Golden Years

O'Malley's (Family Saga) #7

by Andrew M. Greeley

Father Andrew M. Greeley, one of America's most popular and trusted storytellers, has long charmed readers with his continuing chronicles of the crazy O'Malleys, an irrepressible and resilient Irish American family caught up in the rush of modern American history. The previous novels in the O'Malley saga, including A Midwinter's Tale and Second Spring , have taken the longtime Chicago residents from the early postwar era through the turmoil and malaise of the 1970s. Now, in Golden Years , Chucky O'Malley and his ever-growing clan enter the Reagan years---even as a series of painful shocks tests the family's strength as never before.

The death of Chucky's elderly father brings the entire brood together to mourn, but what should be a time of unity is disrupted by the increasingly erratic behavior of Chucky's unhappy and emotionally unstable older sister, igniting a family crisis that ultimately threatens the lives of both young and old O'Malleys. Furthermore, as if their own struggles are not enough to cope with, Chucky and his wife, Rosemarie, also find themselves called upon to help an old high school friend whose beloved wife and daughter have disappeared inexplicably. To find Brigid "Bride" O'Brien and her innocent child, Chucky and Rosemarie must untangle a shadowy mystery that stretches from the bogs of Old Erin to the darkest chapters of the cold war. . . .

There will hard days ahead but, with love and more than a bit of faith, the O'Malleys will bury their dead, dry their tears, and try to make the best of their . . . Golden Years.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Mystery

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Andrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...

Reviews

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Golden Years by Andrew M. Greeley is the 7th book of the O'Malley Family series. Set in 1981 Chicago, it chronicles the family adventures and misadventures in a most eventful year. It begins with the death of the family patriarch while Chucky and Rosemarie are in Russia. The family gathers together in Chicago sharing their grief, as well as their deep abiding love. Chucky's oldest sibling Jane shocks them all with previously undetected mental instability and violence. Family and friends' romantic relationships blossom or fade, as in other books of the series. Interspersed with family crises are political visits, laced with barbed comment. Chucky and Rosemarie unravel a sinister plot to solve a kidnapping kept secret at highest government levels. Babies born into the family prove the cycle of life continues. The book (and possibly the series) ends with the passing of the family matriarch.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a Catholic priest, Greeley portrays an in depth understand of life, death, love, and sex. In Golden Years a middle age couple deals with the death of the man's parents. The couple serve as role models to a largw, multi-generational family. The story is told from the triple viewpoints of the man, wife, and one of the daughters.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed following the O'Malley family saga and this volume did not disappoint. His capturing of the spirit of an Irish family always brings happy memories of my dear friiend, Meg.

[Pat Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixth book in the series, The O'Malley and their off spring continue the saga.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

the last one of this series i own wish i had the rest of them .. it is a wonderful series ..

[Vycki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy optimistic read.

[Ariane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably should have read instead of listening to because there were wayyy too many characters and not enough in depth time to appreciate any of them.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This booK was oK how ever I do wish the author had done more to maKe it more interesting. I looK forward to reading more if this authors worK.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series!