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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed every page of the book. The ending is left a bit open-ended but that didn't bother me.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mary Beth Keane writes beautiful prose, and tells stories in such a profound and seamless way. Only 4 stars because it ends without a resolution to the story, and I’m a sucker for a tidy happy ending. But I loved it (especially the Irish setting!).
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed Ask Again, Yes, and have been meaning to try another one of Mary Beth Keane's books basically ever since. This book had a tough job as I read it in between my re-reads of House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, and I love both of those books, so I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it so much.
Greta's always been a bit different to her siblings and life in rural Ireland is often not kind to her. But, when the opportunity arises to move to America with her older sister Johanna and old family associate Michael Ward, Greta takes the plunge. Life in America in the 60s is tough going too, and the book tells the story of a family's survival, Irish emigration, city vs rural life and motherhood.
I feel like this is the closest to lit fic I can get and still actually enjoy a book. I loved Greta and Michael's characters and particularly enjoyed how every character in the book was neither morally good nor bad. This is a 4.5 star read for me because i found the chapters a bit too long and i thought the ending a bit too abrupt.
Greta's always been a bit different to her siblings and life in rural Ireland is often not kind to her. But, when the opportunity arises to move to America with her older sister Johanna and old family associate Michael Ward, Greta takes the plunge. Life in America in the 60s is tough going too, and the book tells the story of a family's survival, Irish emigration, city vs rural life and motherhood.
I feel like this is the closest to lit fic I can get and still actually enjoy a book. I loved Greta and Michael's characters and particularly enjoyed how every character in the book was neither morally good nor bad. This is a 4.5 star read for me because i found the chapters a bit too long and i thought the ending a bit too abrupt.
I love the author’s writing style, but this book had so many plot lines that were never really quite fully resolved.
Бих казала почти чудесна книга, която за съжаление се превърна в американски обозял ситком след 60%, но предполагам съвсем основателно и целенасочено, заради динамичността и интензитета на американският им живот. Историята проследява взаимоотношенията между Грета Кейхил, сестра ѝ Джоана и Майкъл. 6 години в Ирландия и 40 в Ню Йорк, като съвсем спокойно можеше да е разделена на две отделни книги. До последно се надявах да се върне магията от частта в Ирландия, но уви. И въпреки това оставям 4*, защото авторката ме плени с таланта си.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Walking People, Keane’s debut, is the story of two Irish sisters, Johanna and Greta, who migration e to New York in the 1960s along with a boy they know called Michael. The sisters are close but a couple of unexpected events contribute to a secret that keeps them apart from each other and leaves Greta isolated from her extended family for decades. Apart from migration and family relationships the book also has storylines related to depression and Alzheimers disease. I was especially interested in the depiction of Irish Travellers, both their community and the perception of them by others. The isolation and lack of opportunities in Ireland at the time were clearly shown. I was sometimes frustrated by Greta’s actions and inactions and felt that a major decision by Julia needed to be explained in order to make it believable.
I was immediately pulled into this book and its characters. The description of life in an Irish hamlet during the 1960s was very detailed and educational. I initially adored the characters, but as the book wended on, I became more and more disappointed with Greta's insatiable need to worry about everything, to imagine and anticipate outcomes of non-existent events, her inability to LIVE all those years instead of wallowing in what MIGHT happen. She was so strong as a young girl (though cautious); but, still, she jumped right in when unanticipated circumstances fell on her and she was marvelous! I just kept wanting her to grow up!!! Even in the end, which was a new beginning, Greta was thrown back into dependency. I'm still glad I read The Walking People, but I wouldn't care to revisit it. I think the title is very misleading. One learns tidbit information about the Walking People during the 1st 1/4 of the book, but after that, the Walking People really play no part, and it is rare they or their characteristics are even alluded to. This book is all about Greta, and she was not a walking person.
I am going to read everything she writes until she stops. This may be my favorite of hers, can’t believe I read her first one last. Such a good story.