Leonard and Hungry Paul
Rónán Hessian
2019 • Bluemoose Books
I’d never written anything before and it kind of just came out quite naturally and the fact that it was a story about simplicity fit with the way the story came out. It came out without any grand schemes and without any abstract contrivances, the story came out in a way that suited it. And I take that as a symbol that I was doing it in a natural way, being faithful to the inspiration to the book.
— Rónán Hessian
Leonard and Hungry Paul
Rónán Hessian
2019 • Bluemoose Books
I’d never written anything before and it kind of just came out quite naturally and the fact that it was a story about simplicity fit with the way the story came out. It came out without any grand schemes and without any abstract contrivances, the story came out in a way that suited it. And I take that as a symbol that I was doing it in a natural way, being faithful to the inspiration to the book.
— Rónán Hessian
Description
Leonard and Hungry Paul are two quiet friends who see the world differently. They use humour, board games and silence to steer their way through the maelstrom that is the 21st Century. It is the story of two friends trying to find their place in the world. It is about those uncelebrated people who have the ability to change their world, not by effort or force, but through their appreciation of all that is special and overlooked in life.
Excerpts
Interviews
- Bookmunch: ‘It came out without any grand schemes’ – An interview with Rónán Hession, Author of Leonard & Hungry Paul
- Minor Literatures: The Momus Questionnaire – Rónán Hession
- Irish Independent: WriteSide - Rónán Hession on Writing at Night and his Word-of-Mouth Bestseller about Gentle People
Prizes & Awards
- Shortlisted for the Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year, An Post Irish Book Awards 2019
- Shortlisted for a Books are my Bag Reader's Award, 2019
- Shortlisted for Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year, 2020
- Shortlisted for Debut Book of the Year, British Book Awards 2020
- Shortlisted for the Emerging Writer Award, Dalkey Literary Awards 2020
- Shortlisted for the McKitterick Prize, 2020
- Longlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize, 2020
- One Dublin One Book Choice for 2021
Reviews
- Carrie O’Grady, The Guardian
- Niamh Donnelly, The Irish Times
- Keith Contorno, Chicago Review of Books
- James Holohan, Headstuff
- Yashwina Canter, The Believer
- Sue Leonard, Books Ireland
- Melissa Brown, BookPage
- John G. Matthews, Library Journal
- Kirkus
Audio
Video
- Kennys Bookshop: Rónán Hession reads from his debut novel 'Leonard & Hungry Paul'
- DublinCityLiterature: Johnny Ward Reading Leonard and Hungry Paul
- Milwaukee Irish Fest: Listowel Writers' Week Interview with Rónán Hession
- Rick O’Shea: Shelf Analysis - Episode 51 - Rónán Hession
- Fiction at the Friary: FATF with Rónán Hession November 2020
- Writing on the Wall: WoWFEST - Lockdown presents Leonard and Hungry Paul
- Ketts Books: Books at Lunchtime 18 - Ronan Hessian
