Irish author Colm Tóibín has written short stories, essays, plays, articles and memoirs. But he’s best known for insightful novels such as “Brooklyn,” which follows Eilis Lacey as she emigrates from her home in Ireland to New York City. When she returns to Ireland for a family member’s funeral, Eilis finds herself caught between the comfort of home and the obligations of her new life in America, forcing her to decide between the two.

Tóibín’s most recent novel, “Long Island,” revisits that story more than 20 years later. Eilis flees to Ireland after her life in America is upended and once again grapples with desire and her sense of duty.

Tóibín joins us in front of a live audience of students at Portland’s Grant High School to talk about both books and his extensive body of work.