Book Club September '25 - May '26
Connect through the love of reading!
DCU will continue its ever popular book club next semester. This is the eight book club season and what a fantastic programme there is in store.
The format of the book club will continue in-person across various locations on campus. And, we have added lunch time events too! Staff, students and the local community get an opportunity to engage in a Q&A with guest authors as part of these moderated events.
As always there is no cost to join or attend, all you need are the books. Whether you borrow a copy from the library, buy your own print copy, download to your tablet, or download it on Audible, the format is up to you! The programme is developed by DCU Cultural Arts Office in partnership with DCU Library.
The Programme
Book in September: Service by Sarah Gilmartin
When: Thursday 18th September 2025 @ 13:00
Venue: Belvedere Library, St. Patrick's campus
To book: Eventbrite link here
Book in October: Henry, Henry by Allen Bratton
When: Thursday 23rd October 2025 @ 18:30
Venue: Belvedere Library, St. Patrick's campus
To book: Eventbrite link here
Book in November: Fun and Games by John Patrick McHugh
When: Thursday 20th November 2025 @ 18:30
Venue: TBC
To book: Eventbrite link here
Information on the books and writers featured
Book in September – Service by Sarah Gilmartin
A compelling exploration of complicity, power, and the aftermath of abuse, Service tells the story of a disgraced celebrity chef and the young woman whose life was changed by his actions. Set in the world of fine dining and media spin, this taut and timely novel examines how public narratives are constructed—and who gets to tell them. With cool precision and emotional depth, Service asks what justice looks like in the wake of scandal.
About the Author
Sarah Gilmartin is a critically acclaimed Irish writer and journalist. Her debut novel, Dinner Party, was shortlisted for the 2021 Irish Book Awards and the Kate O'Brien Award. Service, her second novel, further cements her reputation as a sharp observer of human behaviour and societal dynamics. A regular contributor to The Irish Times, Sarah teaches creative writing and lives in Dublin.
Book in October – Henry Henry by Allen Bratton
Set in the wake of a failed audition for Hamlet, Henry Henry follows an American actor adrift in Dublin, grappling with heartbreak, family ghosts, and a deepening identity crisis. With wit and emotional acuity, this formally daring novel traces Henry’s attempts to reimagine himself in a city rich with literary echoes, while the shadow of Shakespeare’s tragic prince looms large. Both playful and profound, Henry Henry is a meditation on performance, masculinity, and the stories we tell ourselves.
About the Author
Allen Bratton is the author of the novel Henry Henry. His short stories have appeared in Granta and the Sewanee Review. Originally from the United States, he holds an MA in English Language and Literatures, with a thesis focused on medieval English kingship. Bratton lives in Dublin, where he continues to write fiction and literary essays.
Book in November – Fun and Games by John Patrick McHugh
Set in the small towns and suburbs of the west of Ireland, Fun and Games is a razor-sharp debut that captures the charged inner lives of young men navigating desire, friendship, shame, and cruelty. With language that is lyrical, visceral, and emotionally unflinching, McHugh’s stories probe the often unspoken tensions of masculinity and belonging. At once tender and brutal, this is a striking collection from a writer attuned to the fractures beneath the surface of everyday life.
About the Author
John Patrick McHugh is the author of Fun and Games and the novel After Me Comes the Flood. His fiction has appeared in Granta, The Stinging Fly, BOMB, and Winter Papers. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, he is from Galway and continues to write fiction and essays. Fun and Games was longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize and marks him as one of the most compelling new voices in Irish literature.