Particularize Books Conducive To Star of the Sea
| ISBN: | 0156029669 (ISBN13: 9780156029667) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | Atlantic Ocean,1847 |
| Literary Awards: | Prix Littéraire Européen - Madeleine Zepter (2003), Prix Millepages Award for Foreign Fiction (2003) |
Joseph O'Connor
Paperback | Pages: 432 pages Rating: 3.99 | 6625 Users | 594 Reviews
Define Containing Books Star of the Sea
| Title | : | Star of the Sea |
| Author | : | Joseph O'Connor |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 432 pages |
| Published | : | March 8th 2004 by Mariner Books |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Cultural. Ireland. European Literature. Irish Literature. Mystery |
Ilustration To Books Star of the Sea
In the bitter winter of 1847, from an Ireland torn by famine and injustice, the Star of the Sea sets sail for NewYork. On board are hundreds of refugees, some optimistic, many more desperate. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt Lord Merridith, his wife and children, and a killer stalking the decks, hungry for the vengeance that will bring absolution. This journey will see many lives end, others begin anew. Passionate loves are tenderly recalled, shirked responsibilities regretted too late, and profound relationships shockingly revealed. In this spellbinding tale of tragedy and mercy, love and healing, the farther the ship sails toward the Promised Land, the more her passengers seem moored to a past that will never let them go. As urgently contemporary as it is historical, this exciting and compassionate novel builds with the pace of a thriller to a stunning conclusion.Rating Containing Books Star of the Sea
Ratings: 3.99 From 6625 Users | 594 ReviewsComment On Containing Books Star of the Sea
I remember this novel being published in 2002, and can only think that I didn't read it at the time as I didn't feel its subject matter would've been of interest to me, my Irish history interest kicking in more in the 20th century. I have been thinking about reading it for a while though, and took the opportunity to pick up a second hand copy to read, as a book group I plan to attend is reading 'Redemption Falls', the novel which follows this one. I have to admit that while I liked the book, IIt is possible that I created some expectations with the synopsis because I really thought the story would take place entirely at sea. In reality, the action alternates between the voyage and events in the past of the main characters.To be honest, it was not to my taste. We know there will be a murder on board, but we know, from the very beginning who murder and victim are. So, zero suspense. Then we have the events taking place in the past, which I believe were meant to give us a background on
OK, it's official -- I am not a fan of Joseph O'Connor. Granted, Star of the Sea is far and away a much better novel than Redemption Falls, but for me, O'Connor's method of stitching together a narrative by using pieces from supposedly contemporary material (all of which was written by him, of course) just doesn't work. There are bits of this novel which shine, the parts in which O'Connor really focuses on one character and develops him or her thoroughly. Supposedly this book was written by a
Set against the background of the Irish famine in the year 1847, with writing that is at times beautifully evocative of the time, this novel is worth the read;if you persevere with it. The reason I've added the caveat at the end of that sentence is simple. The book doesn't really get going until a third of the way through. The pace suffers due to constant switching between perspectives. For example, for five or ten pages we hear the story of Pius Mulvey, followed by a letter written by Lord
This is "historical fiction" that is historical only in the most general sense. The author creates many footnotes and sources in the text which are fictional. The narrator of the book is Grantley Dixon, an American journalist, albeit, not very successful. The story revolves around David Meredith, Lord Kingscourt, whose estate in Connemara, is bankrupt, Pius Mulvey, a dark character throughout, and Mary Duane, a former tenant of Meredith, and current nanny. The story is set in winter 1847, during
Perhaps the most clichéd book I have read in years. A begorrah tale of Old Ireland. Terrible prose, and even worse dialogue. I've read many Irish novels, but this is the worst. Extremely disappointing, given all the positive reviews I have seen. It may be charming to people who don't have any idea of Irish history, or any idea of good storytelling. Have you ever seen Far and Away, PS I Love You, the Matchmaker, or any of those faux-Irish nonsense films? Well, this is so much worse. I only stayed
A 400 page grim read that was difficult to penetrate. I would not have persevered were it not that a friend had asked me for my opinion on the book, and I had read that other reviewers had struggled with it initially. All that said, it is well written but takes a very long time to explain how the various characters are linked so reads as if it is jumping from one unrelated story to another for much of the first half. I struggled with the style of writing which, at times tries to reflect that of
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