Smaragdinvihreä sydän

by Kathleen McGurl, Tuukka Pekkanen (Translator)

Kuinka paljon hän on valmis uhraamaan?

Kathleen McGurlin kahden aikatason romaani Smaragdinvihreä sydän on liikuttava, tositapahtumien inspiroima tarina naisten poikkeuksellisesta rohkeudesta Irlannin vallankumouksen aikaan.

Ensimmäisen maailmansodan riehuessa Euroopassa Gráinne jättää työnsä tavaratalossa liittyäkseen kreivitär Markiewiczin kapinallisiin joukkoihin. Hän haluaa osallistua taisteluun itsenäisen Irlannin puolesta. Kreivittären talo, Surrey House, toimii asevarastona ja yhtenä kansallisarmeijan tukikohdista. Pian Dublinin kadut muuttuvat taistelukentäksi ja Gráinne huomaa, minkä hinnan hän joutuu maksamaan taistelusta uskomansa asian puolesta.

Yli 80 vuotta myöhemmin nuori Nicky toipuu erostaan ja uppoutuu tutkimukseensa Irlannin historiasta. Se johdattaa hänet hänen isoisoäitinsä kapinalliseen historiaan ja sydäntä särkevään tarinaan tragediasta ja rohkeudesta sekä niistä, jotka uhrasivat kaiken maansa puolesta.

Kathleen McGurlin tositarinan innoittamassa tunteikkaassa lukuromaanissa kahden sukupolven naiset taistelevat kumpikin oman onnensa puolesta.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland, Historical, Adult Fiction, Dual Timeline, Irish Literature

384 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2022

About the author

Kathleen McGurl lives in Bournemouth with her husband and cat. She has two grown-up sons who have now left home. She always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines and written three books for writers. These days she is concentrating on longer fiction and has published several dual timeline novels with CarinaUK and HQ. She works full time in the IT industry and when she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gráinne MacDowd attends Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral at the Glasnevin Cemetery, she listens to Patrick Pearse give what's to be one of the most know and stirring speeches for the Irish independence movement. At the cemetery she bumps into Emmett O’Sheridan, her brother Sean’s best friend and he’s off fighting the Germans on the Western Front.

Gráinne is a proud member of the Cumann na mBan or The Irishwomen’s Council and she’s honored when Countess Constance Markiewicz asks her to work for her. Gráinne does a bit of everything leading up to and during the Easter Rising and the British newspapers referred to it as a riot. For a week the streets of Dublin are a battle ground, people fighting for what they believe in and some make the ultimate sacrifice for Irish independence.

The Girl with the Emerald Flag has a dual timeline and it's set in 1916 and in 1998. Told from the points of view of the two main female characters, Gráinne and her great-granddaughter Nicola.

Nicky Waters is studying modern history at Sussex University, she’s the only child of Karen and David. Nicola needs a subject for her main research project, and she decides to interview her wise great-grandmother and she visits her in Ireland. Nicky’s still trying to work out her place in the world, hovering over her shoulder and always telling her what to do is her interfering mother.

Nicky’s trips to Ireland are a real revelation, her supergran tells her a remarkable story and she knew the major leaders of the Easter Rising. It’s a story about fighting for what you believe in, learning from the mistakes you make, being independent and taking risks, remaining close and appreciating the people you love. Nicky has a light bulb moment, she grows up and she sees things from a very different perspective.

I received a digital copy of The Girl with the Emerald Flag from NetGalley and HQ Digital in exchange for an honest review. Kathleen McGurl has written an inspiring coming of age story, combined with a fascinating Irish history lesson and five stars from me.

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.9 star rating from me ✨✨✨✨✨🇮🇪

What a beautiful, tender and at times heartwarming & heartbreaking story about the Easter Rising that took place in April,1916 starting on Easter Monday. There's so much I could write about this subject, but I will attempt to keep it as short as possible.

I love history, learning new things, reading, Historical Fiction,true stories and books about Ireland 💚 I've read a few books that touched on the Easter Rising one is The Girls Of Ennismore by Patricia Falvey and another is The Forgotten Secret by Kathleen McGurl (that was the first book I read by her and fell in love with her writing style and every book that I read have been 5 star ratings!)

It's a wonderfully flowing duel timeline beginning in 1916 Ireland where we have Grainne who is 100 years old. She took part in the Rising. Such a beautiful lady! You'll like her a lot. She has a story to tell...

In 1998 we have Nicky and her parents in England. Nicky is a college student majoring in history. She's a bit of a rebel at the beginning of the story. Nicky has to write a term paper for her class and her Mother gives her advice to talk to her Great Grandmother ( Grainne) whom Nicky calls Supergran. Here's where the story about the Easter Rising starts to take off.

Nicky goes to Dublin to write Supergrans story about what happened during the Easter Rising and what a fantastic story Supergran tells! This book really gives so very many details of the Rising and the events of that week along with what's going on in WW1. Suffice it to say, I learned a lot which I will treasure. To read the truth about what happened was an amazing experience. She writes as if you are right there.

When I read the Authors Notes, I wanted to include what Kathleen McGurl said in the beginning: " I have used a novelist's license to put Grainne right in the middle of the action during the rebellion, but all events associated with the Easter Rising are as true to history as I could make them." She really did her research! I really loved this beautiful book and very highly recommend it. If you like history,or just want to read a fantastic book...pick up this one!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 😁📖🇮🇪💚🍀

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! It's a dual timeline with the contemporary part set in 1998 and the past in 1916, specifically in the week of the Easter Rising in Dublin.
Nicky is our modern day heroine. She's just left home to study in college. She's an only child and can't wait to get away and live her own life. She's an ungrateful, naïve brat at this stage and I didn't like her at all. She grows and develops during the story and I warmed to her a bit more towards the end.
Our past heroine is Grainne and she really is a heroine. She takes a job with Countess Markievicz and in doing so becomes involved with the Rising. She is also Nicky's great grandmother.
The two stories that unfold make satisfying reading. The author has certainly done her homework regarding the Rising. I've been told stories about this all my life. I was totally engrossed in this part of the book. Relating the events through the eyes of Grainne makes it come alive in a way you don't get from history books. It's a sad tale really.
If you like getting your history from fictional stories rather than dry tomes then this is the book for you. I'd highly recommend it!

Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved Kathleen McGurl's dual timeline novels, and I really enjoyed her latest book.
Set in revolutionary Ireland, in 1916 as well as modern day, the story follows a part of history I'm ashamed to say I know little about. Now that's changed, thanks to this book.
Both timelines are given equal attention, and I enjoyed both but I looked forward to Nicky's chapters a little more, I suspect because she reminds me of myself!
McGurl shows the reason I love historical fiction perfectly with this book. To raise awareness to a lesser known part of history through wonderful, powerful characters who you support and want to succeed.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Girl with the Emerald Flag, by Kathleen McGurt, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Young people do realize that their parents and grandparents did amazing things in their lives, each generation is so different. Nicky finds this out about her grandmother Grainne, while interviewing her for a school project. The early nineteen hundreds are so different from the 90's and now. This is a really good read about Ireland in 1916, and one woman's remembrance of it.

[Iida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oli ihan tosi hyvä kirja!! Sopivan pitunen ja oli kivaa vaihtelua kun kirjan joka toinen luku sijoittu eri aikakauteen. Juoni oli tosi hyvä ja hahmot myös. Loppu oli yks parhaista kohdista ja aihe myös tosi kiinnostava. On kyllä yks mun lempikirjoista ja aivan ihana.

[Kirjoihin kadonnut || Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sellainen semihyvä historiallinen romaani. Tarina liikkui kahdessa aikatasossa - vuoden 1916 Irlannissa ja 1998 Birminghamissa. En voinut sietää Nickya, joka oli 90-luvun aikatason päähenkilö, mutta vuoden 1916 henkilöt ja tapahtumat olivat jo ihan toista luokkaa. Tykästyin oikeastaan kaikkeen tässä aikatasossa.

Smaragdinvihreä sydän kertoo Irlannin pääsiäiskapinasta, josta yliopistoa käyvä Nicky tekee ainetta. Tehtävää varten hän haastattelee isoisoäitiään eli supermummia, joka oli tapahtuminen polttopisteessä nuorempana. Täysin uutta historiallista tietoa minulle tuo pääsiäiskapina. Kävin siitä ja Irlannin itsenäistymisestä lueskelemassakin kirjan innoittamana netistä. Kaikkea sitä oppiikin kirjoja lukemalla. 1998 aikatasossa Nicky myös kipuilee eronsa kanssa ja etsii tietyllä tapaa itseään. En vain nähnyt tällä lyhyellä ja omituisella kasvukertomuksella selkeää yhteyttä kirjan pääteemaan eli pääsiäiskapinaan. Siksi vain 3 tähteä, koska en jaksanut lukea noita Nickyn osioita kovin mielenkiinnolla.

[linda hole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the 1916 story. But not the 1998 story. Yep it has dual timelines

[Bookfan36 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief synopsis from the book cover:

A country rebelling
It’s 1916 and, as war rages in Europe, Gráinne leaves her job in a department store to join Countess Markiewicz’s revolutionary efforts. It is a decision which will change her life forever. A rebellion is brewing, and as Dublin’s streets become a battleground, Gráinne soon discovers the personal cost of fighting for what you believe in…

A forgotten sacrifice
Decades on, student Nicky is recovering from a break-up when a research project leads her to her great-grandmother’s experiences in revolutionary Ireland. When Nicky finds a long-forgotten handkerchief amongst her great-grandmother’s things, it leads to the revelation of a heartbreaking story of tragedy and courage, and those who sacrificed everything for their country.

