The Memory of Music: An Irish Family Saga of War & Redemption

O'Neill Series #3

by Olive Collins

The Bestselling Award-Winning Irish historical novel, The Memory of Music One Irish family - 100 turbulent years. 1916: Betty O’Fogarty is proud and clever. Spurred on by her belief in her husband Seamus’s talent as a violin-maker and her desire to escape rural life, they elope to Dublin. She expects life there to fulfil all her dreams. To her horror, she discovers that they can only afford to live in the notorious poverty-stricken tenements. Seamus becomes obsessed with republican politics and neglects his lucrative craft. As Dublin is plunged into chaos as The Easter Rebellion of 1916, Betty gives birth to her first child to the sound of gunfire and shelling. But Betty vows that she will survive war and want, and move her little family out of the tenements. Nothing will stand in her way. One hundred years later, secrets churn their way to the surface and Betty’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren uncover both Betty’s ruthlessness and her unique brand of heroism.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Ireland, Book Club, War, Romance

584 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2019

Reviews

[Margaret Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ireland 2016 and Isabel is approaching her 100th Birthday. Born during the Easter Rising, she has lived through some of the country's most turbulent times. The daughter of a spirited woman and gifted violin-maker, the memories come to life when she hears the music of her past.

Dublin 1916 and Betty is about to give birth, alone. Irish rebels are taking over the city and she fears for her husband's safety. Huddled in a tenement building, close to the GPO, she vows to improve her circumstances, with or without her husband's consent.

Ireland's battle for Independence has been the subject of many novels in recent months. The brave men and women of our nation have been re-worked into some fine narratives and every child in the country celebrated this years centenary. Olive Collins has added on something extra by bringing the story forward. From the Rebellion, subsequent executions and treaty negotiations through to the end of civil war and its bitter aftermath. She uses Betty, Isabel and their extended family to show how determination can sometimes lead to despair. Betty's husband Seamus is a gifted man, full of musical talent and is an unparalleled creator of exquisite violins. However, his Republican values outweigh his love of his personal life and he becomes increasingly distant from his family. Late night visits, hidden arms and secret societies become the norm and Betty fears for her future. Her hardened determination results in her own secrets. As the years slip by, the female descendants of Betty are unaware of the murky details of their matriarch's early years, until the discovery of some hidden letters...

Historical fiction can sometimes be weighed down by the authors research and the characters can become victims of their historical relevance. This is not so with The Memory of Music. While it is obvious that the author has an intensive knowledge of 20thC Irish History, especially the years surrounding our desire to break from English rule, she does not drown the reader with facts. Rather, she gives enough detail to relate the characters to their situations and leaves the reader with a taster that may result in further research, if desired. A teaser, if you like. The writing is fluid and clear, with the novel split into three parts; the first part centered around the events of 1916, the second on Treaty negotiations and the War of Independence, whilst the final part leads the novel towards current times. There are a gaggle of female, cross-generational characters in part three and I found myself struggling to retain their relevance to Seamus and Betty's story. The idea of discovered letters is nothing new, but add in some torn photos and antique violins and furniture and it ups the game. This is a great read, ideal for fans of Marita Conlon-McKenna's Rebel Sisters or RTÉ's recent TV drama, Rebellion. A very worthy debut, ideally timed for the 1916 centenary celebrations and the upcoming anniversary of the War of Independence.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like it.

This multigenerational story told from the aspect of women in an Irish family from 1916 to 2016 was a hard one to stay reading until the end.

Ireland's history during the fight for independence from 1916 and then the civil war is told through the eyes of Betty, a rather self-indulged character who I didn't like at all. Her feelings of superiority over her fellow Irish countrymen was irritating and I found myself sympathetic to her husband and the wars.

Another problem for me was the bogged down plot with all the various children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their abstract opinions as they try to fit the pieces of historical pieces they have in order to understand their own family history. I felt like an entire half of the writing could easily have been edited out or shortened to make it a good story. The plot drifted into areas that seemed out of place and added nothing to the plot.

Having my own ethnic connection to Ireland, I found the historical political aspect very interesting, though. But as,a romance novel it failed in my opinion.

I actually didn't like most of the female characters in the book and find it selfish of any family member to keep family history from any one member of a family. You would have to read the book to understand this, but I have no recommendation on that count.

[Jolene · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are so many things that drew me to this book. First, it was selected by my bookclub. I loved the cover photo, the title, and the premise of the book. Yes, it was interesting having kitchen chair seating during the Easter Rising and Irish independent conflicts. The only characters I came to appreciate were Betty's Mom and Mona. I was so disappointed that the title of the book was a brief paragraph of story, I wanted it more deeply weaved throughout the family drama. At the heart of this book, it is a family drama. I flicked past so many pages of the story and when my screen stopped scrolling it was as thought I had missed nothing in the story. I want to feel more for the characters in the books I read, I felt robbed.

Sorry to those that loved the book, you probably think I am an eejit!

Maybe the tide between will be more to my liking. I would read another Olive Collins book.

[mary m green · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I started “The Memory of Music” immediately after finishing “The Tides Between Us,” also by Olive Collins, because I had enjoyed “ Tides” so much. I did not enjoy this one as much. The poor editing that I was willing to overlook in “Tides” because I was so engrossed in the characters and story became an annoying impediment in “Memory.” I also did not care for Collins’ choice to jump ahead several generations from the end of Part 2, which takes place in the years surrounding and including the Easter Rising, to Part 3, when the little girl of Part 2 has aged into a secrets-keeping and not very lovable grandmother. Her daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughter uncover the secrets and, with them, some understanding of the old woman’s ways. They also learn how some of their own traits relate to those of the women who have gone before them. Their situations and ways of thinking also illustrate huge changes in Irish life and attitudes. For me, none of that is enough to justify the writer’s method of completing the multi-generational tale through investigations by the younger generations. Continuing the narrative from Part 2 through to the old woman’s death would have interested me more. The most involving segments of Part 3 are, in fact, when the dying grandmother is lucid enough to think back to episodes in her life and they are presented in narrative form, not as discoveries pieced together by her descendants. I was interested enough in the story to continue to the end, but this book was a disappointment after “Tides.”

[Orla McAlinden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Memory of Music is a thoroughly rewarding read, and is so much more than a family drama.
This is the latest book to be released dealing with the centenary year of 2016 ( celebrating and commemorating the rebellion known as The Easter Rising which was pivotal in the final departure of Britain from a ruling role in the Republic of Ireland). I have read several of these novels and Olive Collins’s debut stands up to the comparisons.
We all have a tendency to judge a book by its cover and The Memory of Music does have a very attractive cover. While the cover might imply a straightforward romance in the women’s fiction genre, the book certainly deals with much more than inter-personal relationships. The historical research is evident without being overwhelming and the poverty and desperation of the Dublin slums in the years leading up to 1916 are evocative and well-written. The isolation and fear of the young wife who comes to Dublin to advance her husband’s career, but watches as he slips deeper and deeper into the grip of Republican politics, and as he finally endangers the security of the new-born infant and the two-room tenement lodgings by bringing home his allies, is convincing and well thought-out.
I particularly liked the strength and determination shown by the near-destitute women of Dublin’s slums… the feisty and strong predecessors of Mrs Brown… and I loved the evocation of snobbery displayed by the main protagonist, who does her utmost to forget her humble years in the slums, even to the point of lying to her parents and blanking the women who had helped her in her hour of need.
If historical fiction with a good dollop of drama and illicit romance thrown in is your thing…this debut will not disappoint. There is a strong unvoiced anti-war sentiment throughout the book… a strange equivocation which has been evident all through the 2016 centenary commemorations: without the carnage and apparent futility of the Easter Rising, the brutality of the War of Independence and the horror of the Civil War (all within one decade) Ireland would not be the sovereign country she now is. And yet, the book avoids all hint of jingoism and concentrates on the truest, most vulnerable victims of every conflict: the women and children who often don’t care who “rules” the country, as long as they and their beloved children are left alone. Unfortunately, they never are.
As in life, the secrets of that awful decade of carnage haunt the family for generations, until we reach the fifth generation, a truly global, switched-on set of young women, whose role it is to relegate these dark secrets to the past at last.

