The CWLC Spring 2025 session has begun, and we continue our focus on Irish Writers.
Lynn B., a new member as of 2024, kicked off the session with her inaugural presentation on Jess Kidd. Kidd was an unknown writer to Lynn, as well as to most of the club’s members. Lynn provided a superb introduction to this Irish writer through her use of an author’s biography, book summaries, personal reflections, and readings.
Although born in London, Kidd belongs to a large, Irish family that moved to England from County Mayo, Ireland. With the encouragement of her family, Kidd began to read and write at a young age. Numerous trips back to Mayo, along with the “magic” of the region, greatly influence Kidd’s writing.
Kidd’s works include dark humour, magical realism, historical fiction, and even ghost stories. Kidd’s first novel, Himself (2016), begins with a descriptive, violent murder of a young women. After attempting to read this award-winning novel, Lynn was unable to move past the violence and set it aside for a later read.
The Night Ship (2022) is based on the true story of the Batavia shipwreck. The story follows two different narratives (from 1692 and 1989) and takes place in Geraldton, Australia. Lynn found this novel very enjoyable and relatable, as she had spent time in Western Australia.
Mr. Flood’s Last Resort (2017) takes place in a Gothic mansion inhabited by a lonely caregiver, a cantankerous old hoarder, and numerous ghosts. According to Lynn, this novel illustrates Kidd’s adeptness at incorporating numerous plots and characters into one book.
Things in Jars (2019) is a Gothic mystery, which takes place in Victorian London. Auditees and curiosities, ghosts, and supernatural powers have this novel’s readers questioning “how we see others and how we see ourselves.”
Kidd holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing, she has earned numerous literary awards from England and Ireland, and—in addition to her novels, short stories, and children’s books—she is currently developing her own original television project.
Author and public speaker Danny Ramadan will be our guest speaker at next week’s meeting. Mr. Ramadan is the 2024-25 Canadian Writer-in-Residence at the University of Calgary.
Posted by Mooréa G.