My grateful thanks to Annie West for sending me a copy of her graphic novel The Late Night Writers Club. I don’t think I’ve reviewed a graphic novel for adults on Linda’s Book Bag before and it’s my pleasure to share my review today.
The Late Night Writers Club is available for purchase in all the usual places as well as directly from the publisher, New Island, here.
The Late Night Writers Club
In rich and abundant illustrations, Annie West tells a rowdy story of artistic struggle, ego and unexpected kindness. You will never look at the Irish Literary Canon in the same way again.
A talented but annoying Debut Author, suffering from writer’s block and mysterious headaches, ghosted by his girlfriend and on his last chance with his bartender job, takes refuge in the National Library of Ireland, hoping for some last-minute inspiration within those hallowed walls.
Tortured by literary inadequacy and disappointed love, can he somehow absorb the famous modesty of Yeats, the wit of Edgeworth, the charm of Binchy, the wisdom of Heaney? But a weird twist of fate or perhaps a guiding hand reveals all is not what it seems in the library after dark, and The Author soon discovers: be careful what you wish for.
My Review of The Late Night Writers Club
An aspiring debut writer is suffering writer’s block and his girlfriend (amongst others!) is ghosting him.
The Late Night Writers Club is, if I’m totally honest, completely insane and I absolutely loved it! I read it through rapidly, simply enjoying the surface story. There are jokes, puns and quotations that are incredibly funny and the speech between the various author members of the Late Night Writers Club in the library is packed with witticism. I found myself snorting aloud on occasion. I loved the concept that the protagonist is highly irritating and really not the protagonist at all as he is outshone and out talked by the famous ghosts.
However, it was the second reading that made me realise just what a fabulous book this is. Of course, some of the literary greats like Shakespeare, James Joyce and Oscar Wilde are instantly recognisable, but other references such as those folk from Greek myths are less familiar so that not only is The Late Night Writers Club thoroughly entertaining, it’s educational and so intelligently constructed.
But best of all is the absolute, scalpel sharp, insight into writing and the publishing industry, from (quite literally here) ghost writing, through social media spats to professional rivalry. There’s writer’s block and procrastination. There’s consideration of who might be the best writer, eponymous branding and author book signings. What makes the book so engaging is the fact that every aspect is recognisable and relatable to anyone who has ever considered writing as a profession.
My third reading of The Late Night Writers Club was to peruse the fantastic illustrations in more detail. I can’t begin to imagine the time and effort this book must have taken. I thought the colour palette of rich browns, greens and reds gave a traditional feel in keeping with the historical characters we encounter. But beyond that there is so much more to uncover. Take a look at the library curator’s name badge, for example, or the person advertising get togethers for shy people in one of the newspapers or the political jokes… I could continue, but you’ll need to read the book to discover them for yourself and I’m sure there’s even more for me to find on subsequent readings.
Utterly bonkers, witty and fabulously illustrated, The Late Night Writers Club is a universally appealing book that every reader and every established or aspiring writer will relate to wholeheartedly. I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it.
About Annie West
Annie West is an award-winning illustrator and writer who has had two authored books published and illustrated dozens more. Annie has exhibited her Yeats in Love series to much acclaim and her work has been acquired by admirers such as President Michael D. Higgins, Neil Jordan, Seamus Heaney and the United States Embassy.
Born in 1961, Annie graduated from Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design (IADT) in 1979 with a Diploma in Design for Communications. She began working in the Design Department at RTÉ and Tyne Tees Television and various independent TV productions for Channel Four. This was followed by a decade working in the Art Department on feature films in Ireland, Britain and America. Around 1991 Annie left the Film & TV industry to concentrate on illustrating and cartooning full time.
She specialises in highly detailed pen and ink drawings with the emphasis on detail. She is particular and punctual, and can work to extremely tight deadlines.
Annie has won a number of Awards: The Alfred Beit Award in 1993 & 1994, The NCEA Patent Practicioners’ Award 1994, and the Illustrators’ Guild Best Book Illustration Award 2003 & 2004.
A selection of Annie’s work was recently added to the National Library of Ireland’s permanent Cartoon & Illustration Archive.
For further information, visit Annie’s website and follow her on Twitter/X @anniewestdotcom . You’ll also find Annie on Bluesky and Instagram.
