Oh my! I loved this book. I may just sit back
and read all 551 pages again. It begins in "before times" in
Ireland. Before the famine, before death, starvation and mass immigration
to "Amerikay". Honora Keely is supposed to join the convent in
2 weeks, on her 17th birthday, but up from the sea arises Michael Kelly.
It is love at first sight and their destinies are sealed. But life in
Ireland is not easy. The Irish work as serfs, planting the fertile Irish
fields only to have their crops shipped off to England. Their diet
consists of the pratties, (potatoes), and fish. So when the blight hits,
they are desperate. Millions succumb to disease, fever, and
starvation. Millions also leave the land and traditions, the family they
love, and travel to "Amerikay", to find work and survive. And
survive, thrive they do. In American cities like Chicago. The
children grow into strong, intelligent and talented adults, leaders in their communities,
hard workers. But as time goes on, they lose a bit of the
"Irish", forgetting their lyrical native tongue, the emerald green of
the Irish fields, but not the love of family, the strong ties that bind and the
love of a good story or reel. Mary Pat Kelly is the great-great-granddaughter
of Honora Kelly, the main character in this book. This is a story passed
down thru the ages, because after all, "We didn't die."
