What do you think?
Rate this book
Pearl
In 1920s rural Ireland, Pearl Somers lives happily with her parents, her sisters and her little brother in the gate lodge of Kilnashone Castle, where her father is chauffeur. But, one dreadful night, a series of dramatic events unfolds and the lives of all are changed for ever. Over 40 years later, Pearl has become a successful writer. Yet there is one story she has never told, until her young cousin Catherine confesses a secret of her own that opens a door to Pearl's past - one she thought had been firmly sealed for ever. But is it too late for Pearl to find her own happy ending?
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Deirdre Purcell
60 books32 followersDeirdre Purcell (1945–2023) was an Irish author, actress, and journalist.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 18, 2017
This was the first book by Deirdre Purcell that I read and I enjoyed it a lot. Set in the midlands of rural Ireland, the story is not gives us a look into the lives of the Lord and Lady Areton but also into the lives of Pearl, her parents, her sisters Opal and Ruby, and her little brother Willie. We get a vivid picture of the Castle grounds that captures the essential disparity between the two families. The Castle was not a real castle: in size and importance it was minor in comparison with some of the other great Irish houses, but with its elevated position with a 360-degree view of the rolling countryside, walls, stable yards and broad entrance avenue it was grand enough to impress. Contrast this with the Somers' home was a two-storey gate lodge adjoining the massive gates in which 6 people lived. The lives of the Somers family revolved almost completely around Kilnashone
Castle. The father of the family, James, was employed by Lord and Lady Areton as a chauffeur. A perk of the job, one of the few it would appear, was the grace-and-favour privilege of living in the cramped, dingy gate-lodge. Pearl, Opal, Ruby and Willie led an almost idyllic life indulging in the innocent pursuits of children, namely, walking in Drynan Wood and playing games down by the river adjoining the Castle while their mother, June, kept house and re-modelled the hand-me-downs received courtesy of Lady Areton. All was well as long as everyone knew their place in the pecking order. Daily life appeared to be going along fine from the Aretons' perspective, if outward appearances were to be believed, till a terrible night in April 1923 amidst 70th birthday party celebrations when a series of tragic events occurred with far-reaching consequences on the lives of both the Somers and Areton families.
More than 40 years later, we enter the second phase of the novel and the cast of characters narrows, comprising the two surviving Somers sisters, Pearl and Opal, who reside together in a luxurious house in the posh coastal suburb of Sandymount on Dublin's southside, and the regular visitor to their home, 19-year-old cousin Catherine Fay, an arts student in UCD who has become quite close to the two elderly sisters. After spending years, enduring more menial careers in cafes, hotels and the retail trade, both sisters have succeeded in achieving their long-held ambitions. Pearl, who has become a respected, published writer under the pseudonym Dorothy Morris, but has built a zone around her. Opal, meanwhile, is a wealthy widow. Her husband Frank left her well provided for, ensuring that she wouldn't have to skivvy like her mother. Pearl, a spinster who has been haunted by a brief but torrid love affair since her teen years. She is a deeply private person who takes refuge in her writing, and it remains for someone to unlock the love affair and end the pining. That someone is close at hand, Catherine.
Pearl is essentially a good old-fashioned love story yet it is more than a cosy, romantic read. I enjoyed the tension in the novel.
Castle. The father of the family, James, was employed by Lord and Lady Areton as a chauffeur. A perk of the job, one of the few it would appear, was the grace-and-favour privilege of living in the cramped, dingy gate-lodge. Pearl, Opal, Ruby and Willie led an almost idyllic life indulging in the innocent pursuits of children, namely, walking in Drynan Wood and playing games down by the river adjoining the Castle while their mother, June, kept house and re-modelled the hand-me-downs received courtesy of Lady Areton. All was well as long as everyone knew their place in the pecking order. Daily life appeared to be going along fine from the Aretons' perspective, if outward appearances were to be believed, till a terrible night in April 1923 amidst 70th birthday party celebrations when a series of tragic events occurred with far-reaching consequences on the lives of both the Somers and Areton families.
More than 40 years later, we enter the second phase of the novel and the cast of characters narrows, comprising the two surviving Somers sisters, Pearl and Opal, who reside together in a luxurious house in the posh coastal suburb of Sandymount on Dublin's southside, and the regular visitor to their home, 19-year-old cousin Catherine Fay, an arts student in UCD who has become quite close to the two elderly sisters. After spending years, enduring more menial careers in cafes, hotels and the retail trade, both sisters have succeeded in achieving their long-held ambitions. Pearl, who has become a respected, published writer under the pseudonym Dorothy Morris, but has built a zone around her. Opal, meanwhile, is a wealthy widow. Her husband Frank left her well provided for, ensuring that she wouldn't have to skivvy like her mother. Pearl, a spinster who has been haunted by a brief but torrid love affair since her teen years. She is a deeply private person who takes refuge in her writing, and it remains for someone to unlock the love affair and end the pining. That someone is close at hand, Catherine.
Pearl is essentially a good old-fashioned love story yet it is more than a cosy, romantic read. I enjoyed the tension in the novel.
March 14, 2023
Beautiful, sad, romantic, in places brutal and heart wrenching, Pearl is a lovely story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sadly Deirdre Purcell recently passed away R.I.P. and it has been a while since I have read any of her novels but I remember enjoying Falling for a Dancer and Francey and I intend to read more of her work.
My only disappointment in Pearl is the description of Ruby's diagnosis as being "no hope" Of course this may have been the prognosis for Pancreatic cancer in the 1960's/1970's when the novel is set and could not be edited now but it would be shocking for anyone with such a diagnosis to read that statement now.
My only disappointment in Pearl is the description of Ruby's diagnosis as being "no hope" Of course this may have been the prognosis for Pancreatic cancer in the 1960's/1970's when the novel is set and could not be edited now but it would be shocking for anyone with such a diagnosis to read that statement now.
October 15, 2018
This book was just okay, there were parts where I finally felt like I was falling in love with the story but then it would veer off in the opposite direction again. There was something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. I did not enjoy the chapters where Opal was the narrator, they deviated too much from the writing style of the rest of the book.
Such a shame as I had high hopes after reading the blurb on the back.
2 stars
Such a shame as I had high hopes after reading the blurb on the back.
2 stars
February 2, 2017
I found this book very enjoyable. The language of the book was outstanding; it was incredibly well written and very entertaining. The book is split into two halves: the first focusing on Pearl's childhood, told from the narrative of both Pearl and her younger sister Opal. The story focuses on a traumatic childhood incident, which actually deeply saddened me, possibly due to Purcell's excellent writing. The second half of the story is told by a younger relative of Pearl's, Catherine, but is equally as dramatic. The novel ends with the two worlds coming together, and has a lovely satisfying ending which you are rooting for the whole novel! I loved it; the setting, the storyline and the characters. I would definitely read more of hers.
December 29, 2013
I was hovering between a 3 and a 4 for this, I really like Deirdre Purcell as an author and having met her at a book reading in my local library I found her to be a lovely and interesting person, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it but it wasn't as gripping as Entertaining Ambrose which was the last book I read from this author. Falling for a Dancer is being repeated on television this week and I will be watching as I remember it as a wonderful book.
January 13, 2012
very good so far.
December 13, 2012
I would not usually opt to read this type of book, but I was desperate. It turned out to be an ahhhh tale. Very predictable but sweet.
Read
March 6, 2014A gentle nostalgic love story. With lots of wonderful characters. The story takes the reader from the main characters childhoods and families to middle age with tragedy and cruelty a long the way.
September 28, 2015
First book I have read by this author. The harsh reality of the class system in UK. Story line held my attention.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews