'One Dublin One Book' aims to encourage everyone in Dublin to read a designated book connected with the capital city during the month of April every year.

This year, Louise Nealon's 'Snowflake' has been selected for the  award, which celebrates novels that feature Dublin City as a main character.

The annual project is a Dublin City Council initiative, led by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature.

The initiative began last year with The Coroner's Daughter by Andrew Hughes as the 2023 One Dublin, One Book winner.

Louise Nealon's Snowflake, released in 2021 tells the story of eighteen-year-old Debbie who commutes from Nealon's native Kildare to Trinity College everyday. Snowflake is a coming of age novel where Debbie must navigate her relationship with her mother, her uncle, her college life, and Dublin. She finds herself both overwhelmed and disappointed by her fellow students and the pace and anonymity of city life. While the familiarity of the farm offers comfort, Debbie still finds herself pulling away from it.

The film and TV rights for 'Snowflake', have been sold to Element Pictures, the team behind the hit adaptation of Sally Rooney's Normal People, which also put Dublin and indeed Trinity to the forefront of the novel as important characters shaping the trajectory of the novel.

Speaking on the award Nealon has said she is 'delighted' and paid homage to one of the novel's most important characters, Dublin: "I could never have imagined, upon entering Dublin as a lost culchie, that my confrontation with the place would fuel the world of a novel. Dublin has a habit of showing people who they are".

Announcing the choice, Dublin City Librarian, Mairead Owens, said: “A debut novel, Snowflake from Louise Nealon is a tender story of a college student from the country adjusting to her new life in Dublin.

"Raw, yet affirming, this book will appeal to all readers as it explores life’s milestones, family, mental health and how we ultimately connect with others while facing big challenges".

There will be a special edition of Snowflakes published and a programme of events next April to commemorate the novel as the One Dublin One Book winner.

Speaking on Instagram, Nealon said "I can’t wait for the programme of events next April".

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Louise Nealon (@lulunealon)

Speaking to Hot Press on her debut novel, Nealon has described her writing as "autobiographical, in the sense that the feelings I had in my twenties are all in there –  but I'm not necessarily in there,".

Further details of the One Dublin One Book programme will be announced in early 2024, with the programme expected to run in April 2024.

The One Dublin One Book initiative is also funded by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.