Cynthia Neale’s Sequel “Hope in New York City”

 Irish books, Irish Culture, Irish History  No Responses »
Apr 032013
 

photo of the author Cynthia NealeCynthia Neal, American born daughter of an Irish father and an English mother, has recently* published her second novel, a sequel to The Irish Dresser.

HOPE in NEW YORK CITY

The Continuing Story of the Irish Dresser

Hope In NYC book by Cynthia NealeThis new novel picks up in New York City. Nora and her family are settled in an apartment. Life in America for this Irish immigrant is not at all what she had imagined it would be. We first encounter Nora, dressed as a boy hawking newspapers before school in the morning; the “disguise” is to ensure she will get newspapers to sell. It’s a tough business but Nora has a friend.

The book, like its predecessor, The Irish Dresser, is written in an easy to read style with an interesting story in its own right. There’s an emerging love story, a developing friendship, the family dynamics, the longing for “home,” all in the backdrop of New York City in 1849. The references back to life in Ireland compared to life in America help to put into perspective the famine from which the family has fled and what life was like for an immigrant in the mid-1800′s in America.

Read more about The Irish Dresser and about Hope in New York City on the author’ website. Read an article in the Portsmouth (NH) Herald [3/15/2008] about the author, her novels, and the Irish. Here’s an excerpt, Cynthia speaking:

Some Irish were able to buy tickets out of the country. “They were going to be driven off the land because they were unable to pay rent when the crops failed. …; The landlord would come with a constable and do what is known as tumbling, they’d burn the house to the ground. If another neighbor took them in they’d be burned too.” But a larger percent were put on boats by the landlords who supplied passage. Sending them elsewhere was cheaper than paying the poor house rent, says Neale.

Read more about the history of the famine or the emigration from Ireland, and the history of the Irish in America on Irish Thymes.

*This article was originally posted in IrishThymes shortly after Cynthia’s novel “Hope in New York City” was published in May 20o7. It is resurrected here in this revised website.

“The Irish Dresser” Book Review

 Irish books, Irish Culture, Irish History  1 Response »
Apr 032013
 

The Irish Dresser by Cynthia Neale

"The Irish Dresser" book cover

“God help us, Nora, we’re all poor in Ireland,” Kate says, trying to comfort me.
 
“But never did I see bones walking in coats,” I answer.
 
“Let’s be on our way before it gets too late,” Kate says, and though we are weakened from not enough food, we run the rest of the way to the O’Connors’ cottage.
 
Mrs. O’Connor cries out when she hears us knock on her door, “We’ve nothing in the kettle, and not even a kettle do we own now. Away from us, for we have nothing here to eat!” Mrs. O’Connor thinks that we are starving people traveling on the roads.
 
“It’s Nora and Kate,” I say.
 
The door opens and Kate and I are warmly invited in for a sup of tea. …

[Book excerpt, page 44; read more excerpts from the first three chapters of "The Irish Dresser" on Amazon.]

image of open bookIt’s been a while now since I finished reading this small novel about the Irish Famine called The Irish Dresser by Cynthia Neale (published 2003) but the story plays out in my mind still. It’s not just because it’s interesting to read about the famine or because it’s Irish that I like it; it’s because of the story that made that period in Irish history come alive.

The Irish Dresser is her first novel, and the sequel, Hope in New York City, will be available in mid 2007. [Update: publishing was delayed until 2011.]

Cynthia is a local writer of Irish decent, who grew up in Watkins Glen, New York and now lives in New Hampshire with her husband and daughter. Cynthia is a set dancer, too, which is how I made my acquaintance with her.

With my curiosity peaked from reading her book, I rented the only movie I know of made about the famine, The Hanging Gale. Although I enjoyed the movie, it was dark, solemn, and hopeless, perhaps appropriate for a dark, solemn and hopeless time in Ireland’s history, but Cynthia’s treatment of the subject not only described the horrific conditions the Irish lived under but also kept hope alive, even if only by a bare thread. I think this book could be made into a terrific movie and wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.

Read an “e-pinion” from a reader and a short book review. Visit the author’s website where she talks about her book and the sequel she is writing, soon to be released, a story of questioning where home is and learning that true belonging endures in the human spirit as well as in the love of family and friends. HOPE in NEW YORK CITY The Continuing Story of the Irish Dresser comes out in 2007 [update: published early 2011]. I’m looking forward to reading about Nora, the heroine in the book, who has made the journey like so many others from Ireland to America in hopes of a better life. I know, from what I know of history, that it won’t be all that she expected, but I’m not afraid to read it because there is HOPE in the title.

[Originally published by IrishThymes in 2006 - refreshed for this current blog post.]

 

The Joy of Sets in Greater Boston

 irish Dancing, Irish Set Dancing, Links  No Responses »
Mar 182012
 

TThe Joy of Sets - Irish Set Dancinghe Joy of Sets is a blog just for Irish Set Dancing in the greater Boston and the broader New England area that includes information on classes, events, venues, and the traditional Irish music that makes the dancing so lively and fun.

Welcome to those who are new to set dancing! There are many classes in various locations around New England to learn the many fun sets that are danced in Ireland and around the world. There are a few basic simple steps used in dancing the sets; these are combined in various dances in a way that gives each set its unique style. When it’s time for the new dancer to “branch out” and dance at other locations in the community, there are many classes and dance sessions just about every night of the week to expand your repertoire and your social network.

Set dancers are encouraged to share information about set dancing with other greater Boston set dancers and notify the community about upcoming events.  Check the list of special workshops, ceillis, and other events for times and places.

 

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