Bread And Sugar

Daisy Chain War #2

by Joan O'Neill

Book by O'Neill, Joan

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Joan O'Neill is a well-established, best-selling author of adult fiction both in Ireland and the UK. Originally published over in Ireland, the Daisy Chain trilogy has been in print since 1990 and the reissues have proved to have enduring appeal to readers of 10 and above. Joan has three grown up daughters and lives with her husband in idyllic County Wicklow in Ireland. In between writing she is a keen water-colourist and travels frequently to Italy to gain inspiration and paint.

Reviews

[Josie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Re-read in March 2012: Oh god, this was so awful. I remember not liking this book as much as Daisy Chain War, but it really doesn't have a single redeeming feature. The writing suffers from being in the third person -- there's not the same intimacy there was in DCW -- and the characters (with the exception of Patsy) are all really unlikeable. (Anthony was such a little turd!!) Hank is a ludicrous caricature of an Abusive Stepfather. The way he conveniently whisks Karen off to Norway for practically the whole of the book, wtf. I lost all respect for Karen. And how unrealistic was John actually finding his real father, who's been MIA for a decade?

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting 2nd part of the trilogy. I didn’t find it quite as good as part 1. This book is about a wider circle of the family members and about another generation of children growing up. I’m looking forward to reading part 3 which I expect to bring them all back together.

[Holly is Happy Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second book in the trilogy, it focused more on the siblings son. Will have to see what happens in the final book to give my overall on the whole trilogy.

[RoseAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story is set in Dublin, Ireland in 1948. A young boy, John Doyle, comes from the USA to live with his grandparents while his mom a war-widow goes on an extended holiday with her boyfriend much to the chagrin of her parents. John is quiet and lonely but soon is befriended by the children of the tenants who live in the basement apartment of his grandparents home.
It was an enjoyable story of post-war Ireland which also gave some insight into the trials and struggles the Irish faced at the time.
This book would be more suitable for jr/high school level and up as there are some references of a sexual nature.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not quite as good as the first book, but still quite good. I love how Joan O'Neil writes her characters. They seem very much alive and well formed.

[Selah Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not quite as good as the first book, but still quite good. I love how Joan O'Neil writes her characters. They seem very much alive and well formed.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book, still following the previous characters, but also with many new ones, to stir thing up!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fuckin brilliant.