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Mayo #3
A Distant Dream
The year is 1847 during the Irish Potato Famine. Three year old Molly Mayo goes missing whilst her family are away at her mother's funeral. Maggie, her sister, has gone to England to start a new life there and believes that her sibling is being cared for by a relative, but the Filbeys, a childless couple who live in the area, have other plans. A new world beckons, a place of golden opportunity for a hardworking couple and the little girl will thrive in this distant land.
The book, part of a trilogy beginning with A Woman Undefeated (Maggie’s story) traces the generations throughout the years, until 1957 when young Patrick Mayo, made an orphan in the war years and sent to Australia as part of the re-population scheme, completes the family circle by returning to his Irish homeland.
This saga is one of dreams, tragedy and unrequited love, along with the highs and lows of settlers' fortunes on the other side of the world. It highlights their endurance and fortitude in an otherwise hostile land.
The continuation of this Dockerty saga, along with Dreams Can Come True, is a thought provoking read that delves into the historical happenings in Ireland in the middle of the 19th century
"I loved writing A Woman Undefeated. I felt very close to Maggie, my main character, especially on a sunny afternoon when I felt her presence as I was typing at the dining room table. I wanted this to continue with Molly" comments Vivienne Dockerty.
The book, part of a trilogy beginning with A Woman Undefeated (Maggie’s story) traces the generations throughout the years, until 1957 when young Patrick Mayo, made an orphan in the war years and sent to Australia as part of the re-population scheme, completes the family circle by returning to his Irish homeland.
This saga is one of dreams, tragedy and unrequited love, along with the highs and lows of settlers' fortunes on the other side of the world. It highlights their endurance and fortitude in an otherwise hostile land.
The continuation of this Dockerty saga, along with Dreams Can Come True, is a thought provoking read that delves into the historical happenings in Ireland in the middle of the 19th century
"I loved writing A Woman Undefeated. I felt very close to Maggie, my main character, especially on a sunny afternoon when I felt her presence as I was typing at the dining room table. I wanted this to continue with Molly" comments Vivienne Dockerty.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 23, 2014
As always, I'd like to thank Troubador Publishing Ltd. for my ARC via NetGalley.
My first thought upon realizing this is a part of a trilogy was regret I've had no access to the rest of the books, and the sentiment has persisted after reading.
Just as the personal narrative of each character falls into place within the jigsaw puzzle, the big picture, so do the three books seem to put the chronological sequence of events, people, and places into perspective.
This particular title still makes for a great read regardless of not being familiar with the rest of the trilogy. The only limitation of the reader-reviewer might be mistaking a streak of continuity, be it stylistic, or in relation to character development, for something entirely new and unaccounted for. I apologize in advance for any confused thoughts that might originate therein.
The focus on different characters at different points throughout seems unclear at first, but a closer look at the cyclical rhythm of events and the parallels, such as the fact that ), reveals that it's necessary for the flow of the story and the depiction of all the historical and personal turmoil the characters go through.
I chose to interpret the element of the as purely symbolical, and it certainly added a spice of added interest to the narrative.
The perfectly measured use of dated language, occasional flashes of humour, and dashes of Irish Gaelic throughout contribute strongly to constructing a solid sense of time and space, which lends the atmosphere of the book an air of authenticity at all times.
All in all, A Distant Dream is an enjoyable piece of historical fiction that certainly sparked my interest - I would definitely pick up the rest of the trilogy if I had the chance, as well as any other works by the same author.
My first thought upon realizing this is a part of a trilogy was regret I've had no access to the rest of the books, and the sentiment has persisted after reading.
Just as the personal narrative of each character falls into place within the jigsaw puzzle, the big picture, so do the three books seem to put the chronological sequence of events, people, and places into perspective.
This particular title still makes for a great read regardless of not being familiar with the rest of the trilogy. The only limitation of the reader-reviewer might be mistaking a streak of continuity, be it stylistic, or in relation to character development, for something entirely new and unaccounted for. I apologize in advance for any confused thoughts that might originate therein.
The focus on different characters at different points throughout seems unclear at first, but a closer look at the cyclical rhythm of events and the parallels, such as the fact that ), reveals that it's necessary for the flow of the story and the depiction of all the historical and personal turmoil the characters go through.
I chose to interpret the element of the as purely symbolical, and it certainly added a spice of added interest to the narrative.
The perfectly measured use of dated language, occasional flashes of humour, and dashes of Irish Gaelic throughout contribute strongly to constructing a solid sense of time and space, which lends the atmosphere of the book an air of authenticity at all times.
