Customer Reviews

Gracelin O'Malley

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

I love this writers first published novel. It is a powerfully passionate telling of the lives of Northern Ireland tenant farmers attempting to survive their repressive relationships with British landlords. The natural disaster of the mid-1800's potato blight further deepens the desperation of these people, whose strength of character rises through the mire.

Moore does a beautiful job of developing characters that are passionate for their country, religion and family. She entwines the history of Great Britain and Ireland in such a real life manner that the history lesson itself is assimilable. Her writing evokes tears of sadness, gratitude and relief. I personally had to put other things aside in order to stay within this compelling story and am ready to reread it already.

I understand that this novel is the first of a trilogy and I will hungrily await the second volume! This work lends itself naturally to discussion and is formatted with questions at its end that could spur forth a book group dialogue. A must read!

Following the story of a young woman, Gracelin O'Malley is a marvelous Irish tale. The trials and tribulations experienced by those in Ireland under English rule are vividly described in this work.

Ann Moore has constructed a passionate novel of dignity, strength and character. Her characters are three dimensional and will become a vivid picture in your mind. Moore's ability to create a setting is sophisticated. She truly knows how to captivate a reader, and sweep them away to another time.

Historical fiction fans will be delighted with this stirring tale. It truly brings life and a personal aspect to the troubles that Ireland once faced. If you are a fan of Irish literature this read will captivate you. All in all, I think this is a novel for anyone with an appreciation for passionate writing.

Enjoy this amazing read, Moore has truly created a work of art, that will move you.

I read an average of six books a week, and have never written a review until now. Gracelin O'Malley is the best book I've read. Can't wait for "Leaving Ireland".

Gracelin O'Malley by Ann Moore
August 26, 2005

Rating: 4 stars


GRACELIN O'MALLEY by Ann Moore is the start of an epic trilogy of books that centers on the people of poverty-stricken Ireland. It starts out at a slow pace, but once it picked up I raced through this novel about a woman and her family living in Ireland of the mid 1800's. Gracelin O'Malley is the only girl born to a couple who live off the land that is owned by an English squire. Due to circumstances that she cannot control, Gracelin ends up marrying this squire, and for the next few years she suffers at his hands, living in fear but determined to hang on, to save her own family's livelihood. The Irish are dependent mostly on the English, who control the land and the wealth. And with the potato famines, it is a wonder there were people that did not succumb to the starvation that they all experienced.

GRACELIN O'MALLEY is very depressing in many parts, but there is hope for Gracelin. She is a woman that is headstrong, and will sacrifice herself for the well being of others, family or stranger. Her fate in life is probably akin to that of many during her day, but she stands out in this novel as a woman that is determined to survive.

For those who love historical fiction, this is for you. I have already bought the next two books in the series and hope to read them before the year is out.

Patrick O'Malley named his daughter Gracelin for the famed Pirate Queen, Granuaile, daughter of the great Irish Chieftain Owen - a woman feared by the English and revered by her people. He named her thus, he said, "because at the moment of her birth it was clear that the light of the sea shone in her eyes." And young Grace became the light and strength of her family, especially after her mother died in a terrible accident which also left her younger brother, Sean, lame and her father bereft. The family's fortune continued to decline and when Gracelin was fifteen, in 1844, her dad arranged a marriage for her with the local English landlord, Squire Bram Donnelly, to save the family from financial ruin. Her husband-to-be was twice her age, twice married and twice a widower, with a reputation for violence. Although Grace O'Malley Donnelly began her marriage with hope, her husband's reputation was well deserved and as the Irish "troubles" worsened, so did the Donnelly marriage.

The Great Irish famine of the 1840's is looked upon as the single greatest social disaster of 19th century Europe. Between 1845 and 1850, when blight devastated the potato crop in Ireland, over two million people - almost one-quarter of the entire population - either died or emigrated. Along with the famine, death, and disease, came tremendous political unrest. Gracelin repeatedly defied her husband by trying to feed her starving neighbors and by harboring rebels, her revolutionary brother and a beloved childhood friend among them. Grace's spirit was indomitable, like that of the legendary pirate queen for whom she was named. And like the pirate queen, she was terrible and ruthless when it came to protecting her own.

Anne Moore's accurate historical account of the horrors of life in nineteenth century Ireland and the brutality and greed of the English landlords really elevate this novel above most historical romances. Ms. Moore read history books and personal journals from this period and studied the dramatic and complex elements that made the Irish famine such a profound tragedy. She states in an interview in the Conversation Guide, published at the novel's conclusion, how struck she was "by the continued optimism of the Irish in the face of extreme poverty, their spirit and simple joy in living each day, their love for their children and pride in their heritage." She has captured here the lilt and laughter of the Gaelic, as well as the sorrow of a people. Her characters are three-diminsional and unforgettable, especially Gracelin, whose beauty and courage remained a beacon of hope to all who knew her. A remarkable book!
JANA

I'm always annoyed when authors feel the need to portray the women in their stories as "over the top" gorgeous - other than that, this book was beautifully written. I'm glad someone finally got it right about what actually happened during the great potato famine. The characters are interesting, and the descriptions of Ireland are vivid and heartfelt. Gracelin's strength and poise under horrific conditions will stay with you long after you have finished the book. A "Must Read" if you like fiction intertwined with historical events.

I do a lot of reading, but have never been compelled to write a review. This book was one of the best I have ever read. The story was interesting, and the characters were very developed. I read it in one sitting and did not want it to be over.
Well done, Mrs Moore!