My rating:

Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical Fiction


Review:

This book tells the story about two women Grainne and Nicky whose lives have a lot of similarities both women rebel in their own way, and have to deal with the consequences of their choices. This story shows the way this affects their lives and that of the people around them. Written over a dual time line, Grainne’s story takes place in Ireland during the 1916 Rebellion and Nicky’s story takes place 1998 around the time of the Northern Ireland Peace agreement and is set in England and Ireland

Overall:

This book is well written. The story has a nice flow to it. It is full of intrigue together with a bit of suspense and mystery. This made it captivating and interesting till the end. The characters were nice people, their personalities were well explained. This made them realistic. From a historical perspective this is also an interesting book as it gave an insight into the events 1916 Rebellion in Dublin Ireland.

Review copy provided by Netgalley at no cost to me.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl With the Emerald Flag by Kathleen McGurl is a deeply moving dual timeline novel (with a gorgeous cover) that sweeps you into the heart of 1916 Irish history and then forward eighty two years. This is a story of great courage, sacrifice, love and heartbreak on a nationwide scale. It is about Ireland’s fight for independence—particularly the Easter Rising. One woman named Gráinne is in both timelines. In the past thread she is eighteen during the pivotal event and in 1998 she is one hundred years old when she finally shares of her part in the uprising and of others close to her through Nicky, her great granddaughter, in a writing project.

What an epic topic to cover, making it a very interesting dual time line read. Heartbreaking, too, as Kathleen takes us on a very up close journey with those who actually fought in the 1916 Rising. We all know the fight for an independent Ireland was a long and bloody one. And even though we have read about it in history books, there is nothing quite like reading a novel based on those facts to help us experience it in a more real way. For an author puts flesh on bone through words on the page to create living breathing characters. In this case, we learn of a people’s past that required great sacrifice for freedom. Storytelling allows us to enter the action and feel the characters’ anguish, frustrations, love, pain and loss. As mentioned, Kathleen has used many real persons who led the rebellion, but she has also mixed in some fictional ones, too, who are the eyes, ears and mouths of those who could have worked alongside them. It is then easy to imagine what it might have been like to have lived through those horrific times in Ireland.

I think the hardest scenes for me were the after effects of the Rising. The captured souls and executed ones. I am not giving anything away by saying this, because we all know that many died by the hand of the captors, possibly even more than during the battle itself. The horrific memories of those execution shots in 1916 would haunt anyone and this story brings that to the foreground in the 1998 thread where echoes of the past continue to ring through a battle- scarred mind.

The last one hundred and seventy four years, women have fought for rights and to be heard. This novel touches on what women were able to do in the 1916 period. One might suppose there were times when being female saved you from certain death. During the Rising of 1916, many of the women that were imprisoned who were involved were spared over the men. One might ask why was that so? But the main reason possibly was that six months prior to this uprising, the British rose up against the Germans for executing a British nurse named Edith Cavell. It would not have looked good if they had done the same to the Irish rebel women.

There have been tv series and movies on this Easter Rising. But like other events in history, it never hurts to read another story on the same topic—especially one that captures a fresh angle or perspective on such a tumultuous period. This is a story about great sacrifice—trading one’s life to make a statement for freedom and independence. This cry for freedom and independence is also seen in the 1998 timeline with the great granddaughter, Nicky, who is filled with unrest and wants to make a difference in the world through a worthy cause. She learns that not all acts of rebellion, though, are legitimate or practical. And that more than one side has a right to be heard. She has some growing up to do and through various events she learns a great deal about life. Her romantic interests help bring some of that to light. The differences in her two boyfriends are quite obvious. And their various effects and influences on her significant. I liked Conor (of course!). He is devoted, generous, appreciative and genuine but Seb is lazy, self-centred, ungrateful and rude. You might say Seb is rebellious in a bad way—mostly without a worthy cause.

Nicky’s transformation is a welcomed one but we must remember her journey is quite realistic. And anyone who has had teenagers knows this is true! I personally enjoyed how Supergran’s (the great grandmother) story touched Nicky’s life. Gráinne is a very important figure in this story. First we see her living through the experience in the past timeline and then later reminiscing with her great granddaughter. The tool of use here in bringing the past into the present is a project that Nicky must do for college. Speaking to a live activist of the past gives her project the potential for great depth and insight. This becomes living history written down.

These are some of the things I loved about this novel. There are others, of course, but if you love dual timeline novels that shake up your heart, then definitely read this one. But have plenty of tissues nearby to soak up the tears! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Kathleen McGurl and HQ (HarperCollins Au) for a review copy.

[Jayne Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this historical fiction book about a point in history of which I am embarrassingly ignorant. There are two timelines-1916 and 1998. In the past timeline, the book tells Grainne's story as she becomes involved in the rebellion for Ireland's independence. She takes on everything from cooking to printing fliers to traveling between command posts delivering messages once the fighting begins. She also cleverly uses a bedspread to create a large flag for the independence movement-hence the title. The main components of the past timeline are true. In the 1998 timeline, the book follows Nicky, who is Grainne's great-granddaughter. She is working on a history project in university and travels to see Grainne several times to listen to her stories of sacrifice and peril during that time. I was very interested in Nicky's reactions as she learned more and more about the heroic efforts of her great-grandmother and her friends. There was one aspect of the modern timeline when Nicky was in a relationship with a major jerk of a guy that did not move the storyline along and did not need to be included, in my opinion. Otherwise, it was an interesting dual timeline story. Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book.

