Book Reviews

• Kitty's Hive ... rich with the compelling and often complex themes, ... (and) ... a cultural guide to the mores, customs, clothing, housekeeping practices, and idiomatic language of the time. ...Mary McWay Seaman. May 2013 edition of The Celtic Connection, Denver.
  
  
• Norah's Children, Michael, Going Home ... What a great trilogy! ...Nancy Cerwin
  
  
• Just read 'Going Home' on kindle. Loved it. ...Barbara Lodge
  
  
• Ann, Going Home ... an excellent finish to your Irish family trilogy. The characters and settings were vivid and compelling. Keep up the good work. ...Jim O'B
  
  
• Linda Burg, owner of The Little Read Book Store in Wauwatosa, WI has written to say that Norah’s Children is one of her top ten book selections for the month and has posted the following reviews:

  Norah's Children is a compelling and sensitive story of family. Ann O'Farrell is a gifted writer and storyteller. Her characters are so real that it sometimes is difficult to remember that it's a novel. It is a wonderful read and I didn't want the story to end. ...L.B. - www.littlereadbook.com
   
  Michael, the sequel to Norah's Children, is compelling, emotional, and beautifully written. We follow him through this "coming of age story" to an emotional end. It is a heart-warming read and like Norah's Children, you won't want the story to end. ...Little Read Book.  L.B. - ww.littlereadbook.com

• Norah’s Children: … a story full of lilting phrases … poignant scenes … tear at the heartstrings. … an explosive finale …ÃÚhaÚÃstops readers cold. O’Farrell’s account stands as stark testimony to a fearsome era and …. (a) searing tale of profound loss.
  ...Mary McWay Seaman, The Celtic Connection, Denver

• Michael: … an enjoyable read with ensnaring writing … I had hair-tingling reactions at high points in the story …   
  ...John O’Brien, Jr.  Ohio Irish American News
  
  
• Norah's Children:...... An absorbing story …  sharply observed characters …  a rich portrait of rural Ireland in the '20s and '30s … an engrossing, convincing family saga. ...Kirkus
  
  
• Well told and beautifully written ... fascinating and powerfully emotional. ...Frank West, Irish American News - 
  www.irishamericannews.com/col_ibks.htm
  
  
• Michael ......  sensitive ... compelling... poignant ... A rich, moving exploration of the meaning of family, in all its guises.'  ...Kirkus
  
  
• Michael: …. I did not want the book to end. 
  ...Frank West, Irish American News
  
  
• ...as real as the blood flowing through my veins. Incredible heartache ... (yet) a real display of the true spirit of family. ...Mary Jo Sullivan,  Midwest Irish Focus
  
  
• "Norah's Children" is an inspirational story ... Susan Bethany,  Midwest Book Review
  
  
• Thank you so much for your highly informative and exceptionally entertaining presentation last Saturday....
  Liz Armstrong
  
  
• Thanks for another wonderful program.
  ... Elizabeth White. Adult Progs. Dunedin Public Library
  
  
• We all enjoyed your talk and are looking forward to reading “Michael”. ...Pat Clancy Wakeham. Crescent Oaks Book Club. 
  
  
• Loved your book!  ...Tom Russo

  
  
• You are a wonderful writer. ...Yvonne Mcmorrow
  
  
• Thank You,  I liked your two novels very much. 
   ... Ken McKay
  
  
• This is the first time I have ever written to an author, but I enjoyed your book so much that I felt I should let you know.  
  ... Charlotte
  
  
• I really enjoyed Norah's Children ... plan to read Michael ... hope you write more on this family.  ...Pat, Oklahoma
  
  
• Norah’s Children… one of those books that stay in your mind. A brilliant read.  ... JG
  
  
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  Norah’s Children & Michael...  Both great books!
   ... Donna Menchinger
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• ... Michael ... a " I can't put the book down" style. 
  ... Charlotte, Upstate New York

  
  
• ...reading both Norah's Children and Michael ...I felt like I was a close member of the family. ...B. Walters, FL
  
  
• O'Farrell is a highly gifted writer ... unable to put Norah's Children down, reading "jusÃæone more chapter"æÃo see what will unfold next. I am already looking forward to the sequel, "Michael".  ...Angelo Giambra, Largo, FL 
  
  
• A patron just told me she loved both of your books.
  ... Roland Marcotte, Library Supervisor,
  Venice Public Library, Venice, FL
  
  
• Norah's Children ... a compelling story that easily kept my attention. ... Home School Book Review
  
  
• Michael ...  well written ...good supplementary reading for ... a study of the World War II period.
   ...Home School Book Review
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• The worst thing to read in you books was THE END. Many thanks for the gift of  good reading. ...Dorothy Lemon
  
  
• I could just picture it all ...Your descriptions were  wonderful. ...Judy Kavanaugh
  
  
• I cried and laughed through both books ... you know a great deal about love - real love. ... Rose B.
  
