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• This is the story of Ellie, a girl who marries her childhood sweetheart, but leaves him to go and work in New York so that she can earn money to send home for him to pay for an operation on his leg, after he is injured during the Irish civil war.The first part of the book is about Ellie's childhood and her relationship with John. I enjoyed the descriptions of Irish life in the early part of the 20th century and the civil war, although there wasn't a great deal of information about the latter. Then the story moves onto Ellie's time in New York, a total contrast in her way of life and an exciting time for her. I felt the author was able to convey Ellie's initial despair at being in a new and vibrant land, and then her new-found love for the place.The story is told completely in the first person by Ellie herself. This gave it a personal touch, that of a woman telling her story, but it also sometimes felt a little sparse and like she was just giving an overview of her life. However, it makes for a nice, easy and untaxing read, and one in which the reader can be immersed for the duration of the book. Definitely recommended.

  5.00 out of 5

  nicx27

• This is a wonderful story set in the early 1900’s in Ireland. Ellie Hogan grows up in a loveless family, her mother is haunted by the wrongdoing of her grandparents during the great potato famine and her father’s only love is for the church. When Ellie’s neighbor takes in John Hogan their orphaned nephew Ellie finally has a friend to share her life with.Ellie and John eventually marry but when John a solider for the Irish Republican Army becomes injured Ellie travels to New York City to work. Ellie’s plan is to stay in the states for as long as it takes her to raise enough money for an operation for John. Ellie works first as a maid and then as a typists. Ellie falls in love with her life in New York and begs John to join her but he refuses to leave his homeland. After four years in America Ellie returns to Ireland. Once in Ireland she is unhappy and longs to return to her life in New York with John and leave the poverty of Ireland behind.This book is beautifully written and as a reader you want to keep reading, it never drags and it constantly holds the readers interest. At first I wasn’t happy with Ellie’s decision to stay in New York and not return to John but then I thought how I would feel leaving new found luxuries such as electricity, automobiles, nice clothing, and ample food for a life of poverty, no electricity, and the constant struggle to stay afloat I realized that I to would not have wanted to return to Ireland.

  4.50 out of 5

  bbellthom

• I had heard Ellis Island being mentioned as ‘being a book you’d like if you enjoyed [Colm Toibin’s] Brooklyn’. I really enjoyed Brooklyn, so I thought I’d read it. However, don’t trust what you hear- although this book has vague similarities to Brooklyn (namely Irish girl goes to America), that where the comparison stops. Firstly, Ellis Island is set earlier, during the War of Independence, so our main character Ellie, steps foot in New York in the 1920s. Secondly, Ellie is married with an injured husband to support. I should backtrack to give you an overall idea of the plot – it quickly explains Ellie’s restricted upbringing in Ireland and her hasty (but loving) marriage to John, a boy she’s known since childhood. Her parents cast her out after hearing of her marriage (she was meant to be joining a convent) and Ellie and John live in a small cottege in the woods. Money is scarce and when John is wounded during the war, Ellie goes to America to work as a lady’s maid to save money for John’s operation. It will only be for one short year…or not. Ellie finds life in America to be free and cheerful in comparison to home. She makes good friends, earns good money and doesn’t want to come back to Ireland. She is eventually forced back by circumstances, but will she stay?I found Ellie a very likeable character who desperately wants to fit in with her neighbours, but is not sure how to go about doing it. I found John to be rather frustrating at times (particularly later in the book) but his reasoning for being so stubborn is understandable. The story flows well, and I didn’t find myself skimming over any parts. I think it’s a light and interesting representation of the Irish and American people at that time.I finished this book very quickly, as I was reading almost every moment that I had. I’m also excited to hear that there’s a sequel in the works – is Ellie happy with her decision?If you enjoy historical novels dealing with love, family, religion and happiness, pick this book up. It’s a lot happier than Brooklyn and has a definite resolution.

  4.50 out of 5

  birdsam0610

• I liked this book very much...but I didn't love it. Ellie is a real character and faces real dilemmas as she constantly is making choices about her own happiness and how it is defined. I enjoyed the story and felt frustrated with Ellie's choices, but somehow I wanted more. This book could have been a true saga with more detail and the fleshing out of more of the character's stories. (How did Sheila end up with her dream life, for example?? And what happened to Isabel?) The author did do a good job of describing both Ellie's life in Ireland and her life in New York, and I would recommend this book to historical fiction lovers.

  4.00 out of 5

  Bookbets50

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