Michael K. Reynolds’
book Flight of the Earls left me wanting to know more about the Hanley
family. The book also left me wanting more information about life in the mid
1800’s and about the struggles faced by immigrants to the U. S. as they worked
to become a part of their new nation. I promised myself I would read the rest
of the Heirs of Ireland series. So far the book two has delivered, reaching the
bar set by the first book. I will write a review once I have finished reading.
Until then, here is a repost of my 2013 review of Flight of the Earls.
What I Am Reading: Flight of the Earls
There are three
ways for a book to hold my attention. The first is to deliver characters in
whom I want to invest my time. If I care about the people in the book I want to
find out what happens in the end. In his first novel Michael K. Reynolds
delivers characters who held my attention from start to finish.
Part one of the
Heirs of Ireland series, Flight of the Earls takes us back to 1846.
Ireland is in the second year of a famine which would last until 1849, during
which the nation would see crop failures caused by a Phytophthora infestation. Once
thought to be a form of mold the recently reclassified organism is, under the
right conditions, capable of destroying an entire field of potatoes or tomatoes
in a matter of days. Its assault on Irish potato crops caused a million people
to die of starvation. Another million would migrate to America in hopes of
finding work. Reynolds introduces us to the Hanley family just as they begin to
suffer the effects of the Great Potato Famine.
The blight has just
started to affect the Hanley fields, yet another burden weighing on the family.
The decision is made to send daughter Clare and son Seamus to follow their
older sister’s path to America. The plan was for the two to send money home to
keep the family afloat until the end of the famine. Through their eyes we experience
the difficult journey made by many past immigrants. We see a side of
immigration which is rarely ever spoken of, obstacles and plot twists which beg
us to ask if the journey was worth the effort. From the potato fields of
Ireland to the streets of New York Mr. Reynolds weaves a story that is as
compelling as the characters he uses to take us back in history.
As the first of a
series this book leaves me wanting more but I must wait until July for book two.
I suspect the continuation of the story will be well worth the wait. If you
love learning about the past or if you just love a good story you will find Flight
of the Earls well worth your time.
For more on Flight
of the Earls and the Heirs of Ireland series see michaelkreynolds.com. Follow
Michael K. Reynolds on twitter: @M_K_Reynolds.
