and resignations hold. Even at his funeral party, Billy Lynch's life remains up for debate. This soft-spoken, poetry lover's drinking was as legendary among his Queens', New York, family and friends as was his disappointment in love. But the latter, as his cousin Dennis knows, "was, after all, yet another sweet romance to preserve." After World War II, both young men had spent one sun-swept week on Long Island, renovating a house and falling in with two Irish sisters--nannies to a wealthy family--"marvelling, marvelling still, that this Eden was here, at the other end of the same island on which they had spent their lives." By the end of their idyll, Billy and Eva were engaged, though she was set to return to County Wicklow. Determined to earn enough money to bring her, her family, and if necessary her entire village back to the US, Billy took two jobs, one of which would indenture him for years. But despite the money he sent, Eva never returned, and then was suddenly dead of pneumonia. The true tragedy is that she had simply kept her fare and married someone else--a secret Dennis keeps for the next 30 years as he watches Billy fall into a loveless marriage and the self-administered anaesthesia of alcohol. Alice McDermott's quiet, striking novel is a study of the lies that bind and the weight of familial wishes. She seems far less interested in the shock of revelation than in her characters' power to live through personal disaster. As Dennis's daughter pieces together Billy's real history, she also learns of the accommodations her own family had long made--and discovers that good intentions can be as destructive as the truth they mean to hide. Amazon.com
and resignations hold. Even at his funeral party, Billy Lynch's life remains up for debate. This soft-spoken, poetry lover's drinking was as legendary among his Queens', New York, family and friends as was his disappointment in love. But the latter, as his cousin Dennis knows, "was, after all, yet another sweet romance to preserve." After World War II, both young men had spent one sun-swept week on Long Island, renovating a house and falling in with two Irish sisters--nannies to a wealthy family--"marvelling, marvelling still, that this Eden was here, at the other end of the same island on which they had spent their lives." By the end of their idyll, Billy and Eva were engaged, though she was set to return to County Wicklow. Determined to earn enough money to bring her, her family, and if necessary her entire village back to the US, Billy took two jobs, one of which would indenture him for years. But despite the money he sent, Eva never returned, and then was suddenly dead of pneumonia. The true tragedy is that she had simply kept her fare and married someone else--a secret Dennis keeps for the next 30 years as he watches Billy fall into a loveless marriage and the self-administered anaesthesia of alcohol. Alice McDermott's quiet, striking novel is a study of the lies that bind and the weight of familial wishes. She seems far less interested in the shock of revelation than in her characters' power to live through personal disaster. As Dennis's daughter pieces together Billy's real history, she also learns of the accommodations her own family had long made--and discovers that good intentions can be as destructive as the truth they mean to hide. Amazon.com
Advantages: A great story told by a great author Disadvantages: Can be a bit slow
...In 1843 a 16 year old housemaid, Grace Marks, was convicted of murdering her employer; Mr. Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper; Nancy Montgomery, along with the stable hand James McDermott.
McDermott was hanged for the crime on November 21st 1843. Grace Marks was sentenced to a life of imprisonment.
According to Grace Marks’ account, she has no memory of killing either Mr. Kinnear or Miss. Montgomery. Claiming she either has forgotten the events or never committed them in the first place. As I have found out in doing this review there is very little documented evidence to either prove or disprove her innocence.
Grace was branded ‘a celebrated murderess’ and a ‘paramour’. People would come into the prison where she was held before her trial to be gawped at like a freak at a fair.
The facts of this crime are; Nancy Montgomery...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
..., Honora does her best to make it as clean and domesticated as possible, and a fine little place to call home; where she cooks delicious meals, all with Sexton in mind. When she is not doing these homely chores being the best wife she can despite all the difficulties, she is walking the beach collect sea glass of all colours shapes and sizes. Sexton buys a Buick and they seem headed for a life of domestic and wedded bliss. But a turn of events due to the mill workers strike will shatter this safe repose, as the mill workers confront the authorities for more money and life now is different for all concerned more different than you can imagine.
Amongst the cast of characters you will meet Virginia who befriends Honora, Virginia's friend Dickie, Alphonse and of course McDermott a loom worker at the mill and develops a terrible crush on one...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Entertaining, Vivid Disadvantages: A few chapters seemed drawn out!
..., Honora spends her time working on the house occupying her days until Sexton returns, things are going so well for Sexton in his work, he convinces her they can buy the home when the owner needs to sell, but that’s when their troubles really begin.
At first I found the book really disjointed as it seemed to jump from character to character in different chapters, for instance chapter one tells how Honora sees things, chapter 2 tells you about McDermott, a friendly and attractive Mill worker who lives a bachelor life in the slums of Ely Falls whilst trying to support his brothers and sisters as his parents are not longer living and so it carries on for the many characters in which this book involves.
And then we meet Alphonse, a typical kid living a poverty life, at the age of 12, he has had to work in the mills to help support his family...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
11.08.2004
13.08.2004
28.01.2004
