Review: Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly

Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Though I can see that this book was full of history and the overall story felt true, it was long and hard to read, even with text-to-speech. It might have been easier to read than listen to the robot voice trying to pronounce the Irish words. I would have loved this with a narrator who might have known how to say the Gaelic verbiage.

On the other hand, I loved the main character and her family. She painted a realistic picture of 19th-century Ireland during the potato famine. After all the Outlander taught me about Scottish life, this is more of an eye-opener of how the English treated people. It showed that we haven’t grown in any way with how we all treat people, looking for those who represent ‘the other.’

I think I would like to read this again with narration. It might make a good series as we follow this young girl through old age.

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Review: The Searcher by Tana French

The Searcher by Tana French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What do romances and mysteries have in common? Bodies. But the other thing is to travel deep into another area where I am not. This book is an exception because we have no idea if there is a body or not—just a missing person. Still, we got to go to Ireland for this one. And we see it from an American’s point of view.

I am happy that it wasn’t a murder mystery. I find those kinds of mysteries boring and morally deficient. Can’t we find something that is suspenseful without it being murder? I find missing my favorite pen a good mystery. Maybe the freezer? It could happen!

Anyway, I found this book refreshing in a lot of ways. Though it didn’t come up to my reading goal of a female author, featuring a female main character (who was male). Still, I found the main character interesting, especially when he made friends with the brat who was throwing stuff at him.

Is it because of reading with text-to-speech? I found I couldn’t stay with the story. I found myself bored. But then the brat would do something, and I was back to caring for the outcome.

Maybe you will love this more than I. Still, it isn’t the worst. A beach read or waiting room occupation?

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Review: What The Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My cousin recommended this wonderful book. I am so sad to leave it. Yes, there were tears at the end but not so much for sad ending, but sad because the story ended. I think I am going to have read/listen to it again.

Amy Harmon writing kept me so engaged that I didn’t want to go to sleep. I was lucky to hear the narration of Saskia Maarleveld , Will Damron. I prefer to hear the language of the Irish spoken by those who can speak it best.

If you are crazy about Outlander, like I am and time travel by any means, this is your book.

I would write a longer review but I am on my tablet so must keep this brief. All I can say is I highly recommend this book, expecially using Audible!

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Review: Death Scream: A Descent Short by S.M. Reine

Death Scream: A Descent Short by S.M. Reine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, that was a quick read. I guess this is the only way I like short stories. I already know the main characters and how this world works. Instead, this was a fun extra ride. Elise and James in Ireland.

Still, I think it was too short as I wanted to see what happens next.

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Review: Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley

Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I finished this book a couple days ago. I wish I didn’t have to write a review for it. Mostly because I can’t figure out what to say.

What I hope to find was an education about the Pagan ways in a gentle fictional story. Instead there was plenty to tell about the cruelty of the ‘onward christian soldiers’. But the book seemed to tell more about the cruelty and less about the goodness of either religion. Even the awe of nature and all her wonders was minimal.

Emotions seemed to rule the book: guilt, depression and unrequited love.

The feelings that I am left with are the cold and muddiness, disease and death.

Many have left much more eloquent reviews for this book. I leave only the shivering grittiness I feel when thinking of this story.

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The Last Little Blue Envelope (Little Blue Envelope #2) by Maureen Johnson

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a delightful series! I am sorry to be finished with book 2. I do hope there will be more. For the young adult this widens the world to seek out life beyond the comfort zone. For those of us that are older and for whatever reason bound to our situation of home and hearth, this lets out our wanderlust. We travel with Ginny and her friends to fulfill the requests of her belated Aunt Peg’s ‘scavenger hunt’ listed in her 13 blue envelopes.
For me, it was during a couple weeks of the summer when I chose to watch over other walls than my usual four. I was house sitting for relatives and friends. It would still be me sitting somewhere. But it got me out of my bed and on other sofas. Meanwhile, reading this special book, I felt I was really traveling, after all. packing and unpacking was involved. So though my real life was spent doing my usual within the same city I live in, I was in London, England, Amsterdam, and Paris.
I read finished reading this over a week ago, already returned the book to the library. But I loved it so much that I think when I feel the wanderlust, I will look this series up again. It was that much fun.

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