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Irish historical novel

Gave me a new perspective on Irish history - which I liked . A tad bit confusing when it changes to present . A few inaccurate references to Betty O' Fogerty Hopkins as Betty Salmon. Once I figured all of the relationships out - from present to past - story made more sense but ending was a bit anticlimactic.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a good plot and some interesting historical color, but reads like a draft with loose ends, irrelevant details, and poorly introduced characters. Too much time wasted on sloppy and irrelevant conversations while key details are listed off by the narrator.

[R.A. Moses · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written with not only typographical errors but also character references.

[Evelyn Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. To me it seemed a bit of Cold Mountain, The Bridges of Madison County and a touch of Stephen King all mixed together in an Irish saga. My couple of trips to Ireland in recent years would not have prepared me for the poverty and tenements of Dublin 100 years earlier. Nor did the pastoral serenity in the countryside make me think of Tipperary as a pivotal location during the Rising. I couldn’t help but wonder what involvement my own distant cousins might have had. Since I’d been to several places mentioned, I tried to imagine the sites during those years of unrest.
I found the book a bit difficult to follow. It was hard to keep track of the characters, especially when the chapters switched to another location or time period. I would have liked to know more about Isabel and the life she spent with her grandparents. She would have been close in age to my parents. I think the book would be an interesting movie or mini series.

[Nikki Crain]

Peeling Away the Layers

This author has a way of making you want to know more. She tells you just enough to hold your interest but leaves you needing more answers. It's like peeling away the layers of an onion. Sometimes what you find will be sweet and other times you will have tears in your eyes. I really enjoy Ms Collins' stories. She does, however, need a little help with editing grammar and sentence structure. Sometimes it's hard to know which character she is referencing. I have read The Weaver's Legacy and now finished The Memory of Music. I'm ready to start The Tide Between Us and hope it will be equally enthralling. I'm going to be watching for more by this author.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Irish saga didn't see the end coming loved it

[Jennifer deBie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a "Family Saga", the relationships across generations are complex and traumatized. That said, for this being the 3rd book in a trilogy, it was incredibly follow-able. I suspect the books are all siloed off from each other fairly well.

Anyway, full to bursting of strong-willed women, each with their own flaws, demons, and reasons for being exactly who they are, The Memory of Music is well worth the read, just be ready to map out a family tree while you do it.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Madden writes in Goodreads:
Ireland 2016 and Isabel is approaching her 100th Birthday. Born during the Easter Rising, she has lived through some of the country's most turbulent times. The daughter of a spirited woman and gifted violin-maker, the memories come to life when she hears the music of her past.

Dublin 1916 and Betty is about to give birth, alone. Irish rebels are taking over the city and she fears for her husband's safety. Huddled in a tenement building, close to the GPO, she vows to improve her circumstances, with or without her husband's consent.

Ireland's battle for Independence has been the subject of many novels in recent months. The brave men and women of our nation have been re-worked into some fine narratives and every child in the country celebrated this years centenary. Olive Collins has added on something extra by bringing the story forward. From the Rebellion, subsequent executions and treaty negotiations through to the end of civil war and its bitter aftermath. She uses Betty, Isabel and their extended family to show how determination can sometimes lead to despair. Betty's husband Seamus is a gifted man, full of musical talent and is an unparalleled creator of exquisite violins. However, his Republican values outweigh his love of his personal life and he becomes increasingly distant from his family. Late night visits, hidden arms and secret societies become the norm and Betty fears for her future. Her hardened determination results in her own secrets. As the years slip by, the female descendants of Betty are unaware of the murky details of their matriarch's early years, until the discovery of some hidden letters...

