Top Reader Reviews
Ken Bruen, Best-selling international author
"A superb sustained debut of elegant artistry."
Des Kenny, International Bookseller, Kennys Books
"The writing has a great fluency, I can see why readers are drawn into the story. It’s touching a nerve. I send it all over the world.”"
Gabriel Byrne, Actor & Author
"An unsettling story skillfully told. What a marvellous achievement! Yours in envious admiration, G."
Moya Doherty, Producer Riverdance
“Congratulations, you have written a very engaging, tragic, romantic novel. It’s a epic story spanning the three generations of women, sad and sorry as they hide so much of themselves.”
Berni ni Fhlatharta, Galway City Tribune
"Wow! This is the book I want to write. Am half way through and am loving it. It is gripping, unputdownable, beautifully written and powerful. Oprah would love it.”
Deborah Beshaw, Amazon Review
"From the first paragraph of this book the author's bell-clear, limpid voice drew me in -- the very particular and lovely sense of place (you will want to visit County Wicklow!) and especially the characters: all three were compelling in very different ways, and whether I particularly liked them at a given moment or not, I was able to understand the who and why of them and I cared what became of them. It's one of the few books I've read recently that I truly found difficult to put down, it was just a terrifically satisfying read and I highly recommend it."
J.D. Kelleher, Amazon Review
“The prose in this book sings. It is infused with the author’s passion for her story and characters. This is a stunning debut novel by a woman who has clearly let this story soak in her consciousness for a long time, before finally letting it spill forth. The prose here is masterful, in the great Irish tradition. The last book I read was Colm McCann's Let the Great World Spin. I thought it would be a while before I came across something so brilliant but Anne McCabe is right up there with McCann in terms of prose that is accessible, evocative and highly literary. Its a beautiful read. A story that conjures up a past in rural Ireland with such ease that one is transported to the world of this incredible story so completely as to lose all track of time. Unputdownable."
Keckum, Amazon Review
"Couldn't put this down once I started reading it. As the generations give way new insights and mysteries kept me gripped. The honesty in the writing and the humanity in the storytelling gave me characters and a world I felt I completely knew and could identify with. And I'm a male from the UK. Fantastic first novel. Waiting for the next one.."
Sean Rocks, 'Arena", RTE Radio One
“A sobering read, but very touching. An excellent début novel.”
Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames
“I am really enjoying the book. The first 100 pages unstoppable - what a character that Gertrude is! You are a great storyteller. You’ve really captured the story of Ireland in the 1980’s.”
Emily Hourican, Sunday Independent
“This is a really good read, I was gripped throughout, I also found it very moving.”
Darina, 45, Nurse and mother of four
"I stayed up until 2am by the stove in the kitchen and cried at the end"
Bruce, 46, Tourism manager
"It is a fantastic read and should become a top seller. I could not put the book down once I started reading. There is so much captured in the story in so many ways."
Amanda, 28, Actress
"I loved it. I stayed up until 3am to finish it. The end was really surprising."
Caoilinn, 36, Horse-riding instructor
"Loved your book- haven't been able to put it down. Will definitely read it again and pass it on to my Mum. Class!"
Jimmy, 80, Retired civil servant
"That ending is a marvellous crescendo, it brought tears to my eyes."
Jane, 60, Ceramic artist
"Great read, really enjoying it. It's a great Book Club book."
Karina, 41, Solicitor
"I stayed in bed on a Bank holiday Monday all day to finish it. I loved it."
Jan, Amazon Review
"This is a brilliant story, masterfully written .. I picked it up randomly from my brother's desk while on a visit, and stayed "glued" to it day and night till I reached the last page. This wonderful novel gave me all I - perhaps just half-knowingly - expect of Ireland and its literature .. a moody countryside, proud country mansions, dilapidating cottages, realistic characters, a strong story, melancholy atmosphere spiced up with the tension of secrecy .. the relationships and fates of the female characters alongside the undercurrent of old sins and misunderstandings turned this novel into an unforgettable read for me - not only entertaining, but also thought-provoking and revelatory .. I thank the author for this experience and can't wait for the next novel!"
