Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (1678)

Content

ClareR (5743 KP) rated The Woman on the Bridge in Books

May 29, 2023

This is a wonderful story based on Sheila O’Flanagans own grandmothers experiences.

It’s the 1920’s and Ireland is fighting for its independence. There’s so much going on in this story: the fight for Irelands independence; domestic violence; poverty; tuberculosis; women’s rights; emigration of the Irish to the USA and other European countries.

Winifred O’Leary is a strong woman who wants to be independent, both as a woman and as an Irish woman. The book doesn’t go too much into the ins and outs of the political situation, but I’ve certainly learnt more about what went on during this time. It was a hard time to be living in.

Winnie’s husband certainly experiences a lot of this hardship. He’s imprisoned for his actions with his fellow freedom fighters.

This is a love story as well as a story about the politics at the time. I really enjoyed it and I realise that it was first and foremost a love story - and an enjoyable one at that!

Kudos

Cori June (3033 KP) rated The Librarians and the Pot of Gold in Books

Nov 8, 2018

The Librarians and the Pot of Gold

Greg Cox | 2018 | Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy

10.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Fun and witty read that will expand your vocabulary and knowledge of Irish folklore/mythology. A great summer book, easy enough to read in an afternoon or put down and pickup and finish later.
Although, it references the TV show and previous books, it is a stand alone book. You don't necessarily have to watch or read to them understand or enjoy the book, it is recommended because of the enjoyable shinannegans and hijinks.

Kudos

Sean Lester: The Guardian of a Small Flickering Light

Marit Fosse and John Fox

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Although he had left school aged fourteen, had no experience of foreign affairs and spoke only...

The Last September

Elizabeth Bowen

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

This title is presented with an introduction by Victoria Glendinning. The Irish troubles rage, but...

The Crow (A Red Grouse Tale)

Leslie W.P. Garland

7.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A dying and embittered old Irish priest, Mad Father Patrick, recounts the school days and subsequent...

The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan in Books

Oct 6, 2020

Okay, so I didn't actually finish reading this book. You see, I really wanted to like this book, because I think that Gillian is a talented writer. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish reading this book. On the plus side, the contemporary parts of this book were very interesting, if not compelling. Aisling's slow discovery of the Jewish world, while fighting the urge to get more committed to it was very nicely done. However, the historical parts put me off most of the time. I didn't understand the characters - either their language, or their motivations. I realize that had I finished this book, some of these questions might have been answered, but I just couldn't get past the fact that I found myself wanting to skip over large chunks of the narrative.

I think the problem was that Gillian's inexperience made her try a bit too hard to impress the Jewish and Irish aspects of this book. I've read quite a few books by Irish authors, and I've never felt like I was overwhelmed with jargon and slang, some of which I didn't understand. Unfortunately, these interjections came far too often, and they were jarring, to say the least. Certainly, her editor should have realized this, and toned it down - unless that person too was worried that the book wouldn't sound either Jewish or Irish enough for the American public.

For me, the heavy use of Irish and Yiddish slang words feels pretentious. More importantly, if your story doesn't sound Irish or Jewish enough so that you have to throw these in at every turn, then maybe you've not chosen the right subject matter.

I might have continued on, doing my best to ignore this, but the final death knell for me came when she broke my #1 cardinal rule of writing Jewish characters - a glaring mistake on a simple point of Judaism. I am willing to forgive a whole lot, but when someone describes a strict Jewish household having lamb with a side dish of potatoes, dripping with butter in the same meal (i.e., she mixed milk and meat, and it is the most basic of all things that Jewish dietary laws forbid), that's a bridge too far. No one who goes to the amount of trouble she describes in this book to get their house Kosher and ready for Passover, would ever in their right mind put butter on potatoes for a meat meal.

If any of this can be fixed before publication, I would be thrilled to read a new version of this book.