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k8atonic's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok. I had high hopes for this as I LOVED "The Stone Carvers", and everyone who also read this one said "Away" was SO much better. I didn't really think so. The history was interesting, I just had trouble getting through it.
shereadsalotofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful lyrical novel of mixed Canadian, Irish and mythic heritage.
It’s the story of four generations of women who feel a strong pull to a mythical dream world intertwined with historical and political events of the time.
It begins as a ship’s wrecked cargo of whiskey barrels, cabbages, silver teapots and one mostly dead sailor wash ashore in pre-potato famine Ireland.
As in other Urquhart novels I’ve read, the landscape is a character and key world events of the time are woven deeply into the story. Her lyrical writing lends itself perfectly to a story where a character is away in a another world.
I’m a fast reader but Urquhart’s writing style forces me to read slowly and take it all in. It look me ages to read and I finally finished it last night.
I took this pic almost a year ago at Spiral Jetty shortly after I began reading it.
Recommended.
It’s the story of four generations of women who feel a strong pull to a mythical dream world intertwined with historical and political events of the time.
It begins as a ship’s wrecked cargo of whiskey barrels, cabbages, silver teapots and one mostly dead sailor wash ashore in pre-potato famine Ireland.
As in other Urquhart novels I’ve read, the landscape is a character and key world events of the time are woven deeply into the story. Her lyrical writing lends itself perfectly to a story where a character is away in a another world.
I’m a fast reader but Urquhart’s writing style forces me to read slowly and take it all in. It look me ages to read and I finally finished it last night.
I took this pic almost a year ago at Spiral Jetty shortly after I began reading it.
Recommended.
nanajo's review against another edition
3.0
A bit too mystical for my taste but I really enjoyed the descriptive setting in Southern Ontario.
mindygough's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed reading Away, I felt that it didn't flow for me . . . I loved and was caught up in the stories of Mary and Brian, and then of the family's life in Canada, but Eileen's story felt incongruous somehow - as though the child Eileen and the adult Eileen were separate characters. Liam's character changed completely; he became unimportant. And what was Esther's life? I wish we learned more about her.
elemomi's review against another edition
2.0
This book was well-written with lyrical prose that was beautiful at points, but I found the plot lacking, and that it often focused on characters and events I was less interested in. In addition, I struggle to connect to books with elements of magical/mystical realism, and found that it took me out of the story.
dreesreads's review against another edition
3.0
A multi-generational tale that begins on a small Irish island shortly before the famine, and ends on an Ontario shore in modern times.
Interesting, though it took 150 pages for it to get interesting, and then the last 50-100 were slow again.
Mostly, though, it is the women mooning for lost love that tired me out. Men are practical! Women are dreamy! *sigh*
Interesting, though it took 150 pages for it to get interesting, and then the last 50-100 were slow again.
Mostly, though, it is the women mooning for lost love that tired me out. Men are practical! Women are dreamy! *sigh*
karenllowe's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed the story and the way Urquhart's sentences flowed like a stream towards their end and meaning. An enviable talent. I found myself seeing through the characters' eyes while knowing what would come, its inevitable conclusion. Poignant and strong.
alizeeisreading's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0