Customer Reviews

Second Spring: A Love Story

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Happily married to his beloved Rosemarie and father to five adult children and three grandchildren that he adores and loves Charles "Chucky" Cronin still worries about the future. He remains a faithful Catholic, but wonders if perhaps the church abandoned its flock. He contemplates whether he is just suffering from a biological occurrence for someone turning fifty or a reaction to continual racial inequality, assassinations, priestly wrongdoing, Viet Nam and Watergate? Rosemary worries about much of the same agenda, but also is concerned with Chucky, who seems to have lost his step.

Chucky, a professional photographer and former ambassador, soon regains much of his sixties and early seventies fervor that put him at odds with presidents. He and Rosemary try to dislodge a church protected pediophile priest. That fails because Cardinal Archbishop Thomas John O'Neill is psychotic and paranoid especially when it comes to protecting one of his own. Chuck and Rosemary have a cause to remove both abominations even as a personal miracle that has not happened to this couple in two decades occurs.

The sixth O'Malley chronicle is an insightful look at the Carter Administration through the eyes of Chucky and Rosemary, alternating chapters. The story line provides a vivid scrutiny while insuring the lead couple feels complete. Chucky suffers from a mid life crisis as he begins to question all he once believed in while Rosemary encourages him to gracefully continue the fight for what both know is right. Andrew Greeley furnishes a delightful charmer that displays how the late 1970s, only twenty-five years ago, feel today like ancient history even to one who lived through it.

Harriet Klausner

Revisiting the crazy O'Malley clan he recently created, Father Greeley tells us the story of Chuck and his beloved Rosemaire and the events that they were part of in the last years of the seventies.

Chuck has been sent to Vatican city to witness and photograph the election of the new pope. He watches as politics shape the church, then is called to the White House where he meets President Carter and is witness to national crises. However, the national and worldwide events pale compared to the desolation that is in Chuck's heart. A thriving career and beautiful wife just are not enough to satisfy him. Divine intervention alone will restore his joy.

**** Lovingly told, this story will enchant readers familiar with the series, but new readers will most likely be a bit lost. However, new or old, you can not miss or fail to be charmed by Father Greeley's warm writing style that plays out events casually, but still has a profound message. Particularly engaging is the way he has divine figures show up in such a friendly manner.

It is a lovely book. I enjoy all the references to characters from other novels, it's like visiting friends. I also like it when Fr. Greeley uses his experiences as part of the story.

I enjoyed the historical aspects and insights, both secular and those about the Catholic Church.

But I especially enjoy Rosemary and Chucky's love story. It is fun and touching.

patricia

Second Spring, the fifth in the O'Malley family series, is set in Chicago during 1978-80. During the story, both Rosemarie and Chucky suffer identity crises. Rosemarie suffers with feelings of low self-worth and guilt. Chucky suffers a mid life crises as he turns fifty. These psychological problems become a threat to their relationship. Both want to save the marriage but need to struggle long and hard to save the union.

The novel alternates between the narratives of Chucky and those of Rosemarie. This technique reveals both person's point of view, and adds greatly to the understanding of the emotional crises that often occur during the second decade of a marriage.
As the action unfolds we take international journeys. O'Malley's twice visit Rome, and have side trips to Germany, Washington D.C. and Tucson Arizona. During the adventures around the world, Chucky catches pneumonia, spends time in a hospital intensive care unit and encounters what he believes is an angel.

The O'Malley family dynamics dominate the story. This is a novel about a family, their growth, their marriage, their schooling, and their social life.
April Rosemary and Kevin Patrick both marry and start families. James Michael and Sean Seamus continue their band (jazz, of course). Moire is active in high school and Siobban Marie has become an independent two year old.

As in many Greeley novels, the author offers some interesting statements of wisdom. Rosemarie and Chuck talk about the "terrible binding power of love" - the grace God provides to couples to seal their marriage bond.
Rosemarie asks why women should take seriously rules about sex and marriage from celibate men who have never cared for children, wear funny dresses and don't like women.

The Second Spring is a fine story about the life of a family. It makes a great read for a rainy afternoon.

Second Spring: A Love Story (Family Saga)
Father

Greeeley is the only author I know of wo can keep males interested in a love story.

Reading any of Fr. Andrew Greeley's mini-sagas are always enjoyable if not downright addictive. I always buy at least one of the single ones and try to get the others so I can read them in order, but the wonderful part - each of the single books can stand on it's own, without having to have the entire series, but I recommend having the entire series for the 'feel' of how the saga plays out. Fr. Greeley's non-fiction books are excellent also. I've checked out mentioned 'true' statements and they are right on the money. The only one of Fr. Greeley's books I just couldn't seem to like was his autobiography - "Confessions of a Parish Priest". No reason I can think of, tho, perhaps getting so up close & personal with him isn't my cup 'o tea. Mountain Mama