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Pack Up Your Troubles
Maeve Brannigan is only eighteen when she leaves her rural home in County Donegal and moves to Birmingham, where she falls in love with handsome Brendan Hogan. But married life isn’t as idyllic as she’d imagined, and when Maeve falls pregnant with their first child, she soon realises that Brendan isn’t the man she thought he was.
Saddled with a violent husband and with two young’uns needing her protection, Maeve bears her life as best she can. After a particularly vicious attack, she is forced to flee back to Ireland – but her presence is greeted with open hostility by the close-knit catholic community that she was once so eager to escape. Driven away to face her abusive husband, Maeve’s future looks bleak. Will she find the strength to break free and make the prospect of a better life a reality rather than a distant dream?
Saddled with a violent husband and with two young’uns needing her protection, Maeve bears her life as best she can. After a particularly vicious attack, she is forced to flee back to Ireland – but her presence is greeted with open hostility by the close-knit catholic community that she was once so eager to escape. Driven away to face her abusive husband, Maeve’s future looks bleak. Will she find the strength to break free and make the prospect of a better life a reality rather than a distant dream?
544 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 26, 2016
This book turned out to be a real surprise. Just looking at the cover, I was expecting a light, easy to read, heart warming family saga set in the 1930s and in some respects that is what I got. However, this read has quite a savage, dark side to it, one that I wasn’t expecting at all but which I found absolutely gripping.
Set in Birmingham during the 1930s and 1940s, young Maeve arrives from Ireland to work and very soon meets and falls in love with Brendan Hogan who quite literally sweeps her off her feet. But, will it be happy ever after or marry in haste, repent at leisure? We soon enter a world where daily, savage and brutal beatings are the norm, one in which a man, and his counterparts, considers that it is his right to chastise his wife without interference. It is a world where your neighbours don’t want to get involved, after all they are probably going through the same thing. And if you think your local priest can help, then forget it – because the power of the priest will stretch far beyond his parish boundaries. It is a man’s world, decades before refuges and helplines. It is one where a victim has to just put up with it, especially if she has no money of her own, her family is across the sea and her religion tells her that marriage is for life.
It is not all doom and gloom though, at heart it is a nostalgic family saga with a lot of story packed into it and it is one that I got totally swept up in and couldn’t bear to put down. I loved the descriptions of Birmingham in the 1930s and 1940s and the attention to detail that the author used. I have phases of reading this genre. I can gobble up a dozen or so, one after the other, and then not read another one for five years. It all depends on what is going on in life as there are times when this type of read is just the ticket and I think that this one is probably one of the best of its type that I have ever read.
I received a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
Set in Birmingham during the 1930s and 1940s, young Maeve arrives from Ireland to work and very soon meets and falls in love with Brendan Hogan who quite literally sweeps her off her feet. But, will it be happy ever after or marry in haste, repent at leisure? We soon enter a world where daily, savage and brutal beatings are the norm, one in which a man, and his counterparts, considers that it is his right to chastise his wife without interference. It is a world where your neighbours don’t want to get involved, after all they are probably going through the same thing. And if you think your local priest can help, then forget it – because the power of the priest will stretch far beyond his parish boundaries. It is a man’s world, decades before refuges and helplines. It is one where a victim has to just put up with it, especially if she has no money of her own, her family is across the sea and her religion tells her that marriage is for life.
It is not all doom and gloom though, at heart it is a nostalgic family saga with a lot of story packed into it and it is one that I got totally swept up in and couldn’t bear to put down. I loved the descriptions of Birmingham in the 1930s and 1940s and the attention to detail that the author used. I have phases of reading this genre. I can gobble up a dozen or so, one after the other, and then not read another one for five years. It all depends on what is going on in life as there are times when this type of read is just the ticket and I think that this one is probably one of the best of its type that I have ever read.
