A Family Reunion by Patricia Scanlon #Review

 

Published on March 4th by Simon and Schuster, Patricia Scanlon's A Family Reunion is a great read.  Published earlier this year as The Liberation of Brigid Dunne, it was a #1 bestseller in Ireland.

One explosive family reunion. A lifetime of secrets revealed. 

When four feisty women from the same family, get together at a family reunion, anything can happen...

Marie-Claire, betrayed by her partnerMarc plans her revenge to teach him a lesson he will never forget.She travels from Toronto, home to Ireland, to the house of the Four Winds, for her great auntReverend Mother Brigid’s eightieth birthday celebrations.It will be a long-awaited reunion for three generations of family, bringing together her mother, Keelin and grandmother, Imelda -who have never quitegot along. And then all hell breaks loose.

Bitter, jealous Imelda makes a shocking revelation that forces them all to confront their pasts, admit mistakes, and face the truths that have shaped their lives. With four fierce, opinionated women in one family, will they everbe able to forgive the past and share a future?

And what of Marc?

It’s never toolate to make amends...or is it?

Spanning generations and covering seismic shifts in the lives of women, A Family Reunion is a compelling, thought-provoking, important and highly emotional novel from a trailblazing author in women's fiction.

My Thoughts

 This is an engrossing read which weaves together three generations of one family, focussing on the female members of the family. You get a real flavour of the times, especially as they affected women, through the attitudes of the RC Church and society in Ireland towards issues of fertility, childbirth and the place of women. Much is hidden as appearances are kept up. There are some shocking moments. You also get to contrast the choices which women have in their personal relationships today, compared to in the 1950's.

    Brigid and Imelda are sisters and there are many issues from the past which block their understanding of each other. Imelda, in particular, seems very complicated and resentful but also, so very vulnerable. Imelda's daughter and granddaughter have their own stories and added to that, their relationships with each other and  with Brigid and Imelda forms a complex web. Each of the four women are strong willed and feisty. Together they make a formidable mix!

In short: Secrets from the past surface.  

About the Author

Patricia Scanlan lives in Dublin. Her books, all number one bestsellers, have sold worldwide and been translated into many languages.

You can follow Patricia here: Author Page

 Book link: Amazon UK 

 

 

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