Kevin O'ConnellRecensioni

Algebraic Notation

Algebraic Notation

I was instantly intrigued by this story when I read the book's blurb. As a fan of historical fiction and family sagas did The Derrynane Saga sound like a book for me. The book starts with Eileen O'Connell returning home after hardly been away a year married to a man that her brother decided she would marry. Here, she tells her story to her older sister Abigale. And, the beginning is, I think the strongest part of the book. I was instantly taken with Eileen, she is not a weak little flower being married off, instead is she a tough, pragmatic and resourceful girl. And, after a disastrous wedding night is she also a girl hellbent on revenge. But, here the book surprises me quite a lot and I found myself quite enjoying the change in the story, unfortunately, I also knew that this would not last.

The first book in The Derrynane Saga does feel like an introduction to the O'Connell family. It's an interesting period and I found the change from Ireland to the court of Empress Maria Theresa in Vienna interesting, but I also felt that the passing was a bit slow and to be honest I struggled with the book now and then. But, at the same time, I felt that this book is very well researched and put together. Although I was a bit torn about Eileen and Abigale time in Vienna. I wanted to enjoy it, but I felt that not much happened, not enough drama. Everything was cheerful and nice and it got a bit too much in the end. The book started off strong, but the last half lacked the intensity. At the same time, was I intrigued by the situation in Europe, and Empress Maria Theresa and her children and what the future will bring. For instance, at first, I didn't know who Archduchess Maria Antonia was, but a comment in the book made me check up Maria Theresa's children and that made me realize that Maria Antonia would one day be known as Marie Antoinette. She is the future queen of France and reading about her as a child was tinged with sadness, knowing her fate.

The Derrynane Saga did perhaps not spellbind me, but it's a well written and definitely well-researched book and perfect for history buffs.

I want to thank Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

I read Beyond Derrynane, the first book in this series last year, and was thrilled to get the chance to reading the sequel and finding out more about Eileen O'Connell, what the next step in her life would be. You don't have to have read the first book to appreciate this book, but it's plus, although the events that happened in the first book and are mentioned in this book would be explained so you will not feel left out.

I found the first half of the book the best, to be honest. Eileen O'Connell is going back to Ireland, to visit her family for the very first time in years. It's a joyous reuniting for Eileen to once again be back home with her family. When she left Ireland was she a young widow and now she is an important person at the Habsburg court where she is in charge of the two young archduchesses. One of them being the future Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. What really appealed to me was the love story that took place back in Ireland when Eileen met the man she knew she would marry. However, not everything is that easy and she had to fight for the man she loved. There is a scene in the book where I sat with my heart in my throat as she literary had to flee together with the man she loved to freedom and a life with him. How that ended, well you have to read the book.

The second part of the book takes place back in Vienna and yes that part of the book was also good, but I did not experience the same feeling that the first half of the book gave me. The arrival of Hugh O'Connell, Eileen's little brother in Vienna and his friendship with archduchess Maria Antonia that started to blossom into warmer feelings was a storyline that just didn't truly engross me. However, the last part, in France, when Maria Antonia had been married off was both interesting and tragic.

Two Journeys Home is a book that feels really well-researched and I loved getting an insight into Habsburg court. I have read several books about the French court at the same time and getting a different view was great.

I want to thank the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

Bittersweet Tapestry is the third book in the Derrynane Saga and in my opinion the best of the three. While there is still a large cast of characters, this book unlike the others is mostly tells the story of Eileen and Art O’Leary as they settle back in Ireland after leaving Vienna and the court of the Empress. With that focus the reader can just settle in and become immersed in life in Cork as the Catholic O’Leary’s try to live under the oppressive Protestant rules.

That’s not to say that the book has forgotten all of the other O’Connells. There is a subplot involving Hugh and his (fictional) romance of the Princess de Lamballe while at the court of Marie Antoinette. But the bulk of the book involves the life that Art and Eileen are trying to build with their sons. They find some opposition in the form of a rather odious man named Morris who has a strong dislike of Art but much more than writing that will spoil plot points so I will stop here.

I pretty much read this book in one sitting – I got through maybe the first 50 pages the day before but then I sat with the rest of the book and just got so involved in the story I didn’t want to stop reading. As with any series the book does stand alone but it makes for a richer reading experience if you have read what has come before. The characters are based on real people from the author’s family so that adds an extra dimension to the storytelling.

Irish history is often underrepresented in historical fiction so I am always happy to come upon a book that takes place in the country as I’m not that far removed from it. My grandparents came over “on the boat” in the early 30ies. Perhaps someday I’ll get to visit. For now I do that through reading excellent books such as this.½

This is the second book in the Derrynane series. I enjoyed the first book as Irish history does have a place in my heart being as my father’s family came from Ireland. The author has loosely based the story on his family’s history and I do enjoy novels that are based in real life however loosely.

The main protagonist is a very headstrong young woman named Eileen O’Connell. She is supported by a large family in Ireland and Vienna where a large number of the Irish have gone in the time period as the English have constrained their ability to advance. A basic knowledge of the English/Irish relationship is helpful but not necessary in understanding the underlying currents in the book.

But this is a novel driven by characters and I must admit that I did not enjoy this book as much as I did the first. This book seemed a bit more of a diary/travelogue than a fully fleshed novel to me. I will note that I did have an advanced reader’s copy and perhaps further edits will have been made before sale to the public. I just didn’t find myself as invested in the characters as I was in the first story. That does not mean I would not read a third should one be written.½

Beyond Derrynane is one of those historical fiction stories that you hate to put down. A novel written about a family as large as the O'Connell's is an especially interesting read as it is somewhat based on fact. Mr. O'Connell definitely has the Irish trait of being able to tell an interesting story.

As often happened in era's past, the daughters of the family were in arranged marriages as was Eileen. In this case, it was not arranged by her father but by her eldest brother Denis as their father was deceased. Denis only did it to increase the families coffers. His reasoning was that the family was cash poor as they often traded in goods rather than money, but Denis was a mean spirited man and hated his sister.

Eileen did as she was bid and went off to live in the home of a man quite a bit older than she was. Mr. O'Connor was abusive and beat her within an inch of her life but Eileen was able to rise above this and tried to make a life for herself as the mistress of the house and even after awhile came to care about her husband.
Mr.O'Connor dies suddenly and Eileen returns home to Derrynane.

Eileen's mother contacts General Moritz O'Connell of the Imperial Austrian Army who is Eileen's uncle and along with her sister, Abigail, enter the court of Empress Maria Theresa in Vienna and the court quickly becomes home to both. Abigail is close to the Empress while Eileen becomes governess to the Empress two daughters. After awhile they both come to love the Empress and create a happy life for them both.

I really enjoyed this story, as I love any books written about Ireland and its people. The characters were easy to relate to and love. I look forward to reading the next in the series in the continuing life of the O'Connells! If you love and enjoy historical fiction, then this book is not to be missed.

Rich. Inviting. And vividly detailed in the time, people and the activities around them. This journey of two Irish sisters, Abigail and Eileen, was filled with court life, intrigue, drama, choices, plotting, love, romance, family, and more. This was just the first of a four-book series of the Derrynane. This first book was captivating with historical facts and recounting events that may or may not have occurred.

Things are chronicled in dates, seasons, and place specific to the events. This was a read that keep the pace event. It was almost like reading a diary the way it was separated and presented. I was able to take my time and absorb each date, place and event as it was presented. I would find the next story interesting to read just to see if it holds up.

This book is the the story of Eileen O’Connell for the most part. It is the first in a trilogy about the O’Connell family of Derrynane, Ireland – a family that lived (lives) from a place that exists. But beyond those two facts the book is pretty much fictional. (I googled – I’m an inveterate googler.)

Eileen is forced into a marriage by her head of the family older brother – their father having died. His only concern is the profit the marriage can bring to the family. He sends her off to her new husband with little or no care for her comfort. I won’t go in to how things work out as I don’t want to spoil the plot. I’ll just note she returns home a widow not long after she left. This leaves her in a difficult position; she was used to the running of her own household and can’t easily step back into a child’s role. Fortunately an opportunity to join the Hapsburg court arrives thanks to her uncle and so she and her sister head out.

The court life turns out to be just what Eileen needed. She and her sister melt right in – almost too easily. But it’s a small complaint in a good book. There were a few plot points that just didn’t ring true but overall I enjoyed the book. I found the life of this young woman to be very interesting and it’s a point of view not usually seen in the books that I read. I’ll look forward to the next two books in the trilogy.