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Title: The Girls of Ennismore
Author: Patricia Falvey
Narrator: Caroline Lennon
Format: Unabridged
Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
Language: English
Release date: 08-01-17
Publisher: Soundings
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
Victoria Bell and Rosie Killeen are best friends. Growing up in rural Ireland's County Mayo, their friendship is forged against the glorious backdrop of Ennismore House. However, Victoria, born of the aristocracy, and Rosie, daughter of a local farmer, both find that the disparity of their class and the simmering social tension in Ireland will push their friendship to the brink....
Both girls leave the idyllic Ennismore of their childhood to move to the gritty, politically charged streets of Dublin. On the cusp of the Easter Rising and the impending First World War, each girl finds herself deeply involved in the fray while immersed in forbidden romance.
Members Reviews:
A wonderful read with a feel of Downton Abbey...
Patricia Falvey
Kensington Books, March 2017
448 pages, ebook, hardcover, paperback, audiobook, MP3 CD
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This was purchased at the current price and is being given an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way.
Womenâs Lit, Family Stories, Historical
Iâve read reviews that compare this book to Downton Abbey, and there is a feel to it, but to me itâs only because they both take place at the same time and both involve the landed gentry and the servants who wait on them. This book is so Irish, you just canât compare it to DA. This does tell the story of both sets of people, but itâs so wrapped in Irelandâs history that it canât be separated from that.
Itâs 1900 and 8 year-old Rosie is walking to the Big House barefoot in a new dress to start lessons with the lordâs daughter, Victoria. Just before she gets to the door, she takes her shoes out of her pocket and puts them on. She isnât happy about leaving her own school and all her friends to come here. Her sister, Bridie, is a maid here and is very angry at her about this. Rosie is sure the other servants will feel the same way. Once she gets into the schoolroom, things donât get any better. Itâs plain that Lady Louisa, the governess and aunt of Victoria, her 7 year-old benefactor, doesnât want her there. She wants nothing to do with teaching a servantâs child. Lady Louisa is very strict and lays down very harsh and confining rules for the two girls to make it as hard as possible for any friendship to grow between them. Or for Rosie to get to know anyone else in the family closely. But Victoria has been so lonely and wants this so much that the friendship grows nonetheless. The young girls learn their lessons and eventually become young ladies of their times. At 17, itâs time for Victoria to be presented to society. But Lady Louisa and Victoriaâs mother refuse to have anything to do with presenting Rosie. The first time the two sisters-in-law are on the same side of any issue. So the two girls are parted. Victoria to Dublin for her coming out and Rosie home to try to earn money to help support her family.
Bridieâs health causes her to collapse and her job is in danger. Rosie is sent to the Big House again, but this time as a maid to keep Bridieâs job. No one is nice about this belowstairs. And Rosie is totally embarrassed when Valentine, Victoriaâs brother, discovers her change of status one day as she scrubbs the floor on her knees.
Iâm not going to give you the whole story in my own words. This was a really good read. The author provided some questions for discussion at the end of the book. Some of them I felt were worth mentioning.
Courage.
