Leaving Ireland

Gracelin O'Malley #2

by Ann Moore

Forced to flee Ireland, Gracelin O’Malley boards a coffin ship bound for America, taking her young daughter with her on the arduous transatlantic voyage. In New York, Gracelin struggles to adapt to a strange new world and to the harsh realities of immigrant life in a city teeming with crime, corruption, and anti-Irish prejudice. As she tries to make a life for herself and her daughter, she reunites with her brother, Sean . . . and a man she thought she’d never see again. When her friendship with a runaway slave sweeps her into the volatile abolitionist movement, Gracelin gains entrée to the drawing rooms of the wealthy and powerful. Still, the injustice all around her threatens the future of those she loves, and once again, she must do the unthinkable.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Irish Literature, Roman

378 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Ann Moore grew up in the misty Pacific Northwest region of Washington State, spending childhood summers on Vashon Island. She is the internationally published author of three historical novels that encompass the 1845 Irish Famine, Young Irelander uprising, and the Irish emigration to America; her fourth novel, a contemporary mystery, is set on a remote island in the San Juan archipelago. Ann lives in Bellingham, Washington, with her family, among good friends and excellent dogs. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for all things bookish.

Reviews

[Ingrid · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a difference with book one. I stopped reading halfway because it irritated me very much unfortunately. I won't finish the series.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaving Ireland is the sequel to Gracelin O'Malley and takes up where the first left off. The young widowed Gracelin and her daughter take a dangerous voyage across the Atlantic to America where they reunite with Gracelin's brother, Sean. This book deals a lot with the struggles of the early immigrants and the battles they had to overcome: poverty, prejudices and life in general. The family and friends left behind in Ireland still play a role in this book which I was happy about along with new characters, some who you will love and some new bad guys you will love to hate. This was another wonderful read that I highly recommend. I can't wait to read the third book in the series, 'Til Morning Light.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2, I am enjoying this trilogy. Let’s see if Gracelin remains strong but stubborn as her journey of life continues. At the end of this second book, our heroin is barely 21.

[Camie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book of this trilogy featuring long suffering Irish immigrant Gracelin O’ Malley’s journey to America. Classified as historic fiction but quite short on history and more of a family saga.
Read for Retired Bookworms club.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book in a great series.

[Janice · Rating 2 out of 5]

This 2nd novel did nothing for me. Trying to decide if I will bother with the last in the trilogy.

[Ilaria_ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In quella città aveva anche compreso che le più alte conquiste dell'uomo erano sempre controbilanciate dalla profondità della sua degradazione."

Addio all'Irlanda è il secondo romanzo della trilogia di Ann Moore dedicata alla verde Irlanda. La storia riprende esattamente dove eravamo rimasti: Grace O'Malley, in fuga dopo aver sparato a una guardia nel tentativo di salvare la sua casa, sta per imbarcarsi per l'America con la figlia Mary Kate. Lì l'aspetta il fratello Sean e Grace spera di poter cominciare una nuova vita lasciandosi alle spalle i tanti momenti difficili passati. Ma l'America, l'ambita terra promessa, non è esattamente quello che si aspettava, è un paese difficile in cui essere immigrati irlandesi non è affatto facile.
Mentre il precedente romanzo era tutto ambientato nelle campagne irlandesi, stavolta l'autrice ci conduce insieme a Grace nell'affollata e rumorosa New York, la città delle promesse e del benessere, il luogo in cui ogni immigrato vorrebbe vivere. La vita in America però riserva tante amare sorprese a Grace; gli irlandesi sono trattati alla stregua di animali e non sono visti di buon occhio, a peggiorare la situazione c'è la preoccupazione per chi è rimasto indietro, in Irlanda dove imperversa una carestia che sembra non voler passare. Divisa tra passato e presente, tra il viscerale amore per la sua terra e per chi è rimasto lì e un nuovo sentimento che nasce in quella città così grande, Grace dovrà racimolare tutta la forza che le rimane per costruirsi una vita migliore.
Il precedente romanzo, Terra perduta, mi aveva totalmente ammaliata con una storia di rivincita, passione e grande coraggio. Anche Addio all'Irlanda mi è piaciuto ma in modo diverso, l'ho trovato molto meno poetico. I temi trattati cambiano, non siamo più in Irlanda, ci troviamo a New York, nella terra delle nuove opportunità. La carestia e la questione irlandese vengono messe da parte a favore di altri temi quali la vita degli irlandesi in America, il loro viaggio della speranza, il fenomeno del razzismo e così via.
Lo stile dell'autrice è sempre molto intrigante e scorrevole, la narrazione ha un bel ritmo che rispecchia esattamente l'ambientazione caotica e affollata di New York. Il romanzo mi è piaciuto molto, l'ho trovato estremamente interessante e anche molto attuale rispetto ai temi che tratta. I personaggi sono ben caratterizzati e ognuno di loro è oggetto di una crescita psicologica molto equilibrata.
Credo però che il primo romanzo di questa trilogia sia finora il migliore, Addio all'Irlanda è un bel romanzo ma manca di pathos. Sono molto curiosa di scoprire cosa ha in serbo per noi l'autrice nell'ultimo romanzo e spero che non dovremmo aspettare troppo per leggerlo. Intanto vi consiglio i romanzi della Moore, specialmente se amate i romanzi storici!