[Tiina Mahlamäki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Periaatteessa kiinnostava romaani, joka kuvaa Irlannin vuoden 1916 pääsiäiskapinaa, josta en tiennyt aikaisemmin juuri mitään. Sama tilanne oli romaanin vuoden 1986 aikatasossa olevalla opiskelijalla, joka äitinsä kehotuksesta ryhtyi haastattelemaan satavuotiasta isoisoäitiään, joka osallistui kapinaan aivan sen keskipisteessä. Sekä opinnäyte että itse kertomus kapinasta keskittyvät nimenomaan naisten osuuteen ja näkökulmaan. Siinä mielessä erittäin kiinnostava kokonaisuus. Toteutus vaan jäi jotenkin puolitiehen ja oli kovin osoittelevaa ja selittelevää.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book left me with mixed feelings. I enjoyed some of it but, other times I found it slow and a little hard to follow. It was a dual timeline and the present day character Nicky wasn't very likeable. Not as good as her other books. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” or so claimed both Winston Churchill and Nicky Waters, the late 20th century protagonist of this dual-timeline story about Ireland’s Easter Rising. But another quote about history, from another continent is equally apropos. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

The early 20th century heroine of this story, that girl with the emerald flag herself, Gráinne MacDowd, witnessed the bending of that arc from its beginning in the Eastern Rising to what seems like its right, proper and fitting ending in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, bringing peace – more or less – between the Republic of Ireland and a Northern Ireland still controlled by Britain.

But it all begins, or at least this version of it, with a college student both being rebellious and studying rebellions, and her great-grandmother – who she calls Supergran (best name for a great-grandmother EVER) – who was in the rooms where a lot of a real and significant 20th century rebellion happened.

And has a story that she has been waiting nearly a century for someone to finally want to hear.

Escape Rating A-: Nicky Waters and Gráinne MacDowd are the same age at the opposite ends of their century. It’s only Gráinne’s long life and continued good health and mental acuity that allows this story to happen.

(It’s more plausible than one might think. A friend’s grandmother, not even his ‘Supergran’, crossed the US in a covered wagon with one of the last of the wagon trains and lived to see Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.)

I digress.

This story is told in two timelines. In 1998, the year that the Good Friday Agreement was, well, agreed to, Nicky Waters is a bit spoiled, a bit selfish, a lot self-indulgent, and trying to stretch her wings at uni. It’s her need for a project on historic rebellions that kicks things off – even though she resents her mother’s suggestion that Supergran’s experiences would make a fantastic springboard for her project.

But then, she resents her mother a lot at this point in her life. They love each other but don’t seem to be sympatico at all. Some mother-daughter relationships just go that way.

The heart of the book, both literally and figuratively, is Gráinne telling her story to Nicky. And telling it to the reader as she does.

Gráinne’s story takes place over an intense period of time from the fall of 1915 when she becomes the right-hand-woman of Countess Constance Markiewicz (see quote and picture above) through the Rising itself in its glory and its inevitable defeat. And its immediate aftermath, the nights when the survivors huddled together in Kilmainham Gaol and the mornings when they heard but could not see their leaders facing one firing squad after another.

Gráinne’s story brings Nicky up short, letting her see that rebellion without good purpose has no meaning. Nicky’s turnaround was a bit abrupt, but the harrowing events that her Supergran lived through make the story shine – even if sometimes with tears.

What makes this story so touching – although that’s nearly a big enough word – is the way that it allows the reader to experience this history making and in some ways history shattering event in a way that brings the Rising and the people who gave their lives for it to vivid life.

Gráinne and her beau Emmett are the only important characters in the story who are fictional. All of the leaders of the Rising are presented as they were, and this event is more than close enough in history that documentation exists for much of what Gráinne saw, heard and felt. Including the heartbreaking jailhouse wedding between Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford. (I honestly expected that to be a bit of literary license but it was NOT.)

Gráinne as a character reads as both plausible and aspirational. Women really did all the jobs she performed during the Rising, and she makes the reader hope that they would have done as well in the same cause. At the same time, her example leads her great-granddaughter to do and be better, by example and not by exhortation.

Any reader who loves historical fiction, or has any interest at all in Irish history and the Easter Rising will fall in love with The Girl with the Emerald Flag as much as I did. This story is terrific, and it’s told in way that both tugs at the heartstrings and practically compels the reader to look for more.

One final note. That arc of history is still bending. In the Good Friday Agreement, the politicians on both sides basically finessed some of long-standing issues through both countries’ membership in the European Union. Brexit brought many of those issues, particularly the economic ones – as well as questions about how to deal with the border – back to life. While this is not exactly part of this story, considering that it ends when it does as a way of attempting to close the circle, it’s difficult not to point out that the circle keeps on turning.