Historical fiction can sometimes be weighed down by the authors research and the characters can become victims of their historical relevance. This is not so with The Memory of Music. While it is obvious that the author has an intensive knowledge of 20thC Irish History, especially the years surrounding our desire to break from English rule, she does not drown the reader with facts. Rather, she gives enough detail to relate the characters to their situations and leaves the reader with a taster that may result in further research, if desired. A teaser, if you like. The writing is fluid and clear, with the novel split into three parts; the first part centered around the events of 1916, the second on Treaty negotiations and the War of Independence, whilst the final part leads the novel towards current times. There are a gaggle of female, cross-generational characters in part three and I found myself struggling to retain their relevance to Seamus and Betty's story. The idea of discovered letters is nothing new, but add in some torn photos and antique violins and furniture and it ups the game. This is a great read, ideal for fans of Marita Conlon-McKenna's Rebel Sisters or RTÉ's recent TV drama, Rebellion. A very worthy debut, ideally timed for the 1916 centenary celebrations and the upcoming anniversary of the War of Independence. (less)

[Kathy jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a powerful story but I was tripped up by the writing. I almost stopped reading several times because I was bored with Betty, the narcissist lead character. I was bored with the stilted writing that seems to be a sloppy translation from another language.

The cover said it was a multi-generational story but the next generation’s story doesn’t start until two-thirds into the book. It would have been interesting to have more flashbacks throughout the story.

Some powerful images though- Mona, Conleth, the beautiful violins, the dollhouse. I wish whoever wrote the last third of the book had taken such care with the storyline as the first part and that the first part didn’t drag so much.

The story of the conflict between Ireland and England was also strong and one can see the effects on future generations.

What’s up with Catherine’s character and the hatred she feels toward her mother? How does that fit? I kept expecting it to be revealed that she was someone else’s child.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Irish

Olive Collins creates stories of brilliant clarity. Ireland's long road to freedom is captured in its sad brutality of one country occupying its neighbor, as well as a country that held onto the worst papal and paternal restraints for a very long time. And Ms. Collins' characters are, as always, painfully human.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a saga of an Irish family from the time of the 1916 Irish Rebellion to present day. It concentrates on one family and, particularly, on the women of the family. There is an obvious push for women’s independence starting with Betty, the businesswoman of the family during a time when women could not really be businesswomen. It finishes with her great granddaughters in modern day. There are family scandals and family secrets to be discovered. Unfortunately, Collins’ writing style leaves much to be desired and it feels choppy and transitions are not smoothly made. The language did not evoke any deep feelings even though there were moments when it should have. The title of the book is ineptly thrown into the story but the real criticism I have is that the book’s title is about music and the story begins with a superb violin maker yet there was nothing really musical in the language and I never felt a connection with music.

[Kelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rewarding read

I read this book in about a week, which is normal for me. I loved the narrative from Betty's point of view. It was very well written, and descriptive. However, I found when it switched to the present time, it was jarring. There were too many characters for such a short section, and I had trouble keeping them all straight. I really wish the book would've have gone back and forth between Betty's and current time, or if it was all from Betty's time. I learned a lot about Irish politics during the 1910's-20's, and I thoroughly enjoyed that part of the book. But, it is in general a really good read, especially if you like strong females.

[Oceantide74 · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. I was looking forward to reading this novel since I really enjoyed The Weaver’s Legacy and The Tide Between Us. However, this book was I insufferable! I did not like any of the characters-Betty had no redeeming qualities. The character development for all was not good. The shift to the modern part of the book was cliche. I only finished it because 1. I paid for it and 2. I liked her other novels. Boy, the author really developed as a writer for her other novels. That’s the positive take away from this book.

[Suzanne Montigny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs a good edit

The story was interesting though convoluted. It was difficult remembering who was who. Two things that struck me were the number of mistakes where the author changed some wording but forgot to take out an old word and the preachiness of her message. Very anti-religion. I won’t be buying another one of her books. We live in a diverse world.

