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Ellis Island

by Kate Kerrigan (Goodreads Author)

3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 · rating details · 1,212 ratings · 223 reviews

Sweethearts since childhood, Ellie Hogan and her husband, John, are content on their farm in Ireland--until John, a soldier for the Irish Republican Army, receives an injury that leaves him unable to work. Forced to take drastic measures in order to survive, Ellie does what so many Irish women in the 1920s have done and sails across a vast ocean to New York City to work as...more

Paperback, 356 pages

Published June 28th 2011 by William Morrow Paperbacks (first published October 2nd 2009)

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Oct 19, 2011 Diane marked it as to-read

Ellie Hogan, the protagonist in Ellis Island is an unforgettable, timeless character. Though set in the 1920s, her struggle between independence and family loyalty, between a modern life in New York and a traditional life back in Ireland, is one that many women today will relate to.

Two key scenes take place on Ellis Island, in the huge building where immigrants were ushered through interviews and health inspections before being allowed into the United States. Anyone who has visited the building,...more Ellie Hogan, the protagonist in Ellis Island is an unforgettable, timeless character. Though set in the 1920s, her struggle between independence and family loyalty, between a modern life in New York and a traditional life back in Ireland, is one that many women today will relate to.

Two key scenes take place on Ellis Island, in the huge building where immigrants were ushered through interviews and health inspections before being allowed into the United States. Anyone who has visited the building, which is now a museum, will recognize these scenes that Kerrigan brings vividly to life as Ellie first comes to America.

There is a scene where one immigrant has to undergo an eye exam with a hook that lifts the eyelid. This hook is memorably on display in the museum, and if you do there, make sure to take the audio or docent tour to get the most out of your visit.

In a later scene, Ellie is waiting on the balcony looking down on the crowd to find her husband, and after standing there myself, I felt this scene was so well written. I remember wondering what it would feel like to be waiting for someone, and Kerrigan crystalizes that feeling through Ellie.

Another great scene is the one where Ellie has gotten off of Ellis Island, and is walking up Broadway to her new job. Kerrigan paints such a sensual picture of the streets of New York, all of your senses are aroused by her description, and you feel that you are walking this trip along with Ellie.

Ellie adjusts to life in New York, and betters herself by going to school and learning how to type. Although she misses her husband and faithfully sends him money, their letters become less frequent. Ellie likes her independence, and likes the niceties of New York (electricity, beautiful clothes, appliances and convenient foods).

When a tragedy forces Ellie to go back to Ireland, she is torn. She loves her family, but she has gotten used to the finer things, and now finds the poverty of Ireland nearly unbearable. Ellie's sense of identity is confused.

The end of the story is surprising to me, and I can't wait to read the next two books in the trilogy, which Kerrigan said take place in New York in the 1930s and Los Angeles in the 1940s. If you liked Colm Toibin's Brooklyn, put Ellis Island on your list.
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May 21, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com

Overall Review: 4 1/2 stars
I fell in love with Ellis Island after finishing just the first chapter. In fact, I often had to remind myself that I was reading historical fiction and not a true account. Author Kate Kerrigan's rich narration, as well as vibrant descriptions, brought this tale to life. Ellie proved to be a brave and realistic heroine and her love story with husband John was tender and beautiful. Readers will enjoy the quiet beauty of the Irish...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Maren rated it 1 of 5 stars

Maybe it is a little harsh to only give it one star, but the last half (third?) of the book was so ANNOYING that I completely gave up on it. I have so little patience for whiny women who have a wonderful marriage but they just happen to meet an eligible (rich) bachelor who through no fault of hers, I mean it was just innocent flirting, falls in love with her, but she stands her ground and says she is happily married, so they are just best buddies, completely platonic, nothing wrong with that, no...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Mary Gramlich rated it 5 of 5 stars

ELLIS ISLAND by Kate Kerrigan
06/11 - HarperCollins Publishers - Paperback, 368 pages

Will your heart always find its way home?

Poverty and despair will drive you to make decisions that otherwise you thought impossible. Ellie had to get money so her husband John could have an operation to repair the damage done during an Irish insurrection.

The last place Ellie wanted to leave was Ireland and the worst place to go to would be America. But America had the promise of a well-paying job and the opportun...more ELLIS ISLAND by Kate Kerrigan
06/11 - HarperCollins Publishers - Paperback, 368 pages

Will your heart always find its way home?

Poverty and despair will drive you to make decisions that otherwise you thought impossible. Ellie had to get money so her husband John could have an operation to repair the damage done during an Irish insurrection.

