (27:29):
What’s Making Our Hearts Race (31:39):
Holly: Rewatching the TV show Lost
Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod
Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com
If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.