I received a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
January 6, 2017
Maeve leaves the family farm in Donegal hoping to find a better life in Birmingham. There she meets the charming Brendan. Soon after marrying him Maeve knows she's made a huge mistake. Brendan's friendliness while they were dating was only an act and he is in fact a bully. Brendan is cruel and vindictive and he doesn't care about his wife at all. Maeve is trapped and there's nothing she can do, especially not when she gets pregnant and children arrive.
Maeve tries to shield her little ones from Brendan, but he's unstoppable. When she doesn't succeed in keeping them safe, she has no choice but to go back to her parents. However, in the Catholic community she's from the church is always involved and Maeve is being forced to go back to the man that keeps putting her in danger. Will she have a future with this brute of a husband and what will happen to her and her children if they stay with him?
Pack Up Your Troubles is a beautiful emotional story. Maeve is unbelievably strong. Brendan only has power because he has physical strength, but Maeve will not let him break her spirit. I greatly admired her, she does what she can and fights for her children. She never complains while her life is terrible. Reading about Brendan's actions repeatedly made me cry, as they're absolutely awful. Anne Bennett deeply touched me with this story. I was repulsed by Maeve's aggressive husband, but due to Maeve's amazing personality the story is so compelling that I had to keep reading.
Pack Up Your Troubles is a long story and I loved every page. Anne Bennett describes Maeve's entire life story. The novel is fast-paced and there's always something going on. One of the things I enjoy most about Anne Bennett's work is that she has so much to write about. Her stories are detailed and accurate and they take me to a different time and place. I love the way she writes, it's impressive, vivid, precise and captivating. She makes her main characters come to life very well and the reader has the chance to get to know them through and through, which is incredible.
Pack Up Your Troubles is a novel about a heavy topic, abuse. Anne Bennett describes what happens to Maeve in a raw and honest way, she doesn't leave anything out to spare her readers. It's an intense way of storytelling that hits hard and that is exactly the way it's supposed to be. What happens behind closed doors can be shocking and while reading this book I often had to think about the women who actually went through and are going through something similar. Maeve is a sweet woman with so much potential and Brendan ruins everything for her. I kept hoping she would find happiness at some point. Therefore Anne Bennett kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the ending, it's fitting and absolutely brilliant. I highly recommend this fantastic book.
Maeve tries to shield her little ones from Brendan, but he's unstoppable. When she doesn't succeed in keeping them safe, she has no choice but to go back to her parents. However, in the Catholic community she's from the church is always involved and Maeve is being forced to go back to the man that keeps putting her in danger. Will she have a future with this brute of a husband and what will happen to her and her children if they stay with him?
Pack Up Your Troubles is a beautiful emotional story. Maeve is unbelievably strong. Brendan only has power because he has physical strength, but Maeve will not let him break her spirit. I greatly admired her, she does what she can and fights for her children. She never complains while her life is terrible. Reading about Brendan's actions repeatedly made me cry, as they're absolutely awful. Anne Bennett deeply touched me with this story. I was repulsed by Maeve's aggressive husband, but due to Maeve's amazing personality the story is so compelling that I had to keep reading.
Pack Up Your Troubles is a long story and I loved every page. Anne Bennett describes Maeve's entire life story. The novel is fast-paced and there's always something going on. One of the things I enjoy most about Anne Bennett's work is that she has so much to write about. Her stories are detailed and accurate and they take me to a different time and place. I love the way she writes, it's impressive, vivid, precise and captivating. She makes her main characters come to life very well and the reader has the chance to get to know them through and through, which is incredible.
Pack Up Your Troubles is a novel about a heavy topic, abuse. Anne Bennett describes what happens to Maeve in a raw and honest way, she doesn't leave anything out to spare her readers. It's an intense way of storytelling that hits hard and that is exactly the way it's supposed to be. What happens behind closed doors can be shocking and while reading this book I often had to think about the women who actually went through and are going through something similar. Maeve is a sweet woman with so much potential and Brendan ruins everything for her. I kept hoping she would find happiness at some point. Therefore Anne Bennett kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the ending, it's fitting and absolutely brilliant. I highly recommend this fantastic book.