Originally published at Reading Reality

[Jenni Santschi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just loved it! Characters were easy to love, the story lines moved swiftly, and fell in love with Ireland even more! I wish there was a touch more detail of the history, but overall so good.

[Margaret A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes history come alive

Wonderful story, beautifully written. This novel brings a heartfelt personal view of the Irish Rising of 1916 from the perspective of a young woman who participated in it. This is why I love historical fiction.

[Jo K Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book of her's and it's beautiful. Very poignant . Tells of a period of history that isn't taught in the UK but still an important history. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Leigh Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely historical fiction

This was just such a nice book. The characters were interesting and interspersed history of an uprising that I knew nothing about. I hope for a follow-up sharing more of the character’s involvement in Ireland’s fight for independence.

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been interested in Irish history, but my knowledge of 20th century history is scant. Even in fictional format, this novel has changed that.

It is a dual-timeline story with the focus on two women. Nicky (in 1998) and Gráinne (in 1916), her great-grandmother.

Nicky is a spoilt brat who dreams of being a rebel – in her mind, it means rebelling against anything her mother says. Though she happily lets her parents pay for everything she wants... A sofa rebel. She also finds her childhood sweetheart, Conor, too boring, so in a fit of ’rebellion’, she dumps him. Soon after she hooks up with rebel Seb. But her time with him makes her begin to question her ways.

And then there's Supergran – Gráinne. When Nicky has to write an essay about rebellion, her mother suggests she speak to Gráinne about her time during the 1916 rising, and the role women played. Reluctantly, Nicky agrees that it's a good topic and visits her great-grandmother, whose 100th birthday celebration she couldn't be bothered to attend earlier.

In Dublin in 1916, Gráinne feels strongly about a free Ireland, and she joins the Cumann mBan women's society that works towards that goal. When she meets famous Countess Markiewicz, she is offered a chance at playing a bigger role – but with it comes a risk to her life, and those of her friends and loved ones.

The Girl with the Emerald Flag is a poignant story, one about growing up and realising the important things in life. Is personal freedom more important than working towards the greater good?

I really didn't like Nicky – and I suppose we're not meant to. She is spoilt rotten, allowed to be nasty and ignore important family events because she can't be bothered. Her journey is one of self-discovery, but also of self-awareness, and it is well done. Though I must admit that I thought her change of heart seemed a bit too sudden, too easy, and she didn't (in my mind) deserve to be let off the hook so easily by her indulging family.

Gráinne, on the other hand, is a wonderful character, and for me, the focus on her lifts this novel up quite a notch. She is caring and daring, brave, yet scared. And she sees things she never expected to. Her empathy towards her friends, and even those in charge of the Rising, shines through all the time. I really felt for her as events unfolded in a way none of them had imagined. I would easily read a whole series of novels about her!

The Girl with the Emerald Flag is a gentle tale, but with a strong sense of realism. Events aren't glossed over, but we see them through the eyes of the protagonists.

A highly recommended read that makes you think!

Note: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anybody who knows me well knows that not only am I a book geek but I am also a history nerd with a keen interest in modern Irish history. So you can probably understand why the synopsis of 'The Girl With The Emerald Flag' was so appealing to me! I couldn't wait to dive in and so without further ado I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for one hell of an afternoon full of reading. I absolutely loved reading 'The Girl With The Emerald Flag' but more about that in a bit.

As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was going to really enjoy the story and at the same time become seriously addicted to the book. I was so right on both counts. I had only intended to read a couple of chapters when I first picked the book up but I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I was still sat there reading several chapters and an hour later. My Kindle wasn't glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. It was as if the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn't willing to break. This was one of those books that stayed with me whether I had my Kindle in my hand or not. If I wasn't reading the book then I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book down then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I soon got to the end of 'The Girl With The Emerald Flag'. I found 'The Girl With The Emerald Flag' to be a griping, tense and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.

