It is the late 60’s in Tullamore, County Offaly, and life is full of exciting possibilities for Fiona Tracey, as she prepares to leave Ireland to work for a wealthy family in New York.
Fiona’s parents have the local shop and bar, and her younger sisters are already leading independent lives. Bridget is at a convent school preparing to be a nun and Angela has led a life of her own since she was … since she was hospitalised up in Dublin for years with childhood polio.
Then, sudden tragedy forces Fiona to postpone her departure for New York. As her mother sinks into illness and depression, her responsibilities mount. When help is offered by her aunt and cousin, Fiona is mystified by her mother’s animosity towards them.
As summer approaches, an American architect, Michael O’Sullivan, takes a room above the bar. Within a short time Fiona finds herself involved in an unexpected and passionate affair.
Then, as a surprising incident threatens Bridget’s vocation, Angela uncovers information which explodes old family secrets.
Before Fiona can embark on an independent life again, perhaps in New York, she must find a new understanding of her family – and of herself.
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A Letter From America – This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it immensely. If you like Pilcher, Binchey, Buck and Jean Grainger, you will enjoy this book, too.
The storylines weave an interesting fabric of happiness, disappointment, sorrow, love and abandonment. Three sisters and their journey to adulthood by three different paths and their relationships with their parents and aunt and cousin form the foundation.
The secrets that are discovered after the death of the father and husband, and the healing that come from the knowledge kept me immersed in the pages. The author’s talent for storytelling and her vivid descriptions place the reader in the midst of their lives.
Each character is special and their dialogs are real, and there isn’t any stupidity formula, just plain storytelling about a family trying to live and love in a small town in Ireland. 5*
Did not hold my interest..read only about 1/2
Loved it!
An easy-to-read story that makes for great reading just before bed.
An interesting story of a family, hopes, dreams and secrets
That this story could actually have happened.
Lots of guilt and prejudice being Irish Catholic in the 1960’s in Ireland. Is he Catholic or Protestant? What about the family? Will they approve? Will the neighbors? Will the priest? Going to America is an acceptable out but then a family tragedy strikes. Always just the one to take care of the family. Great read.
This story is in Ireland in the 1960’s. What appears to be just a normal family, is hiding a secret. Fiona is the oldest, living at home with her parents. She helps with the bar and store. Angela is the middle daughter who has grown up in Dublin hospitals while having polio. Bridget is the youngest living in a convent to become a nun.
There are a few twists and a love story within a family as the secret comes to light. I enjoyed it a lot. I would love to see a sequel!
It gave an accurate picture of life in the 60s
A nice, lovely read.
Loved it
Incredibly dull and long winded
Thoroughly enjoyed it! Interesting characters and setting. I couldn’t put it down.
too wordy, but very interesting look at Ireland’s little towns amid the mid 1960’s.
Good family story
I loved it
I can see this happening to a family. Life can get really complicated.
When I choose historical fiction I expect to learn something about a time, place and culture I know little about. In some ways this book skips over historical details that would put the era in a better perspective. Yet it managed to establish the characters effectively, presenting social situations and societal mores in an engaging way and allowing a tragic lie to play out all with a tidy conclusion.
a mild story
This novel presents a historic picture of the working class women, immigration and trial’s of Great Britton . Moving and bitter sweet.
helped me to understand the life style of this culture