Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Title: Mahoney
Amazon Author Page: Andrew Joyce
Genres: Historical Biographical Fiction, U.S. Historical Fiction, Historical Irish Fiction
In the second year of an Gorta Mhór—the Great Famine—nineteen-year-old Devin Mahoney lies on the dirt floor of his small, dark cabin. He has not eaten in five days. His only hope of survival is to get to America, the land of milk and honey. After surviving disease and storms at sea that decimate crew and passengers alike, Devin’s ship limps into New York Harbor three days before Christmas, 1849. Thus starts an epic journey that will take him and his descendants through one hundred and fourteen years of American history, including the Civil War, the Wild West, and the Great Depression.
Amazon.com
As of fan of Joyce’s western themed novels, I couldn’t wait to read this book! “Mahoney,” chronicles the lives of three generations of men detailing the trials and tribulations of their father-son relationships bound together by a proud Irish heritage.
Part one delves into Devin Mahoney’s story. The reader learns how he immigrated from Ireland to the United States to escape the potato famine. From the perils of the ship crossing to his escape off the death ship, Devin finds America full of discrimination against his Irish heritage. Times are tough, but Devin has the drive of ten men. He vows to become a success in this new land.
Andrew Joyce depicts the details of Devin’s journey with precision and skill, leaving nothing to the imagination. Be prepared for your senses to explode from the detailed descriptions. I found many of these chapters emotionally charged and filled with some of Joyce’s best writing to date.
I must add that the use of Epistolary communication in this section is one of my favorite literary forms. Joyce spares no emotions in his raw depictions of the Civil War.
Part two shares the life of Dillon, Devon’s son who sets out on a journey to the American West. What he finds is every young man’s dream. He joins a cattle drive as a cook and learns how to become a cowboy. Eventually, he takes on the title of U.S. Marshall – even hunting down a few criminals. In California, Dillon strikes it big in the oil business.
In part three, we meet David Mahoney, a spoiled, self-centered young man, the product of his father’s and grandfather’s successes. David’s story holds the most hope as the reader witnesses his collapse into poverty. In many ways, David ends up where his grandfather began. David is forced to grapple with the realities of life in the 1920s. From the soup lines of the Great Depression to the racial strife of the deep South, David finds himself and the soul of the Mahoney clan.
Joyce produces strong characters with dialog that plunks the reader in the middle of the action. Also, look for the many historical references liberally sprinkled throughout this novel. As a nation built from the blood, sweat, and tears of immigrants, this book should remind us all of who we are as Americans.
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
Andrew Joyce left home at seventeen to hitchhike throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. He wouldn’t return from his journey until years later when he decided to become a writer. Joyce has written seven books. His first novel, Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, was awarded the Editors’ Choice Award for Best Western of 2013. A subsequent novel, Yellow Hair, received the Book of the Year award from Just Reviews and Best Historical Fiction of 2016 from Colleen’s Book Reviews.
Twitter: @HuckFinn76
Facebook: Andrew Joyce (Yellowhair1850)
Connect with Andrew on his author blog at andrewjoyce.wordpress.com
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It was a pleasure to read this review.
Have a great weekend.
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Thank you for your lovely comments. ❤
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my pleasure
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Fab review Sis. I have this book and look forward to getting to it – one day! ❤
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I really enjoyed it. Andrew has outdone himself! 😀
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Looking forward. 🙂 x
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Sounds like a good book. Maybe I should read it.
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LOL! You are so funny! 🤣
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I try.
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Awesome read! I loved every page! ❤️
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And thank you for teaching me a new word … :Epistolary.” I love it!!!!
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OMG! I studied this form in college. Think of the book, “The Color Purple.” It is such a cool way to share (write) what is happening from your character’s point of view. I loved it! ❤
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Excellent review Colleen… I agree a tremendous book…congratulations Andrew.
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Thanks, Sally. Such great characters! 😍❤️
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A fantastic review of this book, Colleen. Andrew must be thrilled.
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I am.
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Thanks, Robbie. I just write my feelings in these reviews. 😘♥️
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I concur with the comments of your other readers!
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Thanks, Liz. Much appreciated. ❤️
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I loved Mahoney! Another fantastic (and well deserved) review…thanks, Colleen! The historical background of Mahoney, and each of Andrew’s books, is so accurate, yet so well explained and woven into the story, that the reader cannot help but learn something without even realizing it. Absolutely a great storyteller and talented writer!
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I agree. I’ve enjoyed every one of his books. 😍❤️
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Great book! I reviewed it for Rosie’s book review team!
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Wow, that’s fabulous! I loved all the characters. Great cast! 😍
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I just told myself I wasn’t going to add anymore books until I caught up on my TBR list. That didn’t last long…lol. Added to my list.
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LOL! Fabulous! You will really enjoy this book. ❤️
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Excellent review, Colleen. I am reading Mahoney now and agree with your assessment.
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Thanks, John. I really enjoyed this saga. Great writing. I’m glad you’re enjoying it too. ❤️
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Just finished last night. It was great.
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I agree. I loved the characters journey through the generations. History does seem to repeat itself. 😀
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Yes it does
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Excellent presentation. I have dreams of writing an epistolary novel one day myself. I may not be clever enough to pull it off.
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LOL! I love that form! It’s really an effective way of moving along your story. ❤️
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A great review Colleen. This sounds like a very interesting book.
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It’s rich in detail and the characters are fab! I really enjoyed this one. ❤️
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