'The Girl With The Emerald Flag' is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Kathleen McGurl. Kathleen has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly brisk pace throughout. The story is written using two different timelines - one timeline details what happened in Grainne's life in Ireland before, during and after the Easter Rising of 1916, whilst the other timeline details what happened in Nicky's life in the more modern day. It transpires that Nicky is the great granddaughter of Grainne. The two timelines interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. Kathleen clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. Kathleen clearly has done a lot of research into the Easter Rising of 1916 and what happened in the run up to the Rising. This makes the story seem that bit more authentic. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I absolutely loved reading 'The Girl With The Emerald Flag' and I would certainly recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Kathleen's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen McGurl writes the most vivid dual time-line historical fiction novels. I do look forward to a new book coming out. I always hope it will be as good as her previous and she never lets me down!
The Girl With The Emerald Flag is set in Dublin over two time periods, 1998 and 1916. In 1998 we meet Nicky, at University after leaving home. All she wants is to have some fun after being under her mothers eagle eye. After she splits up with her boyfriend she decides to do as her mum suggested and go to visit her great grandmother Gráinne in Dublin, Ireland. She is studying Modern History and needs a project so she goes to her Great Grandmother to interview her. What she doesn't expect is the story Gráinne tells her. The story of the Easter Rising and her involvement in this important historical event.
I did know of the Easter Rising but Kathleen McGurl has, again educated me even more. This is one of my favourite things about historical fiction. I am always learning new facts. If I love anything,it is history. I always have, and the history of the Irish is so important in my mind.
As the stories of both women unfolded, it felt like history was coming alive on the pages in front of me. Kathleen McGurl has a skill to evoke such lifelike characters from her mind. If every teenager read books such as Kathleen's, I am sure they would learn more than at school! I was captivated when it came to Gráinne recounting her memories. I wasn't able to stop reading until I had to sleep.
It is an emotional story and one that I was thoroughly immersed in. The way that Kathleen McGurl can transport me away from the present day in the space of a page is amazing. Definitely one I can recommend to any historical fiction reader.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources,Boldwood Books and NetGalley.

[AHR - · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute page turner, it had me gripped and in its spell, from first to last page.

1915 - 1916 and Gráinne is working in a department store, but all that is about to change. Rebellion is in the air.
Gráinne has beliefs and a strong cause, and needs to follow her heart.

Fast forward to the late 1990’s. Nicky (Nicola) is Gráinne’s great granddaughter.
Nicky has just started university and needs a project. Could hearing her great grandmother’s story about revolutionary Ireland be what she is looking for?

From the first page I was absolutely hooked on this book.
I don’t know much about Irish history, maybe I should. This book has helped me understand a small part of Irish history.
The story is told moving to and fro between chapters of late 1915 - 1916 and the late 1990’s. It is easy to follow, and understand the roles and characters too.
It has a good storyline, and I warmed to the main characters.
The novel is made more poignant knowing that it has a factual past, with the history of Ireland, but with a good story weaved through the telling of it.
Loyalty, love and hope. It’s what we all hope for in life really isn’t it.
I wanted to read this novel, as way back I have Irish ancestor’s, Who knows? some may have taken part in this.
It is the first book I have read by this author, and I will be looking at reading more of her books in the future.

Many thanks NetGalley and HQ for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions are my own.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My partner is from Dublin so I do enjoy books set there and this one was fabulous. A dual timeline story, 1916 and 1998, told from the POVs of Nicky and her great grandmother Gráinne MacDowd. Two very different characters but who have a close relationship that builds as Gráinne tells her story. I knew some of the history here but I was fascinated by Countess Markievicz, what a remarkable women, it’s definitely worth a google if you like history.

Briefly, Nicky has left home and started university looking for a fun time and she hates that her mother is, in her eyes, being intrusive . After a break up with her boyfriend she decides to follow her mother’s suggestion (see not so intrusive now!) and visit Gráinne in Dublin to discover more about her part in the rebellion in Ireland during WWI. Gráinne was a member of Cumann na mBan, the Irish Woman’s Council, who fought for an independent Ireland, and this leads her to working for the Countess.

As Gráinne tells her story it is clear that not only is Nicky fascinated by her great grandmothers bravery but she begins to see clearly some mistakes she has made in her own life and the direction she should pursue in the future. Really well written and although the early years were fascinating it was Nicky’s story that really caught my interest. A well constructed and fabulously interesting and enjoyable read. I’ll definitely look out for this author again.

[Linda S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl with the Emerald Flag is a dual timeline story with the older timeline telling the story of Gráinne MacDowd, who becomes a member of the Cumann na mBan - the Irish women's group of the Irish Republican Army (the IRA) - in the time period of the 1916 Easter Uprising. Gráinne begins to work for Countess Constance Markiewicz at her home at Surrey House in Rathmines, Dublin, where she is an eyewitness to the Uprising, taking part herself as a messenger and nurse. The second timeline is that of Nicky, Gráinne's great-granddaughter, who is struggling to find herself while studying History at college. Nicky is assigned a project about rebellion and Nicky's mother suggests she talk with Gráinne about her involvement with the Easter Uprising - which helps Nicky grow up in many ways. I loved both story lines but I especially enjoyed learning more about the Uprising and how women, especially Countess Markiewicz, played such an important part in Irish History. Both timelines come to statisfying endings. What a great novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Courtney Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had high hopes for this book - a subject and setting that is among my favorites, both for fiction as well as non-fiction. Had the only story line been the 1916 one, it would have been rated far higher. However, the 1998 story line was, at times, hilarious - and I get the distinct impression that it was not to be meant that way.

I already felt Nicky and her behavior was just over the top, but throw into the whole Seb mess and his extreme over the top behavior and I spent more time rolling my eyes than caring about the events. They both came out like bad caricatures of the type of kids they were portrayed as. Their dialogue felt forced and Nicky's change, while welcome, just did not feel real at all.

