Moira's Crossing: A Novel

by Christina Shea

An exquisitely wrought debut novel about sisterhood through three generations in Ireland and America.

It is 1921 in Ireland. When their mother dies in childbirth, Moira and Julia O'Leary are left to rear their infant sister, Ann, while their father, a sheep farmer, despairs. After Ann dies, Moira and Julia depart Cork for Boston, but the painful secret behind Ann's death haunts their new lives and presages the confusion that will come to trouble the next generation.

Moira and Julia have always been strikingly different, but theirs is a mercilessly dependable relationship-Moira's boldness is fortified by Julia's quiet inner purpose, while Julia lives vicariously through her sister's impulsive actions. Moira's Crossing charts their shared journey through marriage, children, and lobstering off the coast of Maine. At once an examination of the troubled intimacy of sisterhood and an inquiry into the meaning of faith, Moira's Crossing is also a story of what we leave behind and who we become because of it.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Ireland

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 12, 2000

About the author

I'm a teacher and the mother of three boys, but really I'm a writer!

Please visit me on Facebook.

Reviews

[Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I'll come straight to the point. I'm mostly Irish so I read this book with a lot of skepticism. The author does, in fact, what I have always dreamt of doing. She "channels" her Irish roots so effectively in the telling of this story that its Irishisms don't come off as being contrived but strictly speaking quite genuine. That's a slick trick for a writer who is twice removed from the old sod. Imbibing the language of this book is a pure delight. The story is told with subtlety, coyness and the wistfulness that one might expect from a story of an Irish immigrant to the U.S. Put scientifically Shea's prose sings a sweet music to the reader's soul.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very easy to get in to and read. I really enjoyed this book about 2 Irish sisters and their journey and support for one another. The book begins in Ireland and the girls end up living in Portland Maine. If you have a sister or very close female friend, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful book about the O'Leary sisters growing up on a sheep farm in Ireland and coming to America in the 1920s. They face life in different ways - one through her faith, the other through her stubbornness and need to get things done. I enjoyed it.

[Niamh Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting illustration of life, lives, relationships, forgiveness and understanding of others. Not really specifically to do with being Irish, but rather how your growing up years influence you as an adult which any ethic background can influence in its own way.

[Suanne Laqueur · Rating 3 out of 5]

It didn't get very good reviews and there are probably better novels about the Irish immigration experience. But I liked it. It was simple and gentle. Moving. And I liked the characters.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matty reminded me of my own father. All of the relationships in this family ring true. This is quiet, subtle, and beautiful.

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice light read that I read in two days.
Good book kept me interested enough to finish it quick :)

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been pulling a lot of books from the shelves of my TBR bookcase, sampling a few pages at a time to see what clicks. My mom must have given me her copy of Moira's Crossing since I've never heard of the author or the novel. Glancing at Goodreads, it doesn't look like anyone I know has read it, either. So, let me introduce you to a wonderful story about three sisters. Raised by their father in Ireland, Moira and Julia eventually emigrate to America in the 1920s where they discover their individual passions on the coast of Maine. Devoid of cliche and stereotypes, Moira's Crossing was an unexpected pleasure. Easily read in a couple of days, I was eager to see what the future held for both young women. Theirs is a moving story of the challenges of a fractured family, perseverance in times of troubles, guilt, loyalty, and unrequited love. I was entranced by this debut novel. Highly recommend.

[Dr. Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good first novel. Kept my attention and easy to read. At times, the characters and vignettes were not fully introduced. Written as mid-century, but made more sense as early century immigration. Very good story. All in all, a good read and excellent first novel.

[Claudette Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a high 3 1/2. The story spans three generations. At points I wished characters had more depth but ultimately she spun it all together.

[Victoria Curtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely writing , but I found some of the characters hard to understand.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the sisters in Ireland was heartbreaking. I thought that following their life story and seeing how loss and trauma turned them into two very different women was interesting.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book at my mother'shouse and held on to it. It's basically a character sketch, not much plot or drama. None of the reviews ever talk about the symbolism of the wolf throughout the book. Death, the devil? Not sure. There was also interesting but somewhat unfulfilling issues of faith. A lot of the issues are left unresolved - by design I guess - but as the reader I felt like the book ended one chapter early.

[MARGO · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this novel until about 3/4 through it and then I found that it was quite boring and I skipped over quite a few passages. I did like the characters of Julia and Moira and their relationship as sisters. It was certainly not the best book I have ever read but then again it was not the worst either.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read, very quiet but not boring, the women and characters are all ones we can relate to as sisters, moms, daughters.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lowkey a little boring to get all the way through, but a delightful story nonetheless