"A superb sustained debut of elegant artistry."
Des Kenny, International Bookseller, Kennys Books
"The writing has a great fluency, I can see why readers are drawn into the story. It’s touching a nerve. I send it all over the world.”"
Gabriel Byrne, Actor & Author
"An unsettling story skillfully told. What a marvellous achievement! Yours in envious admiration, G."
Moya Doherty, Producer Riverdance
“Congratulations, you have written a very engaging, tragic, romantic novel. It’s a epic story spanning the three generations of women, sad and sorry as they hide so much of themselves.”
Berni ni Fhlatharta, Galway City Tribune
"Wow! This is the book I want to write. Am half way through and am loving it. It is gripping, unputdownable, beautifully written and powerful. Oprah would love it.”
Deborah Beshaw, Amazon Review
"From the first paragraph of this book the author's bell-clear, limpid voice drew me in -- the very particular and lovely sense of place (you will want to visit County Wicklow!) and especially the characters: all three were compelling in very different ways, and whether I particularly liked them at a given moment or not, I was able to understand the who and why of them and I cared what became of them. It's one of the few books I've read recently that I truly found difficult to put down, it was just a terrifically satisfying read and I highly recommend it."
J.D. Kelleher, Amazon Review
“The prose in this book sings. It is infused with the author’s passion for her story and characters. This is a stunning debut novel by a woman who has clearly let this story soak in her consciousness for a long time, before finally letting it spill forth. The prose here is masterful, in the great Irish tradition. The last book I read was Colm McCann's Let the Great World Spin. I thought it would be a while before I came across something so brilliant but Anne McCabe is right up there with McCann in terms of prose that is accessible, evocative and highly literary. Its a beautiful read. A story that conjures up a past in rural Ireland with such ease that one is transported to the world of this incredible story so completely as to lose all track of time. Unputdownable."
Keckum, Amazon Review
"Couldn't put this down once I started reading it. As the generations give way new insights and mysteries kept me gripped. The honesty in the writing and the humanity in the storytelling gave me characters and a world I felt I completely knew and could identify with. And I'm a male from the UK. Fantastic first novel. Waiting for the next one.."
Sean Rocks, 'Arena", RTE Radio One
“A sobering read, but very touching. An excellent début novel.”
Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames
“I am really enjoying the book. The first 100 pages unstoppable - what a character that Gertrude is! You are a great storyteller. You’ve really captured the story of Ireland in the 1980’s.”
Emily Hourican, Sunday Independent
“This is a really good read, I was gripped throughout, I also found it very moving.”
Darina, 45, Nurse and mother of four
"I stayed up until 2am by the stove in the kitchen and cried at the end"
Bruce, 46, Tourism manager
"It is a fantastic read and should become a top seller. I could not put the book down once I started reading. There is so much captured in the story in so many ways."
Amanda, 28, Actress
"I loved it. I stayed up until 3am to finish it. The end was really surprising."
Caoilinn, 36, Horse-riding instructor
"Loved your book- haven't been able to put it down. Will definitely read it again and pass it on to my Mum. Class!"
Jimmy, 80, Retired civil servant
"That ending is a marvellous crescendo, it brought tears to my eyes."
Jane, 60, Ceramic artist
"Great read, really enjoying it. It's a great Book Club book."
Karina, 41, Solicitor
"I stayed in bed on a Bank holiday Monday all day to finish it. I loved it."
Jan, Amazon Review
"This is a brilliant story, masterfully written .. I picked it up randomly from my brother's desk while on a visit, and stayed "glued" to it day and night till I reached the last page. This wonderful novel gave me all I - perhaps just half-knowingly - expect of Ireland and its literature .. a moody countryside, proud country mansions, dilapidating cottages, realistic characters, a strong story, melancholy atmosphere spiced up with the tension of secrecy .. the relationships and fates of the female characters alongside the undercurrent of old sins and misunderstandings turned this novel into an unforgettable read for me - not only entertaining, but also thought-provoking and revelatory .. I thank the author for this experience and can't wait for the next novel!"
