Seven short stories by seven different authors. All the stories are set at Finbar's Hotel. This book was on the Y's book exchange shelf.

I'm reminded why I usually don't read short stories. In most modern short stories, I always feel like I'm missing some important piece of information that would make the story make more sense. That's how I feel with these. I haven't read any of these authors, but based on this, I wouldn't go seek out any of their other works. The characters they've created are not ones I really care to know.

There's no real cohesive story. Some characters do interact with each other to some degree, but . . .

Glad it was free because I'd be more upset if I'd paid to read this. ( )

Finbar's Hotel was a fine hotel at one time. Over the years it has lost popularity and gone downhill. A rock star has purchased the building and it will soon be torn down.

On one of the last nights seven of Ireland's best writers take us to rooms 101 through 107 and tell us who the lodgers are and why they are there. They are just passing through of course, and on their way they rub shoulders with the employees, some old and near their own end, some new and ready to move on.

And we get a mystery, we aren't told who has written each story. I haven't read all of the writers but I have read several. It drove me nuts trying to pick which story was theirs. As with all books of short stories I liked some better than others but they were all interesting and the diversity of the characters was amazing. ( )

Totally unexpected. Not the book i thought i was buying however very enjoyable. Dropped away a bit in the middle. ( )

Here's one novel that showcases the talents of seven of Ireland's finest writers. Joseph O'Connor, Anne Enright, Colm Toibin, Dermot Bolger, Roddy Doyle, Jennifer Johnston, and Hugh Hamilton, tell the stories of rooms 101 through 107 of this Dublin hotel, one room at a time. Seven authors, seven rooms—each writer describes one room, and most intriguing—the reader is never told who wrote which chapter.

While, at first, I'd wished that the book hadn't visited a couple of these literary rooms, the hotel needs every guest it can find and the characters do interact throughout the book. The guests check in with their baggage—be it their suitcases or their thoughts, fears, dreams, or perversions. Like a peeping tom, the reader watches.

The Finbar Hotel itself is past its glory days ... a little seedy and forgotten, and soon it's to be torn down. On the other hand, because these writers have created in Finbar's Hotel a work that is clever, fresh, and full of emotion, it would be grand to have another hotel full of literary rooms built.

(4/99) ( )

The concept of this book is that a number of Irish writers are asked to write a short story. All the stories must take place in Finbar's, a decaying Dublin hotel about to close its doors. Many of the big name Irish writers contributed, but which short story each wrote is a secret. You need to guess.

The creativity expressed in this book is tremendous. Each writer takes the basic premise to a thoroughly different place (as it were) and reading them all showed me the amazing creativity of these contemporary irish writers. As if I needed that lesson. By guesswork I was able to sample the writing of new to me authors, and then enjoy their solo works subsequently. But was I right about who I thought wrote what? No idea. What I do know is that I loved this book, and found a number of writers and books I would never have otherwise chosen. It was a great experience all around. ( )