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Be transported back to a different age, where butter was made by hand at home and life took place around the fire. A sharing of stories and a celebration of life in its small precious moments.
"''It takes a lot of living to make a house a home. The living connects ancestry to posterity creating a nucleus that supports and strengthens the extended family. Like a tree families put down roots that give support and stability to extended branches. The home family provides a shelter belt and that sheltering can encompass the extended tribe when life gets stormy.''"
Alice Taylor takes us through her home, reflecting back on the routine of her family life growing up in rural Ireland in the 1950s - a time when food was home-baked and everything was reused. An uplifting account, full of nostalgia and wise words to treasure from Ireland''s best-loved author.
''[It] warmed my heart and reminded me of the value of family, friendship and community... I was enthralled... wonderful.'' "Irish Independent" on "And Time Stood Still"
a"
"''It takes a lot of living to make a house a home. The living connects ancestry to posterity creating a nucleus that supports and strengthens the extended family. Like a tree families put down roots that give support and stability to extended branches. The home family provides a shelter belt and that sheltering can encompass the extended tribe when life gets stormy.''"
Alice Taylor takes us through her home, reflecting back on the routine of her family life growing up in rural Ireland in the 1950s - a time when food was home-baked and everything was reused. An uplifting account, full of nostalgia and wise words to treasure from Ireland''s best-loved author.
''[It] warmed my heart and reminded me of the value of family, friendship and community... I was enthralled... wonderful.'' "Irish Independent" on "And Time Stood Still"
a"
- GenresHistory
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Alice Taylor
109 books62 followersAlice Taylor lives in the village of Innishannon in County Cork, in a house attached to the local supermarket and post office. Since her eldest son has taken over responsibility for the shop, she has been able to devote more time to her writing.
Alice Taylor worked as a telephonist in Killarney and Bandon. When she married, she moved to Innishannon where she ran a guesthouse at first, then the supermarket and post office. She and her husband, Gabriel Murphy, who sadly passed away in 2005, had four sons and one daughter. In 1984 she edited and published the first issue of Candlelight, a local magazine which has since appeared annually. In 1986 she published an illustrated collection of her own verse.
To School Through the Fields was published in May 1988. It was an immediate success, launching Alice on a series of signing sessions, talks and readings the length and breadth of Ireland. Her first radio interview, forty two minutes long on RTÉ Radio's Gay Byrne Show, was the most talked about radio programme of 1988, and her first television interview, of the same length, was the highlight of the year on RTÉ television's Late Late Show. Since then she has appeared on radio programmes such as Woman's Hour, Midweek and The Gloria Hunniford Show, and she has been the subject of major profiles in the Observer and the Mail on Sunday.
To School Through the Fields quickly became the biggest selling book ever published in Ireland, and her sequels, Quench the Lamp, The Village, Country Days and The Night Before Christmas, were also outstandingly successful. Since their initial publication these books of memoirs have also been translated and sold internationally.
In 1997 her first novel, The Woman of the House, was an immediate bestseller in Ireland, topping the paperback fiction lists for many weeks. A moving story of land, love and family, it was followed by a sequel, Across the River in 2000, which was also a bestseller.
One of Ireland's most popular authors, she has continued writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry since.
Alice Taylor worked as a telephonist in Killarney and Bandon. When she married, she moved to Innishannon where she ran a guesthouse at first, then the supermarket and post office. She and her husband, Gabriel Murphy, who sadly passed away in 2005, had four sons and one daughter. In 1984 she edited and published the first issue of Candlelight, a local magazine which has since appeared annually. In 1986 she published an illustrated collection of her own verse.
To School Through the Fields was published in May 1988. It was an immediate success, launching Alice on a series of signing sessions, talks and readings the length and breadth of Ireland. Her first radio interview, forty two minutes long on RTÉ Radio's Gay Byrne Show, was the most talked about radio programme of 1988, and her first television interview, of the same length, was the highlight of the year on RTÉ television's Late Late Show. Since then she has appeared on radio programmes such as Woman's Hour, Midweek and The Gloria Hunniford Show, and she has been the subject of major profiles in the Observer and the Mail on Sunday.
To School Through the Fields quickly became the biggest selling book ever published in Ireland, and her sequels, Quench the Lamp, The Village, Country Days and The Night Before Christmas, were also outstandingly successful. Since their initial publication these books of memoirs have also been translated and sold internationally.
In 1997 her first novel, The Woman of the House, was an immediate bestseller in Ireland, topping the paperback fiction lists for many weeks. A moving story of land, love and family, it was followed by a sequel, Across the River in 2000, which was also a bestseller.
One of Ireland's most popular authors, she has continued writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry since.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 18, 2022
Q:
My grandmother’s dresser left me with many memories, as I am sure so did the dressers of many grandmothers. Maybe you remember your own grandmother’s dresser? (c) Yes. I do.
Q:
She usually began one of her long litanies, in which she cajoled an amazing number of heavenly bodies, including the gates of heaven, to come to our aid. One night she got lost in these heavenly regions and could not get her bearings. She continued to circle around these celestial heights with no acceptable signposts in sight and no landing bay coming to her rescue. Eventually, one of my less helpful sisters prompted, ‘Try Nelson’s Pillar.’ This suggestion was met by an unedifying outburst of laughter from around the kitchen. (c)
Q:
Then came prayers for needy neighbours and relatives gone on roads less desirably travelled, leading us on to an array of other requests until we eventually finished up in Russia, praying for its conversion. (c) Conversion? Conversion to what? Russia had been Christened around the 9th century. Or is Catolic Christianity such a big deal? Duh.