All in all, A Distant Dream is an enjoyable piece of historical fiction that certainly sparked my interest - I would definitely pick up the rest of the trilogy if I had the chance, as well as any other works by the same author.
January 31, 2015
This is quite an emotional story of a little girl taken in by an older, childless couple, and whisked away from her homeland in Ireland to new shores in Australia. There is much turmoil and sadness once they reach the new land. Loss of loved ones and the struggle to survive takes its toll on the family.
This is heart-wrenching saga that paints a very realistic portrait of the hardships and suffering that many of our ancestors endured when leaving their homeland to travel to the Americas and other foreign lands.
Very distinct and memorable characters, and emotional encounters make this a story that lingers long after you've turned the last page.
Even without reading the first book in the series, I really enjoyed this historical novel and look forward to reading more from this author.
This is heart-wrenching saga that paints a very realistic portrait of the hardships and suffering that many of our ancestors endured when leaving their homeland to travel to the Americas and other foreign lands.
Very distinct and memorable characters, and emotional encounters make this a story that lingers long after you've turned the last page.
Even without reading the first book in the series, I really enjoyed this historical novel and look forward to reading more from this author.
September 8, 2021
A wonderful story of Australia
I really enjoyed this story, which was largely set in an area of South Australia which I know and love. The story was very well constructed, rounding out the two previous books written by this author. I highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed this story, which was largely set in an area of South Australia which I know and love. The story was very well constructed, rounding out the two previous books written by this author. I highly recommend it.
Want to Read
January 30, 2022I have read book 1 & 2 in this saga and loved them
trying to find a copy of this one book 3 A distant dream and drawn a blank can anyone help please
trying to find a copy of this one book 3 A distant dream and drawn a blank can anyone help please
July 26, 2014
The year is 1847 and it is the time of the infamous potato famine in Ireland. My knowledge of the period is sketchy and I fell in love with this cover. The somber tones perfectly convey the feeling of despair and almost resignation that the emigrants have.
We have scores of people moving out of Ireland and underscoring the famine and hunger, is also the fact that most of them are farmers who love the land but who are just tenant farmers. They long for their own land, something that they could nurture, protect and enhance and then hand over to their children.
Clarence and Bessie have no children - they actually abduct Molly while her sister is at her mother's funeral and very quickly whisk her away from the home she has always known. Molly is just three. The story follows with a tiring, eventful journey across the seas to Australia. There the family like scores of their fellow countrymen try to settle down to the life they are dreaming about. Molly's death is an act of murder covered up by her adopted parents as well as by Hannah who is cowed into covering up the actual facts. Molly's death is also the death knell for Bessie and Clarence who reverse their plans, move out and establish themselves elsewhere.
The book is one of a trilogy and I do hope I can track down the other books in the series. Very evocative and very descriptively told of the trials of average human beings. How even a very normal person like Bessie, can turn into something she is normally not. She was not maternal, she had motherhood thrust on her and she did not take to it. The difficulties facing farmers in a land totally different to what they knew is a subject that fascinates me. I have problems being an agriculturalist in a land I know. Imagine not knowing terrain, temperature, wild life (of which everything was different and strange), the hazards of no civilization, no doctors, no schooling. People faced all this and overcame these obstacles and did wonders for their adopted land.
This was a very good read.
We have scores of people moving out of Ireland and underscoring the famine and hunger, is also the fact that most of them are farmers who love the land but who are just tenant farmers. They long for their own land, something that they could nurture, protect and enhance and then hand over to their children.
Clarence and Bessie have no children - they actually abduct Molly while her sister is at her mother's funeral and very quickly whisk her away from the home she has always known. Molly is just three. The story follows with a tiring, eventful journey across the seas to Australia. There the family like scores of their fellow countrymen try to settle down to the life they are dreaming about. Molly's death is an act of murder covered up by her adopted parents as well as by Hannah who is cowed into covering up the actual facts. Molly's death is also the death knell for Bessie and Clarence who reverse their plans, move out and establish themselves elsewhere.
The book is one of a trilogy and I do hope I can track down the other books in the series. Very evocative and very descriptively told of the trials of average human beings. How even a very normal person like Bessie, can turn into something she is normally not. She was not maternal, she had motherhood thrust on her and she did not take to it. The difficulties facing farmers in a land totally different to what they knew is a subject that fascinates me. I have problems being an agriculturalist in a land I know. Imagine not knowing terrain, temperature, wild life (of which everything was different and strange), the hazards of no civilization, no doctors, no schooling. People faced all this and overcame these obstacles and did wonders for their adopted land.
This was a very good read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews