Long road, many turnings - Mary McClarey

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 has retold 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. The reader experiences life across Ireland, both north and south, London and Wales. Chapters include the second world war, with storylines focussing on two different aspects - childhood evacuation to Wales and lorry driving for the Americans in 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.