In an age where the collective attention span is ruled by TikTok and its clones (Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, et cetera), it is easy to forget about reading, the once-favourite pastime which, in olden times, captured and enriched both mind and soul. It is easy to become discouraged by a decline in reading comprehension skills, or reports of sub-par literacy rates. And admittedly, it is not exceedingly common to see books wielded in a public setting; much more prevalent are those staples of portable technology, laptops and cellphones, cradled beneath downturned eyes (often accompanied by headphones or earbuds, to further the flood of sensory overstimulation). But though such sights might seem , we at TN2 are here to provide you with hope! Armed only with a camera and our pleasantly cheerful demeanors, we scoured the campus of Trinity College, travelling far and wide to discover the remaining vestiges of literate humanity. We found them hunched forward on secluded benches, sitting in the shade of tree top canopies, or scattered lazily across the sunny lawns of late-September. The results of our expedition are published below, as we proudly present:
What People Are Reading On Campus This September
- Sour Grapes by Dan Rhodes (2021)
Our investigations took us first to the Rose Garden, where we encountered an astonishing number of book-readers (there were three). First contact was made with Eileen, a visiting student from Philadelphia, who studies nursing and psychology. Eileen was reading a book called Sour Grapes, written by Dan Rhodes; she vouched for its quality, telling us that she had “never read anything like it before.” Sour Grapes chronicles a fictitious literary festival and the consequences it has on the village that hosts it; the book presents a comedic satire on authors, publishers, critics, and all other parties involved with books.
2. Underworld by Don DeLillo (1997)
On the opposite side of the Rose Garden, we found two more readers, seated next to each other on a pleasantly sunny bench. The first of these readers (seated on the left [or the right, depending on your relative position– in this case, it was our left]) was Anna, a student of art history and English. Anna was reading Don DiLello’s Underworld, a novel which apparently has no concern for the conservation of paper and is considered by some to be the second-best work of recent American fiction. This book is also the centrepiece of a module offered by the English Department here at Trinity (or possibly Art History– we forgot to ask). In any case, this novel seems to have all the hallmarks of one worth reading: it’s well-regarded, and lots of people study it. Library copies may be scarce, but perhaps this book is worth the hunt!
3. Life in the City of Dirty Water by Clayton Thomas-Müller (2021)
Seated next to Anna was Ann-Marie, who works in the Special Collections section of the library and was reading Life in the City of Dirty Water, a memoir penned by Clayton Thomas-Müller. Ann-Marie informed us that this book discusses such heavy subjects as generational trauma inherited by the indigenous people of the First Nations of Canada, and follows the spiritual journey of the author, from a deeply-troubled youth in Winnipeg and British Columbia to an adulthood marked by environmental activism. Though it is generally accepted that the indigenous peoples of North America have been horribly and systematically slaughtered and oppressed since the colonisation of the ‘New World,’ anyone not familiar with the present-day plights of their descendents will find this book very enlightening. A memoir praised highly by the critics and nominated for several (Canadian) literary awards of note, this book will appeal to anyone interested in struggles against injustice and triumphs over adversity.
4. Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent (2023)
Seated on a bench just outside the Ussher Library was Robin, a BESS graduate. Our encounter with Robin was, by all outward appearances, nothing special; however, for our expeditionary crew, it was notable in that it was the first recorded instance of a BESS student reading for pleasure. Robin informed us that the book was a gift from his girlfriend; perhaps it’s true that the right woman can change even a BESS student for the better (author’s note: Robin was an upstanding gentlemen, and any jokes made at his expense fill me with a relentless guilt; however, it is currently acceptable [and even encouraged] to mock BESS students, and I am compelled to do so for the sake of ‘humour’ and appeasing our readership. I apologise profusely to any BESS student who happens to read this passage [though it is highly unlikely that any BESS students will pick up this magazine, let alone read it]).
Strange Sally Diamond is a book by Dublin-born author Liz Nugent, a novel of the thriller-mystery genre which takes place in Roscommon. It follows the story of Sally Diamond, whose “f***ed-up upbringing” lands her in the centre of the local spotlight, Robin informed us. The book is a Number-One-International-Bestseller, according to the cover, and a preliminary scan of the plot seems highly compelling indeed. If you’re like me (poor circulation from sedentary lifestyle) then perhaps this book is just the trick to get your blood pumping.
5. The History and Topography of Ireland (Topographia Hibernica) by Gerald of Wales (c. 1188)
While journeying from the library to the Pav (our travels had made us thirsty) we encountered many people reclining comfortably on the grassy slope, enjoying food, conversation, or the sun– and, in some cases, a good book. Among these hill-recliners were two students from the University of Zurich, Valeria and Melinda, who were diligently studying Gerald of Wales’s account of Ireland in the 12th century. Valeria and Melinda relayed some of Gerald’s findings to us: in addition to general information about the history and topography of Ireland (hence the title of the book), the Welshman also reported the disappointing news that he could find no dragons anywhere on the island. Valeria and Melinda both provided enthusiastic recommendations of this text, describing it as “very entertaining.” That being said, the book has received much criticism over the last thousand years, with many standing in opposition to Gerald’s depiction of the Irish people (it was not a flattering depiction). Times have changed since Gerald’s day; maybe give this book a read for yourself, and form your own opinions.
6. Talking Heads: The New Science of How Conversation Shapes Our Worlds by Shane O’Mara
After a brief (six hour) period of rest at the Pav, we walked (stumbled) back outside to find that it was getting fairly late (10PM). In the waning light (it was completely dark) we could discern no readers of books, and thus returned home to resume our efforts the following day. Strolling onto campus the following afternoon, we encountered James, a distinguished looking man seated on a bench outside the Dining Hall who is currently working towards an MPhil in international history. Stunned as we were by meeting a future ‘Master of Philosophy,’ we failed to ask James several important questions, such as “what is this book about,” “do you like this book,” “what location and period of international history are you researching, or are you researching the history of the entire world, and if the latter is true then isn’t that an enormous undertaking for one individual,” et cetera.
That being said, we did discuss the author’s– that is, Shane O’Mara’s– previous work, titled In Praise of Walking. James, who has an affinity for the oft-neglected form of leisure (walking), first encountered O’Mara through this earlier novel. He (James) informed us that as we age, our memories will slowly fade, leaving inaccurate recollections of events that took place long ago. The extent of this memory loss leaves only 30% of our memories behind(!), a percentage which can be increased through meditative or introspective activities, including long walks. Though our information on Talking Heads is limited, Shane O’Mara is a Professor of Experimental Brain Research here at Trinity College Dublin– if he’s got the Provost’s approval, perhaps there’s something to this man’s ravings and ramblings.
WORDS: Rachel Kelly & Buster Whaley