  
• "Norah's Children" ... was a beautiful story and a pleasure to read. I can't wait to start Michael, then your next one. I am hooked. ...Dorothy L., Largo, FL
  
  
• I truly enjoyed Norah's Children ... couldn't put it down ... am now going to head  to the book store and pick up Michael.  ...Kirsten Kelly, NY, NY
  
  
• I would like to tell you how very much I enjoyed your talk at the Milliken Luncheon. ...G. Herdmen, Dunedin, FL
  
  
• Thank you for writing such wonderful books. 
  ...Robert J. Murphy, Canton, MA
  
  
•  ... finished reading Michael last night, and loved it ...  I loved the beginning -- I loved the end  ... and I loved all the in between!  ...Patty Gibson, CO
  
  
• I  really enjoyed your books. You have me hooked.
  ...Kathleen DeJong, WA
  
  
• Norah's Children ... What a gem of a book!! ...  I loved every word. Thank you, Thank you -- for the book, for the thrill I got as I read it, and  for the wonderful, rich characters who will live on in my mind. ...Patty Gibson,  Littleton, CO  
  
  
• I so enjoyed your stories ...  I  never wanted the books to end ...you are truly gifted.   ...Carol Lombardi White Plains, N.Y. 
  
  
•  Loved Norah's Children.  Thanks. ...Becky
  
  
• NORAH'S CHILDREN ...was a heart breaking delight to read. Tears trailed down my face  ... it is a triumph. I’ve recommended both Norah’s Children and Michael to friends and family – all of whom have enjoyed your splendid work. 
  ... Janet Heijens
  
  
• Your writing ... has absolutely delighted me. 
  ... Slainte, Jane Burke McHugh
  
  
• I have read a lot of books in my life ... yours are at the top of my favorites list!  ...Janet Neu
  
  
• ... I start to read and I can' t put these books down ...  such enjoyable reading.   ...Kathleen Hamel
  
  
• I have never had two books move me so much.
  ... K. Landers Steamboat Springs, CO
  
  
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• My daughter and daughter-in-law keep asking me if you have published your next book yet ..as they want to be the first on the list who to purchase it. We all enjoyed your last two tremendously. ...L.T., FL
  
  
• Don’t ever stop writing.  I recommend your books to all my friends and can’t wait for your next one.  ...Your fan, Emma Canepa, San Jose, CA, Age 14
  
  
• I finished reading Michael yesterday and enjoyed every page of it. ...Garrett Dunne, Ontario, Canada
  
  
• Your novels keep me guessing.  … D. O'Connor, Dunedin, FL
  
  
• I absolutely loved Norah’s Children.  What a page turner…….I read it in two days.  Can’t wait to find out what happened to Michael.  ...A. Sabada, Ontario, Canada
  
  
• Poignant, heart-rending narrative … an eloquent novel of immense sorrow. 
  ...Sharon Greer, The Celtic Connection
  
  
• I am getting goose bumps just thinking about the characters while I am writing this. …S. Osully, Chicago, IL
  
  
• … your wonderful stories … are beautiful, sad & lovely.
  …Elizabeth Tubridy, WI
  
  
• I felt like a family member … worrying about what was or wasn't going to happen. …B. G.,  FL 
  
  
• I'm hooked!  Can't wait to read the next book. I hope you make millions on these books, they were wonderfully Irish.
  …Cathy, IL
  
  
• What a a great read!!! ...Donna Finn
  
  
• Norah's Children absolutely captured my heart.
  ...JL Kalamazoo, MI
  
  
• You are now one of my favorite authors. ...Marisa Guild
  
  
• … extraordinarily moving.  ...C. Mc., IL
  
  
• Norah's Children should very definitely be made into a movie. ...WC, IL
  
  
• Michael, another great book!!  ...Helen, Clearwater, FL
  
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• I could not put them down.  ...Lois Gordo, HI
  
  
• I loved Michael's personality.   ...Denise Lloyd-Boucher
  
  
• This is definitely a book I will re-read. ...Phyllis N, WI
  
  
• I absolutely LOVE the book. Reading it was a pure joy.
  ...N. W., IL
  
  
• I feel as if I've become "part of" the Kelly family.  ...Tracy, FL
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• Michael… another wonderful story I didn't want to end … made me cry, laugh and feel joy.
  ...Kathleen Murphy, Venice, FL
  
  
• Thanks for such amazing stories, I'm looking forward to keep reading your books, I do love them. 
  ...Raquel Fallas, Costa Rica
  
  
• Michael is ... riveting.  Many thanks for the hours of pleasure.  ...Patti,  FL 
   
• I have just finished reading "Michael".  You have outdone yourself with this book.  What a wonderful story.  I just couldn't put it down.  ...Jim Bennett, WI
  
  
• You're a great writer, I've purchased two "Michael's."
  ...Sandy Canepa, CA  
  
  
• Just finished Michael …now that was a great book! ...Patty, IL
   
  
• I finished Michael tonight ... such a  enjoyable story. Hated to put it down once I got reading. ...Delores Fargen, CA
  
  
• My Äther was cÄpletely enthralled and moved by your books. Incredibly moving. ...Elizabeth I., Tarpon Springs, FL
  
  
• I did not want to put Michael down … really good.  
  ...Bill L. Devon, England
  
  
• Thanks for a wonderful evening. ...  Whether oral or written, you are a marvelous story teller.  It was one of our best book club meetings. ...Kay Blair
  
  
• Everyone ... said that they couldn't put the book down ... the supreme compliment to an author ...   you are an extremely gifted writer.  ...Betty ÄEdelman

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