Long Road, Many Turnings

"Every journey has to start somewhere. For now, this one starts here..." Long Road, Many Turnings is a family saga spanning four generations. It is the book for anyone who ever wanted to trace their ancestry and discover how their family really lived throughout the first half of the 20th Century. Although a work of fiction, Celtic author Mary retells her own family story, achieving a mixture of drama, humour and historical events. Exploring scandal, heartbreak and danger through interrelated characters-including Roisin and Deirdre in 1907- to Ellen and Agnes in 1951. Starting with two chapters focussed on the Drimoleague area of West Cork the reader subsequently experiences life across Northern Ireland, London and Wales. Chapters include the second world war, with storylines focussing on two different aspects–childhood evacuation to Wales and the issues and dramas encountered by working alongside Black-American soldiers in WW2 Northern Ireland. These illustrate war's unexpected impact on everyday life. There are also chapters depicting the post and the inter-war years, times which had their own challenges. Each character's story intriguingly slips into the background of the next thus readers are constantly provided with fresh themes and new characters. The writing is entertaining, touching on gender and cultural misunderstandings alongside a fast-moving storyline. It is accessible, friendly and down-to-earth.