Fascinating Shorts!
Irish Shorts: Nora's Escape and other true stories of love, loss and romance by Maria Hall
Book Description
Six true stories from an Irish Catholic family caught in the iron grip of a changing world. Told with unvarnished honesty, dry humour and a good dose of drama, we meet a young girl as she escapes her oppressive father to start life anew in the wilds of New Zealand. We see a family’s Christian values tested upon discovering their house broken into, and the culprit lurking close by. The decades pass, and world wars turn into religious ones as author Maria Hall travels to bomb-blasted Belfast in search of her heritage and connection to one of Ireland’s most famous artists. But is their family hero the man they thought him to be? These are just some of the treasures revealed by Hall as she picks through family legend and fact to uncover tales of resistance, love and survival across three awe-inspiring generations.
My Review
5 *****
Nora's Escape
If you like short stories that hold some truth and also history then these shorts are for you Nora's Escape is well written and captivating. The story is told through Nora's mother, Agnes's eyes. The story of Nora is well told, Agnes explains why she helped her daughter escape. The short tells a story of religion and love. A mother's struggle and a father stuck on old fashion rules. All in all I enjoyed Nora's story of freedom from an over bearing father.
The Wartime Bride
The Wartime Bride, had me griped from the first line "Mum, Ryan's dead," Instantly I wanted to know who was dead and why? This story follows on from Nora's Escape through Nora's Daughter Pat's eyes. A naïve young girl who loses her husband and learns to love and live again.
The Midwife
The Midwife tells the story of one of Pat's home birth's, the struggles she had and the mistake of the midwife. From this story you get to see more of Pat's and Nora's personalities. Two headstrong women.
The Intruder
This story shows just how big of an heart Pat has, although she already has five children to take care of, she allows a young man to move in with them. Offering him a better life than he has, with a new start. Told through the eyes of Pat's daughter Maria. A story of kindness, trust and regret.
The Matriarch
The Matriarch is told through Maria's eyes, it holds many catholic beliefs, and the consequences of sins. The story shows just how much a strong character Nora was in her daughter and grandchildren's lives.
The Lavery Connection
The last short story tells the story of a family hidden secrete. Maria uncovers the secrete while vising her Aunt and researching her Irish routes.
I enjoyed reading the generations of this families stories. The struggles they faced. The loved ones they lost. What I loved most of all was the strength and kindness this family held. A story that shows how times change with each new generation and just how much our ancestor's (Grandparents and so on.." have an effect on ourlives even years after they are gone.
A great true historic read.
E.J Bennett