The last place Ellie wanted to leave was Ireland and the worst place to go to would be America. But America had the promise of a well-paying job and the opportunity to get the money Ellie needed, which was always the root of every problem. Ellie loved John beyond measure and had since childhood so this sacrifice was one she is willing to make if only for a year.

Once she reaches New York and begins her new yet temporary life the strangest of things happen – she begins to like life in America. It is busy yes, too many people true, but there are movies to see, electricity and friends surrounding you. Ellie is questioning ever going back to Ireland and instead tries to have John join her in this land of opportunity. She has been unable to convince him of this wonderful place called New York. There is so much temptation for Ellie to resist and trying to stay grounded gets harder every day.

All decisions about staying or going ended when Ellie’s father dies and she has to return home. Her intention is to handle his affairs and convince John to come back with her to New York. Once home Ellie has difficulty adjusting to living without necessities. John is steadfast in his conviction to stay so she is forced to decide if she stays with the love of her life, or leaves him to chase another life with a different man.

This story is compelling and draws you in because it is written so that you feel the emotional pain and stress these people are going through. The times were difficult, living conditions were horrendous and yet there was always a dream of something better, the hope of a different life and drive to make love last. We also must always remember each of us came from somewhere else to make a life in America. This is everyone’s history and we should never forget what our ancestors did to make the life we live today so bearable.(less)

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Jul 05, 2011 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, contemporary-fiction

All of us dream someday to find the perfect person to marry. Sometimes we find that person in our very best friend we have grown up with. Now much older we see them in a different light. Once just someone who we would climb trees with, scour the land for small animals and even walk us home from school, now they have matured into something much more. We shared a friendship and a love that isn't known until you find it in your best friend like John Hogan and Ellie Flaherty.

Ellie's spent her childh...more All of us dream someday to find the perfect person to marry. Sometimes we find that person in our very best friend we have grown up with. Now much older we see them in a different light. Once just someone who we would climb trees with, scour the land for small animals and even walk us home from school, now they have matured into something much more. We shared a friendship and a love that isn't known until you find it in your best friend like John Hogan and Ellie Flaherty.

Ellie's spent her childhood growing up under her father's watchful eye being the priest of the village in which they lived. Living a life that he considers proper he wants only the best ethical life for Ellie, however when Ellie sees fit to fall in love with John and runs away to get married, it will create a dividing line for Ellie between her and her family.

Now living with John struggling to make ends meet in a run down college in the midst of war between the Irish and the British, Ellie worries that John efforts in helping out in the war will be their undoing. When he is wounded and can no longer walk, Ellie fears that now they will wind up poor since John can no longer work.

Receiving hope in the form of a letter from her friend from school, Shelia offers Ellie hope in working in America for a rich lady in need of help. Seeing an opportunity to help John with paying for an expensive surgery to make him walk again, Ellie sees no choice but to head to America long enough to make John well again.

In the novel Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan we see the difficult choices that people had to make in living their homelands in hopes of coming to America for a better life. What some find here isn't the land of dreams being fulfilled while others are seeing that and so much more than they ever thought possible. Ellie will be faced to make a choice to return to her life with John with all his letters pleading for her to return, or see the possibilities for them all to come to America and make it in a land of hopes and dreams.

I received this book compliments of TLC Book Tours and Harper Collins publishers for my honest review. I LOVED how open and honest this story is of the struggle of leaving home for the possibility of something better like so many emigrants did back in the 1900's. While the work is hard at first many find their efforts worth it when little by little they see the prosperity just waiting for those willing to work hard for it. This book rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars. It does contain some profanity that may offend readers but since my goal is to provide an honest review, I must disclose this. (less)

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Mar 16, 2011 Ian Mapp rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

chosen because of the TV Book Club.

Not sure about the television programme - with a bunch of minor celebs talking about books - presumably Dave Spikey needs the cash - but they do point me towards books that I wouldn't normally consider and by and large, they are excellent.

This is wholesome story telling - great characters, a sense of history and place, adventure and romance. Written by a woman, for women, I would have thought.

Ellie and John are childhood sweethearts growing up in turn of the 20...more

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Sep 09, 2010 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed both of Kate Kerrigan's previous novels and was delighted that Ellis Island lived up to expectations. I've noticed that some reviewers have compared it to Brooklyn and whilst both stories are of a young Irish girl emigrating to the States, I personally don't feel it's fair to make comparisons. These are two totally different style of author and I enjoyed both of them, but in different ways.