On the minor annoyance side, you have Nicky and Conor, both students at major universities, writing each other with pen and paper. In 1998. As someone who is about the same age as these characters in 1998, there is no way they wouldn't have been emailing each other.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A country rebelling...a forgotten sacrifice...

THE GIRL WITH THE EMERALD FLAG tells the tale of two women - Nicky in 1998 and that of her great-grandmother Grainne in 1916. The focus of the story is rebellion and it's consequences and both women share more than a little in common.

Written in a dual timeline format (my favourite) we are privy to Grainne's involvement in the Easter Rising of the 1916 rebellion in the fight for Ireland's independence as well as Nicky's own personal rebellion against the things that confine her to expectation and conformation in 1998. It is interesting to note that Nicky's story takes place at the time of the Northern Ireland Peace agreement, signed on Good Friday in 1998, 82 years after her own great-grandmother's involvement in the Easter Rising of 1916.

Grainne MacDowd is an idealistic 18 year old fighting for the cause of Irish independence. She works at Clerys department store before being taken under the wing of Countess Markievicz in the lead up to what became known as the Easter Rising. Her brother Sean is away fighting in the trenches for the British in Europe in the hope that in doing so will bring the home rule of independence to Ireland. However, the fighting takes its toll and when Sean returns on leave he confides to Grainne that he is not returning; that he cannot be involved in the taking of human lives. He then goes into hiding and Grainne never sees him again.

In a battle of her own for Ireland, Grainne does a little bit of everything leading up to the Easter Rising, from cooking and cleaning to running errands and messages. And then comes Easter Sunday, the day of the Rising. For a week the streets of Dublin become a battlefield as they, the people, fight for a cause they believe in, going some way to making the ultimate sacrifice for Ireland's independence from British rule.

At 19 years old, Nicky Waters thinks she knows it all. She's at university in Brighton studying modern history away from the confines of her stifling mother and loving father. As their only child, Nicky resents her mother's constant presence in her life, poking her nose in and thus trying to control her. She is ungrateful, selfish and somewhat naive though she believes she is standing up for her rights, rebelling against the conformities placed upon her. She refuses to visit home, choosing instead to stay on campus and live the university life. She even goes so far as to think her kind, loving and stable boyfriend of three years is boring and stale...so she dumps him to explore herself and live uni life to the full.

And then she meets Seb. Someone who is more selfish, more ungrateful, more self-obsessed than Nicky herself. He claimed to be a rebel but only so far as what's in it for him. I cannot believe Nicky chose him over Conor.

In the midst of her "living the university life", she's been handed a project on...ironically enough...rebellion. Her mother suggests she explore her great-grandmother's story of living through the Irish rebellion and the Easter Rising of 1916 as her topic. But Nicky is apprehensive. To do so would be giving her mother points in their constant battle of wills. However, Supergran (as Nicky calls her) Grainne is 100 years old and if she were to get her story down on paper, now is as good a time as any...before it's too late.

Her research takes her to Dublin where she stays with Grainne and listens to her remarkable story, taking notes. And as she does, Nicky begins to learn a valuable lesson. Finding your place in the world and gaining independence does not come without risks or consequences. It's OK to stand up for what you believe in but you must also learn from your mistakes. And Nicky realises she has made plenty. In a light bulb moment, she discovers that she and Grainne aren't so different after all...and she begins to see things from a very different perspective.

This was something of a different story and not one I would typically read, being incredibly political. To be honest, I didn't understand a lot of the political side of things and they don't particularly interest me, but the story itself was interesting. Especially the ending. I am not giving anything away when I say the executions in the aftermath of the Uprising were especially heartbreaking. So many died at the hands of their captors, if not in the battle itself, and the first hand account of hearing the firing squad outside their windows is particularly haunting.

THE GIRL WITH THE EMERALD FLAG is a heartbreaking tale of rebellion, independence and finding one's place in the world. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of McGurl's other books but it is still a well-written, well-researched and well-told story of a time long forgotten by some and not by others. For me, the history of Irish rebellion and Ireland's independence goes only as far as IRA attacks that I remember as a child or maybe a U2 song.

Overall, this is a sad tale really but with the promise of hope at the end. For both women. Perfect for fans of historical fiction and dual timelines.

I would like to thank #KathleenMcGurl, #Netgalley, #HQStories and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheGirlWithTheEmeraldFlag in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Sharon Jorde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant angle to a well known story. I have always loved the song Grace and was surprised at the heart felt portrayal of Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett in this book. Considering Grace never remarried I feel like the author gave their story an awesome arc in this book. It was nice to see how the past was able to reflect in a positive way for Nicki.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A duel time line book set in 1916 in the run up to the Easter Rising and 1998 leading up to the Good Friday agreement this book tells the stories of Grainne and her great granddaughter Nicky.
Nicky considers herself a rebellious teenager, someone who doesn’t conform to what is expected of her, someone determined to do things her own way. Now that she is away from her mother’s beady eye she is determined to have a good time at university where she is studying modern history. The trouble is that her studies have been slipping and she really needs to do well with her next project. Rebellions is the subject so you’d think it would be right up her street. When her mother comes up with a good idea, Nicky is initially reluctant to allow her mother to score a point over her but agrees to at least think about it.
Nicky’s great grandmother Grainne, now 100 years old, took part in the Easter Rising and following a trip to Dublin to visit her, Nicky knows that she has found the perfect subject for her project.
The research on the Rising is impeccable and the author makes us feel like we are there. She puts us with Grainne as she prepares food for the rebel leaders, as she prints off flyers, as she is part of the preparations and eventually, as she braves the streets to pass messages between the rebel leaders once the Rising actually starts.
Back in Brighton, Nicky has a rebellion of her own to contend with. It’s not on the scale if what Grainne went through but it will be life changing for her just the same.
I loved this book from beginning to end.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for and honest review.

[Tiziana Langone · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rebellion to be never forgotten 
In 1998 Nicky is looking for inspiration for a research project. She wants to find something original and worth talking about. And even is her relationship with her parents is strained, as they (and specially her mother) sees her as a rebel, it’s the family past that gives Nicky the right subject.
Because it’s her own great – grandmother Gráinne that joined in 1916 the revolutions in Ireland. Gráinne left her job in a department store to join the cause, but also learns the hard lessons that during rebellions that fighting for what you believe comes at a high cost… 
I have to admit, that my knowledge of the Irish history is rather limited… Of course I am aware of the fact it was not an easy fight for Ireland to gain their independence. But ask me for any kind of details, years, important characters, and all I could come up with is the famous U2 song… 
So in this matter, this was a very enlightening book, as I learned something completely new, fascinating and inspiring, but also about the hardships and sacrifices. But also about growing up (too fast perhaps in Gráinne’s case), maturing and understand yourself and your family’s history better. 
Gráinne is a young woman in 1916 living in an Ireland that still is under British ruling. An Ireland that dreams of being independent and the Irish people trying to fight for their country.
I admired how Gráinne feels that becoming joins the revolutionary efforts, something I cowardly have to admit wouldn’t be sure to be as courageous as Gráinne…
While things are escalating to its climax, we see how Gráinne goes from a young, perhaps a bit gullible woman, and grows, matures into a woman who sees and understand the sacrifices a fight brings. I liked it how we see how she starts to question not the rebellion, but if the cost is all worth it… Especially if in the end, the goal is only achieved years later… 
Having read several books of this author, with dual timelines, it’s often that the main characters never meet in real life. So I found it a nice change to see how Gráinne and Nicky are related to each other. and not related in a far away, as Gráinne is Nicky’s great – grandmother. 
I found that Nicky is somehow also having her own, personal rebellion. She is finding her own path, breaking up with her boyfriend, starting something with someone total different, and finds it difficult to have an easy relationship with her parents.
Of course, both main characters are fighting for total different things, but somehow that rebellious streak is something they have in common. 
Since Nicky visited Gráinne, there is a change in Nicky. She starts to that the people who love her will always have her back, even if they don’t always understand each other.
And Nicky starts to appreciate the family she has, and should show her appreciation more.  
After finishing this book, I found myself browsing on the internet, eager to learn more about the Easter Rebellion. And I was a bit flabbergasted when I realized that some of the characters present in the story, were actual people who participated in the rebellion (again, only because of my own ignorance…).
And seeing how the author managed to blend reality with fiction, yet staying true to known facts, gave me goosebumps (in a good way). It’s easy to re-write a story of people with your imagination, but it’s harder to stick to the facts and let the readers get involved with the history. 
This story shows us that in the past many people made sacrifices to let us have the present we have now. And with remembering that past, with people we know, we get to see our sometimes own selfish ways, and the remembrance will let us mature and understand who we truly are.  

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicky is searching for her identity and is very much in the process of discovering herself. It's probably a little bit of a standard rebellion the way she talks about and feels about her mother. She feels judged, and under constant supervision and criticism. The two of them clash a lot. In the midst of this coming-of-age and acknowledgement of self, Nicky goes on a journey.

The kind of journey that changes your views of the world, the past and even your own loved ones. Nicky uses her grandmother as a font of knowledge to research a rebellion that unbeknownst to her has impacted the life of her grandmother, and also the history of her family.

Gráinne, a young woman also on the cusp of discovering what she wants in life and who she is, is living in the midst of World War I, and is also heavily involved in the plans to change the political status quo in Ireland. A part of the historical path that to this day still shapes the fragility of a relationship built on a history of death and oppression.

I really enjoy watching an author grow, both in skills and in exploration of genre. Although this is still trademark past and present connects, this story shows the growth as it tackles an enormous historical event in Irish history. It was told without the shadow of the usual political perspective or the fury on both sides, instead the author takes it down to the level of people and their personal experience and perspective.

I think, if this is any indication, that the author will take it up a notch, and I am looking forward to it.