Welcome to my blog where I share my book reviews
and life along the winding road

Friday, August 31, 2012

The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey

I enjoyed this book set in Northern Ireland. The Yellow House had a lot of similarities to the Linen Queen with both main characters working in the mills in Northern Ireland. However, the Linen Queen spanned WWII and The Yellow House, WWI. I've always been a little confused as to the history of Northern Ireland and how it became separated from the South. This book, along with a great story, gives an overview of the struggles of the Irish and the battles between Protestants and Catholics.

This would make a great book club read. Discussion questions here

A family's future is in the hands of one very brave young Irishwoman in this accomplished debut set between WWI and the growing violence of the Irish war of independence. Eileen O'Neill inherits a lifetime of struggle and heartbreak when her family is ripped apart by war, disease, mental illness and greed. And if civil war and family strife weren't enough to deal with, Eileen is torn between James Conlon, a passionate Irish nationalist, and Owen Sheridan, a British army officer and the son of a wealthy family. As the war's presence in her life intensifies, Eileen continues to weigh her heart's pull against national pride, family loyalty, class divisions and her own spirit.