The early part of the novel, set in Ireland was flawlessly written. It is all too often fo...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Jade Keller rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was an enjoyable read, with a nicely-constructed, fast-moving plot. I love the place in history into which it delves and it's another one opening my eyes to the wide world of historical fiction which, until recently, I had thought was too obsessed with European royalty or heavy, depressing tomes.

This, thankfully is neither, but there are a few quibbles I have that prevent me from giving it the full 5 stars. First, the beginning of the book is a bit spare in the luscious detail of setti...more This book was an enjoyable read, with a nicely-constructed, fast-moving plot. I love the place in history into which it delves and it's another one opening my eyes to the wide world of historical fiction which, until recently, I had thought was too obsessed with European royalty or heavy, depressing tomes.

This, thankfully is neither, but there are a few quibbles I have that prevent me from giving it the full 5 stars. First, the beginning of the book is a bit spare in the luscious detail of setting that give color and texture to the pages. While I enjoy a fast plot and never was one to enjoy wading through long passages of pure description, I felt the beginning of this one could use more for the simple reason that it would help with the pacing. The plot moves so quickly it left me a bit breathless and a few extra sentences here and there to give the reader a chance to rest between plot moments would be helpful. But, by about a quarter or so of the way into the novel, the author really hits her stride and starts developing the setting and characters in far more detail and her world really begins to come alive, full of dimension and peopled with characters one really cares about. The main character is lively and interesting, even/especially as she sometimes makes me wonder if she's completely taken leave of her senses.

The second quibble I have is with Ellie's husband, John. I won't go into too much detail here, but he was such a lovely, engaging character at the beginning. He, quite understandably, falls into bitterness later, but with it became more of a cardboard character. It would have been nice if the author had spent a little more time developing the complexity of his emotions, treating him with as much care at the end of the book as she had in the beginning.

***SPOILER ALERT*** Another quibble I have is with the epilogue. The epilogue concludes with what Ellie is purported to learn: what she gained from her life in America and was eventually able to look past it. Except I didn't really see any evidence of her looking past it. We're told, rather than shown this. In the last chapter of the book in particular, in a scene involving perfume, it seemed to me that she was still trapped by it, remembering her love for John at the very end. She keeps her secrets and her regrets and it's her lover for him and what joy she has found in the new life that seems to sustain her. But the lessons she claimed to learn in the epilogue? I just have trouble seeing it. I'm not convinced.

And the final, tiny quibble I have is that I kept expecting something to happen with Ellie's American stocks, given the story takes place just a little before the great stock market crash and that she decided not to cash them in when she withdrew her other money. It seemed like this detail would lead to something later, but it never did, and so felt like an unfinished detail.

But other than that, it was a lovely read. One of those that I stayed up late to continue, and woke up early to finish.(less)

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Jan 25, 2011 Maha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-group-expat-women-dubai

I liked the booked and learnt a lot about Ireland and imigrating to America in the early 1900s. IT was more interesting to compare this story with 'America' by Rabee Jaber who I read in Arabic last year.

America (2009) "evokes the story of the Syrians who left their homeland in the early twentieth century to try their luck in the young America. Spurred on by a sense of adventure and the desire to escape poverty, they made the epic journey. Leaving their homeland with only a few belongings, their...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is divided into three sections & though I didn't like part 3 much, I thoroughly enjoyed parts 1 & 2. I loved the beginning journey of childhood friendship turning into love for the protagonist Ellie & her best friend John & all the wonderful goings on in their small village in Ireland where their love for adventure & joy in the simple things plays a lovely backdrop to their budding romance. Later, following Ellie's migration to America to earn money to send home, as...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Shari Larsen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Childhood sweethearts Ellie Hogan and her husband John are content with life on their farm in Ireland, until John becomes injured fighting for the Irish Republican Army, and is unable to work. Forced to take drastic measures to rescue them from poverty, Ellie does what so many other Irish women in the 1920's have done and sails to America to become a maid in New York City.

Ellie is introduced to world of wealth and sophistication, tempted by the allure of grand parties and fine clothes, and charm...more

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Jul 27, 2010 Teresa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn so I was instantly drawn to this similar tale of emigration from Kate Kerrigan but are they perhaps too alike to be read so close together? Indeed should they be compared at all given that they are most definitely two different genres?

Anyway, back to Ellis Island for a while at least…our lead character, Eileen, known as Ellie, is forced to leave the abject poverty of her rural Irish background to seek employment in 1920s New York. Whilst she is amazed...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Cindi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Review originally posted on my blog : http://utahmomslife.blogspot.com/2011...

