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Music Across the Mersey
1940s Dublin
Handsome widower Johnny Cassidy is out of work and lost as to how to look after his four children. Broken-hearted, he looks for the answer at the bottom of a bottle and it takes another calamity for him to realise that help sometimes comes from the strangest places.
With his family over the sea in Liverpool, it's Johnny's wife's spinster cousin who comes to the rescue. Nora's life is turned upside down by this brood of children and underneath the bustle of daily life, they all cherish secret dreams, some of which threaten to tear the family apart.
With Nora around, Ella Cassidy can be a teenager again, rather, while older brother Sean finds that music might be his salvation. But when he takes to the stage, it's the start of a journey that will take him far from home, and right towards the kind of trouble he thought he'd outran.
Handsome widower Johnny Cassidy is out of work and lost as to how to look after his four children. Broken-hearted, he looks for the answer at the bottom of a bottle and it takes another calamity for him to realise that help sometimes comes from the strangest places.
With his family over the sea in Liverpool, it's Johnny's wife's spinster cousin who comes to the rescue. Nora's life is turned upside down by this brood of children and underneath the bustle of daily life, they all cherish secret dreams, some of which threaten to tear the family apart.
With Nora around, Ella Cassidy can be a teenager again, rather, while older brother Sean finds that music might be his salvation. But when he takes to the stage, it's the start of a journey that will take him far from home, and right towards the kind of trouble he thought he'd outran.
390 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2017
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29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 16, 2020
After his beloved wife Mary’s death, charismatic Johnny Cassidy is struggling to look after his four children. His fondness for alcohol only adds to his problems. After a horrific accident, when he reaches his lowest point, Johnny knows something has to change. He reaches out and finds help from an unexpected source, as his wife’s spinster cousin Nora elects to come to the rescue for a time, until Johnny can work out a more permanent solution. When Nora arrives Ella, the eldest of the Cassidy siblings, is free to be a teenager instead of trying to parent her younger siblings. Her brother Sean finds his solace in music, something his father encourages him in. Music has always been something special for Johnny too but he never really had the opportunity to pursue it as he would have liked. Or was it that he just wasn’t talented enough? But Sean is. While Sean is trying to build a music career and Ella is discovering the joys of young love, life takes a very wayward turn for Johnny and for Nora. Can they ever put things right?
I was really enjoying this story and then a around part 2, I started to get uneasy with the way it was heading. Nora’s shift in behaviour never struck me as credible. Her drastic actions just didn’t seem to fit her character. However I continued to read as I did want to see how the story played out. By the time it reached part 3, the story pulled itself together again, though I did get a bit worried about Sean and his future for a while. Ella was my favourite character, a lass too old for her years in many ways and yet quite naive in others. Rose Murphy, the neighbour, initially seems a bit of a busybody. but ends up being a good friend and confidante to Nora and the Cassidy family, as does Nora’s friend Veronica.
The time period of the last 1940s and early 50s was well conveyed. With short chapters and largely likable characters it is an easy read. Despite my issues with the middle section, I mostly enjoyed the book. I know from other books the Irish use ‘grand’ in their conversations. However in this story I felt it was overdone. It left me feeling I’d scream if I heard another ‘grand’ comment. A minor point that may not worry other readers as much as it did me. I really liked all the music references throughout.
This is my first book by this author and she appears to be quite prolific. I would be quite interested to read another. Who know? Maybe it will be ’grand?’ all in all an enjoyable read but not without a few concerning issues.
I was really enjoying this story and then a around part 2, I started to get uneasy with the way it was heading. Nora’s shift in behaviour never struck me as credible. Her drastic actions just didn’t seem to fit her character. However I continued to read as I did want to see how the story played out. By the time it reached part 3, the story pulled itself together again, though I did get a bit worried about Sean and his future for a while. Ella was my favourite character, a lass too old for her years in many ways and yet quite naive in others. Rose Murphy, the neighbour, initially seems a bit of a busybody. but ends up being a good friend and confidante to Nora and the Cassidy family, as does Nora’s friend Veronica.
