I never usually appeal to novels like this as I find them quite long-winding and get easily bored with them. However, after reading the sample provided I was gripped into wanting to read more. The fascinating yet emotional story of The Titanic has always interested me which I thought would be the main plot to this book. But it was interesting to read that this major event was a side-event in the lives of the 2 Sweeney sisters.
At first, I appealed to Delia. She was kind-hearted, she was always criticised by her mother and she had a yearning to get out of Dongeal, Ireland as she believed there was much more to life than being stuck on her family farm. You feel less appealed to Nora at the start. The two sisters personality-wise are on completely different ends of the spectrum. Nora is cold-hearted towards Delia and pays more attention to her looks and the boys that give her the attention she craves. The pair are given the chance to go to New York, setting sail on the incredible Titanic. Nora is to be sent to Mr Aidan O'Hanlon - a wealthy businessman in the oil trade - as a governess to his daughter, Lily, whose mother has passed away tragically. Delia is sent to be a housekeeper to a rich family, which she is grateful for as she has the opportunity to make a life for herself outside of Ireland. However, as the reader would expect, their travels to America was struck by disaster as the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank - losing many lives. The two sisters parted their ways while trying to get back ashore and each believed the other had not survived. Delia does the unthinkable and pretends that she is Nora and goes to stay with Mr O'Hanlon and Nora is taken in by a lovely woman who changes her perspective on life. After this, the girls both face difficult challenges which does make them reunite. I was happy that it was a positive outcome for both and I loved that Nora learned the true values of life.
I really did enjoy reading this book. Also reading from both of the girls perspectives was interesting. 2 different personalities. I hope to find more novels like this as it was a refreshing read for me.
At first, I appealed to Delia. She was kind-hearted, she was always criticised by her mother and she had a yearning to get out of Dongeal, Ireland as she believed there was much more to life than being stuck on her family farm. You feel less appealed to Nora at the start. The two sisters personality-wise are on completely different ends of the spectrum. Nora is cold-hearted towards Delia and pays more attention to her looks and the boys that give her the attention she craves. The pair are given the chance to go to New York, setting sail on the incredible Titanic. Nora is to be sent to Mr Aidan O'Hanlon - a wealthy businessman in the oil trade - as a governess to his daughter, Lily, whose mother has passed away tragically. Delia is sent to be a housekeeper to a rich family, which she is grateful for as she has the opportunity to make a life for herself outside of Ireland. However, as the reader would expect, their travels to America was struck by disaster as the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank - losing many lives. The two sisters parted their ways while trying to get back ashore and each believed the other had not survived. Delia does the unthinkable and pretends that she is Nora and goes to stay with Mr O'Hanlon and Nora is taken in by a lovely woman who changes her perspective on life. After this, the girls both face difficult challenges which does make them reunite. I was happy that it was a positive outcome for both and I loved that Nora learned the true values of life.
I really did enjoy reading this book. Also reading from both of the girls perspectives was interesting. 2 different personalities. I hope to find more novels like this as it was a refreshing read for me.