Sir, - May I thank Eileen Battersby for her feature on Irish fiction (Weekend, September 29th) and the hype that sometimes surrounds it? Though one may disagree with her stated likes and dislikes, Ms Battersby clearly has been doing her reading, and her criticisms are constructive.
If the general standard of fiction - Irish or otherwise - is lower than we would like, is anyone to blame? The short answer is no. It's hard for a writer not to do his or her best, and not every novel sets out to be a masterpiece. Equally we can't blame the book business when it behaves as a business. However, it's a responsible critic who says to writers and readers alike: you should demand better. - Yours, etc.,
David Handy, Booterstown, Co Dublin.