Explore the Boundaries of Life and Love in 'The Library at the Edge of the World' Novel

ysing: It spent so much time dwelling on the problems she had with her cheating arrogant ex-husband, her impossible mother, and was so very slow going that I just gave up about halfway through. The main plot line also seemed too similar to other books I just recently read.

I hate to give negative reviews…..especially when there are so very many positive ones out there about this book. So, give it a try and see what you think.

United States on Aug 30, 2023

Laura Gravely: Wonderful reminder that life holds continual surprises and delights if we reach out and take them. Nicely written story of second chapters when you least expect it.

United States on Aug 12, 2023

D L Williamson: This book was enjoyable — I loved the Irish language and colloquialisms. The dialogue was great, and, loving Ireland as I do, the descriptions of the countryside and towns were very inviting. I was looking forward to the other books in the series.

So . . . I followed up that first read with the next two books in the Finfarran series. I was not prepared for the unbelievable amount of repetition. If you plan to read additional books in the series, be prepared to hear the stories from each preceding book repeated in GREAT detail. Apparently, the author wanted each book to stand alone and did not expect her readers to have read the books in order — or just wanted to practice her (lengthy) summarization skills. She retold Hanna’s and Jazz’s stories in the second book. Then, in the third book, she gave detailed recaps of them again, along with retellings of other characters’ stories. I found myself skipping whole pages because I already knew the information.

I’ve really never read an author who did that to the extent Ms Hayes-McCoy has in these novels. It has made me look forward even more to Alexander McCall Smith’s and Anne Hillerman’s new books — their...

United States on Apr 10, 2022

Amazon Customer: This is a great summer read. Lovely characters and beautiful landscapes. Excellent read!

Canada on Jan 30, 2022

Irishgrammy: All of my grandparents are from Ireland, 3 from the West coast. My oldest daughter went to the University of Ireland in Galway for her semester abroad, and for her 18th birthday we sent our middle child. After the youngest graduated high school, she went with her sister. I have never been...too busy paying tuitions for my 3 wonderful ,remarkable children. Reading this beautiful story brought back so many of the memories of that time, and made me feel like I was visiting another branch of my family. Rich and poor, young and old, kindness of strangers and the beauty of the people who did their best to help my daughters enjoy their stay. Dingle was a particular favorite of theirs. Thank you.

United States on Apr 01, 2020

Amazon Customer: Easy read that felt nicely woven with the old and new. Interesting local characters who developed as a strong determined and united positive force to be reckoned with. Some of whom did not recognise their own qualities until they allowed their true personalities to be exposed.

United Kingdom on Feb 26, 2019

Circlestones Books Blog: “Everything in life has its time to happen. A time to plant, a time to grow and a time to harvest. And if you take things steady, you'll bring your harvest home.” (Citation pos. 3113)

Content:
Hanna Casey had lived in London, when she divorced after almost 30 years of marriage. Therefore, she came back to Crossarra to live with her mother and she works as librarian of Lissbeg Library. Her great-aunt Maggie had left her old house to Hanna, and with the help of old Fury O’Shea, a local builder, she is going to restore it and make it her home.
Conor is Hanna’s assistant at the library and in his opinion, the library could be really changed and successful. But Hanna would have to change things, be more relaxed about her stringent rules and open to new ideas.
When the Government plans to invest in the area, to close the library and move it to Carrick everything changes. In the convent garden of her former school, Hanna meets Sister Michael and step-by-step plans are developed how to fight back …

This is the story about a small village somewhere at the west coast of Ireland and the people living there. Different Governmental ideas about town and area...

Germany on Mar 21, 2018

Bee'sReads: I Loved this book.
I had not come across the author before, but the book was on a 99p Kindle offer so I bought it because it sounded interesting. I was looking for a new author to follow my love of Maeve Binchy's books, all which I have read, some several times.
I was not disappointed by Felicity Hayes-McCoy. The story is well constructed and the characters are likeable and believable. I liked how Hannah made a new life for herself in Finfarran after her time in London ended so disappointingly, and I became completely charmed by all the different people in the colourful community.
I was sad to finish it, but delighted to find two more in the series.
Can't wait for the next instalment!

United Kingdom on Jan 09, 2018

Jammy: Hanna lives with her mother on the outskirts of a town in Ireland. She has left her husband, after discovering he was cheating on her, and they are both very unhappy with the situation. Her daughter, Jazz has a job with an airline company, and Hanna supports her decision, the ex husband thinks she's frittering her life away. Hanna has a job at the library, which entails driving a mobile van around the area. She decides that she will fix up a house that she has been left by a great aunt long ago, and slowly her outlook on life changes.

The story was not what I expected it to be. There are politics and nuns, and young people giving up everything for a chance to help their family. And the builder she brings on to help her make the house liveable, Fury are downright strange. I like that the book has a hint of romance, but that is far from the focus. A good book that leaves you satisfied.

United States on Dec 11, 2017

Amazon Customer Oonagh: The Library at the Edge of the World is a delightful book and I was enchanted from the very first sentence. Felicity Hayes-McCoy has without a doubt inherited the story-telling gifts of her ancestors. The characters are definitely real - I have met so many people like them; indeed, some of them could be my relatives! I love them all but especially the pensioners who are beholden to the local Priest as well as the great Sister Michael who reminds me of so many of the nuns from my schooldays. The descriptions of scenery, locations and interiors are perfect and with the author's skill I was transported to beautiful Ireland, albeit with imagined names. I cannot praise this book highly enough. Yes, I have Irish heritage but my neighbour who is "very English" it racing through it also with great enjoyment. I can't wait for the next book to be published and I am really looking forward to it. Thank you Felicity Hayes-McCoy, I am glad I have found you and your books!

United Kingdom on Jun 06, 2016