When I first bought the Kindle version of this book, I
thought I would be reading a novel about a man trying to find a wife. It was
not until almost halfway through that I realized it was about two people trying
to find a life! The book’s ending was
such a pleasant surprise that I will not even begin to address it less some of
you have yet to finish the book. Do
finish. You will be happy you did!
The author did not grab my attention at the onset. Instead I
was about 40 percent through the book before it took hold. Maybe that is because I have been busy with
other things or because my interests lean more toward political thrillers than
Irish novels. Either way, I always read our
assigned book. That could be the student
or the teacher in me—not certain which!
James Kevin Barry Michael McCloone is a complex
character. Left on the doorstep of an orphanage
he suffered every horror one could imagine.
Abuse—physical, sexual, emotional—how he managed to survive is beyond
me. The fact that the Irish government allowed this to continue until 1996 is
criminal in itself but the author did not dwell on that. Jamie was a survivor
who benefited from adoption by a loving couple who showed him how to love and
feel alive. When Uncle Mick died he slipped
into depression, something that I understand more now that our family has had
four deaths this year alone. Bouncing
back emotionally is difficult but to do so when your life has been so tormented
as a child is ten times worse. The idea that he would even consider putting
himself out for potential rejection is a testament to his inner strength. Placing an ad in the Mid-Ulster Vindicator took
real courage; following up on that took more.
Lydia Devine had her own troubled childhood. Brought up by strict parents who seemed never
to offer a positive note is her own version of the orphanage sorrows. Her relationship with her mother seemed like
many who tend their elderly parents. One where the criticism flows freely and
devotion seems one sided but really isn’t.
Her mother did love her as was evidenced by the letter given to Lydia
after her mother’s death. The
relationship between Gladys and Elizabeth is more fully explained at the story’s
end as is why Gladys insisted on calling Lydia, Lilly!
I was impressed by the way Lydia and James got along even
though they had been brought up quite differently. There was an easiness between them that even
the awkwardness could not impair. I
loved that Jamie thought a toupee was necessary to win a woman and laughed when
he got the instructions stuck to his head, when it fell into the toilet and how
Rose said he was constipated to get him out of the mess about going back to the
table. I also laughed at how Lydia essentially ran from Frank only to run into
him again while meeting Jamie.
I like the way the author gives us hope that each will find
happiness, not only together but also in their individual lives. The doctor holds promise as does Doris! There is also promise in the fact that each
of them retains a bit of their heritage through their names.
Now a bit about the author’s style! I loved the Irish brogue. Since she is Irish I presume she was familiar
with the brogue and kept it simple enough for her non-Irish readers to
follow. The development of her
characters gave them a realness that was genuine. Both were a bit lacking in social skills—one from
complete lack of training, the other from repression. It only added to the closeness they had. She gave just enough detail of life in the
orphanage to make us aware of its horrors without going into the graphic
details of abuse, deprivation and lack of regard for humanity that was such a
part of its existence. Any lack of detail
could easily be completed in the readers mind.
She built her story with all the classic parts of a good story—introduction
to character, development of the characters and the plot, building to the story’s
climax and then a successful conclusion leaving the reader feeling satisfied
and wanting at the same time.
