Gracelin O'Malley [Mass Market Paperback]

Ann Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2004

Nineteenth-century Ireland was a place of harsh suffering and haunting beauty, of famine and fortune, of tragedy and triumph. This rich, evocative novel captures the dreams of one extraordinary young woman who lived through those dark times-and found hope for the future....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Troubles are harrowingly described in this finely wrought tale of an Irish beauty married above her station to an English landlord. Grace is the light of her household and only 16 when she is married off to Bram Donnelly, the lord of the manor. Her crippled brother, Sean, hates to see her go, knowing that his friend Morgan McDonagh loves her. She quickly realizes that Bram is a cruel, abusive drunk with a shady past, and that she does not fit in his world. Grace gives birth to twins a boy and a girl but only the girl survives, much to her husband's displeasure. When the potato blight hits and starving people come to the estate for food, Bram shows his true colors, not only refusing to help, but murdering some of them and turning his wrath upon Grace for feeding them. When he realizes he could lose the manor, he hatches a scheme with his mistress to come up with a male heir. Tensions escalate among his suffering tenants, and he knows he's a marked man he even rides his property with his young daughter tied to his back to keep from being shot. Woven into the story is a subplot involving Sean, Morgan and other desperate peasants who have begun to talk of revolution. Grace, somehow stronger than ever, is determined to help. The searing conditions of the Irish famines, exacerbated by the unspeakable greed and brutality of the English, come to grim life in this realistic tale too realistic for some, perhaps but Moore's refusal to ignore the stark plight of the Irish and her lyrical, pitch-perfect prose raise this book far above the romance genre and make for historical fiction at its finest. Agent, Jean Naggar. (Aug. 7)Forecast: An appended interview with the author, attractive cover art and an accessible price make this a good candidate for book group reading.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"...an epic saga that sweeps you into the life of a remarkable woman. GRACELIN O'MALLEY is a classic..." -- Romantic Times, August Top Pick

"...historical fiction at its finest." -- Publishers Weekly, August 13, 2001

"Vivid historical detail." -- Kirkus Review, August 2001

...historical fiction at its finest. -- Publishers Weekly, August 13, 2001

...you'll take Gracelin O'Malley to your heart and keep her there long after you've finished reading this beautiful book. -- New York Times bestselling author Cathy Cash Spellman

An Irish saga so lilting and elegantly written you'll be hearing Irish music in your head. -- New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Signet (March 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 045121241X
• ISBN-13: 978-0451212412
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,988,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeping Tale Of One Of Ireland's Darkest Hours, July 5, 2005

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Gracelin O'Malley (Mass Market Paperback)

Gracelin O'Malley is an unforgettable character as are the other members of her poor but proud Irish family. They are hard-working and struggle desperately against all odds to stay together and survive. When Gracelin's father promises her in marriage to the wealthy Squire Donnelly, it appears she is headed for a life of luxury. However, underneath the Squire's handsome façade lie many layers of evil. Emotionally and physically abusive to Gracelin and their child, he makes enemies of all he encounters. Fortunately, Gracelin's enduring spirit and love of her countrymen make her a shining beacon of hope as the Irish attempt to survive the potato famine that ravished their country. The unspeakable cruelty of the English and the horrible plight of the Irish make for a vivid and emotional reading experience, one that will give the reader tremendous insight into the problems that still plague Northern Ireland today.

In addition to being a masterpiece of historical fiction, it is the amazing characters that elevate this novel to a totally-involving experience. Gracelin herself is a heroine of epic proportions but also totally endearing are her crippled brother Sean, her remarkable friend Morgan, her beloved Mary Kate and many others that enrich this grim, yet extraordinary tale of the Irish people and the tenacity that led them through a horrible period.

By novel's end you will be so caught up in Gracelin's story, that not reading the sequel, LEAVING IRELAND, will be unthinkable.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Heartbreakig, December 30, 2002

By 

Kelly A. fuller "certified book nut" (Pennsville, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gracelin O'Malley (Paperback)

It seems that most of the world has forgotten the horrible potato famine in Ireland. I don't think that many of us(americans) realize just how brutal it was. This book brought it all to life for me. The poverty and starvation was shocking, but through it all, babies were born, people fell in love, people died. Life continued and this is the story of one woman's struggle through it. Gracelin is such a strong character, I can't wait to read more about her in the sequel, Leaving Ireland.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will haunt you, March 11, 2003

By 

Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gracelin O'Malley (Paperback)

This is perhaps the most inspirational book I've read so far this year. It makes me real glad that I am not Gracelin O'Malley ~~ having to see my family and friends starve to a slow death in the great famines of Ireland. I look at my rosy-cheeked chubby babies and thank the fate that I was born in this century. This book haunts you and will transport you back into time. A time of love and death, slavery and drudgery, of dreams and lost hope. And Gracelin O'Malley is a wonderful hero.

Ann Moore did an extensive research on this book ~~ looking through letters and journals to get the Irish voice from that era. She has written of despair and fear so well, that you can picture the characters vividly in Ireland. You can picture the huts and cottages, the men singing and the dancing ~~ the fear in the tenants' eyes once they realize they can't pay rent on thier land. When Gracelin's husband, the squire, beat her, you feel as if he was beating on all the Irish. You sense the deep hatred the Irish feel for the English. Ann Moore has revived a period of history that I know very little of. She has also sparked an interest to know more too.

If you're looking at a novel that speaks of love and honor, loyalty, dreams and despair, the fight between two countries, the courage to go on despite all the death and disease ~~ if you're looking for a heroine like Gracelin who did not let anything stop her from living life ~~ this book is it. You will not be disappointed.

Also, this is one of the most inspirational books you'll ever read. Don't fear, Moore didn't throw the biblical verses at you every time you turn a page ~~ no, she picked out verses that inspire Gracelin and her family to continue on despite the strife in their lives. You sense the strong faith in God throughout this book ~~ and the writing is very lyrical ~~ almost as gentle as the lilt in Irish voices.

This is one of the best books I've read in ages ~~ and it is definitely one that I will want to keep.

3-11-03