On New Year’s Day 1925 Ivy Rose Murphy awakes to find her world changed forever. Her irresponsible Da is dead. She is grief-stricken and alone – but for the first time in her life free to please herself. After her mother deserted the family, Ivy became the sole provider for her da and three brothers. Pushing a pram around the well-to-do areas of Dublin every day, she begged for the discards of … discards of the wealthy which she then turned into items she could sell around Dublin’s markets.
As she visits the morgue to pay her respects to her Da, a chance meeting introduces Ivy to a new world of money and privilege, her mother’s world. Ivy is suddenly a woman on a mission to improve herself and her lot in life.
Jem Ryan is the owner of a livery near Ivy’s tenement. When an accident occurs in one of his carriages, leaving a young girl homeless, it is Ivy he turns to. With Jem and the people she meets in her travels around Dublin, Ivy begins to break out of the poverty-ridden world that is all she has ever known.
Through Streets Broad and Narrow is a story of strength and determination in the unrelenting world that was Dublin tenement life.
more
I really enjoyed how I was transported back in time. The author used rich imagery so the book was easy to picture in my mind. It was a fun read!
I read another of the author’s books and liked it so much, I decided to read this story as well. I’m disappointed that, like the first book, this story is a cliffhanger. This story, like the first I read, was so enjoyable, I find myself looking forward to buying reading the next 2 books in the series. I usually avoid books that end with cliffhangers. I’m glad I missed any warnings there might have been in the reviews section. I would have missed out on a good story!
Three mixed-bag stars. This series debut started out promising but started to drag mid-way through and just kind of petered out at the end for me. On the positive side, I enjoyed the colorful 1920’s Dublin setting. I think the author did a good job bringing it to life and “showing not telling” to help this reader become immersed in the setting. Overall, though, the writing was not all that great, and in the e-book version at least, the copy editing left much to be desired. Missing commas and oversights like “A twist of faith” (instead of “a twist of fate”), and sayings I thought were too modern for the times (like “no problem”) were distracting to me. Certain story lines were started and then dropped, so it read kind of choppy for me. For instance, after all the hullabaloo about Emmy and her dead aunt, her adjusting to her new life and settling in with her now “uncle” Jem was glossed over — that should have been a really big deal, I think. I did like the narrator, Ivy, though. This early feminist was an inspiration! But not enough of one to make me want to seek out (or pay for) the next three books in the series. I got this as a Kindle freebie from Amazon, so I am not complaining. Despite my dings, it was still a fun read, and I did enjoy it — just not quite enough to continue with the series.
Miss Ivy Murphy is a true force of nature! Okay, there are a few very minor imperfections, which I strongly advise you to overlook and just invite Ivy, Jem, and the host of likeable people this author has created into your heart and home. I think you won’t regret a single moment spent on this delightful book!
Can’t wait to read the next book. A realistic look at life in the period but an affirming view.
Liked the characters and how the main character learns to take control of her destiny.
This is the first of four books with an interesting storyline. Enjoyable to read.
I loved this book, the whole series. Wonderful characterization. Great story about a time not often told
This was a really good read and reminded me just a bit of Angela’s Ashes in that the story is about poverty stricken Ireland. Wonderful, and an occasional awful, characters, I loved reading all 3 in the series.
I like to see characters grow in the books I read.
Rose Murphy’s life was challenged from the time her mother left her, to her Da’s death and even from her church, but she overcame all these challenged and became a wife and a successful woman. I read the whole series and all the stories were easy to read. I didn’t want the stories to end.
Loved it! A great read.
Great page Turner, complex and entertaining!
Through Streets Broad and Narrow takes place in Dublin, Ireland in the year 1925. Ivy Rose dwells in a tenement where she uses personal resourcefulness to left herself and many of her tenement neighbors out of poverty. She faces numerous obstacles including the untimely death of her father, jealous neighbors, and a vindictive Parish priest, she bounces back with no hand d feelings. You’ll get to know her friends and those who seek to unrail her. This is the first of several books about this amazing woman and her retail exploits. But, be warned. This book is hard to put down. I highly recommend it!
I love all of Gemma Jackson’s books and this one is great.
Loved the characters, read the whole series; couldn’t stop with one. Love the historical fiction, learn so much about the time period as I travel with the characters. Determination, pulling yourself up, encouraging others, love and supporting each other as you struggle with what live gives you; it has got it all. Loved Ivy!
unrealistic
I enjoyed this book very much. The story is original and believable. Great characters. I found it hard to put it down.
I just learned so much of the lives of others in this book. I like the historical novels that tells us of lives so different than our own.
Fabulous story – made me homesick for Dublin