I Called Her Mary: A Memoir by Margaret M. O’Hagan and Thomas A Gorman, Ed.D.

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

Valentine’s Day is coming. A day that is dreaded by many and thought of as fun by others. Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love.

Well, I have a story for you that is all about love. Not wildly romantic love (although there is some romantic love in the story) but it tells of many kinds of love. You read about the love for parents for their children, the love between those children, the love of a mother for a child and the sacrifices that a mother will make for her child, and the love that children can have for their parents.

In I Called Her Mary, we meet Margaret O’Hagan. Margaret grew up poor in Ireland. She was born in 1937 and was the third of seven children. While not physically expressive of their love for each other, they nonetheless showed love in their actions and support.

“My parents loved each other. They were very kind and their love carried over to all of us. We didn’t have much in the way of material things, but we had love. What else could a family possibly need? We must have been pretty stupid to be so happy in our squalor, but us kids didn’t know any better. We laughed every night and had so much fun together. It doesn’t really take that much to have a good time, especially when you have nothing.“

I Called Her Mary

When Margaret was 18, she felt funny one day and the doctor came and checked on her. He told her and her mother that she was pregnant – 7 months pregnant. There were not many options for an unwed pregnant girl in Ireland back in 1955. Two weeks after the doctor’s announcement, Margaret was on her way to Sean Ross Abbey, a convent run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary. There she stayed until the birth of her baby. Mary (as Margaret named her) was born on April 24, 1955. Margaret was sure that her parents would come and get her and the baby. The nuns told her that they wouldn’t. But they did. Margaret went home with Mary and despite the sigma of their daughter having a child out of wedlock, they supported her. They loved both Margaret and her baby.

Margaret never would have predicted that the townspeople would be so terrible to her and the baby. They thought nothing of calling them derogatory names. They even barred her from entering the Church for Mass. It became apparent that if Mary was going to have the life that Margaret hoped for her that she would have to give her up for adoption. With a heavy heart but a belief that it was the best for her daughter, Margaret interviewed two parties and decided to give her beloved daughter to a family from the United States.

After two months, Margaret knew that she could not stay in Ireland any longer. There was nothing there for her. So, she obtained a sponsor and moved to New York to work for a family.

Margaret never forgot her daughter and wondered if she had had the life that she had hoped for when she let her be adopted. But life moved on for over 50 years. Margaret found love and had a family in the United States.

Then one day she received a call from Ireland. Her daughter was looking for her. Did she want to be found?

I truly enjoyed I Called Her Mary. It was a quick read and told a good story. While there were tough times, there was so much love. I think that you should put it on your TBR (to be read) pile.

You know how I often have to put in the disclaimer that I was given the book to read in exchange for my honest review? While that is not the case with this book, I do want to tell you that I know one of the people involved in this story. Does that color my perception? I don’t think so. A good story is a good story, and I didn’t know the whole story before I read the book.

The book is available through Amazon and can be found through this link.

Thanks for reading!

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The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Carol Early Cooney
Marjorie Merriweather Post

Dear Fellow Reader.

Finally. a book I enjoyed!  I have been on a terrible dry spell. Reading along but I did not find anything that I liked. I’m not even talking about books that you want to stand on the corner and shout about. I was just ready for a book that I liked. (I was given a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion about the book.)

I found happiness in the book The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post. (Publication date 2/1/5/22) It is a historical fiction book that covers the life of Marjorie Merriweather Post. Ms. Post lived from 1887 to 1973. Quite a span of history!

Easily. I picked the book due to the subject matter. I recognized the name right away but not with any context – I just knew that I had heard it before. Upon reflection. I connected it to the Post Cereal Company but that was about as far as I could get.

Marjorie Merriweather Post (MMP) was the only daughter of C.W.Post. the inventor of Grape Nuts cereal and Postum (a warm morning drink that is a coffee substitute). The cereal and drink were invented by C.W. as a result of a “cure” that he took from Dr. Kellogg of Battle Creek. MI. The two, Post and Kellogg, battled over the new cereal industry for many years. (Okay. they probably still do…)

Marjorie and her father were very close. He had her working on the original company when she was a young teen. When they finally started making money. he sent her to a private school in Washington D.C. where he also moved. He had a huge influence on her life.

The book is divided into four sections. These sections are uneven time periods. but they reflect the several large changes in her life. It could be said that Marjorie was not lucky in love. She was very good with business and the company prospered under her (distanced) guidance. She was not allowed to take over the direct management of the company because she was a woman. Her husbands served on the board and oversaw the day-to-day decisions but she was always involved and made several of the major changes even over her husband’s objections.

She was also a philanthropist. Not only contributing to worthy causes but also fundraising for various charities. She was an art collector and had an extensive collection of Imperial-era Russian art. (This collection is on display at Hillwood. one of the properties that she owned.) She owned a yacht (which she loaned to the Navy during WWII) and a jet. She built several mansions. including Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. FL. She knew how to spend her money on jewelry and property but did resist some of the excesses of the 1920s.

I found the story fascinating. It was a fairly quick read, and it was interesting until the very end. And I was interested enough after I read the book to lookup more about Marjorie Merriweather Post. A few interesting tidbits:

  1.  Glenn Close is the granddaughter of MMP’s first husband. Edward Close.
  2. Dina Merrill was the daughter of MMP and E. F. Hutton. She was an actress
  3. MMP’s third husband was the Ambassador to Russia before WWII.

There are so many other little things that made it an interesting read.

Thanks for reading!

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Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

I am reviewing this book a bit early. It will be available on February 1, 2022, for purchase. I was given an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is another in the continuing saga of me not knowing why I requested this book. What was it about the description of this book that interested me? I have no idea.

Circus of Wonder takes place in 1860s England. Nell was born with birthmarks covering her body. When her drunken father sees a chance to sell his daughter, he eagerly sells her to Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders. At first, Nell was understandably upset about this but then with the circus, she finds her family. Jasper Jupiter makes her famous and she falls in love.

But was loving a man enough?

When Jasper’s insecurities and jealousy overtake him, he sets in motion a series of disasters that may doom all of them.

Okay, the author had me for a long time in this book. But… then I just could not really buy what happened at the end of the book. I was disappointed by Nell’s choice.

I could see where this would not encourage you to read this book. On the other hand, it was absorbing and interesting. I read it fairly quickly and did enjoy it until the end. Perhaps that isn’t bad. The fact that I have seesawed about the end could be the mark of a good book. And it is possible that you will feel that Nell’s choice was right and not surprising. We would have to discuss it.

So, you will have to read it and let me know if you agree or disagree with me.

Thanks for reading.

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The Nantucket Beachfront Inn by Ainsley Keaton

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Carol Early Cooney
I wish I was on a beach reading!

Dear Fellow Reader,

It is only mid-January, and I am ready for winter to LEAVE. I am just over it. There is something about the cold and the dark days that are bothering me this year. Okay, let’s be honest, it bothers me almost every year. I suppose with Covid, it is just worse. I want to be back in the yard. Back digging up the garden.

But there is something to be said for burrowing under a blanket and reading. The whole world spins without me and I am lost in a book. Which brings me to tell you about the book I read over the weekend. It is a book that was given to me in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Nantucket Beachfront Inn is an easy quick read. The story moves along well and the characters are engaging. Are you waiting for a “BUT”? Yes, there are one or two. Overall, though, it was quick and fine. There were plenty of characters to keep you busy.

The story introduces us to Ava Flynn. As the story opens, Ava has had it with her job. She is a successful attorney with a firm that defends million and billionaire tax cheats. She has been in this position for 23 years and has done well. Unfortunately, her last husband cleaned out their accounts on his way out of town and hasn’t been seen for a while. Her first husband died in a car crash when she was 8 months pregnant with triplets. She works endless hours and has a large mortgage on a condo in New York City. She sleeps in her office most of the time. But on the night the book opens, she has just had it. She tells the demanding billionaire in front of her what she thinks of his efforts to avoid paying taxes. That is the end of her job. While she tries to find a new position, the combination of her age and her high salary are not leading to any offers.

She then receives a call from an attorney asking her to come to his office because she has received an inheritance. The inheritance comes with some strings that she will have to work her way through with her two close girlfriends and her children.

As far as the plot goes, it is good. Here are my problems with this book. First off, the author did a lot of research for things that happen in the book and goes into WAY too much detail. (One of the characters suddenly develops bacterial meningitis and the medical description goes way beyond what the audience needs). Also, there are at least two places where the same explanation is given twice within a few pages. And I think that at one spot one of the characters is referred to by the wrong name.

BUT probably my biggest complaint is the end. It is like she was only allowed so many words and so she must throw three huge curveballs in the last three pages. I was reading an eBook version of the book and I could not believe the story was over. It seems there are more books to come in the series and she had to get you set up to want to read the next books. It was just irritating.

Am I sorry I read it? No. I think if you know going into it that there may be some redundancy and a few little things that should have been cleaned up in editing, that you will be fine. It is a beach read. There is nothing here to change your life. It will give you some enjoyable reading time.

Thanks for reading!

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The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

Why is it I end up so behind on reviewing books? I have a stockpile of books to tell you about. I will admit that I have read a lot of cozy mysteries lately, but I think that is just to avoid doing other things.

Today’s book will be published on January 25, 2022. I was given an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

In contrast to most of the books that I review in exchange for a review, this book is a mystery. I’m not sure why I don’t generally get mysteries since that I what I read most of the time. But I have a mystery for you today.

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk introduces us to Liesl Weiss, who has just been elevated to acting director of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at the university library where she has worked for many years. Her boss has had a stroke and she suddenly has to step in. The first thing that happens is that a book that the library just purchased is missing. This is a problem not only because of the money spent but the money had been raised from donors who are anxious to see the book. Where is it? Liesl was on sabbatical when the book arrived, so she has never seen it. She wants to call in the police, but the University President tells her not to that they will have to have an internal investigation – i.e. Liesl should find the book first. She doesn’t feel that he is right but does try and find the thief herself. While she is looking for the thief, we get to meet the other library staff with all their quirks. In this process, we find that another book is missing AND a library staff member commits suicide.

Will she be able to solve the crime, or will the police be called in to help?

With this book review, we have something that doesn’t happen very often. As you may know, I do not generally review books that I don’t like. I know that the author has worked very hard on their book and I don’t see any reason to say that their hard work wasn’t worth it.

I did NOT like this book. I thought Liesl was a horrible character. I didn’t like anything about her. She was so insecure and selfish. I can’t recommend it. Harsh, huh? I know and I don’t like to say it but there are other books that are more enjoyable. I did finish it, which I guess says something because I have taken to not finishing books if I don’t like them. (too many books, so little time)

So, I will leave it up to you, fellow reader. If you read the book and think that I am completely wrong, please let me know.

Thanks for reading!

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