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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

REVIEW - THE LAST WILL OF MOIRA LEAHY BY THERESE WALSH






I was intrigued by this story on reading the review from Book Chick. I also like the effect of a story told in two parallel lines. Sometimes the story is told by two different people and very often in two different time frames. This is the latter.

We have the present day story of Moira - a respected languages professor, lonely, her best friend is wondering about her sanity, her mother avoids her at all costs and that makes her more and more introverted and lonely.

We have the past story of Moira and Maeve the twins who could not be more unalike! Maeve vivacious, pretty, bubbly, attractive. Moira the "plain" one, shunned, not popular and on the sidelines. The story of their childhood and young teen years are heart breaking. Sisters fight it is true but this quiet enmity and standoffishness is something else.

Added to a family story we then get to the point of where the story turns in another direction. Upto now it would seem a normal family saga - here we have the spirit of mysticsm and spirituality come in. I found this part a little difficult to comprehend. For me,  though of course linked to the story it seemed like a third dimension which for me was not quite necessary.

The book is beautifully written though and very descriptive. Human feelings of compassion, forgiveness and love and that these would conquer all other things is paramount in the story.  The story is a haunting one.

8 comments:

  1. This one sounds quite interesting. Thanks for the review.

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  2. Hmm...I think it would have lost me too when the mysticism came into the story.

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  3. Like Anna, the mysticism would have been a turn off for me. But I do love the cover.

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  4. I really like the cover of this book as well as the title-very intriguing! I am also a sucker for sister stories so the twins in the past sound interesting.

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  5. This book sounds like it would be right down my alley!

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  6. wow, this sounds like something i'd really like. and i love irish books (the characters sound like they have irish names) so I bet I'd really enjoy this!

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  7. The title is brilliant but I'm not sure about that premise - I guess it depends on the writing, how much it would pull me in. Will look out for it and keep an open mind!

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