February 22, 2021
Will read this another time. Just got into another book. But the start was good,
April 29, 2016
This book is set in the late 1930's through to the middle 1940's. It tells the story of Maeve Brannigan who leaves Donegal in Ireland, at the age of 15 to live in Birmingham. This is an excellent family saga book but it's also more than that. We learn of Maeves life with her husband Brendan Hogan who she met a short time after she moved there. In an era where the woman 'obeys' her husband this book made me shudder at times. I would highly recommend this book if you like family sagas.
My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
December 2, 2023
What a story I have just read.
This is my one story that was going to pack up your trouble.
But it was quite a shame for one character and what has happened in their life.
Just as we start in 1930's and end in the 1950's you can feel the story come to life.
The reality of what happens and it can make you question on how the characters' as around,
I will look forward to reading more Anne Bennett book
This is my one story that was going to pack up your trouble.
But it was quite a shame for one character and what has happened in their life.
Just as we start in 1930's and end in the 1950's you can feel the story come to life.
The reality of what happens and it can make you question on how the characters' as around,
I will look forward to reading more Anne Bennett book
September 6, 2020
Intense and brutal. It was extremely difficult for me to get through the first half of this book. Why Maeve endured what she endured, and for the length of it all, baffled me.
The characters are very well developed..the story gritty..and the problems real.
This book is not for the faint of heart. But it was a good read for its reality. Warts and all.
The characters are very well developed..the story gritty..and the problems real.
This book is not for the faint of heart. But it was a good read for its reality. Warts and all.
June 5, 2019
What an amazing story of an young woman who despite having a pig of a husband was able to overcome everything life threw at her and end up happy thisncertainky diana tale of just how amazing and strong a mothers love really is and how religion back in them days was able to bully and rule people
October 7, 2016
This book had me enjoying it from the very first pages for Maeve was a great character from the get go and it promised plenty of drama and drama is what we got.
Set in the 1930s and 1940s Maeve moves from her home in Ireland to Birmingham were she meets and very quickly marries Brendan. Just as quick she realises that he isn't the man she thought he was and now follows a pattern of horrible appalling domestic violence.
Such was the case back then for Catholics that marriage was for life no matter what and a woman must obey her husband,the priests basically pushed her back into her marriage after she gets the courage to eventually leave. It's horrific how it was seen as common among women back in the day.
The book takes some unexpected turns and it's filled with drama and with many different characters.
The book did lag a bit for me come about 400 pages or so as it became kind of predictable and for someone like Maeve who had been through so much and for such drama to be reduced now to this cliched smitten shy woman was boring and I was bored and did think why couldn't the book just have finished now before it got to this stage.
But it picked up its pace again gradually and turned out ok in the end. Tho for me a lot of the last 100 pages was rather unnecessary and cliched,which ruined it somewhat for me,though an enjoyable read all the same.
Set in the 1930s and 1940s Maeve moves from her home in Ireland to Birmingham were she meets and very quickly marries Brendan. Just as quick she realises that he isn't the man she thought he was and now follows a pattern of horrible appalling domestic violence.
Such was the case back then for Catholics that marriage was for life no matter what and a woman must obey her husband,the priests basically pushed her back into her marriage after she gets the courage to eventually leave. It's horrific how it was seen as common among women back in the day.
The book takes some unexpected turns and it's filled with drama and with many different characters.
The book did lag a bit for me come about 400 pages or so as it became kind of predictable and for someone like Maeve who had been through so much and for such drama to be reduced now to this cliched smitten shy woman was boring and I was bored and did think why couldn't the book just have finished now before it got to this stage.
But it picked up its pace again gradually and turned out ok in the end. Tho for me a lot of the last 100 pages was rather unnecessary and cliched,which ruined it somewhat for me,though an enjoyable read all the same.
