A Jekyll & Hyde of a Book

The Ireland portion narrated by Aoife McMahon is well-rendered and enjoyable. Set in 1847 during the Great Hunger, the story’s characters are interesting and multi-dimensional, the plot moves along, and the narrator’s voice is musical and well suited to the narrative. The other story line is set in modern-day Queens, and centers around a young mother with post-partum depression who is impossible for the listener— even empathetic people—to care about or sympathize with...she’s whiny, self-centered, and 99% intolerable. Patricia Rodriguez’s reading is difficult to listen to— I white-knuckled it through those sections, because I was motivated to know what happened at the end, and how the contrapuntal storylines eventually coalesced. I loved this author’s American Dirt and its narrator, but this was a mediocre book with one Set of characters and a narrator who made it bearable and another cast of characters and narrator one who really weighed it down. There are better books and better listens out there.

4 people found this helpful

Fraught Women

I very much enjoy Cummin’s descriptions and humor. I found her many fraught women depressing. Thank goodness there’s a happy ending.

3 people found this helpful

powerful historical elements

Good story, maybe a little over the top on the mother-daughter relationship thread. Powerful description of the history of the Irish famine. narration was a little cheesy, one actor doing all those voices.

1 person found this helpful

Agree

I totally agree with a previous review. The lead character is so uncomfortable I didn't have sympathy for her. She was so easily influenced and suggest able to the point of prejudice. She is narcissistic towards her mother. I believe my biased feelings toward this character maybe age and different background. From a down south mature women with daughters, the author should have stuck with the historical perspective character.

Such a good story

I love the parallels of 2 mothers in completely different eras. Def a must read

Beautiful Story of Motherhood

This was a beautiful story of the highs and lows of motherhood, but beware that it has some raw descriptions of postpartum anxiety and depression. It touched a nerve, but overall is a beautifully told story of the strength and triumph of motherhood.

Wish it was better, loved another one of her books

The story had a pretty good plot, but it had so much unless, wordy, filler sentences, paragraphs. It could have been written in 3 chapters and been just as entertaining. I would’ve like to hear more relevant or relatable events rather than so many words that say not that much. The actor reading the book was awesome though. She made me think of my dads Irish family.

Listen to the sample to see if you can stand the reader!

This is my first review. I felt I had to write it because this is also the first audible book I absolutely could not finish. I made it until there were four hours left and I couldn’t take it anymore. The reader for The young American woman is terrible. Her voice is so whiny that it is like nails on a chalkboard. It’s unfortunate because the reader for the Irish woman is fantastic. I thought I could just get through it but her voice and cadence literally makes me want to throw my phone across the room.

stick with it

I thought it wasn't particularly relatable in the beginning but once Gelly starts to connect some dots it becomes a great story.

Aoife McMahon’s reading is amazing

Aoife McMahon’s voice and talents made the stories of the Great Famine come to live.