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Der übersehene Mann (2000)

by Christina McKenna(Favorite Author)

3.66 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Amazon Crossing

review 1: The book was built on the foundation of the deepest cruelty- the orphanages that so brutally abused and misused children in Ireland that were run by the Catholic Church. The actions of the church were absolutely deplorable. The story is told in flashbacks from the life of one man- now grown and 40- and his brutal childhood. The vivid characters and setting- the clear window into Ireland in the 1960s is a pleasure to read. The plot is a bit contrived- and in the end the author believes she must "explain" the plot in a way that suggests that perhaps the reader won't be smart enough to get it.That said I was glad to have read it.
review 2: 3.5/4 starsI saw this book on amazon and I think one other reader described it best...it is a good period piece. it took ... moresome time for me to realize though its set somewhere between the 1940s to early 1970s.While McKenna is very good at descriptions and metaphors/similes, I found this book to be a bit boring and slow. It was hard to get into and I feel about 3/4 of the way through the story hit its climax. While it's a large book, McKenna takes it step by step and really goes into detail with every scene and tells the reader everything that happens. The main character(s) Jamie and Lydia write letters, Jamie goes to his friends' house (Rose and Paddy), and Rose helps him write a letter, Lydia does this, Lydia does that...etc...While it's told in a realistic manner, it got a bit long-winded. The characters though, especially, Rose, seem very lifelike and McKenna does a great job of showing what life is like (including accents/terms, etc...) is in Ireland in this time period.Some parts of the story are very sad, though and it immediately reminded me of The Magdelene Sisters (movie). After reading the acknowledgements, though, I found out my presumption was correct. It makes me sad to think that, in those times, and perhaps maybe even some feel this way, now, that children are to blame for how they came about in this world. People think nuns and priests are good people...but the way this book describes them shows a realistic and almost shocking example of how some are. While it's a fiction novel, you can't help but feel and hope that these people got their just desserts as they appear to very hypocritical and non-compassionate people. I give this book also a 3.5-4, but it's mainly a 3.5, rating as some scenes were difficult to read, along with the story being slow/boring. You really are guessing until the last page though, as some secrets are revealed, what will happen. You also have a few questions at the end (or, at least I did).I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes period pieces, who wants to learn or read fiction about Ireland, anyone who likes fiction, and/or anyone who is interested in reading about love, but in a different way you'd expect.I do like how the reader goes into the mind of various characters - it's not just in one person's point of view, as I would think all novels are suppose to be in -- so, it's nice to see that. It reassures any future or current writers that there are many different ways of writing. Overall, a somewhat interesting read, but it's slowness and tone made it hard to read. I applaud McKenna though on her effort and I would be curious to see if this could be made into a movie. It definitely has the potential to be one. less

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Reviews (see all)

monea

There was a lot to like about this book. I liked the characters and the way the author was able to give each of them a voice of their own, even speaking in an Irish brogue (that was only once in awhile difficult to interpret). I could relate to each character's perspective.I could barely read the sections of flashback backstory describing the inhumane treatment of orphans in the thirtys -- even worse was having read the author's notes explaining that while the story was fiction, the events described in the orphanages were based on actual events. Heart-breaking. I will never think kindly toward the Catholic Church again. The ending was too patently saccharine to be credible. All the loose ends of life are never neatly gift-wrapped at the end of any story. Still, I was glad that Jamie's story came to a happy end.

Britney

I found this book boring. It dragged through every chapter and often went rambling into useless stories that made no sense and had no real place amongst the rest of the story. As much as I tried I could get attached to the characters so this book really had no emotional pull with me. Furthermore, I felt like the writing style was often times cliched and unoriginal. I read it because I found the title tremendously curious, but I just ended up disappointed.

catnip17

Excellent! Will read it again. Top ten favorite book!

rob

Charming and poignant.

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