[Diane Jahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this Trilogy was fantastic!! I can't wait for Olive Collins next novel. Sweeping saga of the O'Neil family through different era's and many decades. I loved the character's. I was amazed about the Irish tenacity. The sheer will they had to take their Country back. The fight! And then the love stories that came out of all that...just beautiful!

[Marsha Raasch · Rating 3 out of 5]

History of an Irish family from the time of "the troubles" to present day. Political and personal secrets, family loyalties, etc. 2.5-3 stars.

[Christine Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a multi-generational novel, primarily about 3 generations of Irish women and the men they love(d). For awhile, I doubted that storylines would be brought around to finish where they began and that answers for gaps would be filled, but things did rapidly circle and fill in the final chapter.

The plot line was engaging and the setting of the Irish revolution in the 1920's was interesting; it's a part of history I didn't ever really understand until I read the book. The characters began getting confused in my head as we moved into the current day, so I was grateful for the family tree included at the front of the book.

I wish I could say I LIKED the characters, but all of them had aspects that weren't admirable; perhaps this makes them truer to humans, but it was difficult to find a point of empathy with any of their struggles. The character of Isabel is so wrapped into the central event of the book that she really never developed a personality of her own, despite the fact that she is the generational "glue" that ties together the two story lines. Her daughters and grand daughters don't seem to care for her much either, and, well, her mother...that's another story. The character of Betty carried the most development, but for part of the book she's pretty vapid, and for the majority of the book, she's awfully vain and egocentric. The grand daughter Eilish shared those qualities; the other grand daughter Paulette had very little development at all, but she seemed to care the most for her grand mother's well being. As for Isabel's daughters? Well, they are broken in their own way and both are wrapped up in their own selves more than worried about their mother. So...I really struggled to find a point of connection.

However, I do think the book gives that sense that we really don't know or understand the true history of the generations that preceded us: the drama of their lives or the depths of their passions. We can appreciate the superficial successes or failures that travel through the ages, but the human that lived, loved, and felt is difficult to capture for a younger generation. And perhaps what I disliked about the characters is the reflection of generational trauma: the elements I disliked the most about the great grandmother were echoed through the other generations.

On the whole, it was worth the reading and it read quickly. Super entertaining.

[Laura Diamond · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow moving story that reads more like a narrative non-fiction book. The historical aspects were really interesting. I learned a lot about Ireland’s bleak and bloody history, and how it affected the men, women, and children. I thought that Olive Collins did a fair job of including both sides of the debate, including opinions both in favor and against the treaty with England.

However, I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters. I liked that Betty was shrewd and independent while her husband was absent, whether that absence was physical or mental. But she lacked a certain amount of humanity that made it impossible for me to really connect with her. I was hoping to get more of Isabel’s point of view, and I was unfortunately disappointed. Part 1 was about Betty’s experience in the Irish Civil War, and Parts 2 and 3 moved inconsistently between an elderly Isabel in a nursing home and her family as they care for her at the end of her days while also try to uncover the secrets of their family’s past.

Overall, it was historically interesting and education, but from a story telling perspective, it was tedious and emotionally a drag. Of course, I don’t read a historical story that is set in a time of war expecting pleasant and happy things. But nothing good happened and none of the people were partially likeable.

Quite of the book: “I’d rather be drifting through my life with everything dead inside of me and closer to a free country than feel life pulsating through me with continued slavery” (Collins, 135).

