Cullen structures adoption memoir like novel to keep reader thoroughly engagedThis week there’s a novel about starting over, a memoir of adoption and the secrecy that still surrounds it, a haunted hoot involving witches and an edge-of-your-seat crime thriller. It’s a novel about resilience and the power of community and is – like all Meaney novels – uplifting and generous of spirit. Outsider, Paul Cullen, Hachette, €16.99In 2017, Irish Times journalist and editor Paul Cullen suffered a serious accident while mountain climbing in Germany and he almost died. It’s a well-paced read, with Cullen using his considerable skills to structure his story almost like a novel, keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. All Shucked Up is a festival of music and flavour, taking place in Howth this weekend, February 27 to March 1.

Source: Irish Independent February 28, 2026 20:02 UTC