Rating: 
Summary: A good read. But a better listen - the reader does great
Review: 1916 continues the tradition of trying to understand the Irish - British problem. The all encompassing "Trinity" by Uris is the paramount of this kind of novel. But 1916 tells the story in the same way and provokes you into wanting more and more. The blunders made by the British in dealing with their cousins, the Irish, are so sad that its a crime. 1916 is just plain good. The beginning may be contrived, a bit. But it sets up the interesting cross-play between Amwerica and Ireland as captured in one family. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: 1916 Good Story and Solid History
Review: 1916 Good Story and Solid HistorySome element of this book that I found helpful and interesting: * It's a novel that employs footnotes.
* Characterizations are excellent and historically accurate
* Maps are helpful
* Listing of Characters is absolutely great. I am not normally a fan of historical romance novels but 1916 was very well written. Really the romance portion was overshadowed by the momentous events of the day. The story of the 1916 Irish Rebellion (later called the Easter Rebellion) is a thoughtful tale of a country boy caught up in Irish nationalist fervor. Some key events led up to the Rebellion were: the forced conscription of Irish citizens for World War I, the rise of nationalism and German promises of assistance. The author brings all of these to light as well as other elements all interwoven in her story. Overall a good story well told. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy histories, light romance and especially Irish culture.
Rating:
Summary: 1916 Good Story and Solid History
Review: 1916 Good Story and Solid History Some element of this book that I found helpful and interesting: * It's a novel that employs footnotes.
* Characterizations are excellent and historically accurate
* Maps are helpful
* Listing of Characters is absolutely great. I am not normally a fan of historical romance novels but 1916 was very well written. Really the romance portion was overshadowed by the momentous events of the day. The story of the 1916 Irish Rebellion (later called the Easter Rebellion) is a thoughtful tale of a country boy caught up in Irish nationalist fervor. Some key events led up to the Rebellion were: the forced conscription of Irish citizens for World War I, the rise of nationalism and German promises of assistance. The author brings all of these to light as well as other elements all interwoven in her story. Overall a good story well told. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy histories, light romance and especially Irish culture.
Rating: 
Summary: Historical Fiction at its Best!
Review: 1916 is one of those books that you will remember for the rest of your life! It's long lenght may deter some from wanting to read it, but once you start it is hard to put down! This book gives any reader a comprehensive idea of the history of Ireland's 1916 REbellion (the key people involved, the events leading up to it, the actual standoff itself and the poigant aftermath), yet does so in a very unconventional, non-text book-like way. Following the life of a fictional teenage boy who becomes embroiled in the midst of the rising revolutionary movement, actual historical figurs weave in and out of the story, with fictional players as well. Even if you are not interested in Irish history (which you may be after reading this book), 1916 will enthrall you w/ its easy, conversational writning style and entertain you with its adventurous twists in the plot. Llwellyn masterfully blends history with fiction to give readers a sense of that era- a time of strife, hope,fear and change in Ireland that parallels the time of the American Revolution, with the Irish insurrectionist being as wise and admirable as the American forefathers. Although 1916 does not end rosy and happy (people die - and there's also a sex scence- be foretold, it brings up many needed messages about persistance, human nature and "lost causes", as well as enthralling the reader in a seldom-told Irish history lesson. It also has some great one-liners. So if you're up for an epic read, but one that will go by quickly and leave you interested in more, 1916 is a book for you.
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.
Rating:
Summary: 1916
Review: Although I maintain that women generally make better, and more accurate, authors of historical fiction, sometimes they let the love story get in the way of the history. Morgan Llywelyn will probably remain one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her books "Finn MacCool" and "Lion of Ireland" were nothing short of grand, in both accuracy and readability. Granted, one must mentally dilute the romance as one reads, but overall they shone. '1916' on the other hand, left me feeling rather ...well, fooled with. I don't claim that Ms. Llywelyn didn't do months of involved research. Her facts are quite accurate. In fact, they're impeccable. She could have written a research paper with all the information she doubtlessly compiled. Which is part of the problem. She didn't write a research paper, she wrote a novel. A novel which, like her others, has a very strong romantic slant to it, and more than a little bit of hero-ization. I've read several books on or based around the events of the Easter Rising, including my favourite 'At Swim, Two Boys' by Jamie O'Neill. Although Llywelyn's interpretation of the events is historically valid, emotionally, I feel it's a bit of a flop. The love story between Ned and Sile gives the book a happy feeling, even though the events are anything but. Everything turns out OK for them in the end, even though the organisers and participants of the Rebellion were shot on the spot, hanged, or imprisoned. Which is another point. The characters are hard to feel for; their trials and motives concealed in paragraphs of dialog that could come out of a history textbook. Llywelyn seems to shy away from the gritty details which would have added a sense of reality to the scene. We don't get a sense of the desperation, frustration, or fear that the rebels undoubtedly felt. What about everybody who was shot? What about their families? What about the blood and tears and screaming?
The novel seemed more like a fairy tale in which Good is perfect and shining, and Evil is black and gets defeated in the end than an account of real events. Because everything turns out so dandily for Ned and Sile, Llywelyn gives the impression that the 1916 Rising was, overall, a very Good Thing. Which, if you read your history texts, it wasn't--at least not to the boys who were shot or the rebels who were hanged. I would really rate this book a 7/10, which translates to 3.5 stars, but since there are only 5 of the things, I rounded up. Not a complete disappointment, but try and remember your perspective as you read.
Rating:
Summary: History comes alive, reminds us of the importance of freedom
Review: Although I thought I knew the history of the 1916 Rising, Morgan Llywelyn's book drew me in and made me feel as if I was present with Padraig Pearse through Ned Halloran. The book is totally engrossing, enlighting, and endearing. I would unequivocally recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the Irish struggle for freedom.
Rating: 
Summary: Historical accuracy cannot overcome this poor novel.
Review: Although it is interesting to read about the historical background of the figures in the Easter rising, the contrived plot and relationships are outrageous. It's bad enough that the news media loves to publish every story about wayward priests, but please spare my having to read about it from an Irish author. Then the choice between the snooty girl and the prostitute just kills me. I would have expected much better than this. Trinity by Uris is far more realistic.
Rating:
Summary: I think it's really a 4.5!
Review: As an avid reader of Morgan Llywelyn, I was very excited to see her chronicle a more modern piece of the Irish struggle. I could not put 1916 down! I really felt she captured to essence of the historical personages, and successfully entwined them in the lives of her fictional characters.
One thing I have always enjoyed about reading historical fiction is that I am nearly always inspired to further my knowledge outside of the novel. All of Llywelyn's books have inspired me thusly, but never with such immediacy as did 1916. After finishing this bookI spent about a week on the internet looking up all of these people (Pearse, MacDermott, etc.) and finding out more! I learned so much, and have to thank Morgan Llywelyn for my knowledge. Even dry facts are touched with her magic!
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.
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