Customer Reviews

The Misremembered Man

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Misremembered Man is a charming yet harsh portrait of Ireland and some of it's characters, mainly a man and a woman whose younger lives shared a common bond, oppression. This tale is engrossing although a wee syrupy at times, and here and there are touches of humor that are in sharp contrast to the lives of these two people. The author builds the characters well, then plops them in the middle of life in the small towns of Ireland. You might feel the final chapters will bring a heartwarming predictable ending that you hoped would happen, but the writer surprises you....worth the time to curl up on a comfortable sofa and read the day away.

This is a very enjoyable read - one of sharp contrasts. In fact I found myself dreading the chapters dealing with the orphanage. Thankfully the author used descriptive but not excessively graphic scenes to portray the horrors of those institutions. And she balanced it with delightful humor in the chapters about Jamie's adult life. The characters are well drawn; the best of which is Rose McKadden. I laughed out loud at some of her dialogs and learned a great new word..."And it's a terrible thing when a body is incapissitated in such a way." That one line was worth the whole book!

I regret that the author didn't use more Irish idioms and that from a purely practical point of view the story is rather unbelievable. But it has a sweet, feel-good ending which is irrestible. In short, I laughed and cried - it's a good book!

Though he was resigned to a life of miserable loneliness, some hope still remained for Jamie McCloone. "The Misremembered Man" is the story of two opposites. One is the rugged Jamie, with his cruel history of orphanhood and a sad life; the other is Lydia, a cleanliness next to godliness type, who lives under an oppressive mother. They meet through the newspaper and an intriguing romance begins to bud, in this touching story of companionship set in rural Ireland's darker times. A top pick for readers seeking a well-written period piece.

This is the best book I have read in a very long time! From the moment I picked it up and read the first page I was hooked, as the characters are so real and loveable and the descriptions are so vivid and full of life, it is impossible to put down. The author has painted a picture of life in Ireland which at times is very moving, but it is done with such humour and remarkable attention to detail it is certainly a story that will stay with the reader for a long time. Don't miss a wonderful book.

You will savor this book, chapter by chapter. The characters are precious and give readers a look into the Irish personality. The ending satisfies and will keep you in awe.

And there is history afoot, too. You can take it a step further and investigate and learn about the place where the main male character spent his early life.

This story made me laugh out loud and cry just a little. The way the orphans were treated broke my heart, and the special note from the author really shocked me. I had to look at the year a second time to make sure it really said 1990 and not 1890.

The ending was one of the best I've read in a while, but I can't explain what made it so good without giving too much away.

I bought this book because it was the Kindle Daily Deal, not knowing what to expect. I enjoyed how the author wove 3 different stories together. This book was such a mix of quirky humor and the horrible abuse that the main character experienced in the orphanage. Reading the afterword, bothered me because these orphanages really existed. Made me want to adopt a school age child! I loved the dialect of the crustier characters. I could picture this book as a movie because of its vivid descriptions and rich characters. Although fiction, this book has a lot of raw emotion which makes it hard to stop reading. The end had me nervous.

Ms. McKenna has a wonderful voice and does a wonderful job defining her characters. I know them as well as I might know my neighbors. I can see the Irish setting, hear the lilting speech patterns, visualize even the minor characters...all from her writing.

There were terrible parts of the story I didn't enjoy. Such places as the horrific orphanages Ms. McKenna writes about actually existed, and the ugliness of that reality isn't easy to learn about. But to balance things out, the characters got into situations where I laughed out loud.

When farmer Jamie becomes depressed after being left alone with his farm and its animals to care for, his friends decide he needs a good woman.

When schoolteacher Lydia gets out for the summer, her friend gives her something to look forward to besides remaining at the beck and call of her widowed, ailing mother.

This is not a romance, even though it sounds like the beginnings of one. It's a reminder of how inhumane caretakers of children can warp lives. It's also a portrait of how hope is an integral part of the human character. It's also a story of how strange life can sometimes be.

Great book.

As soon as I read a page or two of The Misremembered Man, I was transported to another time and another place and I immediately related to the main character of this drama.

I found the story gripping. I could hardly put the book down. I found it sad, but redeeming. This is a wonderful read.

Janet

I wasn't feeling well when I started this book, and had a bit of trouble getting into the story. I came back to the reviews and after skimming through a few, decided I would keep reading. I am very happy I made that decision. As another reviewer mentioned, I also found myself dreading the chapters reflecting the dismal and cruel reality of the orphanage. I will strive to remember each day as was presented in this worthwhile novel that a smile and kind words cost nothing and can literally be life changing to the recipient. Thank you, Christina McKenna, for this lovely work!