WHAT WAS YOUR favourite book of this year?
According to the bookworms who voted for the Bord Gáis Energy Book of the Year for 2014, the best book out of Ireland was Academy Street, the debut novel by Mary Costello.
Her book was chosen by public vote from the list of winners at the recent Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.
An exciting debut
Previous winners of this award include Staring at Lakes by Michael Harding in 2013, The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan in 2012 and Solace by Belinda McKeon in 2011.
The novel is proving to be one of this year’s most exciting debuts – it was awarded the prestigious Eason Novel of the Year at last week’s Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.
Costello’s fellow nominees included literary heavyweights John Boyne, David Mitchell, Colm Tóibín, Joseph O’Conor and John Kelly. Academy Street has also been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards 2014.
Set in the USA, Academy Street tells the story of one woman’s life over a period of four decades.
Mary Costello is originally from East Galway and now lives in Dublin. “I’m delighted that Academy Street is the Bord Gáis Energy Book of the Year and I’m grateful to all of those who voted,” she said.
It was an honour for me to be among all of the writers shortlisted. When we’re writing our books it’s difficult to tell if they’re any good, so it’s lovely to get this kind of affirmation.
The Board of the Irish Book Awards described Academy Street as “a worthy winner”.
The full list of winners in the ‘Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2014’ can be found here.
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