Review of Irma's Daughters

[HMZ923]

[i][Following is a volunteer review of "Irma's Daughters" by Jennie Linnane.][/i]

[rwc=id415793-125]3 out of 4 stars.[/rwc][i]Irma’s Daughters[/i] by Jennie Linnane, the sequel to Ironbark Hill, stands on its own.



It’s a quiet book filled with the events of everyday life. Sometimes idyllic. Sometimes so real it hurts. It is a story with tragedies, hopes, and promises.



Natalie is an artist born into a mixed marriage family in Australia. Sometime after the unexpected death of her father, her mother, Irma, remarried. Soon after, Shirley, Robyn, and Davy were born to join Natalie and Joey, her brother.



Tragedy struck and took Davey, changing Alex into a cruel father and husband. Riding the waves of constant turmoil, the families lives finally turned the tide to peace after Alex’s untimely death.



The story spans many years from Natalie’s teen years to that past fifty-years-old. During that time, she saw some of her dreams blossom, and some seem to wither with no hope for revival. She worked as a housekeeper at Riverdale, where Rosemary and Bruce treated her ultimately like family, all the while being the person her family relied on.



Sporadically the subject of discrimination against the native aborigines is approached from different angles. Various forms of lasting relationships are developed and explored. Mental health, kleptomania, rape, murder, and innocent love triangles are some of the themes examined.



I rate this book [b]4 out of 4 stars[/b]. There were a few grammatical errors. No sexual issues were discussed in detail. There were some mostly mild profanities. As it is a story set in Australia, the British term ‘bloody’ is considered profanity. Although, to my American ear, it didn’t have the same impact as it might to an Australian. I found none of these to be sufficient to detract from the value of the writing.



What I disliked most was the same thing I dislike most in my own life - the repeating memories of past fears, failures, and intense pressures. Ultimately, that just shows how ‘real’ the story is.



What I liked most was the in-depth character development, particularly of Natalie, the main character. There were many moments when I felt I was experiencing her life first hand, as if I was in the room she was in, talking with Rosemary or Moira, for example.



One of my favorite descriptions was about Natalie’s Mum. It said, “a far-away look of profound melancholy made a blank page of her usually readable features.” I could really ‘see’ that.



We all have secrets we keep. There are a number of them to unveil in this finely written portrayal of mostly rural family life. Everyone’s life has drama, moments of fear, anxiety, and a plethora of emotions. These characters share theirs with us.



I found this book to be a good depiction of family life. It’s a well-crafted story with insights into the minds and hearts of its characters. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in a good read about one woman’s choices in the face of heartaches, challenges, and victories.

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[i]Irma's Daughters [/i]
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