Anna stayed with her family rather than go to America to be with the love of her life. What do you think of her decision?

Anna stayed with her family rather than go to America to be with the love of her life. What do you think of her decision?

I was disappointed that she didn’t join Harold in America. They loved each other very much and I think they would have had a happy life together.

I was glad that Anna stayed with her Irish roots. Her connection with Harold was their shared love of Celtic lore. America would not have been a good fit for her. Harold was worse off than Anna by her decision to stay in Ireland.

I understood Anna's devotion to her family. They stood by her and now she felt like she had to stay and help them.

I think Anna’s decision was in keeping with her upbringing and the times. Anna and Harold had very different backgrounds and may not have made a good match in the long run. Anna loved her family, Ireland and her friends. She would have had to give them up permanently if she followed Harold.

I was sad that she stayed initially, but I ultimately felt like that must have been what she wanted. She had many opportunities to go if she'd wanted to, but she never did.

Initially I was bummed that she didn't go, but then I had hopes that he might return to her.

My question is: Didn't Sarah find tickets for passage to America inside the journal/box? Was that Harold's receipt or a ticket given to Anna by Harold in the hopes she would go to America? (It's been a while since I've finished the book: this memory is foggy)

I was sad for her that she did not join Harold. But life is hard, and sometimes hard choices must be made. Sometimes people have to make decisions they can live with. I think goign to America then woudl have been hard for Sarah. And you must think in the context of the times, and what expectations were, especially for women. Her family came first.

I was saddened by her choice to stay with her family, but I understood her devotion to family, especially after her mother's sudden death. I was intrigued by the fact that she married Danny and wondered if they had any children.

Because of her mother’s death, I think that she felt that it was her duty to care for her family. I think that she had just begun thinking of Harold as a possible romantic partner at the party, then he was immediately taken away. I hope Danny was a good husband.

Anna's decision to not follow her heart was sad, She felt a duty to care for her family which was expected in the early 1900's. It would have been nice to have some kind of interaction between Harold and Anna, they had a real history together.

Timing is everything in life. Anna felt it was her time to care for her family after her mother’s death. Harold had to leave just as Anna was beginning to see him as more than a friend. Their relationship had not progressed far enough for her to give up her family and country for Harold.

I think Anna decided to play it safe by not going to America to be with Harold. It takes a lot of guts to make such a big trip, by yourself, and especially during that time period.

Anna was committed to family as was the custom during the time period.

I think it was in character, but it did make me sad. Given the age and familial expectations, I don't really think she had a choice.

I liked Anna's eventual selection of a husband. I believed that she was happy and was enriched by her experience as Harold's guide without giving up on her family and heritage.

There was no other choice for Anna. Though I do wonder why she didn't eventually go find Harold once the children were grown. It wouldn't have been that many years. She could have fulfilled her family obligation and then sought her love. But I do understand getting caught up in family. Plus she loved Ireland and her village. I don't think she really wanted to leave despite her love for Harold. Perhaps if she could have been closer to home, she may have made it work, but California was a long way to go.

Although it was a sad outcome and Harold must have been saddened--he never married--but he traveled all over the world and never came back to Ireland for her. He sent several tickets for her to join him but never came back to Ireland--I found that perplexing.

On the other hand, Anna did what was expected at the time. An unmarried child, especially a woman, was expected to care for the parents. She was a product of her time--she loved him, would have left with him, would have adapted to her new life--BUT fate dictated her role and therefore her choice.

Family bonds are strong and while it was a bit sad that she didn’t use the ticket, life is a series of choices and you never know how different your life would have been following a different path. You make the most of the one you choose.

I agree with the comments already made about Anna’s decision noting that for her to leave her family in those times would have been out of character. It was sad that Anna didn’t recognize Harold’s love for her earlier.

I expected Anna to go to America, so when in the end she didn't I was pleased. I find totally predictability disappointing.

I think Anna would have seen going off with her love as abandoning her family in their time of need and I don't think she would have ever forgiven herself and thus never really happy.

Annas sense of duty to her family was stronger than her love for Harold, evidently. I was sad that I didn't feel like the story had a happy ending, but who knows, maybe she was very happy with Danny in the end. It seems that many of us carry a love in our hearts that just wasn't meant to be, but we can still love happy lives with others.

I understood Anna's sense of duty to her family, but I still would have liked it if she had gone to Harold. He sent her more than one ticket to get her to America, so he didn't lose his interest in Anna.

Was Harold really the love of Anna's life? Pamelak remarked that it was sad that Anna didn't recognize Harold's love for her earlier. I agree and think that Harold realized that she was unaware of his feelings. And It was Harold who remarked when they were at Cnoc na Si that he was envious of her because while he merely observes and writes notes, "You are as much a part of it as the leaves on the trees" Someone that much a part of it would have trouble leaving even without family obligations. As for marrying Danny, after she tells Harold about him, he asks her where she stands on the idea of Home Rule. No one has asked her opinion on anything before, so she thinks about it. She tells him, "I suppose the English have outstayed their welcome in Ireland." Hardly surprising she marries Danny when she stays. I don't believe that Fate decides what Anna does. I think she has a strong sense of herself and of her place in the world. I think she decides what is best for her. Her love for Harold would not have been enough to keep her happy in America.

Due to the difference in backgrounds it was probably best that Anna stayed in Ireland. I don't think the States would have been a good fit for Anna.