Two For Joy [Hardcover]

Patricia Scanlan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

Oliver Flynn's wedding is the social event of the year, and the creme de la creme of Kilronan are happy to boast of being invited.

Noreen, his new wife, has finally outclassed her two sisters, who think they are better than her in every way. Not any more! But there is one nagging doubt: does Oliver really love her? Would he have married her if she hadn't done the proposing herself?

Cora Flynn, Oliver's bitter mother, has boycotted the wedding. She is determined that her detested new daughter-in-law will not become the number one woman in her son's life.

Wedding guest Lorna Morgan can't wait to shake the dust of Kilronan off her shoes. She's destined for bright city lights, unlike her stick-in-the-mud cousin, Heather Williams, who was only invited to the 'afters' with her clodhopper boyfriend, Neil. But then, in Lorna's eyes, Heather's just an 'afters' sort of person and always will be.

But worms turn, and what a difference a year makes. In Dublin, London and New York there is no respite for Noreen, Lorna or Heather. Only in Kilronan can the Pandora's box that was opened at Oliver Flynn's wedding finally be closed.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Noreen and Oliver Flynn's wedding is a big event in the small town of Kilronan outside Dublin, Ireland. Noreen left her successful career as a nurse in London to take care of her dying mother, and consequently met Oliver, a successful builder. Both were lonely, and Noreen, a take-charge kind of woman, asked Oliver to marry her, leaving her uncertain if he would ever have asked her. Cousins Lorna and Heather envy the pageantry of the wedding, and embark on a new life of their own in Dublin. Lorna loves city life, but Heather misses their small town, and problems develop in each of their lives as their expectations are not met. Readers will form an attachment to all of Scanlan's extraordinarily believable characters, making this an exquisite gem of a novel about human foibles and happiness. Scanlan should have wide and increasing appeal as word gets out about her books. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Dublin author (and former librarian) Scanlan (Francesca's Party) has written another winner. Reminiscent of Maeve Binchy's Circle of Friends . . . [t]he reader is plopped into the middle of an Irish soap opera . . . [and] will want to read nonstop. In her usual style, Scanlan contrasts big-city life with village life and takes her heroines' disastrous situations and turns them into opportunities for growth. Highly recommended"
--Library Journal

"Readers will form an attachment to all of Scanlan's extraordinarily believable characters, making this an exquisite gem of a novel abotu human foibles and happiness. Scanlan should have wide and increasing appeal as word gets out about her books. (YA: Teens will relate to Heather's desire for independence while maintaining her attachment to her home and family.)"
--Booklist

"[A]n interesting character study . . . readers who value a slice of contemporary life will gain plenty of joy reading Patricia Scanlan's fine tale."
--Midwest Book Review

"Patricia Scanlan proves herself worthy of comparison to Maeve Binchy, queen of Irish fiction. Both women are earthy, entertaining and use description and characterization to perfection. The seductive appeal of this author lies in her distinctive Irish voice, the lyrical vernacular of Ireland, the artful use of rhetorical devices in her descriptions, and characters that are at once believable and entertaining. Two for Joy is a perfect summer read."
--Tulsa World (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312328958
• ISBN-13: 978-0312328955
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,734,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, September 22, 2004

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two For Joy (Hardcover)

In Kilronan, Ireland, social events, like Oliver Flynn's wedding, are only for the crème de la crème of society. Noreen, Olivers's new wife, is pleased to finally outclass her two sisters. But one nagging thought lingers in her mind; would she be Mrs. Flynn if she had not done the proposing herself?

Lorna Morgan considers herself far to classy to be living in a town like Kilronan. When she is invited to Oliver Flynn's wedding, she sets her mind that the fine life is the only way for her. But for her to go live up the socialite life in the city, she needs her stick in the mud cousin, Heather, to come along for the ride.

What a difference a year can make, as the lives of Noreen, Lorna, and Heather changes. From Dublin to New York to London, the journey of each woman comes full circle, back to Kilronan, where it all began. And only there can it all finally be put to rest.

***** Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful! Patricia Scanlan paints such a colorful and splendid picture of the hopes and dreams of three women whose lives are intertwined by connections unknown to them. Television soap operas have nothing on this author's novels. I stayed up all night long, determined to finish this incredible story, before the new day began. (Who needs sleep anyway?) Definitely a great read! *****

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting character study, June 1, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two For Joy (Hardcover)

Just outside Dublin in Kilronan, Noreen Lynch married building contractor Oliver Flynn though his widowed mother objected and failed to attend the ceremony. Noreen had some doubts since she had to propose and is concerned with Oliver's close relationship with his mother.

Lorna Morgan thinks of leaving Kilronan, but though she detests the dusty town she fears making the move by herself. She hopes to persuade nineteen year old Heather Williams to join her. Though she lacks a boyfriend, Heather likes the small town lifestyle and has doubts about going to Dublin like her twin sister Ruth did.

These women will find their lives in upheaval as relationships change with maturity and understanding. However, who will be hurt when the dust settles as the Widow Flynn prefers her son had married nice Heather, not that glamour snob Noreen remains to be read.

TWO FOR JOY is an interesting character study that digs deep into the hopes and dreams of three young women, who will soon learn that what they though they desired is proving false, but rather than quit or stay unhappy, they change their aspirations. The story line focuses on the three prime females, but through their relationships with others like Noreen has with her mother-in-law, insight into other key players surface. Though there is no action, readers who value a slice of contemporary life will gain plenty of joy reading Patricia Scanlan's fine tale.

Harriet Klausner

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars ruefully yours, February 14, 2006

By 

finvola "finvola" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two For Joy (Hardcover)

I thought the story was enjoyable enough, but I think the author overused to word 'rueful' to the point of insanity. At one point I was so sick of seeing that word on every other page and I was going to go back and count the amount of times the word appeared.

I would read another one of her books, but surely there are other ajectives one could use to get the point across?