The time period of the last 1940s and early 50s was well conveyed. With short chapters and largely likable characters it is an easy read. Despite my issues with the middle section, I mostly enjoyed the book. I know from other books the Irish use ‘grand’ in their conversations. However in this story I felt it was overdone. It left me feeling I’d scream if I heard another ‘grand’ comment. A minor point that may not worry other readers as much as it did me. I really liked all the music references throughout.
This is my first book by this author and she appears to be quite prolific. I would be quite interested to read another. Who know? Maybe it will be ’grand?’ all in all an enjoyable read but not without a few concerning issues.
August 3, 2018
Widower Johnny Cassidy is struggling to hold things together following the passing of his wife Mary during childbirth.
When tragedy strikes, being 1940’s Ireland, getting a woman to run the house becomes a necessity. With his own family all settled in Liverpool, Johnny is forced to call on his wife’s cousin Nora who lives in Tullamore.
Nora, to her credit, puts her own life on hold and takes over the running of the Cassidy household. Johnny’s older children Seán & Ella are able to live the lives they should instead of shouldering responsibility for the running of the household. Hanna is taken care of and little Larry comes out of his shell. Nora is even instrumental in getting Johnny a full-time job.
As life settles down and becomes good again for the Cassidy family events take another turn. Nora misreads some signs with almost tragic consequences for her. Seán’s blossoming music career almost finishes before it starts and Johnny feels completely overwhelmed and at a loss as to what to do. Can the family pull it all together before it’s too late?
I adored this book, as with all of Geraldine’s previous books, I didn’t want it to end. She captures the time period, creates human characters and executes the story exquisitely. Highly recommend all of her books.
When tragedy strikes, being 1940’s Ireland, getting a woman to run the house becomes a necessity. With his own family all settled in Liverpool, Johnny is forced to call on his wife’s cousin Nora who lives in Tullamore.
Nora, to her credit, puts her own life on hold and takes over the running of the Cassidy household. Johnny’s older children Seán & Ella are able to live the lives they should instead of shouldering responsibility for the running of the household. Hanna is taken care of and little Larry comes out of his shell. Nora is even instrumental in getting Johnny a full-time job.
As life settles down and becomes good again for the Cassidy family events take another turn. Nora misreads some signs with almost tragic consequences for her. Seán’s blossoming music career almost finishes before it starts and Johnny feels completely overwhelmed and at a loss as to what to do. Can the family pull it all together before it’s too late?
I adored this book, as with all of Geraldine’s previous books, I didn’t want it to end. She captures the time period, creates human characters and executes the story exquisitely. Highly recommend all of her books.
August 14, 2019
A very enjoyable and quick read. Chapters are short and the story flows well. This book centres around the Cassidy family who live in Dublin in the 1950s. When Johnny Cassidy's wife Mary dies in childbirth she leaves him with four children to rear. Finding it difficult to cope Johnny enlists the help of Nora Mary's cousin to help out. The story centres around the relationships which develop between Nora and the children and with Johnny.
September 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, and I picked it up from my nana’s collection so that makes it a bit more special to me. Really loved the characters and seeing how they grew over time, as well as their relationships with others and the characters brought in a little later like Sally. I’m also glad it didn’t rush Johnny’s relationship with her, it’s nice that we as the reader are able to create our own ending for the pair. This was a really nice read, would definitely read it again :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2018
A great read. Very vivid descriptions of life in both Ireland and Liverpool.
March 17, 2018
A lovely read that really takes you back in time
October 20, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book! Just lovable characters just had me hooked!
September 3, 2019
Fantastic read
Very enjoyable,and brought back a lot of happy memory for me. Love all Geraldine I Neill books.hope she keeps writing..
Very enjoyable,and brought back a lot of happy memory for me. Love all Geraldine I Neill books.hope she keeps writing..
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews