Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

historical fiction

Review: A story for those who love Ireland

A Dance in Donegal is a sweet romance that made me long for a trip to Ireland. The story started a little slower than I usually like as Moira adjusted to her new life in Ballymann but by the middle I was invested in the characters and their converging paths. I wanted to see how the relationship between her and Sean would progress. I also enjoyed the use of Gaelic language and the glossary that was included in the back of the book for proper pronunciation and meaning. I look forward to reading more Irish stories from this author.

A different kind of historical fiction: Review of All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

There’s a “famous” quote in Christendom by ancient mystic Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” I love this quote, and it’s where this book by Susie Finkbeiner gets its title and theme, but that’s not what drew me to the book. To be honest, I didn’t make the connection right away. 

I first heard about All Manner of Things because of social media. The author is a friend of a writing friend (and now that we’ve met in person at a writing retreat, I consider her my friend, too!) so I’ve been following her on socials for a few months, and this, her latest book, came up as a review possibility through her publisher’s blogging program. I said yes to a digital review copy without really knowing anything about the book.

Let me fill you in:

Annie is an 18-year-old living with her mom and brothers in Michigan in 1967. Her father, a veteran of the Korean Conflict, left the family years ago and they haven’t heard from him since, and Annie’s older brother Mike, is about to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War. There’s the chance for family reunification as Mike discovers their father’s address.

If that plot sounds simple, it is. But it’s also not. I’ll try to explain.

First, I can’t remember ever reading a historical set in this time period. It feels weird to call it historical because the events happened only a decade before I was born, but I liked reading something set in a time period that wasn’t early 20th century or late 19th century, even though I enjoy stories set in those time periods as well. I’d love to hear from someone who lived through the late 1960s if the story is well-represented. (I trust the author so I suspect that it is.)

Second, it doesn’t feel like a lot happens during the story, but don’t take that to mean it’s boring. Far from it. The war is always looming in the background of the everyday back-at-home events. All Manner of Things is, to me, a beautiful illustration of what it’s like for families with loved ones serving in a combat zone. Life at home doesn’t stop, but it’s always shadowed by thoughts of war. The story doesn’t drag. It moves at a comfortable pace and reflects what I assume were the ordinary goings on of a teenager’s life in the 1960s.

I’m already a fan of the author as a person and now I’m a fan of her writing as well. I can’t wait to read more of her stories!

This one moved me to tears and left me lifted with hope at the same time.

I’d encourage you to give this one a read.

Disclosures: I received a free digital copy of the book from the publisher. Review reflects my honest opinion. And this post contains affiliate links, which simply means if you click the link and make a qualifying purchase, I receive a small percentage of the purchase which costs you nothing extra and helps support my writing.