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Judith J. (Minoa, NY)
Very enjoyable read
My husband and father-in-law were volunteer firefighters, so much of this book contained situations and emotions I could relate too. I had some difficulty following the large cast of characters but the chart in the book helped. The determination and strength of the women who raised their families after the loss of their firefighter husbands was amazing. I liked the closeness of the neighborhoods and how they took care of each other. I hope the author does a sequel to carry the story on.
Kenan R. (Liberty, MO)
I Devoured This Book!
I so enjoyed Ashes of Fiery Weather. The characters were extremely well drawn and fleshed out. It almost felt like several short stories that worked together to form a narrative. Full disclosure - I love a book that starts with a family tree, and I did flip back to this one to reference who was speaking and how they were related to the narrators I had already encountered. Just as I thought I had a grasp on a character as described by a specific protagonist, I would meet them in their own story and find I was completely mistaken in my assumptions.
The book as a whole captures a place in time through the lens of a
…more specifically female point of view, interesting as it revolves around a predominately male vocation - fire fighting. The story, spanning more than a century, is told as the men's wives, mothers and daughters experienced it. The non linear time line - not only of the chapters but within them - felt like unearthing a box of photographs jumbled together, jumping from year to year and from scene to scene. It was like looking at a crazy quilt up close - marveling at the pieces and their individual beauty before moving back to appreciate it in its entirety. It was a compelling story, beautifully told! (less)I enjoyed the theme of this book about wives of Irish firefighters and their families. She had very good insight into the various women that were part of this story. I was able to identify with the feelings and actions that were depicted. I wanted to keep reading which is a good sign for me. I wished she had formatted the book better. It was hard to jump to a future date or back to a former time in the same chapters. A better transition would have been easier for the readers. It is also possible that there could have been fewer characters covered. I did like the book and hope she writes a sequel.
Jodi G. (Plymouth, MN)
Nice story
I liked this book. I liked the way the author tied in some history of firefighting in the Irish American community with present day real-world events (9/11). I liked the way she went into depth on the impact of the culture of fire fighting on several members of one family. I think anyone who likes a story that explores family relationships in depth would like this book. My only issue with the book is that some stories were never really resolved - the reader got teased about them but never saw them come to a conclusion. But a nice first novel for Donohoe. I am sure I would enjoy more books by her in the future.
Mimi North Venice, FL
Hoping for More
Having lost my Irish fireman uncle to the work of an arsonist, I eagerly chose this book. At times, I was not disappointed with the choice, but, at times, it did not deliver.
Fewer main characters more fully developed would have strengthened the book. Perhaps, a more in depth treatment of three generations would provide greater focus. I felt that I was just getting to know Katie McKenna and the book ended. I hope that a sequel will continue this thread because I did appreciate the writing and I did become involved with the characters.
It was a good book with the potential to be very good.
Marion C. (Litchfield, NH)
Ashes of Fiery Weather
"Ashes of Fiery Weather" captures the rich history of the lives of six Irish-American women—the wives, widows, daughters, nieces and cousins of Brooklyn, New York, firefighters at Glory Devlins station. When the firefighters rush to a fire, the women and children stand at their front windows with prayers and hope that all will come back. The book is more than just history; it is the stories of their lives over the generations, their relationships, their feelings and reactions to the lives of their love-ones lost to the events in New York.
I enjoyed reading about these heroic, strong women who stand steadfast as
…more their love-ones risk their lives daily. Enjoyable reading and I would read Donohoe's next book. (less)While the fire station was the expected focus of this story, for me it was really about the relationships that each family has, and how we often no so little about the stories between us. I enjoyed reading this story, and the writing let the story flow between the years easily. I was left wanting more at the end, which is how I like to finish. I hope there will be at least a sequel, as some segments seemed as if they still need to be tied up.
Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)
A Fond Memory
Several years before 9/11, my husband and I moved to a small town in NJ. We became good friends with a couple originally from Brooklyn who maintained close ties with their old friends, some of whom were from the NYFD. My favorite memory is a New Years Eve party at our friends' house. Promptly at midnight we all gathered outside and marched behind the two firemen with bagpipes playing "Auld Lang Syne"!
Kathleen Donahue has written a wonderful book honoring the bravery and resilience of the NYFD. The only issue that I had was the jumping from one time frame to another...otherwise, I truly enjoyed the book.
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