[Charla Vaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an eye-opener and made me want to study more about the history of Ireland during the great potato famine and struggle between Ireland and England, and Ireland's fight for freedom.

[JudiAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Gracelin O' Malley 3 part saga continues with Gracelin killing a "Brit" and she and her daughter flee for their lives on a ship leaving for America. She leaves her newborn son with her father because she knows the voyage will surely be the death of him. The first part of the book is about the harrows of the voyage across the Atlantic. It is on this ship that she meets Captain Reinders who befriends her and helps her to survive the crossing. She also incurs the wrath of the steward of the ship because he hates the Irish and he considers her too brash for his taste. In addition, she makes an enemy of the ship's doctor when she insists to the Captain the there is no "doctoring" going on for the Irish. These three people are joined with her throughout the book.

Gracelin and her daughter finally make it ashore in New York and move in with her brother Sean, who left Ireland before her. Soon she finds that Sean has joined up with the Mormons and intends to follow Joseph Smith westward to Utah. He wants her to come with him but she is troubled by this turn of events.

The story is interesting and leaves me with a desire to finish the saga with "Til Morning Light.

[Sherry H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the Gracelin O'Malley trilogy is perhaps a bit less epically wonderful for me than the first.

Still a good story with interesting characters,Leaving Ireland has (go figure) left Ireland. In doing so, it has lost a bit of its charm. The lilt is missing. The speech patterns have changed a bit. The characters' deep love of their native land is, if not waning, at least less frequently expressed, as we begin to learn about the series of edge-of-your-seat events taking place.

There are several characters whose stories are being tracked, as was the case in the first book. But in this one, each story is in a geographically very different place from each other story, and so it all feels a little more disjointed to me. There are also some new, unlikable characters, as well as some characters I previously like who have taken an unattractive turn.

Now, don't think all of the above criticism means I didn't really enjoy this - I did. And I'll be buying and diving into the final installment later today. I can't wait to see where Gracelin's story goes next!

[Krystal 🦢 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the third book in the series in about a day because I couldn't wait to see how it ended. The author does a good job of not letting you know what's going to happen. There were a few things I was disappointed in, the main one being the character of Gracelin's brother Sean. I didn't think all the detailed discription of his downfall was necessary and probably most of it was R rated. I think the author could have done something different with him that wasn't so depressing. I really did like the mystery of the house keeper and the doctor's sister, and thought that ended well. I also really liked the character of the doctor and how over time his opinions changed and he was able to see the right way of things. In all three books I think the author does a great job of bringing in lots of history. It was really cool to see how all the different historical aspects you learn about were all going on at roughly the same time. What a great that was to be alive!

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the Gracelyn O'Malley series isn't as good as the first book. This book chronicles her grueling & dangerous sea journey to New York. She arrives to find squalor, more fear, and uncertainty. While it's still an improvement over living conditions in Ireland as far as food & jobs, persecution is rampant. Gracelyn and her charges find a loving, safe home of sorts but their lives are still in upheaval. Lots of gritty, sad scenes & behavior in this one covering the slums of New York, slavery & the Slave trade, new religions, and the immigrant experience, while still telling the tragic story of the ongoing attempt at genocide of the Irish people.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book for both the story line and, although historical fiction, it described Ireland and New York City during the 1800's. The Irish were fleeing Ireland for America while the British were hunting them down. The central character is a strong Irish widow who flees Ireland with one of her children, enduring the long and dangerous ship to New York. The historical details woven into the story touch on slavery, bigotry to the Irish and blacks, and the many new religions developing in America. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but I would not be surprised if there is not a sequel.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful sequel to "Gracelin O'Malley". Although not quit as riveting as the first, "Leaving Ireland" takes us from the devastation that was Ireland during the 19th century and brings us to America via Liverpool. Reading about the plight of Irish immigrants forced into steerage on overcrowded, disease infested ships, to the slums of New York City is at times heart-wrenching yet amazingly encouraging as we see Grace and those she loves fight to overcome almost unbelievable odds, leaving the reader in awe of the strength of the human spirit and it's ability to love and survive.

[Jessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason I'm only giving this a 4 is because I'm not really into Sean and his conversion (which I realize is unfair but it's how I feel) AND because I peeked ahead in the third book and spoiled a major thing that I'm already upset about, but which also colors how I feel about this book.

I lied, I just changed it to 5 stars, because Gracelin is essentially the idealized version of me that I daydream about.

I will never not associate the name Morgan with my first boyfriend and be really grumpy about it.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first or the third one in the series. I felt confidant that Morgan wasn't dead but I am guessing it was because of the lack of details given surrounding his death and his burial. I kind of lost interest as I read through this book as I was anxious to get to what I felt was going to happen down the road. This wasn't a bad book by any means but I felt that it dragged quite a bit in places. One thing that made it worth it was the third book in the series - it was very rewarding!

[Debby Dietrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a beach read series for down the shore. This series morphed from a book about a family surviving the Irish Potato Famine into a schmaltzy romance in this, the 2nd book in the series. The protagonist is impossibly noble, triumphing over all odds. Her beauty is dazzling. All men want to either marry her or ravish her. Just started the 3rd book and it looks to be even more improbable than this one. I thought I was getting into a historical fiction series. *sigh* To finish or abandon this series, that is the question.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the series of 3 (Gracelin' O'Malley being the first). Enjoyed the story, but it can be kind of slow at times. Didn't appreciate the negative backstory on Mormons in early America - the author painted them as frauds and a false religion. If it weren't for the fact that I feel so vested in the story of Gracelin, I would have probably stopped after the first book, but I just had to know what happens next in her life.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace, Liam and Mary Kate have left Ireland and arrived in Liverpool, securing passage on the Eliza J, bound for New York City. Despite having paid in advance for a first class cabin, they have been relegated to steerage and it doesn’t take long to experience the horrors of sea travel, which was the lot of those trying to leave Ireland. Read the rest of the review on my blog: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.c...

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this one more than the first. I read a lot of historical fiction about Ireland and part of why I liked this was because it expanded the Irish experience into America and the sea of immigrants that was NYC in the 1840s. Moore's description of the life of these brave immigrants as well as the heartbreaking description of slavery 20 years before the Civil War were extraordinarily well written. Very good trilogy!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

As trilogies usually go, the second book was not as good as the first book. Still, an interesting story continuation and I will read the third book to learn what finally happens to all the characters. The reviews say that the third book is as good as the first, so off I go on the last of this adventure!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Gracelin O'Malley trilogy. Takes Gracelin's story on voyage across the Atlantic to making a life in New York. Definitely looking forward to more of this story in the third book, 'Til Morning Light.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #2 in the Gracelin O'Malley series. Well-written, fast moving and suspenseful. The characters are likable and the tale is compelling. I liked this book as much as the first book and look forward to reading the third soon.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first. I felt like far too many coincidences happened and there was less of Gracelin's strength and more "damsel in distress saved by chance" than I was comfortable with. Still, I'm a sucker for a good immigrant story, so this still gets 3 stars.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been more engrossed in a book series. I usually struggle to finish the second book in a series and I very rarely even care to read the third. As soon as I finished this book, though, I purchased and began the third installment. These books are excellent.

[Bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as the first book but not bad - a quick read.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn't quite as gripping as the first one, dealing with the struggles of Irish immigrants now living in New York City. I still liked Grace's story enough to keep reading.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 of 3. Just as good as the first one. Our Grace is forced to leave Ireland for America. Will be sorry to finish this series.

[Lee Roversi · Rating 5 out of 5]

the second in a trilogy and just as robust a read as the first. the characters continue to evolve and I continue to enjoy their intricate tales.

[S.schouwenaars · Rating 3 out of 5]

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