Review of The Mothers McGinn

[Sam Ibeh]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Mothers McGinn" by J.E. McCarthy.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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In The Mothers McGinn by J.E. McCarthy, Alvin McGinn was a man who cherished women and believed they should be respected and protected. He loved his daughters and taught his sons to protect their sisters, a task the boys took seriously. No one messed with the McGinn girls. The McGinns were a large family. Like other families, they battled with the effects of the Great Depression that came with the crash of the United States stock market. However, the family looked out for each other and ensured everyone was cared for. Mary McGinn no longer worked as she used to, and the burden of providing for the family was on her young boys. Despite the economic strain, the McGinns would still be able to fall in love and bring more McGinns into the world. How would they manage the growing family and the dying economy?

The Mothers McGinn was a simple and warm story about a regular family. The language of the storytelling was simple and easy to follow, with an uncomplicated plot. The timeline of the story was the period of the Great Depression. The story provided a glimpse into what life may have been like for families after the stock market crash. The story had a slow and gentle atmosphere, and there was no urgency in either the storytelling or the characters' lives.

The characters were content individuals living as any average person would, making them relatable. They were ordinary people, working and surviving their time. From Alvin McGinn to his boys, Alder, Lewin, and Finn, there was a courageous display of what being a man was about — providing and protecting. Mary McGinn was the matriarch of her family. She was a strong, hardworking woman who kept her children on the right path. The entire McGinn family was an adorable bunch that proved that money or material things were not the determinants of happiness.

This book highlighted the ups and downs that came with marriage and love. Beautiful romantic connections were made in the book as the story highlighted the realities of marriage and all that came with it. Issues like domestic violence and abuse (physical and sexual) also came up in the story as the author shined a light on the debilitating cycle that it would birth.

The Mothers McGinn was a good read. It was mildly entertaining, but, as pointed out earlier, it was not the adrenaline-pumping, suspense-filled, or keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat story.

The book was easy to read because it was brief and not overly stretched. It was a well-edited piece, as I observed only two errors. Readers who love family stories and light romance would best appreciate this book. Because there was nothing to dislike, I'd rate The Mothers McGinn five out of five stars.

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The Mothers McGinn
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[Aswin3848]

The premise of the book seems to be not complicated. Glad the writer has beautifully described it in the book. The review, especially the third paragraph is a touching one.