Famine

Rating:
Summary: Famine
Review: I could not find this book last year as it was out of print. I read it first from the one copy at my public library.... The famine came alive to me and the great suffering and humiliation people went through. I was surprised I had not heard of this book sooner. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: this is one of the greatest novels - to bad its so unknown
Review: I purchased this book in Cork Ireland on recommendation from my wonderful well read husband. I was not prepared for the emotions I experienced during my reading of this great story. For many years I have tried to have this book brought in but with no luck. Now I am able to share it with my book club and many others. Although I am not aware of the status this book was given at any one time it is a novel that should be considered a classic. I am dismayed at the number of books that reach this level or stay on the best seller list for months. At a time when I believe we are living in a dark age and there is far to much psycho bable and self help selfishness I am hopeful that we will eventually recognize this kind of talent and embrace it.

Rating:
Summary: Famine
Review: I was interested in reading more about Ireland's plight after reading Angela's Ashes. This book tried to cover a monumental event through the vantage point of a family in rural poverty stricken Ireland. The characters seemed flat at first but eventually came to life. The story was very somber and hopeless. The political configuration at the time was helpful in understanding the long standing differences between Ireland and England.

Rating:
Summary: Reminiscent of Steinbeck
Review: O'Flaherty has brought alive a tragic era in Ireland's history similar to Steinbeck's handling of the Great Depression. He does this with more matter-of-factness but less poetic flair than Steinbeck. His ability to create vivid mental images, even in the Irish naive mind, is unprecedented.

Rating:
Summary: Reminiscent of Steinbeck
Review: O'Flaherty has brought alive a tragic era in Ireland's history similar to Steinbeck's handling of the Great Depression. He does this with more matter-of-factness but less poetic flair than Steinbeck. His ability to create vivid mental images, even in the Irish naive mind, is unprecedented.