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_milan_'s review against another edition
tense
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? Yes
3.0
ronanmcd's review against another edition
5.0
"This book could be read in two hours..." the quote on the cover says. Maybe so, but I spent ages in it, living through the repressive household, reflecting Ireland's troubles with itself in the decades after independence.
"... but it will stay with you for years" the quote continued. Yes.
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One issue I have is with my own interpretation of the book. Moran is post war Ireland. He struggles to reconcile the violence and keep it from resurfacing, he wants recognition for what he did, but recoils at that recognition, his children have gone abroad when he couldn't provide, he is stubborn and sets himself apart.
"... but it will stay with you for years" the quote continued. Yes.
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One issue I have is with my own interpretation of the book. Moran is post war Ireland. He struggles to reconcile the violence and keep it from resurfacing, he wants recognition for what he did, but recoils at that recognition, his children have gone abroad when he couldn't provide, he is stubborn and sets himself apart.
nadgtz's review against another edition
3.0
I was quite skeptical when I started it. Once again it's a book I had to read for uni. But. because there is a but I got captivated but Moran's family and its everyday life, it was soothing in a way even though Moran is irritating I grew quite fond of the other characters.
I would recommend it, just know that there is not much happening but it's a nice read.
I would recommend it, just know that there is not much happening but it's a nice read.
allieeveryday's review against another edition
2.0
I've always thought of myself as someone who doesn't need to like characters to like a book, and this is the first time in a while I've questioned whether that's really true for me. Because every time I set this book down to go do something else, basically my last thought would be that Moran was such a schmuck, knowing schmuck was not the right adjective but not having a better one. He's, at the very least, verbally abusive to his children; his wife and daughters tiptoe around him as to avoid unleashing his frustration and anger, and still declare that their lives and worlds revolve around him and he can't help it, it's just the way Daddy is, etc. etc. Which historically has made me roll my eyes and bump down the star rating.
As I was reading this though, I started thinking about what other people would think of this book. I can think of a few GR friends that would probably love this (Bonnie, probably you, though I can't quite figure out WHY I think so, other than you usually like the things that make me roll my eyes and then have much better insight than I do about it). For the languid Irish farm setting, at the very least, and the relationships between the grown children, all of whom eventually leave home and some of whom don't mind returning to the gilded cage, and others who outright refuse to let their father have any power over them once they're gone.
Could I like a book despite the main character - and yes, Moran is obviously the main character in a book called Amongst Women EYEROLL - being pretty frustrating and despicable even in his interiority? Sure. Once I started thinking about it beyond just Moran, I liked certain elements about Amongst Women (the aforementioned environment, the relationship between the daughters and their stepmother), but also there were several times when the author made the same observation only a page or two apart, and I wished for an editor.
So ultimately - it was fine. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
As I was reading this though, I started thinking about what other people would think of this book. I can think of a few GR friends that would probably love this (Bonnie, probably you, though I can't quite figure out WHY I think so, other than you usually like the things that make me roll my eyes and then have much better insight than I do about it). For the languid Irish farm setting, at the very least, and the relationships between the grown children, all of whom eventually leave home and some of whom don't mind returning to the gilded cage, and others who outright refuse to let their father have any power over them once they're gone.
Could I like a book despite the main character - and yes, Moran is obviously the main character in a book called Amongst Women EYEROLL - being pretty frustrating and despicable even in his interiority? Sure. Once I started thinking about it beyond just Moran, I liked certain elements about Amongst Women (the aforementioned environment, the relationship between the daughters and their stepmother), but also there were several times when the author made the same observation only a page or two apart, and I wished for an editor.
So ultimately - it was fine. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
mini_babybell's review
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jmay4th's review against another edition
2.0
A controlling father with daughters who blindly still believe he is good(which he might be in his own way?) but sons who hate him because of his control(and somewhat justly so). I enjoyed Rose, the new wife who pushed back against him, but feel sorry for the family as a whole.
ccz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ana_leitao's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
" As he weakened Moran became afraid of his daughters." is the opening line to this book and it is the idea of this imposing man being humbled in his old age which adds to the subsequent story of Michael Moran's life with his family.
The opening chapter sees Moran's three adult daughters coming back to the family home when their aging father is to resurrect monaghan day . This is a day of feast when Moran's old soldier in arms from the Irish war of independence visits and they reminisce over the friend drinking a bottle of whisky. In that chapter we learn that at the time of the Irish civil war Moran was leader of an IRA group and was a tough and unforgiving commander yet and that is the only peak we get into the psychology of a man who then over the ensuing chapters does not have many redeeming features.
The life of Moran then begins in the book when he is about to meet his second wife Rose ( again we don't know much about his first wife) and he is sole carer for four children at home Sheila, Maggie, Mona and Michael. Moran rules the home with an iron fist and a religious devotion that includes the family each night saying the rosary on his their knees. we also know that something has happened to lead the eldest son to leave the house and escape to England without any contact with his father.
The story is concisely and well told and certainly the author is able to create a world in a few paragraphs that other writers need hundreds of pages to express. Often within a few paragraphs we leap months but I did not find this frustrating as the story was rich in content. Often what is not said or , Moran's few words are enough.
But Moran is an unrelentingly sad character and there were scenes that had me worrying over the family as a whole particularly the conflict between him and Michael which clearly echoes back to what has happened to Luke, and his imposing his will on Sheila which leads to taking a different path.
So not my favourite character in fiction but an incredibly absorbing character whose life was perhaps framed by his experiences as an adolescent and perhaps as a young man. A tale brilliantly told and one which I could have immersed myself in for 500 plus pages yet this was book of less than 200 pages and perhaps that is why it was not 5* as I was left feeling that I needed more about Moran and his family and allowed myself to excuse Moran rather than despair of his life as a husband and father.
The opening chapter sees Moran's three adult daughters coming back to the family home when their aging father is to resurrect monaghan day . This is a day of feast when Moran's old soldier in arms from the Irish war of independence visits and they reminisce over the friend drinking a bottle of whisky. In that chapter we learn that at the time of the Irish civil war Moran was leader of an IRA group and was a tough and unforgiving commander yet and that is the only peak we get into the psychology of a man who then over the ensuing chapters does not have many redeeming features.
The life of Moran then begins in the book when he is about to meet his second wife Rose ( again we don't know much about his first wife) and he is sole carer for four children at home Sheila, Maggie, Mona and Michael. Moran rules the home with an iron fist and a religious devotion that includes the family each night saying the rosary on his their knees. we also know that something has happened to lead the eldest son to leave the house and escape to England without any contact with his father.
The story is concisely and well told and certainly the author is able to create a world in a few paragraphs that other writers need hundreds of pages to express. Often within a few paragraphs we leap months but I did not find this frustrating as the story was rich in content. Often what is not said or , Moran's few words are enough.
But Moran is an unrelentingly sad character and there were scenes that had me worrying over the family as a whole particularly the conflict between him and Michael which clearly echoes back to what has happened to Luke, and his imposing his will on Sheila which leads to taking a different path.
So not my favourite character in fiction but an incredibly absorbing character whose life was perhaps framed by his experiences as an adolescent and perhaps as a young man. A tale brilliantly told and one which I could have immersed myself in for 500 plus pages yet this was book of less than 200 pages and perhaps that is why it was not 5* as I was left feeling that I needed more about Moran and his family and allowed myself to excuse Moran rather than despair of his life as a husband and father.
lucie_cry's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5