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Letter From Chicago
Elise and Maisie, sisters separated by the Atlantic, correspond regularly, each embellishing their family's story. As the divide between truth and fiction widens, a letter from Chicago announces Maisie's granddaughter's visit. Elise must confront reality, as this working-class family navigates a chaotic arrival, lacking the expected grandeur, and displaying a touch of creative interior design.
680 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 13, 2014
Letter from Chicago is a novella by Irish author Cathy Kelly in the Open Door series. Sisters Elsie and Maisie are grandmothers who haven’t see each other for forty-five years: not since Maisie married and moved to Chicago, where Maisie’s family are now prosperous and important. But they exchange regular letters, and this is the root of the trouble when Maisie writes to say her granddaughter Charleen is coming to stay in Dublin. Elsie has perhaps exaggerated her own family’s good fortune just a bit, so her daughter Kim’s position as headmistress, her mansion in the country, her housekeeper and her children’s ponies exist more in Elsie’s imagination than in reality. Nonetheless, once she confesses, her resourceful younger daughter, Clodagh pulls the family together to save the day. And when Charleen and her friend arrive, certain truths are revealed. The plot may be predictable, but the execution is faultless; the characters are appealing and the novella has a feel-good ending.
July 17, 2024
Letter from Chicago is a novella by Irish author Cathy Kelly in the Open Door series.
Sisters Elsie and Maisie are grandmothers who haven’t see each other for forty-five years, they are both mother and sisters to each other.
One lives in Ireland the other America. The art of letter writing has meant they can remain in touch and share the joys of their life with each other, the birthdays, their children and their grandchildren and all the developments that come with an extended family.
Maisie married and moved to Chicago, where Maisie’s family are now prosperous and important. Maisie writes and is somewhat boastful towards Elsie. Maisie writes to say her granddaughter Charlene is coming to stay in Dublin.
Elsie starts to worry and now has to come clean to her daughter Kim. Elsie has told Maisie that Kim is a headmistress, that they live in a grand Irish mansion in the country, they have housekeeper and her grand children ponies exist more in Elsie’s imagination than in reality.
Elsie's family pulls together to give the small home they share a bit of a make over impress the American granddaughter. But all is not what it seems to be on the other side of the pond in the sunny states!
Sisters Elsie and Maisie are grandmothers who haven’t see each other for forty-five years, they are both mother and sisters to each other.
One lives in Ireland the other America. The art of letter writing has meant they can remain in touch and share the joys of their life with each other, the birthdays, their children and their grandchildren and all the developments that come with an extended family.
Maisie married and moved to Chicago, where Maisie’s family are now prosperous and important. Maisie writes and is somewhat boastful towards Elsie. Maisie writes to say her granddaughter Charlene is coming to stay in Dublin.
Elsie starts to worry and now has to come clean to her daughter Kim. Elsie has told Maisie that Kim is a headmistress, that they live in a grand Irish mansion in the country, they have housekeeper and her grand children ponies exist more in Elsie’s imagination than in reality.
Elsie's family pulls together to give the small home they share a bit of a make over impress the American granddaughter. But all is not what it seems to be on the other side of the pond in the sunny states!
December 4, 2025
A sweet novella by Cathy Kelly.
March 14, 2012
Disappointed when I found this was only a short story. Story was too predictable.
June 22, 2023
A sweet novella ...
This is a sweet short story that reminded me that life is precious and sometimes you shouldn't wait so long to visit someone dear.
The story was nice, I just wished it perhaps had a little more emotion and for the letter and Chicago to feature more.
This was a light quick read that was nice in between some longer books.
This is a sweet short story that reminded me that life is precious and sometimes you shouldn't wait so long to visit someone dear.
The story was nice, I just wished it perhaps had a little more emotion and for the letter and Chicago to feature more.
This was a light quick read that was nice in between some longer books.
May 17, 2017
Ireland
"Life was so simple then."
"There's no pockets in a shroud."
"Life was so simple then."
"There's no pockets in a shroud."
June 29, 2017
A fun light read!
June 17, 2020
A short holiday read of 2 sisters living far apart and the stories they tell of their lives a good ending.
April 19, 2021
A good quick read
May 22, 2021
Heartwarming.
Cathy Kelly has the ability to make you care about the characters, even in a short story. A perfect way to spend a little time.
Cathy Kelly has the ability to make you care about the characters, even in a short story. A perfect way to spend a little time.
June 18, 2023
The story was quite predictable and it was printed wrong uhhh I hate that the most.
May 22, 2019
Read it while I ate my lunch, a bean and cheese quesadilla.
March 9, 2013
This was a very cute little short story.
Maisie and Elsie are sisters communicate through letters. Maisie moved to the US after turning 18 and they haven't seen much of each other since. Through their letters, Elsie has been slowly stretching the truth about her life and her children. Maisie has always had the "perfect" life in America and, because Elsie's tired of hearin git, she wants to do a little bragging too!
And that has been going on for years and, although the lies are just little white ones (stretching the truth, really), it's about to all come to light when Maisie sends her daughter & friend to visit Elsie and stay with her for 2 weeks!
Really it's a cute story with a full cast of characters and, even though it's a short story - the characters are cute and the story is lovely.
Maisie and Elsie are sisters communicate through letters. Maisie moved to the US after turning 18 and they haven't seen much of each other since. Through their letters, Elsie has been slowly stretching the truth about her life and her children. Maisie has always had the "perfect" life in America and, because Elsie's tired of hearin git, she wants to do a little bragging too!
And that has been going on for years and, although the lies are just little white ones (stretching the truth, really), it's about to all come to light when Maisie sends her daughter & friend to visit Elsie and stay with her for 2 weeks!
Really it's a cute story with a full cast of characters and, even though it's a short story - the characters are cute and the story is lovely.
March 3, 2012
Sisters Elsie and Maisie are separated by the Atlantic Ocean and haven't seen each other in years, but they correspond regularly by post. Both sisters like to boast of how well their families are doing, and the truth has been stretched in the process. Now Maisie's granddaughter is coming over from Chicago, Elsie's fibs are going to be found out.
Short Irish novella, easily digestible in one sitting. Predictable but charming.
Short Irish novella, easily digestible in one sitting. Predictable but charming.
March 5, 2012
This was a lovely quick read- only 80 pages long. Elsie has been boasting about her children and grandchildren to her sister who lives in America. When Maisie writes to say her grandaughter is coming to stay with her friend- they panic that the house is not visitor ready. THe whole family pull together to make it a welcoming home for their visitors. I love Cathy Kelly books- and this was a lovely little taster!
March 9, 2012
I'm not big on short stories, I always prefer a bit more meat hence more room for proper resolution and conflict, however this really was appropriate for the terms 'short and sweet'. Grannies bulking up tales about their families in the letters they write to each other. Reminds me a little of my family.
Also, kudos for the author for leading me to google the pronunciation of the names Clodagh (pronounced Cloda) and Emer (still not 100% but ee-mer?)
Also, kudos for the author for leading me to google the pronunciation of the names Clodagh (pronounced Cloda) and Emer (still not 100% but ee-mer?)
December 19, 2024
A humorous, but, so real, short story about two elderly sisters who live on opposite sides of the ocean. Letters are exchanged for over 30 years, but they are filled with half-truths and lies. What happens when their granddaughters finally meet in Ireland in Elsie's daughter's very small run-down home - not a huge home, on an estate, with a housekeeper and ponies? Family is family, and all can be overcome with love and a bit of ingenuity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2008
Part of the "Open Door Series" from Ireland, this almost-a-short-story is about two elderly sisters, one in the US and one in Ireland, who write bragging letters to each other until the truth starts to come out. Great little story and a quick read.
November 4, 2012
Lovely short story.
December 12, 2012
This is the first novel I have read by Cathy Kelly, not really my cup of tea.
December 21, 2012
Really enjoyed this short story, brought on my kindle not realising it was a short story and when it ended was surprised and wanted more.
January 21, 2013
very short book but didn't really enjoy it
March 18, 2013
great lovely short read. really enjoyed it!
October 7, 2013
an ok read
November 12, 2013
A lovely short story, about an Irish/American family. A delightful way to spend half a hour.
May 2, 2014
A good easy fast read.
November 8, 2015
A great little short story
February 6, 2016
A short story, but a good one!
April 6, 2016
i can't remember the last short story i read but i liked this one. sweet and to the point. funny and i love an ireland setting :)
April 11, 2012
Sentimental and enjoyable quick read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews