1916

Rating:
Summary: A Delicate Spiderweb
Review: The windows to the past are many, and sometimes a hard clarity or a soft diffusion of light influences how we interpert the events. This complex time and place in history is very well woven by Morgan. You begin to understand that when one part of this story has motion, it impacts all of the characters. It is very much like a delicate spiderweb woven with such perfection that each strand interacts with every other strand. Morgan has woven Ned, as the focus point and as the strand of the woven words are pulled so Ned interacts with the multitude of both real and fictional persons. ...

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and well worth reading....
Review: I have read several of Ms. Llywelyn's books and this is far and away the best. It accuratly conveys the increasing tension between the British and the Irish of the early years of the 20th, and the brilliant Patrick (Padrig) Pease who was one of the organizers of the "Rising of '16" All the "leading lights" of the Irish independence movement are here: Sheedy-Skeffington, "The O'Rahilly", Conolly, William Pease (Patrick's younger brother),Plunkett and all the others who gave their lives for Ireland's freedom. Allof this is seen through the eyes of young Ned Halloran, one of Pease's students. Ned of course becomes heavily involved in the rising and witness severalof the pivotal events. A good bit of research has been done for this book as any reading of a non-fiction book dealing the Rising will show. The Easter Rising in Dublin was "Ireland's Alamo" and Ms. Llywelyn's excellent novel conveys the dedication of the brave men and women who were willing to take on the mightiest empire on earth to free their country and make it a nation....

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read!
Review: Once you get past the contrived beginning, this is a wonderful book. I would highly recommend it to all lovers of Irish history.

Rating:
Summary: one of those books on which your mileage will vary greatly
Review: _1916_ has been justly praised for good historical coverage of a period that has always fascinated those, like myself, who enjoy seeing David eventually prevail against Goliath. While we don't get to that point during the book (whose timeframe begins with the Titanic and doesn't extend much past the Rising), we do see the birth of the 20th century Republican movement.

If you're interested in the history of the times, the difference between this and a history book is sort of like the difference between a small-plane overflight and a walkabout on the actual ground. You don't see as much of the forest, but you see the trees very well, and that of course is the focus of the book. It's very outspokenly feminist (whether that's a positive or negative probably depends on your personal views). The use of contemporary headlines at the ends of chapters is a masterful touch that keeps the story in context; too bad some chapters have them and some don't.

I did have some trouble imagining the main character as a credible human being, what with his propensity for always landing right in the midst of the action. For someone who's supposed to be so intelligent, he isn't especially introspective and doesn't really appear to foresee any consequences to his actions. Can't help but like him, though. The pace of action is generally pretty good even where the writing isn't that creative.

The epitome of a mixed review: if you like its strengths, you'll like it. If its weaknesses are your pet peeves, you may not.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Morgan Llywelyn's 1916 seems to have strong potential; one can hardly hope for more engaging material than the background of the Easter Rebellion, yet the book attempts to do too many things, and ends up doing none of them well. The main character, a fictional teenager named Ned Halloran quickly becomes the Forrest Gump of this novel (this is NOT a complement). He magically appears whenever something important happens, and is immediately brought into the deepest levels of the most secret plans. In spite of his being a newcomer to the republican movement he is a first-hand witness of every secret meeting of the rebellion's leaders. Fear of informers was so great that the rebellion was kept secret from many that were actually participating in it, and yet Ned, a mere teenager, knows all and sees all.

The characters, both Ned and the non-fictional, come across at best as mediocre characters lacking depth, at worst as cliches. the dialogue is often forced. Main characters who are well-acquainted with information will begin talking in the most basic terms soley for the benefit of the reader. At times a character will, without any provocation, sum up four years of history in conversation just to let the reader know some (often unimportant) details. While some of this information is essential for a complete understanding of the book, there are better ways of bringing it across. Perhaps it would flow better of the novel concentrated on the elemnts pretaining to the rebellion more, at the expense of rather lackluster personal trials of Ned Halloran. When Ned has to choose between Mary, a pro-British, pro-Union, girl he meets, and Sile, the prostitute with a heart of gold, one wonders what takes him so long to reject Mary, with whom he never had anything in common at all. Worse still is Ned's acquisition of "Precious", an infant half stolen, half-abandoned, that manages to become his.

1916 is certainly well-researched, and, with some minor exceptions (namely a few comments about Bulmer Hobson), historically accurate (when one discounts the actions of the fictional characters). Unfortunately, this, by itself, does not make a good book. Someone interested in these events would do better to read Peter de Rosa's novel "Rebels", which forgoes the frivilous fictional characters instead shining the spotlight on Pearse, MacNeill, Clarke, Casement, and the other men who really were important to this period. Those who would really like to learn about the Rising need only look at Llywelyn's bibliography for some facinating material. Caulfield, Edwards, and MacArdle are all good places to start. Her bibliography may be the most rewarding part of 1916.

Rating:
Summary: I struggled to pick it up...
Review: Never have I been so bored by a novel set in Ireland. While I found the historical aspect to be informative, the story itself was tedious and silly, with the most contrived fictional characters. I struggled to pick this book up each night (rather than put it down). I would rather read a straight history book and visit Dublin for my facts, and leave the Irish fiction to Emma Donoghue and even Maeve Binchy.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I knew of this rebellion and thought to gain little from this book but a good read, as I have enjoyed this author's books before. However, I was enlightened as to perspective. My family is Irish and I can assure you that Celtic children often have insights that most adults of other nationalities lack. Even the Irish hounds have insights into character that most human adults lack. I think everyone should read this book. There is too much mis-information out there about this historic fight.

Rating:
Summary: Very well written, keeping in the Llwelyn tradition.
Review: Being of Irish decent, I love to learn more about Ireland. The book is well written as we follow the main characters life through the Irish Rebellion of 1916. Mixing fact and fiction is a great way to keep the interest of the reader, while allowing the emotions of the times to be felt through the pages.

I can not wait for her next book.

Rating:
Summary: interesting subject; flawed delivery
Review: I picked up this book because it dealt with a subject that I knew little about. While I am glad to have learned something about the events depicted, I felt that the presentation was substandard. The subplots were pointless and distracting, the writing was almost juvenile, the characters were unrealistic and one-dimensional. Everything was black or white -- the participants in the rebellion were demi-gods fighting a holy war, the English and their sympathizers were the personification of evil. Not the stuff of a "good read", despite the interesting subject matter.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating look at history.
Review: 1916 is one of those books you hate to put down and its a sad day when you finish. Ms Llywelyn has the wonderful ability to draw you into her books by bringing the characters to life. I almost feel as though I met Pearce, McDermott, Connolly and the others. It was a fascinating period of Irish history and this is an excellent way to learn about it.