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gr8reader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mforbes79's review against another edition
4.0
The Emerald Horizon
(The Star and The Shamrock #2)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read The Star and The Shamrock a month or so ago and had no clue there was a second book until this week.
The Star and the Shamrock is based mostly in Ireland while The Emerald Horizon goes between the children and their caregivers in Ireland and what their mother endures during the war in Germany as a Jew. Grainger showed both the horror of the war as well as the kind hearts of strangers.
My favorite quote highlights from this book:
"All flags did was separate, show difference, one group rallying to one flag, another group rallying to another, all of it based on nothing more than what patch of earth you happened to be born on. It was all so stupid."
"Those we love don’t die, not really. They are in our hearts, in our heads."
"but hearts are like legs or arms that break – even if you don’t want them to, or could never imagine them healing, somehow they do."
"But the best way to support someone who is grieving is just to be there. To not try to make it better or explain it away, but just to be there and let them cry, let them endure the pain. Just be beside them so they know they are not alone."
‘If this war has taught me anything, Roman, it’s that there is no one defining characteristic of any nationality.’ Her Russian was rusty, but she found the words to say what she felt. ‘We are all a mixture of everything – good and bad, brave and cowardly, kind and hateful. No one nation or people has a monopoly on anything. So yes, I know not all Russians are like the ones that killed my friend. Germans have hurt me, exiled my children, but it was also Germans who hid me, who gave me food. So I don’t judge people by their nationality, only by their actions.’
(The Star and The Shamrock #2)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read The Star and The Shamrock a month or so ago and had no clue there was a second book until this week.
The Star and the Shamrock is based mostly in Ireland while The Emerald Horizon goes between the children and their caregivers in Ireland and what their mother endures during the war in Germany as a Jew. Grainger showed both the horror of the war as well as the kind hearts of strangers.
My favorite quote highlights from this book:
"All flags did was separate, show difference, one group rallying to one flag, another group rallying to another, all of it based on nothing more than what patch of earth you happened to be born on. It was all so stupid."
"Those we love don’t die, not really. They are in our hearts, in our heads."
"but hearts are like legs or arms that break – even if you don’t want them to, or could never imagine them healing, somehow they do."
"But the best way to support someone who is grieving is just to be there. To not try to make it better or explain it away, but just to be there and let them cry, let them endure the pain. Just be beside them so they know they are not alone."
‘If this war has taught me anything, Roman, it’s that there is no one defining characteristic of any nationality.’ Her Russian was rusty, but she found the words to say what she felt. ‘We are all a mixture of everything – good and bad, brave and cowardly, kind and hateful. No one nation or people has a monopoly on anything. So yes, I know not all Russians are like the ones that killed my friend. Germans have hurt me, exiled my children, but it was also Germans who hid me, who gave me food. So I don’t judge people by their nationality, only by their actions.’
mizele20's review against another edition
3.0
Just a good simple heartwarming story during a horrible time in history. While readers are aware of the events taking place, nothing is really graphic in the story. The parallel lives of Ariella in Germany and her children in Ireland may lead to predictable results, but not simply.
connie_gatzke's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
rkeefer1011's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
craftingcatlady's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
This book hit me in all the feels. The happy, the sad, the oh cruds! It had them all!
In “The Star and the Shamrock” we didn’t really get to see what happened with Ariella after she put her children on the kindertransport. But in “The Emerald Horizon” we went to and fro from Balleycraggan and Berlin. We saw the dangers and how Ariella is trying to survive the war, the others she meets as she tries to survive, and the end of the war. This book ended on such a sweet and wonderful note; I can not wait to read the next and see what happens to these families.
In “The Star and the Shamrock” we didn’t really get to see what happened with Ariella after she put her children on the kindertransport. But in “The Emerald Horizon” we went to and fro from Balleycraggan and Berlin. We saw the dangers and how Ariella is trying to survive the war, the others she meets as she tries to survive, and the end of the war. This book ended on such a sweet and wonderful note; I can not wait to read the next and see what happens to these families.
anothernicole's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing
This was an incredible read—suspenseful, moving, eye-opening, and (ultimately) so satisfying. The horrors of that war, the sacrifices people made, the costs—and then the goodness in some that shone out. This book was touching in so many ways. Highly recommend.
This was an incredible read—suspenseful, moving, eye-opening, and (ultimately) so satisfying. The horrors of that war, the sacrifices people made, the costs—and then the goodness in some that shone out. This book was touching in so many ways. Highly recommend.
martarose91's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I was SO happy to get to learn more about Ariella’s journey and really resolved so perfectly. The relationships and character development is so sweet to watch unfold. Highly recommend!
jaclynsamara's review
4.0
Even better than the first book!
I loved reading from Ariella’s perspective, a much interesting story compared to Elizabeth’s. Perfectly captured the fear of being a Jew in WWII.
I’m definitely really curious what the third book will be about. Probably about adjusting to life after the war, but I fear that won’t be as interesting as the topic of Ariella’s survival.
I loved reading from Ariella’s perspective, a much interesting story compared to Elizabeth’s. Perfectly captured the fear of being a Jew in WWII.
I’m definitely really curious what the third book will be about. Probably about adjusting to life after the war, but I fear that won’t be as interesting as the topic of Ariella’s survival.