After Gracelin had returned home to her family, they began to run out of resources like food and seed. She realized that things would only get worse for her and her family if she did not return to Bram. Her family was reluctant to let her go because of the horrible things she had endured while she was there. When she was ready to leave Nolan came to pick her up. When she arrived at the house she received no welcome from Bram. She came home to learn that while she was away Bram would take little Mary Kate on hunting trips with him and strapped her to his back so he would not be shot at, by rebels, while he was hunting.
Meanwhile all of her friends had realized that Gracelin could not live like this anymore. They had been scheming against Bram and once he started to hurt her daughter as well, she knew that someone had to stop him. One morning as he was going out hunting again, Gracelin left Mary Kate with Brigid so that Bram could not take her with him. Before he left Gracelin put arsenic in his sandwich, a poison that would if not kill Bram, make him disoriented. Along the way her brother Sean had set up himself, Nolan, Moira, and Morgan along the path that Bram would be taking. They secretly followed him on his way and waited for him to take a bite of his sandwich. When he finally did he noticed that it tasted funny, so he did not finish it. He only became disoriented so one of the others included in the plan took a shot at him. He fell to the ground. It appeared that he died but when the boy, Nolan, went to check on him, Bram pulled out his gun and shot the boy. When Nolan's sister Moira saw this, she came out and shot Bram dead. By this time they had stirred up some commotion, so Moira got on Bram ‘s horse and rode off, shortly followed by some of Bram’s men.
Bram was dead and Gracelin and her daughter were now free to live a life on their own. When Bram’s brother came to the house for the funeral of his brother, Gracelin had to act as if Moira’s son was her own. Edward, Bram’s brother, wanted the boy to grow up to be a Donnelly as well as be schooled in England instead of Ireland. She made a deal with him that the boy could be schooled in England if Brigid could go with the boy and work in the house. He also had to send money back to Gracelin for Mary Kate's schooling. Since the rest of Brigid’s family had died other than Moira's son, they were all each other had and Brigid was greatful for the deal that Gracelin had made for them that would give her and the baby a better life.
Since Gracelin was no longer married she and Morgan reunited and they confessed the feelings for each other that they had always kept hidden. They were married in a matter of minutes right before they fled the country.
Despite all of the awful things that Gracelin had to go through, everything worked out in the end. Many people died along the way but her and her daughter had no lasting injuries from the abuse. She was married to the love of her life at the end and she will also have more time to spend with her family.
Overall I really liked the story of Gracelin O'Malley. It was very interesting and gave a realistic point of view of the potato famine. There were never any dull parts of the story which made it entertaining to read. I would reccomend this book to any readers looking for something taking place in a real event or someone that wants a book that is difficult to put down, because of the lasting excitement. This book brings through many different emotions from intense anger to happiness for Gracelin and Morgan at the end of the story. The book was well written and also gives the reader a sense of the hardships that were faced during the potato famine.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Throughout this section Gracelin was faced with many different challenges and events. After her husband was overcome with anger and drink, he lost control and beat her almost to death. He threatened to lock her in her room until she gave birth to his son. Luckily she had friends that she could count on. A boy Nolan who worked on the Squire’s land along with the rest of their family as well as Abban Alroy who had helper her and the people that had come to her in search of food and shelter. Together they rescued her from the house but unfortunately they were not able to rescue her daughter as well because she was being kept close by her father because he knew that as long as he had their daughter he would not lose Grace. Until Grace was healthy again she lived with her family, everyday awaiting the time when she could see her daughter again. Her family was thinking of ways that they could avenge their Gracelin but eventually she went back to the Squire because she knew if she didn’t there would be more serious consequences to pay for the whole family.
When she returned she walked in on her husband and Moira, Nolan’s brother. After being away she had realized that because of the beating she suffered, she had lost her child. While she was away Moira and Bram had created a plan that Gracelin would take Moira’s son and pass it off as her own, and in return Moira would be set for life, with an entirely new lifestyle.
The potato famine continued to affect the entire nation. No longer able to help the poorer people affected by the potato famine, Gracelin felt useless just having to sit and watch the people of her country starve.
When she returned she walked in on her husband and Moira, Nolan’s brother. After being away she had realized that because of the beating she suffered, she had lost her child. While she was away Moira and Bram had created a plan that Gracelin would take Moira’s son and pass it off as her own, and in return Moira would be set for life, with an entirely new lifestyle.
The potato famine continued to affect the entire nation. No longer able to help the poorer people affected by the potato famine, Gracelin felt useless just having to sit and watch the people of her country starve.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Above is a video that helps to portray the devastation brought to Ireland by the Potato Famine. The Famine affected almost everyone in Ireland no matter how much money they had or where they lived. In Gracelin O'Malley, the potato family affected the wealthy Squire as well as the people of the town who already lived in poverty, as well as her family back on the farm.
The Great Famine link above takes you to a website that explains the potato famine from the earliest parts until the emigration of most Irish to the United States when they realized that the country showed no signs of heading in a positive direction. Since most of the country depended on the potato crop in one way or another, it was devastating to the entire country when the potatoes turned to rot. The poorest of the country needed the potato to feed their family. The middle class harvested the potato and sold it, but kept enough for their family to survive on and maybe sell a small amount. The higher class, included the landlords, Squires, and Lords needed the potato to harvest, but also because without potatoes the tenants on their land could not pay them. The Squires' tenants had no source of income and therefore could not pay their landlords. This resulted in them getting kicked off of the land into the streets where most of them ended up starving to death. Then the landlords faced the problem of having no farm workers to tend to the fields. In Gracelin O'Malley her family was faced with the problems that came along with the potato famine as well. The family was running out of food, but there were also neighbors coming to their door in search for a handout. They also had no crop to sell and therefore no money. The Squire dealt with problems of his own as well because his tenants could not pay because they could not sell any potatoes. Many of them died or were sent into the streets leaving no one to tend for the land.
In Gracelin's life, things have begun to make a turn for the worst. One morning they awoke to screams and cries in the fields. It turned out that the potatoes had all turned to rot. Due to these problems Gracelin's husband, the Squire of the lands and collecter of the dues, began to drink. One night he became the man that the town had heard stories about. He turned into a person Gracelin had never seen before. He beat her in his rage and forced her to give birth to a premature son that eventually died. Since the son was one of two children Gracelin gave birth to the other daughter survived. The Squire was not happy that he now only had a daughter because there was no one to be the heir to his title. While the famine got worse once again Gracelin got more and more pregnant. There were people starving and dying all across town. They began to come to Grace for assistance. She gave them soup and a temporary shelter while her husband was away. The backyard began to fill with people. When her husband returned home he was furious to see all of the people in his yard, on his property, and eating his food. He was so overcome with anger that he beat her again, but this time almost to death. He had planned to lock her in her room until she gave birth to their son but she had help to sneak her out of the house and return her to her own family. After a shortwhile, she learned that because of this beating, she had also lost his second son,
I am really dissapointed that the Squire turned out to be the awful cold-hearted man that was only meantioned in rumors. In the beginning of their marrigae they were both so hopeful including himself. He seemed like the perfect man on the outside, but something within him contained something different entirely. He not only was mean to her but he beat her almost to death and attempted to keep her locked in her room. He almost killed her, and even killed their two sons. The potato famine is also a very upsetting occurance. It has greatly effected the entire nation and even killed almost one-third of the population.
I was suprised and excited to hear that Sean, Gracelin's brother ahd become part of the "Young Irelanders" which is a group of boys that have banned together in an attempt to bring down the British rule in Ireland. They are fighting for all of their people and are a big contributers to the future of Ireland. Morgan, a long time friend of Gracelin and Sean was also part of the Young Irelanders. He has become one of the most powerful people in the entire group. He has put his leadership qualities to great use and is making a difference in regards to Ireland's freedom.
The Great Famine link above takes you to a website that explains the potato famine from the earliest parts until the emigration of most Irish to the United States when they realized that the country showed no signs of heading in a positive direction. Since most of the country depended on the potato crop in one way or another, it was devastating to the entire country when the potatoes turned to rot. The poorest of the country needed the potato to feed their family. The middle class harvested the potato and sold it, but kept enough for their family to survive on and maybe sell a small amount. The higher class, included the landlords, Squires, and Lords needed the potato to harvest, but also because without potatoes the tenants on their land could not pay them. The Squires' tenants had no source of income and therefore could not pay their landlords. This resulted in them getting kicked off of the land into the streets where most of them ended up starving to death. Then the landlords faced the problem of having no farm workers to tend to the fields. In Gracelin O'Malley her family was faced with the problems that came along with the potato famine as well. The family was running out of food, but there were also neighbors coming to their door in search for a handout. They also had no crop to sell and therefore no money. The Squire dealt with problems of his own as well because his tenants could not pay because they could not sell any potatoes. Many of them died or were sent into the streets leaving no one to tend for the land.
In Gracelin's life, things have begun to make a turn for the worst. One morning they awoke to screams and cries in the fields. It turned out that the potatoes had all turned to rot. Due to these problems Gracelin's husband, the Squire of the lands and collecter of the dues, began to drink. One night he became the man that the town had heard stories about. He turned into a person Gracelin had never seen before. He beat her in his rage and forced her to give birth to a premature son that eventually died. Since the son was one of two children Gracelin gave birth to the other daughter survived. The Squire was not happy that he now only had a daughter because there was no one to be the heir to his title. While the famine got worse once again Gracelin got more and more pregnant. There were people starving and dying all across town. They began to come to Grace for assistance. She gave them soup and a temporary shelter while her husband was away. The backyard began to fill with people. When her husband returned home he was furious to see all of the people in his yard, on his property, and eating his food. He was so overcome with anger that he beat her again, but this time almost to death. He had planned to lock her in her room until she gave birth to their son but she had help to sneak her out of the house and return her to her own family. After a shortwhile, she learned that because of this beating, she had also lost his second son,
I am really dissapointed that the Squire turned out to be the awful cold-hearted man that was only meantioned in rumors. In the beginning of their marrigae they were both so hopeful including himself. He seemed like the perfect man on the outside, but something within him contained something different entirely. He not only was mean to her but he beat her almost to death and attempted to keep her locked in her room. He almost killed her, and even killed their two sons. The potato famine is also a very upsetting occurance. It has greatly effected the entire nation and even killed almost one-third of the population.
I was suprised and excited to hear that Sean, Gracelin's brother ahd become part of the "Young Irelanders" which is a group of boys that have banned together in an attempt to bring down the British rule in Ireland. They are fighting for all of their people and are a big contributers to the future of Ireland. Morgan, a long time friend of Gracelin and Sean was also part of the Young Irelanders. He has become one of the most powerful people in the entire group. He has put his leadership qualities to great use and is making a difference in regards to Ireland's freedom.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
In "Gracelin O'Malley" so far there has been six main characters presented. They include; Gracelin, Sean, Ryan, Patrick, Squire Donnelly, and Granna. Sean and Ryan are both Gracelin's brothers. They live in the same house along with their grandmother, Granna, and their father, Patrick. For Gracelin's whole life her and her brother Sean have been the closest. They are both smart and enjoy having intellectual disscussions. Sean is also a cripple. He is often sick, so to pass the time he does a lot of reading. Gracelin likes to share and his reading and is always sure to pick up a new good book for him.
Ryan is the oldest brother. He isn't as close as Sean and Gracelin are but he is still a valued member of the family. After there mother's death Ryan and Patrick often worked in the fields together. There soon developed a special bond after spending so much time together and on some days Ryan was the only one that spoke to their father.
Granna is their grandmother. She also lives in the same house with the siblings and their father. Granna is into knitting and is the person in the family to go and talk to when something is their mind, or when they need to express thier feelings. She is a sensible woman with a wise insight. When cold winter hits and a bad rot spreads though the potatoes Granna is unsure that she is going to be able to make it through the winter.
Patrick, the children's father is a hardworking man. He is determined to do whatever he can to provide for his family. After his wife's passing he seems to change. He does not have the same outlook on the world that he used to. He has had a difficult time dealing with his wife's death but is improving every day.
Gracelin is the youngest and also the only daughter in the family. Everyone looks out for her. After her mother dies, although she was very young, she was left to take on the motherly chores in the house. She cooks and does laundry for the rest of the family. Gracelin is always in high spirits. She is a strong and determined woman that will do anything for her family.
The Squire is not part of the O'Malley family. He is the Lord of their estate's son. He is responsible for collected rent from their family as well as looking over the lands. One day over the summer he spots the young girl Gracelin, at a bonfire in the town. He asks her father, for her hand in marriage. I thought that it was a little strange that he was asking to marry a fifteen year old when he was thirty. He was closer to her father's age then hers. After a small disagreement in the family, Gracelin decides that he will marry him because it will give her and her family a better life. There have been some nasty rumors going around about the Squire's invilvement with other women as well as the way he treated his previous to wives. I think that the O'Malley family should have thought more about these stories about the Squire before they agreed to let their Gracelin marry him. So far in their marriage there have been no problems. The Squire treats her with respect and treats her to a luxurious honeymoon in Dublin. He often criticizes her dialect because he wants her to sound more like a women of a wealthier upbringing. Gracelin also has to try and make new friends with the wealthier members of the community who are in the Squire's cycle. At first they seem welcoming but I think that they just look like that on the outside. I think that they are judging Gracelin for Growing up in the country side.
I think that Gracelin and the Squire's marriage is going to face some difficulties because of their different families and lifestyles, also because of the different rumors that have been spread about the Squire. No one knows how much of them are true. She may also encounter some difficulties with the other women in the community. The story has also foreshadowed that there may be some problems with the food supply in the town as well as all of Ireland. Since Gracelin has always loved her family so much, I think she will make time for them and never forget her true culture. The Squire has also always wanted an heir to his position, so I predict that soon into the furture Grace is going to have a baby that will grow up and take the position of Squire Donnelly.
Ryan is the oldest brother. He isn't as close as Sean and Gracelin are but he is still a valued member of the family. After there mother's death Ryan and Patrick often worked in the fields together. There soon developed a special bond after spending so much time together and on some days Ryan was the only one that spoke to their father.
Granna is their grandmother. She also lives in the same house with the siblings and their father. Granna is into knitting and is the person in the family to go and talk to when something is their mind, or when they need to express thier feelings. She is a sensible woman with a wise insight. When cold winter hits and a bad rot spreads though the potatoes Granna is unsure that she is going to be able to make it through the winter.
Patrick, the children's father is a hardworking man. He is determined to do whatever he can to provide for his family. After his wife's passing he seems to change. He does not have the same outlook on the world that he used to. He has had a difficult time dealing with his wife's death but is improving every day.
Gracelin is the youngest and also the only daughter in the family. Everyone looks out for her. After her mother dies, although she was very young, she was left to take on the motherly chores in the house. She cooks and does laundry for the rest of the family. Gracelin is always in high spirits. She is a strong and determined woman that will do anything for her family.
The Squire is not part of the O'Malley family. He is the Lord of their estate's son. He is responsible for collected rent from their family as well as looking over the lands. One day over the summer he spots the young girl Gracelin, at a bonfire in the town. He asks her father, for her hand in marriage. I thought that it was a little strange that he was asking to marry a fifteen year old when he was thirty. He was closer to her father's age then hers. After a small disagreement in the family, Gracelin decides that he will marry him because it will give her and her family a better life. There have been some nasty rumors going around about the Squire's invilvement with other women as well as the way he treated his previous to wives. I think that the O'Malley family should have thought more about these stories about the Squire before they agreed to let their Gracelin marry him. So far in their marriage there have been no problems. The Squire treats her with respect and treats her to a luxurious honeymoon in Dublin. He often criticizes her dialect because he wants her to sound more like a women of a wealthier upbringing. Gracelin also has to try and make new friends with the wealthier members of the community who are in the Squire's cycle. At first they seem welcoming but I think that they just look like that on the outside. I think that they are judging Gracelin for Growing up in the country side.
I think that Gracelin and the Squire's marriage is going to face some difficulties because of their different families and lifestyles, also because of the different rumors that have been spread about the Squire. No one knows how much of them are true. She may also encounter some difficulties with the other women in the community. The story has also foreshadowed that there may be some problems with the food supply in the town as well as all of Ireland. Since Gracelin has always loved her family so much, I think she will make time for them and never forget her true culture. The Squire has also always wanted an heir to his position, so I predict that soon into the furture Grace is going to have a baby that will grow up and take the position of Squire Donnelly.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Reading Schedule for Gracelin O'Malley:
Section 1= beginning-82
Section 2= 82-170
Section 3= 170-240
Section 4= 240-324
Section 5= 324-end
My name is Alex Schaefer and recently I have been reading the book Gracelin O'Malley. I had not heard anything about this book until I stumbled across it in a book store. I asked for a book about historical fiction and the librarian began pulling out books that she recommended. This was the last one she handed to me but it immediately caught my attention. I chose it because I felt that I could relate to it most because it was based around the life a girl who was my age. It seemed interesting and was also about a topic that I had never read much about before; the potato famine in Ireland. I developed a reading schedule for the book that breaks the book up into five sections to make this blog easier to follow.
So far that book has taken place in a small village in Ireland where a modest family lives together-five of them in all. The book opens with the death of their mother on a rainy day. The younger brother Sean is the one that is with her last. The family is made up of the youngest and the only daughter, Gracelin, then two brother Sean, the younger of the two, and Ryan the oldest. They live with their father and grandmother also. Their father is a hard worker but has lost his way after his wife's death. The whole family is trying to cope with this horrible sudden tragedy.
The family lives on a plot of land owned by the Donnelly's. They have always made their pay, but recently it had been getting harder.
One day their father comes to the table, and everyone in the family notices that he seems to be a little off, soon they get it out of him that his daughter Gracelin is too be married to Squire Donnelly, the lord of their estate's son. Their are many questions arising and thoughts to be addressed. Their father, Patrick seems to think it will be the best for everyone. A better life for Grace, a better life for the family. The Squire has agreed to make the whole O'Malley family's life easier. Sean, who was always close to Gracelin had a problem with the idea that his sister was to be married off to an older man for the sake of putting them all in a better position financially. After their father assured him that this was not the case, they began to understands that their father would never do anything that he had not thought through or believed to be the best situation for his family, and especially his daughter.
Gracelin and her Granna have many talks about what this new life is going ton be like for her. But she can't quite imagine what is in store for her. She will be the talk of the village. She is the one who has managed to move up in society. Gracelin has not quite decided her feelings toward the whole situation, but she knows that she will dearly miss her family, but has also become quite excited about the idea of becoming the squire's wife.
In the village there has not been entirely good talk of this Squire. There were some questionable stories floating around about his relationship's with his past two wives and I belive that this is potentially foreshadowing what Gracelin is going to have to deal with further into her marriage. But so far he has come across as a very respectable gentleman.
What may also happen that Gracelin feared was limited time spent with her family. She has always been so close to them and with this new position is society she may be spending her time with the wealthier members of the community. I don't think that Grace will ever loose touch with whole she really is despite the changes in her life that she has had to deal with and will continue to deal with each day. She is a strong spirited girl who will never forget where she came from.
Section 1= beginning-82
Section 2= 82-170
Section 3= 170-240
Section 4= 240-324
Section 5= 324-end
My name is Alex Schaefer and recently I have been reading the book Gracelin O'Malley. I had not heard anything about this book until I stumbled across it in a book store. I asked for a book about historical fiction and the librarian began pulling out books that she recommended. This was the last one she handed to me but it immediately caught my attention. I chose it because I felt that I could relate to it most because it was based around the life a girl who was my age. It seemed interesting and was also about a topic that I had never read much about before; the potato famine in Ireland. I developed a reading schedule for the book that breaks the book up into five sections to make this blog easier to follow.
So far that book has taken place in a small village in Ireland where a modest family lives together-five of them in all. The book opens with the death of their mother on a rainy day. The younger brother Sean is the one that is with her last. The family is made up of the youngest and the only daughter, Gracelin, then two brother Sean, the younger of the two, and Ryan the oldest. They live with their father and grandmother also. Their father is a hard worker but has lost his way after his wife's death. The whole family is trying to cope with this horrible sudden tragedy.
The family lives on a plot of land owned by the Donnelly's. They have always made their pay, but recently it had been getting harder.
One day their father comes to the table, and everyone in the family notices that he seems to be a little off, soon they get it out of him that his daughter Gracelin is too be married to Squire Donnelly, the lord of their estate's son. Their are many questions arising and thoughts to be addressed. Their father, Patrick seems to think it will be the best for everyone. A better life for Grace, a better life for the family. The Squire has agreed to make the whole O'Malley family's life easier. Sean, who was always close to Gracelin had a problem with the idea that his sister was to be married off to an older man for the sake of putting them all in a better position financially. After their father assured him that this was not the case, they began to understands that their father would never do anything that he had not thought through or believed to be the best situation for his family, and especially his daughter.
Gracelin and her Granna have many talks about what this new life is going ton be like for her. But she can't quite imagine what is in store for her. She will be the talk of the village. She is the one who has managed to move up in society. Gracelin has not quite decided her feelings toward the whole situation, but she knows that she will dearly miss her family, but has also become quite excited about the idea of becoming the squire's wife.
In the village there has not been entirely good talk of this Squire. There were some questionable stories floating around about his relationship's with his past two wives and I belive that this is potentially foreshadowing what Gracelin is going to have to deal with further into her marriage. But so far he has come across as a very respectable gentleman.
What may also happen that Gracelin feared was limited time spent with her family. She has always been so close to them and with this new position is society she may be spending her time with the wealthier members of the community. I don't think that Grace will ever loose touch with whole she really is despite the changes in her life that she has had to deal with and will continue to deal with each day. She is a strong spirited girl who will never forget where she came from.
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