First published 1997
Generations of one family tell their stories across more than a century. The narrative begins in Ireland during the late 1800s and follows the family line to contemporary America. Each family member speaks directly to the reader. Grandparents recall their youth in the old country. Parents describe their struggles and hopes in a new land. Children share their own discoveries and conflicts. The voices include men and women, young and old. Each person reveals their private thoughts about love, loss, and belonging. Their individual stories weave together to show how families endure across time and distance. The emotional bonds between relatives persist despite separation and change. Memory connects the generations even when geography divides them.
Genres: fiction, family, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: found-family, intergenerational
Setting: America, Ireland
Period: Late 1800s, Contemporary
320 pages · Hardcover · Scribner