April 26, 2016
This book follows the life journey of Maeve Brannigan, a sweet 18 year old girl who wants to explore and moves from her quiet home in Ireland to the hustle and bustle of inner city Birmingham. What follows is far from the idyllic and exciting life she has envisaged.
This story was possibly one of the most harrowing accounts of spousal abuse I have ever come across and was a heartbreaking account of the harsh reality of what life was like for a housewife and mother in the early 1900's. Brendan appears to be a wonderful man, loving and considerate although quite early on I felt like there was another side to him, I don't think he even realised it was there until later on in the story. Brendan is Irish and it seems like he does love Maeve in the beginning, until the harsh realities of life hit home. Brendan's character is wonderfully written, I felt like I could almost see into his mind and see the villain and monster that he truly is.
Maeve's character is also beautifully portrayed and the story really captures her soul as she lives a miserable and abused existence trying to care for herself and also trying to protect her children. This story really touches on a sensitive and rarely addressed issue - domestic violence, and the stigma that follows it. It also portrays the Catholic Church in a less than favourable light, but the truth is that this was simply the way it happened many years ago. Domestic abuse was ignored and very commonplace, women were expected to just get on with it and to honour their husbands regardless of the treatment they suffered.
This story provides insight into the lives of women in the pre WW2 era, and is done so in a descriptive and often brutal manner. There were moments when I almost felt I couldn't continue but the story is so well written that I couldn't wait to see what would happen throughout out the years and I was relieved at the end! This story really gets down into the nitty gritty of ignored situations and bring s then into a whole new light, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a deep and meaningful read written with honesty and integrity.
This story was possibly one of the most harrowing accounts of spousal abuse I have ever come across and was a heartbreaking account of the harsh reality of what life was like for a housewife and mother in the early 1900's. Brendan appears to be a wonderful man, loving and considerate although quite early on I felt like there was another side to him, I don't think he even realised it was there until later on in the story. Brendan is Irish and it seems like he does love Maeve in the beginning, until the harsh realities of life hit home. Brendan's character is wonderfully written, I felt like I could almost see into his mind and see the villain and monster that he truly is.
Maeve's character is also beautifully portrayed and the story really captures her soul as she lives a miserable and abused existence trying to care for herself and also trying to protect her children. This story really touches on a sensitive and rarely addressed issue - domestic violence, and the stigma that follows it. It also portrays the Catholic Church in a less than favourable light, but the truth is that this was simply the way it happened many years ago. Domestic abuse was ignored and very commonplace, women were expected to just get on with it and to honour their husbands regardless of the treatment they suffered.
This story provides insight into the lives of women in the pre WW2 era, and is done so in a descriptive and often brutal manner. There were moments when I almost felt I couldn't continue but the story is so well written that I couldn't wait to see what would happen throughout out the years and I was relieved at the end! This story really gets down into the nitty gritty of ignored situations and bring s then into a whole new light, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a deep and meaningful read written with honesty and integrity.
April 26, 2016
This book follows the life journey of Maeve Brannigan, a sweet 18 year old girl who wants to explore and moves from her quiet home in Ireland to the hustle and bustle of inner city Birmingham. What follows is far from the idyllic and exciting life she has envisaged.
This story was possibly one of the most harrowing accounts of spousal abuse I have ever come across and was a heartbreaking account of the harsh reality of what life was like for a housewife and mother in the early 1900's. Brendan appears to be a wonderful man, loving and considerate although quite early on I felt like there was another side to him, I don't think he even realised it was there until later on in the story. Brendan is Irish and it seems like he does love Maeve in the beginning, until the harsh realities of life hit home. Brendan's character is wonderfully written, I felt like I could almost see into his mind and see the villain and monster that he truly is.
Maeve's character is also beautifully portrayed and the story really captures her soul as she lives a miserable and abused existence trying to care for herself and also trying to protect her children. This story really touches on a sensitive and rarely addressed issue - domestic violence, and the stigma that follows it. It also portrays the Catholic Church in a less than favourable light, but the truth is that this was simply the way it happened many years ago. Domestic abuse was ignored and very commonplace, women were expected to just get on with it and to honour their husbands regardless of the treatment they suffered.