It was the title of the book that initially caught my attention. Ellis Island and the stories of the immigrants that came through it's doors hoping for a better life has always intrigued me. Each one of the millions of immigrants has his or her own story and author Kate Kerrigan tells the tale of just one Irish girl and her motivation for leaving her home country to come to the United States of America.

Ellis Island a n...more Review originally posted on my blog : http://utahmomslife.blogspot.com/2011...

It was the title of the book that initially caught my attention. Ellis Island and the stories of the immigrants that came through it's doors hoping for a better life has always intrigued me. Each one of the millions of immigrants has his or her own story and author Kate Kerrigan tells the tale of just one Irish girl and her motivation for leaving her home country to come to the United States of America.

Ellis Island a novel by Kate Kerrigan is the story of Ellie Hogan, a smart and determined young woman who sets of to America after her beloved husband is injured as a soldier in the Irish Republican Army. Since John is unable to walk and in need of an expensive surgery, Ellie emigrates to America to work as a maid for a rich socialite. She sends nearly every penny home to her family in Ireland.

Devoted to her family, Ellie also becomes enamored with her new life and comforts in New York City. She further educates herself, finds a new job and is on the verge of living the American Dream. To complicate matters, a wealthy young man falls for Ellie and offers her every luxury she could ever imagine. Where does Ellie belong? In her new comfortable life in America or in Ireland with the ones she loves?

Ellie is a likable yet very real character. She is smart and not easily swindled. She stands up for herself yet walks the line of propriety standard for the period. She has personal integrity and yet she is also human and vulnerable to temptation. Kate Kerrigan has created a very empathetic and believable character. I found myself moved by Ellie's plight and rooting for her throughout the novel.

The plot is well paced and structured. Kerrigan's descriptions of the both rural Ireland and New York City in the 1920's paint a detailed picture of the period. She equally well describes the poverty and the glamour while staying true to Ellie's character and the story.

Well written, Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan is one to add to your to-read list if you enjoy period dramas and character-driven novels.
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May 04, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have spent a bit of time trying to decide how I feel about this book. I’ve decided on a 3-star rating. I had to delete a star for usage of the “F-word”. Though the word was used only twice, very realistically, its usage is still like acid to my eyes/ears.

Having Irish immigrants from my own family, I really appreciated the historical aspects of this story. It was interesting to get a glimpse into what their lives might have been like. I actually researched a few of the facts to make sure the au...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Dan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ellie has loved John all her life and when she is of age, they marry. Living in the turn of the century Ireland, they are poor but make the best of it. John joins the IRA and gets wounded and needs an operation. Another friend who had already immigrated to the United States offers Ellie the opportunity to come and work with her. Ellis sees this as a chance to make enough money to pay for John’s operation.

Off she goes to America to work as a maid for a young socialite. At first she hates, then lo...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Jennifer Flynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, 2011

Set in Ireland and New York City in the early 1900s, Ellie is a girl from a small farm village in Ireland. Ellie marries her childhood sweetheart, who is involved in the Irish revolution. After he is wounded, she travels to New York to work as a maid. Originally planning to stay for only a year, Ellie soon falls in love with New York. Through her employer, she is introduced to a new world of sophistication and modern amenities. She becomes a typist at a company, shares an apartment with friends,...more

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Dec 26, 2010 DubaiReader rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ew-pm-bk-grp, 2010

Rural life in Ireland vs high life in New York.

My main problem with this book is not the book itself but the excess of information we are given on the back cover. I would have preferred to have been left wondering what decision Ellie would make - whether to embrace her newfound life in New York or return to her childhood sweetheart and the hardships of her native Ireland. If you feel the same way then read no further and don't read the back of the book!

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May 18, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ellie and John are childhood sweethearts in rural Ireland who form a love and friendship from the day they first meet. Ellie's parents and cold, showing little affection for their only daughter and seem more concerned with appearances and piety than bonding with their child. John's grandparents are loving, affectionate hardworking farmers who provide Ellie with the love she so craves. Ellie and John marry in haste and after spending some time with John's grandparents, move to John's parent's far...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Mariel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: queens-book-club

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 05, 2011 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Jun 13, 2011 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Where I got the book: ARC from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. Its publication date is 6/28/11 according to Amazon.

In 1920s Ireland, Ellie's husband has been injured fighting for his country's freedom. Ellie makes the tough decision to take a job in New York in order to send back enough money for his operation. The new life she makes for herself in the US changes her, and puts her future life in Ireland in doubt.

