A Green Journey [Mass Market Paperback]

Jon Hassler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 1986

"Hassler's characters have old-fashioned values and typical human failings; they make this a novel to restore your faith in humanity."
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Agatha McGee is following a dream, though it might be late in the game. She's just retired from a career of teaching and travels to Ireland in search of the romance she never had time for. And along the way, she not only discovers people she would never have let herself know before, but learns through experience, at long last, that love is unpredictable, unstoppable, and never appears as we dream it will.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Agatha McGee, a tower of strength as Miles Pruitt's surrogate mother/landlady in Staggerford, takes the spotlight here. I like this old lady. How can anyone not like this feisty, intelligent, honorable, quick witted, reactionary-but-progressive, hot-tempered, indignant, pragmatic, nurturing old lady? This novel, like it's sequel Dear James, is very warm. There are certain writers that you can depend on to make you relax and smile. Jon Hassler, like Lee Smith, Ellen Gilchrist and Richard Russo, seems to be a writer that is completely in love with and charmed by his own characters. He's kind to them and it's a warmth that extends itself to the reader. I can't help but wish Agatha McGee had been my sixth grade teacher and taught me the Catechism. This is especially weird when you consider the fact that I'm Jewish and pretty much believe in secular education. I guess I must really like her a lot. When you feel like you hate everyone and you'd like to just grab a gun and blow people away, pick up this book instead and save yourself some prison time.

- S. Gutierrez, Assistant editor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

"Hassler's characters have old-fashioned values and typical human failings; they make this a novel to restore your faith in humanity."
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Agatha McGee is following a dream, though it might be late in the game. She's just retired from a career of teaching and travels to Ireland in search of the romance she never had time for. And along the way, she not only discovers people she would never have let herself know before, but learns through experience, at long last, that love is unpredictable, unstoppable, and never appears as we dream it will.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345333721
• ISBN-13: 978-0345333728
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,027,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, and very superior to the Mitford novels, July 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Green Journey (Paperback)

Agatha is a wonderful character and Jon Hassler is one of our best novelists. His books are highly readable while being intelligent at the same time. You will feel like you made the journey to Ireland with her, but I preferred the parts set in the U.S. This book is not two-dimensional like the Mitford novel that I attempted to read and could get only halfway through. There is humor, excellent characterization, natural dialogue, and believable behavior. All of Jon Hassler's books are excellent, but the books which feature Agatha are his best.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Jon Hassler book, April 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Green Journey (Paperback)

This is my favorite Hassler book. It is an excellent story with interesting characters that keep you entertained throughout the book. This book followed by Dear James makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Mitford-like story, May 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Green Journey (Paperback)

There is something of the feeling of the Mitford books in this pleasant tale of an elderly Catholic woman from a small Minnesota town. The characters are quirky but real, with unexpected but believable humanity.