Q:
Life was lived at a slower pace, though not less hard-working. But without modern machinery everything took its time. I remember it all with a huge fondness. Our farm, our way of life, is forever grafted onto my mind and soul and heart to be remembered forever. (c) Wonderful!
Q:
There was a sense of togetherness as we all knelt around the kitchen, and later when I left home it was always comforting to know that I was included every night in her rosary. The mantra of her rosary, learnt in our old farmhouse, has seeped through my life and resurfaces like a calming hand when the waves are high. In later life I also discovered that when death made an unexpected visit the repetitive format of the rosary was the mantra that calmed chaos and induced peace into shocked minds. Recently, when my brother died in our old home, his son knelt at his wake and led us all in the rosary. I remembered my mother with gratitude. (c)
Q:
Cows by nature are not very excitable animals, but being on a swing was a new experience to this lady and she became a mad cow. And my father by now was a mad man. They made for a very explosive twosome. Plus, excited cows are apt to lose bowel control, and unfortunately my father happened to be in the direct line of fire, which did not improve the situation one bit. (c)
My grandmother’s dresser left me with many memories, as I am sure so did the dressers of many grandmothers. Maybe you remember your own grandmother’s dresser? (c) Yes. I do.
Q:
She usually began one of her long litanies, in which she cajoled an amazing number of heavenly bodies, including the gates of heaven, to come to our aid. One night she got lost in these heavenly regions and could not get her bearings. She continued to circle around these celestial heights with no acceptable signposts in sight and no landing bay coming to her rescue. Eventually, one of my less helpful sisters prompted, ‘Try Nelson’s Pillar.’ This suggestion was met by an unedifying outburst of laughter from around the kitchen. (c)
Q:
Then came prayers for needy neighbours and relatives gone on roads less desirably travelled, leading us on to an array of other requests until we eventually finished up in Russia, praying for its conversion. (c) Conversion? Conversion to what? Russia had been Christened around the 9th century. Or is Catolic Christianity such a big deal? Duh.
Q:
Life was lived at a slower pace, though not less hard-working. But without modern machinery everything took its time. I remember it all with a huge fondness. Our farm, our way of life, is forever grafted onto my mind and soul and heart to be remembered forever. (c) Wonderful!
Q:
There was a sense of togetherness as we all knelt around the kitchen, and later when I left home it was always comforting to know that I was included every night in her rosary. The mantra of her rosary, learnt in our old farmhouse, has seeped through my life and resurfaces like a calming hand when the waves are high. In later life I also discovered that when death made an unexpected visit the repetitive format of the rosary was the mantra that calmed chaos and induced peace into shocked minds. Recently, when my brother died in our old home, his son knelt at his wake and led us all in the rosary. I remembered my mother with gratitude. (c)
Q:
Cows by nature are not very excitable animals, but being on a swing was a new experience to this lady and she became a mad cow. And my father by now was a mad man. They made for a very explosive twosome. Plus, excited cows are apt to lose bowel control, and unfortunately my father happened to be in the direct line of fire, which did not improve the situation one bit. (c)
October 4, 2019
A slower lifetime
I enjoy this book after a wonderful trip to Ireland. I and my husband are of Irish decent so the trip was a visit home. Knowing nothing about my family's past there, we did a bike tour of western Ireland. The ride was perfect as was the visit. We met friendly kind people we will never forget.
I enjoy this book after a wonderful trip to Ireland. I and my husband are of Irish decent so the trip was a visit home. Knowing nothing about my family's past there, we did a bike tour of western Ireland. The ride was perfect as was the visit. We met friendly kind people we will never forget.
February 13, 2024
This book will appeal to those who enjoy reading about "the olden days", rural communities, and what life was like before electricity and indoor plumbing. Taylor describes heartwarming stories of kin and friends, a more earthy rendition reminiscent of the Little House on the Prairie books. The general reading public will not be enthralled, but it was right up my alley.
October 30, 2017
As usual anything by Alice Taylor is a 5 star. One of my favourite things about her books is that she brings you right into Irish culture. I had a hard time putting this one down and was sad when it finished but excited to start a new one by her.
November 10, 2020
Quite good
I enjoyed some of this book but found some chapters boring
I grew up in the country in Ireland 11 years after Alice did
I enjoyed some of this book but found some chapters boring
I grew up in the country in Ireland 11 years after Alice did
June 5, 2025
Some cute memories.....that's about it.
February 2, 2015
This was a beautiful read that my father gifted me for christmas. I love hearing old stories from my parents and grandparents generation. . When the author describes her house, I relived the nights spent in my great-grandmother's house which was my vision of the house in this book. All the rooms, the dresser, the large kitchen table and the huge fireplace and taking turns with the bellow in my memories were brought back.
A very enjoyable read, one I would suggest to others and will revisit again.
A very enjoyable read, one I would suggest to others and will revisit again.
December 17, 2015
Fascinating insight into Irish life in the country during the 40s and 50s.
Intrigued by the fact that some things are so different and some universally just the same everywhere.
Intrigued by the fact that some things are so different and some universally just the same everywhere.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews