Nell

by Nancy Thayer

Nell St. John is not living the life she imagined for herself - not by a long shot. She was once a glamorous young actress married to influential director, Marlow St. John. Together, the A-list couple was the toast of the town. But then Marlow’s star fades and tensions at home skyrocket. Marlow takes up with another woman and abandons Nell, leaving her to pay the bills and raise their two boisterous young children. A string of attractive suitors is not the answer to her lack of fulfillment, but what is?

When she’s offered a job at a posh clothing boutique on Nantucket, Nell uproots her young family and moves to the island. Soon, her college age ex-stepdaughter Clary, who has her own romantic troubles, moves in with her, and Clary and Nell fall in love with island life and its gentler pace. Nell also captures the attention of an eccentric man about town. And in that carefree, romantic summer of tender passion, she looks within and discovers much more than she ever dreamed possible.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Nancy Thayer has published 35 novels, including Family Reunion and Secrets in Summer. She has lived on Nantucket Island year-round for 38 years with her husband Charley Walters. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why have I never heard of this one! It hasn’t been on any St. Patty’s children’s book list I’ve seen. It’s truly an overlooked gem!

Full of humor, this is the legend of how the Irish came to be always associated with…

I won’t say. Don’t want to spoil the story!

Clever narration and winning pictures from Duvoisin!

Ages: 3 - 10

Cleanliness: has fairy-tale magic.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Patrick catches Tippery the littlest, skiniest leprechaun around and orders him to make gold. Though it has been a long time, Tippery tries his hardest but without luck. With his last bit of magic, Tippery manages to make something that saves all of Ireland.

Pictures and folk story style are stiff and sadly boring - written in the 60's, the book is a little too dated to appeal to today's kids.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting but I found that it was boring and not very fun to read. This book was published in the 1960's and it was very uninteresting and boring to read. I had a hard time focusing. Although I thought it was boring, the illustrations were great. That was my favorite part of this book.

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in the 1960's the book is a little dated. Patrick catches Tippery the leprechaun and orders him to make gold. Tippery tries his hardest and has all kinds of disastrous results. In a desperate attempt Tippery uses up the last of his magic and makes something amazing.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this one 5 stars because it was one of my favorite books when I was a child.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good choice for early elementary for St. Patrick's Day. I could see myself learning this to storytell.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of how Leprechauns, a little magic and poverty helped bring the staple food of potatoes to Ireland.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has a great history/legend written here but it's a long story and a little dated. Not very exciting.

[Kelly Hargrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute...old-fashioned folktale about how the potato came to be in Ireland!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the only reason this was in the "picture book" section is because it had illustrations

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young man so poor in Ireland in bad period has only soup to eat. He finds a poor leprechaun and tries to make his create gold, but all he makes is potatoes. The legend behind the potatoes. Pictures so-so.

[Ashley Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little leprechaun is hungry. Too hungry. So famished that his magic is destined for failure. For a wish to come true, there's only one thing to do, hurry up and make a stew!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun Irish folktale perfect for March.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia and a love of potatoes influence my rating decision. I remember as a kid completely loving it.

Also please, please, please get the one illustrated by Roger Duvoisin. Please.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather dull and plodding tale of a leprechaun who tries to turn dandelion soup into gold, but ends up making a wondrous (and yummy) item instead.