This story provides insight into the lives of women in the pre WW2 era, and is done so in a descriptive and often brutal manner. There were moments when I almost felt I couldn't continue but the story is so well written that I couldn't wait to see what would happen throughout out the years and I was relieved at the end! This story really gets down into the nitty gritty of ignored situations and bring s then into a whole new light, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a deep and meaningful read written with honesty and integrity.
This story was possibly one of the most harrowing accounts of spousal abuse I have ever come across and was a heartbreaking account of the harsh reality of what life was like for a housewife and mother in the early 1900's. Brendan appears to be a wonderful man, loving and considerate although quite early on I felt like there was another side to him, I don't think he even realised it was there until later on in the story. Brendan is Irish and it seems like he does love Maeve in the beginning, until the harsh realities of life hit home. Brendan's character is wonderfully written, I felt like I could almost see into his mind and see the villain and monster that he truly is.
Maeve's character is also beautifully portrayed and the story really captures her soul as she lives a miserable and abused existence trying to care for herself and also trying to protect her children. This story really touches on a sensitive and rarely addressed issue - domestic violence, and the stigma that follows it. It also portrays the Catholic Church in a less than favourable light, but the truth is that this was simply the way it happened many years ago. Domestic abuse was ignored and very commonplace, women were expected to just get on with it and to honour their husbands regardless of the treatment they suffered.
This story provides insight into the lives of women in the pre WW2 era, and is done so in a descriptive and often brutal manner. There were moments when I almost felt I couldn't continue but the story is so well written that I couldn't wait to see what would happen throughout out the years and I was relieved at the end! This story really gets down into the nitty gritty of ignored situations and bring s then into a whole new light, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a deep and meaningful read written with honesty and integrity.
February 17, 2017
Another brilliant book by Ann Bennett. Highly recommend.
A poor woman's struggle against a brute of a man who constantly beat her, her daily struggle to survive the beatings. In the end her struggle ended with him, but her life was consumed with guilt in another way that threatened to destroy her future happiness. Although this book is fiction it could so easily be true , it doesn't bear thinking about at what some women go through in their marriage's. A must read
A poor woman's struggle against a brute of a man who constantly beat her, her daily struggle to survive the beatings. In the end her struggle ended with him, but her life was consumed with guilt in another way that threatened to destroy her future happiness. Although this book is fiction it could so easily be true , it doesn't bear thinking about at what some women go through in their marriage's. A must read
March 6, 2016
I love the books that Anne Bennett writes. Brilliantly told heart-felt stories.
This is the story of Maeve who leaves her home in County Donegal & moves to Birmingham where she meets, falls in love & marries Brendan.
Once married, Brendan turns out to be a bully of the worst kind & Maeve becomes the victim of an abusive relationship.
A well told, gripping, page turner of a book.
One to recommend to family & friends.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in return for my honest review.
This is the story of Maeve who leaves her home in County Donegal & moves to Birmingham where she meets, falls in love & marries Brendan.
Once married, Brendan turns out to be a bully of the worst kind & Maeve becomes the victim of an abusive relationship.
A well told, gripping, page turner of a book.
One to recommend to family & friends.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in return for my honest review.
April 1, 2016
Amazing book
The storyline in this book was absolutely brilliant,the suffering of the main character
is heartbreaking . Anne Bennett has written this book so well, i couldn't put it down. One of the best books I've read for a very long time.
heartbreaking
The storyline in this book was absolutely brilliant,the suffering of the main character
is heartbreaking . Anne Bennett has written this book so well, i couldn't put it down. One of the best books I've read for a very long time.
heartbreaking
August 7, 2016
Maeve Brannigan goes through heart-wrenching suffering before reaching her happy ending. Read this with tissues handy!
March 8, 2018
absolutely brilliant book I enjoyed every page and couldn't put it down x
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews