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The Ballroom on Magnolia Street
by
Sharon Owens
On the heels of her captivating debut, The Tea House on Mulberry Street, comes Sharon Owens's new novel of passion, romance, and regret-and the winding paths to falling in love.
Johnny "Hollywood" Hogan owns the ballroom on Magnolia Street, where sisters Kate and Shirley Winters, along with other regulars, go every Saturday night-to escape the realitie...more
Johnny "Hollywood" Hogan owns the ballroom on Magnolia Street, where sisters Kate and Shirley Winters, along with other regulars, go every Saturday night-to escape the realitie...more
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This is perhaps my least favorite of Sharon Owen's work. The Ballroom on Magnolia Street starts off very slow, in fact, the first half of the book I consider largely useless. Luckily, I stuck through and was rewarded with a decent second half of the book.
Unlike her other works a great portion of this novel actually doesn't involve the ballroom. While the characters are sometimes there or mention it, it isn't the main focus like the Tea Room or Pub were in her other novels.
At ...more
Unlike her other works a great portion of this novel actually doesn't involve the ballroom. While the characters are sometimes there or mention it, it isn't the main focus like the Tea Room or Pub were in her other novels.
At ...more
I love the books by Sharon Owens. They all take place in Ireland and each book is the name of a business on some sort of street. What I like is that each book follows the lives of several characters and how they all interact in some way at this location. But these books aren't a series and there aren't any re-occurring characters, just a concept.
Johnny owns a ballroom and foils the mob, but he loses his girl in the process. Fast forward 20 years. We now follow the lives of his lost l...more
Johnny owns a ballroom and foils the mob, but he loses his girl in the process. Fast forward 20 years. We now follow the lives of his lost l...more
For some reason it was difficult to rate this book. Maybe because I listened to it and that's a very different exprience. But in this case it probably made it better. The Irish accent took a little getting used to but added some authenticity to this story of sisters and family and friends in Belfast in the 1980s. One thing the author did well was make all her characters believably, realistically flawed. Will probably try another of her books.
This was okay, I liked parts of the story but not others. I thought Johnny Hogan was a bit flat, I never understood him very well. I also found Kate a bit vague and annoying. I liked most of the other characters though, especially Eddy and Marion. And I liked what the story said about the importance of choosing to love, not just chemistry.
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I was disappointed with this book, I have read 2 of Sharon’s books in
the past, and usually I love them, I found this book quite hard to get
into and boring, it did get slightly better, as the book went on, I
wouldn’t recommend, but I will look for more books by this Author in
the future.
the past, and usually I love them, I found this book quite hard to get
into and boring, it did get slightly better, as the book went on, I
wouldn’t recommend, but I will look for more books by this Author in
the future.
Anybody who enjoys Maeve Binchy's books will enjoy this one. The story revolves around the ballroom and the people who frequent it. Quite a cast of characters and fun to read. It an Irish story and I really like the author.
This was a lovely read and just the thing after a long hard week of final exams.
Sharon Owens has created some fascinating characters. She writes the way we were taught in class. The characters start out with various problems and immaturities and grow before our eyes to resolution. The truly clueless remain clueless, as a good "bad guy" (sorry I forget the proper term) should. The rest learn some new thing about themselves, make decisions to become better people, and beg...more
Sharon Owens has created some fascinating characters. She writes the way we were taught in class. The characters start out with various problems and immaturities and grow before our eyes to resolution. The truly clueless remain clueless, as a good "bad guy" (sorry I forget the proper term) should. The rest learn some new thing about themselves, make decisions to become better people, and beg...more
Very cute. Cheers to Tana for recommending this book.Made me want chips and Vodka, what Irish book doesn't? The storyline had a little bit of everyhting, from lost loves, to kidnappings, to the drama of sisterhood. Lots of fun for a light read. :)
Good fun, I like how it's Elaine's local book, I feel like it made it a little more unique. The drama-rama in this book though. Mobsters, love childs, galore. I really can't believe she never told Johnny about their baby. I mean she shoulda said something before leaving him and running back to her old boyfriend. And what makes this chick so desirable??? That was really the only part I didn't like. I loved the young love story between Shirley and what's his face. I read this book awhile ago so ca...more
Such a sweet book about love, life, and relationships. Set in Belfast, it is a collection of characters who seem real-people with whom you can relate. I was all choked up at the end.
A little unusual - slow start that I felt was confusing - but a fun book - good romance - good summer read.
This book was just o.k. The ending was better than usual so makes it worthwhile reading.
This was fairly standard Irish chick-lit - an enjoyable way to spend a rainy day but I'll have forgotten it by next week.
This has to be one of my all time favorite books. An adult fairytale!
Finished last night.
What can i say. I did enjoy the book, mainly because it was so different than most books i read. Did not see where things were going. This is not a chick lit book, also not really a romance so I put it in the non genre category.
I might try another book by this author just cause it was a relaxing read. 3.5 stars.
What can i say. I did enjoy the book, mainly because it was so different than most books i read. Did not see where things were going. This is not a chick lit book, also not really a romance so I put it in the non genre category.
I might try another book by this author just cause it was a relaxing read. 3.5 stars.
12/26/07
TITLE/AUTHOR: THE BALLROOM ON MAGNOLIA STREET by Sharon Owens
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/2005/9 CD's
TIME/PLACE: 1980's/ Belfast, Ireland
CHARACTERS: Shirley & Kate -- sisters
COMMENTS: Good narration. The ballroom on Magnolia Street is the social/meeting place for generations. Two sisters attend the dances -- Shirley, the younger is more conservative and looking for Mr. Right and Kate, the older is more fancy-free. Whe...more
TITLE/AUTHOR: THE BALLROOM ON MAGNOLIA STREET by Sharon Owens
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Fiction/2005/9 CD's
TIME/PLACE: 1980's/ Belfast, Ireland
CHARACTERS: Shirley & Kate -- sisters
COMMENTS: Good narration. The ballroom on Magnolia Street is the social/meeting place for generations. Two sisters attend the dances -- Shirley, the younger is more conservative and looking for Mr. Right and Kate, the older is more fancy-free. Whe...more
Very quaint as well as her other books!
Fun, light-hearted book about families and sibling rivalry. An entertaining read.
Pure chick-lit
Fun light read.
Light and fun.
All right, an easy read, but with warmth :)
My shelves are lying here. I didn't completely read it because I got bored by the storyline about halfway through. I certainly didn't like it as much as I liked The Teahouse and I liked The Tavern better too. I think it's because I tried to read three in a row rather than space them out with different books in between.
Anyway, I think other people might like it. I'll probably revisit it at a later date, but right now it's going back to the library.
Anyway, I think other people might like it. I'll probably revisit it at a later date, but right now it's going back to the library.
Very sweet book with a really nice wee story. Absolutely a delight to pick up a book set in Northern Ireland in the 80's that isn't all doom and gloom and centered on the troubles. Having grown up in Northern Ireland at this time, it felt real and honest and captured the time and the people here well and I really enjoyed it!
My favourite book in 'The Belfast Trilogy' which brings together the characters who owned and frequented the popular ballroom. Set both in the past and present the colourful characters come to life coupled with a lively entertaining plot! Sheer brilliance!
This was my second book by this author and I found it equally enjoyable. The best word I can use to describe her style is 'sentimental.' The characters are well developed and I could almost feel their emotions. I won't lie. Tears were shed on many a commute.
A lovely story about the interlinked lives of the people who visit the Ballroom on Magnolia Street. Sharon Owens has written several novels set in Ireland, filled with unique and realistic characters who create amusing storylines.
At one time, I had a real thing for Irish literature. I still do, I suppose. I really enjoyed the intertwining stories that all merge in The Ballroom on Magnolia Street
Slower moving than the Tavern and the Tearoom to start, but definitely picks up. Would recommend it, but if you have limited time, read her others first.
Disappointed - read the Tea House ages ago and really enjoyed it, found this one slow to get going, with flat, undeveloped characters.
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Here are some questions I get asked a lot:
DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A WRITER?
No, it never crossed my mind, though I have always loved books.
WHAT BOOKS DID YOU LOVE AS A CHILD?
THE BORROWERS
THE BORROWERS AFIELD
THE BORROWERS AFLOAT
THE BORROWERS ALOFT
THE BORROWERS AVENGED, all by Mary Norton
THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgs...more
More about Sharon Owens...
DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A WRITER?
No, it never crossed my mind, though I have always loved books.
WHAT BOOKS DID YOU LOVE AS A CHILD?
THE BORROWERS
THE BORROWERS AFIELD
THE BORROWERS AFLOAT
THE BORROWERS ALOFT
THE BORROWERS AVENGED, all by Mary Norton
THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgs...more
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