I'm trying very hard here not to put in any spoilers, as I think it's pretty...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

This was a great book. Ellie Hogan is the daughter of a church official in Ireland. As a child she falls in love with John- the neighbor farm boy. John's family is warm and loving and Ellie longs for this kind of family. As they grow up she becomes more and more distant from her own family. Finally John and Ellie marry- just as the tension heats up between Ireland and England over North Ireland. John becomes a fighter for the IRA and Ellie is left to make a home and support not only her husband,...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Jen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ellie grows up running in fields and climbing trees with her friend John in Ireland, and it isn�t unpredictable that as they become teenagers, they fall in love. Ellie is at boarding school while John goes away to Dublin, ostensibly for an apprenticeship, but it�s not long before he�s embroiled in the Irish civil war. John and Ellie marry against their parents� wishes, and soon John is injured in action. Nursing her husband back to health takes its toll on Ellie, and she finds herself the recipi...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Lindsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: female-fiction

Absolutely amazing book! A beautiful love story told from the point of view of Eileen "Ellie" Hogan, tracing her emigration journey from Ireland to America. Even though Ellie's story alone was enough to grab me and keep me firmly planted in the world that Kate Kerrigan created, I was also entranced by the peripheral storylines that surrounded the secondary characters. None of them were necessarily needed to further the story of Ellie and her husband, but I loved them all the same. I think that K...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who enjoy historical fiction

Recommended to Sam by: liked Brooklyn

I had heard Ellis Island being mentioned as ‘being a book you’d like if you enjoyed [Colm Toibin’s] Brooklyn’. I really enjoyed Brooklyn, so I thought I’d read it. However, don’t trust what you hear- although this book has vague similarities to Brooklyn (namely Irish girl goes to America), that where the comparison stops. Firstly, Ellis Island is set earlier, during the War of Independence, so our main character Ellie, steps foot in New York in the 1920s. Secondly, Ellie is married with an injur...more I had heard Ellis Island being mentioned as ‘being a book you’d like if you enjoyed [Colm Toibin’s] Brooklyn’. I really enjoyed Brooklyn, so I thought I’d read it. However, don’t trust what you hear- although this book has vague similarities to Brooklyn (namely Irish girl goes to America), that where the comparison stops. Firstly, Ellis Island is set earlier, during the War of Independence, so our main character Ellie, steps foot in New York in the 1920s. Secondly, Ellie is married with an injured husband to support.

I should backtrack to give you an overall idea of the plot – it quickly explains Ellie’s restricted upbringing in Ireland and her hasty (but loving) marriage to John, a boy she’s known since childhood. Her parents cast her out after hearing of her marriage (she was meant to be joining a convent) and Ellie and John live in a small cottege in the woods. Money is scarce and when John is wounded during the war, Ellie goes to America to work as a lady’s maid to save money for John’s operation. It will only be for one short year…or not. Ellie finds life in America to be free and cheerful in comparison to home. She makes good friends, earns good money and doesn’t want to come back to Ireland. She is eventually forced back by circumstances, but will she stay?

I found Ellie a very likeable character who desperately wants to fit in with her neighbours, but is not sure how to go about doing it. I found John to be rather frustrating at times (particularly later in the book) but his reasoning for being so stubborn is understandable. The story flows well, and I didn’t find myself skimming over any parts. I think it’s a light and interesting representation of the Irish and American people at that time.

I finished this book very quickly, as I was reading almost every moment that I had. I’m also excited to hear that there’s a sequel in the works – is Ellie happy with her decision?

If you enjoy historical novels dealing with love, family, religion and happiness, pick this book up. It’s a lot happier than Brooklyn and has a definite resolution.
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Apr 12, 2011 Tara Chevrestt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, ireland, librarything, arc

This is not really about Ellis Island.. It is about the American Dream though, and Ellis Island was at one time, the first stepping stone to achieving that.

The first quarter of the novel takes place in Ireland, early 1900s. A very young Ellie, age 8, falls in love with her future husband, John, age 10. They grow up together despite their different families. Ellie even starves herself for five days to make her extremely religious parents realize how much she needs John. John is sweeter than all g...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Michelle added it

Most immigration stories discuss the reasons one leaves a homeland for a foreign country, the hardships endured along the way and eventually some form of resolution of life in the new country. Everything about Ellis Island breaks the mold of immigration novels and forges its own path. Ultimately, the story is much richer for it.

The first half of the novel follows the traditional story-telling format. Girl meets boy, girl marries boy. The happily-ever-after, however, does not come, as both John...more Most immigration stories discuss the reasons one leaves a homeland for a foreign country, the hardships endured along the way and eventually some form of resolution of life in the new country. Everything about Ellis Island breaks the mold of immigration novels and forges its own path. Ultimately, the story is much richer for it.

The first half of the novel follows the traditional story-telling format. Girl meets boy, girl marries boy. The happily-ever-after, however, does not come, as both John and Ellie are swept up in the Irish revolution. Hardship follows, as one knows it must. Interestingly, Ellie's move to New York from Ireland is never meant to be permanent, and this is where the traditional story shifts into something unique. For, she is going to earn money for her husband, rather than being the one left behind waiting to be send for later. She is the one to blaze the pioneer trail for her family, leaving all that is familiar for the unknown all because of the love she holds for John and the belief she has in their marriage. Her growing self-awareness and strength are predictable, as she lands in New York harbor during the roaring Twenties - that golden era when women were grabbing new freedoms and rights, when the spirit was one of adventure, and everyone just wanted to have fun. Ellie truly does come into her own in New York, blossoming and embracing the new culture as any modern woman is wont to do.

What gives Ellis Island its power is the continuing fidelity and love Ellie has towards her husband, even after years of separation. When forced to make a decision between her new-found freedoms and luxuries and her husband, Ellie's decision is as surprising as it is rare. Love and sticking by that love for richer and for poorer tends to be the vows spoken but not necessarily reality. One reads about all of the immigrants who came to America for a better life but very rarely do we get a glimpse of those who opted to go back across the ocean. How does the hustle and bustle of the United States, especially during the 1920s change a person? Can one ever truly go back?

Ireland and New York in the 1920s are revealed in great detail, making the contrasts between the two worlds more transparent. The reader can feel the tension as ancient antagonisms against the British rule sparks the revolution and call for home rule. S/he can sense the pulse of energy that radiates from New York City, the clicking and clacking of heels on the sidewalks, the noise of the crowd. Ms. Kerrigan presents the attitudes, opinions, customs, and other minutiae of the day with no fuss or embellishments. Ellis Island truly is a glimpse back into the past towards a long-ago decade where everything was ripe with possibilities.

My only fault with the novel is its title. Ellis Island is so misleading. Only two brief scenes actually take place on Ellis Island, as this is not a novel about an immigrant but about a woman and her journey who just happens to go through Ellis Island on one of her stops along the way. Other than that, Ellis Island is an engaging glimpse of the past. Ellie is a character who quickly generates sympathy with the reader, and her journey of self-discovery is as pleasurable as it is fascinating from a historical perspective. An Irish village and New York City in the 1920s really were two different worlds, and her ability to maneuver through the two makes for a great story and excellent history lesson.

Thank you to Mary Sasso from Harper Perennial for my review copy!(less)

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Nov 05, 2010 Philippa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 02, 2011 Gabby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book as part of a giveaway that I entered here on Goodreads.

The premise seemed interested: Irish middle-class girl who falls in love with a soldier. Their need for money, like many in that time, takes the girl to New York to work.

Spoilers follow...

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A basic synopsis:

I wonder if the title "Ellis Island" is a play on the protagonist's name, Ellie. Probably. Ellie lives in what one would think is an ideal home, except for the strange non-love of her parents. For devout Catholics --...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Angela Gaskell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, ireland, fiction, historical-fiction

I won this book from the first reads giveaways and glad I did. I really enjoyed the frivolities of New York life in the 1920's and the quaintness of Irish life. The character Ellie was a wonderful way to get out emotions of love, resentment, adventure, success and submission. She experiences so much in this novel. I liked the story, found it a bit regular at times, but overall, enjoyed the pace and the action. I wished certain events would have happened instead just to see what would have unfold...more

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Historical Fiction

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Cultural > Ireland

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Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

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New York

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Adult

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Womens

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Book Club

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Drama

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Romance > Historical Romance

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Cultural

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About Kate Kerrigan

Kate Kerrigan is an author living and working in Ireland. Her novels are Recipes for a Perfect Marriage which was shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year in 2008 and been translated into 20 languages, The Miracle of Grace, which has been adapted as a film script with funding from the Irish Film Board and Ellis Island, the first of a trilogy which was selected as a TV Book Club Summer Read in Br...more

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Quotes from Ellis Island

“In this way, I was able to place my own concerns aside and curl myself up in the cocoon of somebody else's imagination. My life was suspended - I was in neither one place nor the other.” — 3 people liked it

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