Story Description:
HarperCollins|2011||Trade
Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-06-207153-8
Sweethearts since
childhood, Ellie Hogan and her husband, John, are content on their farm in
Ireland – until John, a soldier for the Irish Republican Army, receives an
injury that leaves him unable to work.
Forced to take drastic measures in order to survive, Ellie does what so
many Irish women in the 1920’s have done and sails across a vast ocean to New
York City to work as a maid for a wealthy socialite.
Once there, Ellie
is introduced to a world of opulence and sophistication, tempted by the allure
of grand parties and fine clothes, money and mansions…and by the attentions of
a charming suitor who can give her everything.
Yet her heart remains with her husband back home. And now she faces the most difficult choice
she will ever have to make: a new life in a new country full of hope and
promise or return to a life of cruel poverty---and love.
My Review:
Ellie and John had
played together since they were very young children. They spent their days running through fields,
laying in the grass and climbing trees.
Ellie loved being at John’s house as his family was so very kind to her
and treated her like a daughter. Her own
mother was a cow of a woman without emotion and didn’t pay any particular
attention to Ellie. Ellie felt alone and
abandoned. When they were just eighteen
they ran off and got married which displeased her parents very much.
John was a soldier
and received a serious injury to his leg thereby preventing him from
walking. There was an operation to
correct his problem but their lack of money prevented him from taking advantage
of the opportunity. Ellie’s deep love
for, John propelled her to board a vast ship and cross the ocean on her own to
work in New York City as a maid for a wealthy socialite. The hours were long and the tasks arduous but
Ellie was committed and sent money home to John every month to save for his
operation.
During her time in
New York, Ellie discovered new friends, a new way of dressing, got herself an
updated haircut and for the first time in her life felt that she really fit in
somewhere. Then, she met a wealthy man
who was more than willing to marry her.
He even got her out of maid work, paid for her to a take a course and
got her a better paying job.
Finally, John had
enough money to have his operation but, Ellie didn’t want to leave New
York. She wanted John to come to America
and live there so they could have some semblance of a normal life. John, being a solider and having fought for
his homeland was not willing to concede and remained in Ireland. What is Ellie going to do? Will she stay in America and marry her new
wealthy man or will she return to Ireland to be with John and go back to just
subsisting on a meager budget and a difficult life?
Ellis Island was a beautifully written
story and I read it in one sitting. I
just couldn’t put it down. There is also
another book that continues this story titled: “City of Hope” but I haven’t yet
been able to get a copy.
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