[Clara Angove hildebrandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark times in Ireland’s history, the rebellion against English rule and the subsequent civil war, bring forth the strong women who lived through it, in this novel. It starts with Betty O’Fogarty. Not only is she determined to survive the war her husband is embroiled in, but somehow figures out how to capitalize on his skill making beautiful violins. She is smart and determined to move up in society. Her daughter Isabel is born amidst the chaos of Ireland’s and her Father’s plight. She is sent away to live with her Grandparents. The war destroys her Father’s psyche and his only solace is the time he spends with her, teaching her how to make music and making toys for her. Through it all, her Mother’s tenacious resolve to pursue success and happiness continues with some devastating effects to her family. After the guns become silent, Isabel continues to fight with her past vowing to hide her painful secrets forever.
This is the second book I have read from this author. Learning about Irish history has been fascinating for me. Her characters are edgy and raw. The Irish are known for their heart-breaking, sad, sad songs about their suppression and cruel treatment at the hands of the English. This book illustrates why those songs exist and why the happy ones do too.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Betty defied her parents to marry Shamus and move to Dublin in 1916, she thought she was beginning a life of privilege where her new husband's genius as a violin maker brought him fame and fortune. So she is unprepared for life in the tenements and her husband's growing involvement in the Irish Independence movement.
Betty's daughter is born during the violent Easter Rising, and when Shamus returns home after almost a week, he is wounded and haunted.
Betty vows that if life is going to get better for her family, she must be the one to make it happen. She plots, plans, schemes and makes deals, inflicting emotional and psychological damage on her daughter and keeping secrets that reverberate down through four generations of women.
Collins weaves history and the experiences of individual people into a richly humane and enthralling novel. Readers may disagree with characters' choices and even dislike them as people, yet their decisions are presented with honesty and clarity. It's this sort of writing that produces stories people think about and talk about long after the book has been put away.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very compelling details about the Irish struggle for independence especially focused on the Easter Rising and aftermath. The poverty and violence along with the compassion families felt for one another was well characterized through the main protagonist. The oppressive nature of the catholic church, protestant church and by extension the political parties especially kept women from ever aspiring to anything more than wives. Because of Olive Collins' descriptions I was really able to understand the experience of Betty and how unusual she was for her time. It would have given this a higher rating if it hadn't been for the last third of the book. By jumping ahead decades, the thread of Betty's life was lost along with the emotional attachment to her situation. I understood that the reader was meant to see how different modern day Ireland is thanks to the work of prior generations but it left me cold and a bit confused at times. Still the history and detail made this an excellent story.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory of Music; The O’Neill trilogy Book 2 is by Olive Collins. this book takes place in Ireland and is told by Isabel’s daughters.
Isabel is dying and she refused to answer their questions concerning her life. Instead, she remembers as her daughters and granddaughters try to piece together the last years of her life. For her safety during the Irish rebellion, she was sent to iive with her maternal grandparents. Her parents were in Dublin and her father was in the center of the fighting. The war left him mentally ill and he became nor paranoid as he lived.
The granddaughters begin to piece together Isabel’s life from old pictures and artifacts. What will they find in their past? Will they find the results they expect or is it

[Joan Kani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dysfunctional Family

This is an excellent book about how war affects people from one generation to the next and how “family secrets” make a dysfunctional family.

This book takes place in Ireland in the early 1900s when their was an uprising and Ireland once again was fighting for independence.

The main characters start off with Betty, her husband Seamus, an excellent violin maker/rebel fighter and their friends/acquaintances. One decision leads to another, to another and how war messes up peoples lives, how PTSD is very real and ruins lives.

Family secrets found out too late to patch up parent/child relationships.

[Sherrie Kubis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family drama amid Ireland and the brutality of war

I've loved every Olive Collins book, their intensity and history. This book didn't grab me as the others. Just when I started to feel for the characters, the setting and story changes. I didn't feel the first story of Betty and the civil war was at a complete enough.

The 2016 piece of the story has me trying to understand who the characters were. I kept referencing the family tree, but it was limited. Some of the characters were superfluous and over complicated the story line. Could there have been one redeeming character? Nothing but sadness, loss, and incomplete lives.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

From what I have read, this was actually this author’s first book in the series and not the third like it is listed. My mom gave me this book a few years ago, and it’s been at the top of my TBR pile since. It kept getting surpassed by other reads until I decided it was time. I really enjoyed the book. I haven’t read a lot about that time period, and I never really realized how behind Ireland was when it came to the rights of women. Ireland has such a tumultuous history. It was the last part of the book, written in 2016 that really brought it together for me. I haven’t read the next two books on my TBR but definitely won’t wait as long.