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Oisin Kelly
Crying Through the Wind: The Story of Oisin Kelly
This is the tale of Oisin Kelly, beginning with his mother, Annie as she struggles to come to terms with her love for two brothers. Married to Bernard, she is attracted to his brother, the mysterious and much misunderstood, Mick. Annie's strong Catholic faith engenders a deep sense of guilt, at the same time it helps her to cope. The story, set in 1950/60's Ireland, moves forward, sometimes gently, sometimes turbulently, combining pathos and humour.
Although Crying Through the Wind is very much Annie's book, the stage is set for Oisin who has a quest of his own.
Although Crying Through the Wind is very much Annie's book, the stage is set for Oisin who has a quest of his own.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2014
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 12, 2014
A sensitively written novel of love, intrigue and hidden family secrets set in post-war Ireland
The first novel of a trilogy, Crying Through the Wind is one of those books you can’t put down from the very first paragraph. I’ve read it twice, and both times found myself moved to tears by the ending. The story is about Londoner Annie, the mother of Oisin Kelly of the title page, who moves to the west coast of Ireland when she marries Bernard Kelly. Immediately there is tension and mystery created by the presence of brother Mick, so very different from Bernard. Annie’s emotions get pulled in all directions as she struggles with her feelings for Mick, for she never stops loving Bernard. All the characters in the book, including of course Oisin, are strongly drawn. There is humour as well as pathos and the story arc keeps the reader wondering till the very end; also, a great sense of place and period. Look forward to the release of the next novel in this trilogy!
The first novel of a trilogy, Crying Through the Wind is one of those books you can’t put down from the very first paragraph. I’ve read it twice, and both times found myself moved to tears by the ending. The story is about Londoner Annie, the mother of Oisin Kelly of the title page, who moves to the west coast of Ireland when she marries Bernard Kelly. Immediately there is tension and mystery created by the presence of brother Mick, so very different from Bernard. Annie’s emotions get pulled in all directions as she struggles with her feelings for Mick, for she never stops loving Bernard. All the characters in the book, including of course Oisin, are strongly drawn. There is humour as well as pathos and the story arc keeps the reader wondering till the very end; also, a great sense of place and period. Look forward to the release of the next novel in this trilogy!
October 12, 2014
Londoner Annie Smith meets and falls in love with handsome Bernard Kelly while on a visit from Ireland. However when they move to Ireland she wonders whether she has done the right thing. The way of life in the quiet Irish town was not what she was used to. Another problem she has to contend with is Bernard's brother Mick. A man who seems to take a dislike to Annie from the moment he meets her. Yet despite Mick's mean and moody personality, Annie copes with her new life and she and Bernard have a son, Oisin.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Annie, while still in love with Bernard, begins to find herself drawn to the lonesome Mick. Torn between the two brothers, Annie tries desperately to hide her emotions. Only after Mick's death do Annie and Bernard learn of the guilty secret Mick had been carrying for a number of years.
A delightful story that will keep you enthralled until the very end. Looking forward to the next part of the trilogy.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Annie, while still in love with Bernard, begins to find herself drawn to the lonesome Mick. Torn between the two brothers, Annie tries desperately to hide her emotions. Only after Mick's death do Annie and Bernard learn of the guilty secret Mick had been carrying for a number of years.
A delightful story that will keep you enthralled until the very end. Looking forward to the next part of the trilogy.
July 15, 2014
A gentle very well written book which will make the reader both cry and laugh out loud. Although a complete story in its own right, this is the first book in a trilogy about Oisin Kelly.
The first novel sets the foundations for Oisin’s life with the majority of Crying through the Wind focussing on the life of Oisin’s Mother, Annie. Annie is from London and marries Bernard Kelly (Oisin’s Father) from the West of Ireland. Bernard takes Annie back to his farm on the outskirts of a small fictional town called Ballybeg in 1950 / 60’s Ireland. Here Annie meets the misunderstood and intriguing brother of Bernard, Mick. The novel progresses with Annie maturing and coming to terms with her married life, new family and gradual love for both brothers. Feelings of love, guilt, isolation and hardship are explored through this novel with Annie’s strong Catholic faith interwoven through all aspects of her life. Towards the end of the novel, the largely unassuming young protagonist Oisin Kelly takes more of a central stage leading the reader from Ireland to Scotland to piece together some of the mystery surrounding his Uncle, Mick.
This is a very believable beautifully written novel which will suck you into the lives of not only the main characters but also the folk of Ballybeg. A wonderfully rich mix of colourful and intriguing characters described so vividly that by the end of the novel the reader will feel like they have actually visited and lived in this little fictional town. This is a wonderful read, which I would highly recommend.
The first novel sets the foundations for Oisin’s life with the majority of Crying through the Wind focussing on the life of Oisin’s Mother, Annie. Annie is from London and marries Bernard Kelly (Oisin’s Father) from the West of Ireland. Bernard takes Annie back to his farm on the outskirts of a small fictional town called Ballybeg in 1950 / 60’s Ireland. Here Annie meets the misunderstood and intriguing brother of Bernard, Mick. The novel progresses with Annie maturing and coming to terms with her married life, new family and gradual love for both brothers. Feelings of love, guilt, isolation and hardship are explored through this novel with Annie’s strong Catholic faith interwoven through all aspects of her life. Towards the end of the novel, the largely unassuming young protagonist Oisin Kelly takes more of a central stage leading the reader from Ireland to Scotland to piece together some of the mystery surrounding his Uncle, Mick.
This is a very believable beautifully written novel which will suck you into the lives of not only the main characters but also the folk of Ballybeg. A wonderfully rich mix of colourful and intriguing characters described so vividly that by the end of the novel the reader will feel like they have actually visited and lived in this little fictional town. This is a wonderful read, which I would highly recommend.
June 19, 2014
Post-war Ireland is the setting for this moving tale of love in all its wonder, despair, hopelessness and pain. When Londoner Annie Smith meets shy but handsome Bernard Kelly, she is quite unprepared for the new direction her life will take, and the changes wrought by her move to Ireland are challenging beyond anything she could have imagined. Annie soon finds that adjusting to the slower and sometimes claustrophobic way of life in the small town of Ballybeg is the least of her worries. The brooding and, at times, menacing presence of her new brother-in-law, Mick, threatens her peace of mind in more ways than one, as mistrust and violent dislike turn into the agonies of forbidden love. The story starts out as a kitchen sink drama but evolves into the saddest kind of tragedy, as Annie and Mick fight their true feelings for one another, destined never to find real happiness together. After Mick's death, it transpires that his adult life had been blighted by a terrible secret and his bequest to his favourite nephew, Annie's son Oisin Kelly, reveals a mystery waiting to be solved. And so begin's Oisin's quest. I can't wait to read the next part of this compelling trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews