The Yellow House a read a long... Part One

Carrie over at Books and Movies is our hostess for The Yellow House  read-along by Patricia Falvey. If you’re following our schedule, you should have read the first two sections of the book: “Glenlea, County Armagh, 1905″ and “Queensbrook Linen Mill, 1913.” 

Spoiler alert: We will be discussing the book in detail, so if you haven’t read those sections and don’t want to read any spoilers, you should skip this post.

What do you think of the writing?

I'm thoroughly enjoying the writing of this portion of the book. I find it easy to read and hard to put down.  I've not yet mastered the art of reading more than one book at a time so I'll be having a difficult time this week waiting for the next post.  I love the vivid descriptions of the landscape, and I do believe that parents told their children long drawn out tales of the geographical and historical aspects of their existence .  My mother could have easily been one of these people, we use to get some really action packed stories about the who's who and where and why for.  Were they the real thing? don't know, but like Carrie I agree that a young girl with a father who seemingly was not all that learned could know the correct terminology.  this didn't seem to bother me all that much, I just thought it was an author's creative license.  Non the less I've enjoyed the book to this point..

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What do you think of Eileen’s parents?

 I'm saddened by this whole relationship.  I mean I knew that there had to be some drama, but how unfortunate.  I was half expecting this Irish family to be on the dole ( not sure of the spelling) and the father being a drunk and abusive, so it was a nice change that this Da actually loved his wife and children, and was just not very capable at providing for them.  The whole thing is just sad.

It seems that the book is heading in a romantic direction when it comes to Eileen and Owen Sheridan. What do you think of this potential romance?

This is a romance with true troubles ahead!  I may actually have to sit down and map out the relationship according to my professors guidelines.  I hope they have the good sense to move to another part of the world like the U.S. to be together if that's where the author leads them, but if not it will be an unrequited love. Reminds me a little of the movie An Officer and a Gentleman.   If they decided to fight society and remain in their homes it may be history repeating itself.

Of coarse for me after having just finished reading Water for Elephants, I want everyone to run away and join the circus.

As we closed the second section, the world is on the brink of the First World War, and Ireland is being torn apart by the fight for Home Rule. Have you learned anything about Ireland or the world at this time period that was new to you?

 I'm not very knowledgeable about Irish history, so I am glad that the author is giving us glimpses of what was happening, again I feel like I need to do a little more research into this matter, but Yes, I am learning a fair bit about the historical aspect of Ireland in relation to their involvement in the war.

These are all the questions  Carrie came up with  for this section. Check out what the rest of the group have to say at Books and Movies  and if you haven't joined us, there is still time. 

Photo of book I own.