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Evelyn: A True Story
Desmond Doyle, 29, a painter and decorator, is married with six children and living in the infamous Fatima Mansions in Dublin in 1953. One day he comes home to find his wife has left him. He decides to go to England to find work and is advised to put his children into the state Industrial Schools system for a short time until he returns. When he returns he is told to his horror that the children have been consigned to the state until they are 16. This is the story of how Desmond Doyle fought the Irish legal system to change the law and win back his family. Told through the eyes of Evelyn, Desmond's nine-year-old daughter, this is a moving and poignant true story, beautifully told.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 18, 2018
Την ιστορία μας αφηγείται η ίδια η Έβελυν, όπως την έζησε εκείνη, τα αδέρφια της και ο πατέρας της.
Πόσο λυπηρό είναι ένα κράτος να σου στερεί το δικαίωμα να πάρεις πίσω τα παιδιά σου και να τα μεγαλώσεις εσύ.
Πόσο λυπηρό είναι ένα κράτος να σου στερεί το δικαίωμα να πάρεις πίσω τα παιδιά σου και να τα μεγαλώσεις εσύ.
April 14, 2022
This book is completely different from the movie.
There is hardly any truth to the movie compared to this book. I ended the book hating Des Doyle almost if not more than his ex wife.
Unlike in the movie, Des gives his kids to the church. And not only did he give them willingly the only real reason I can see for it was that his ego got in the way. Had he wished to keep his kids and spare them the industrial schools he could have gotten help from his aunt and his mother in law. But no, this was below him.
Yes the fact he won his case was monumental but he is in no way shape or from a hero. It is almost heartbreaking to see how Evelyn loves him, even as she wrote the book, but he was a disgraceful father in my opinion.
I could clearly see why someone would leave Mr Doyle it was just a shame that there mother left them too.
There is hardly any truth to the movie compared to this book. I ended the book hating Des Doyle almost if not more than his ex wife.
Unlike in the movie, Des gives his kids to the church. And not only did he give them willingly the only real reason I can see for it was that his ego got in the way. Had he wished to keep his kids and spare them the industrial schools he could have gotten help from his aunt and his mother in law. But no, this was below him.
Yes the fact he won his case was monumental but he is in no way shape or from a hero. It is almost heartbreaking to see how Evelyn loves him, even as she wrote the book, but he was a disgraceful father in my opinion.
I could clearly see why someone would leave Mr Doyle it was just a shame that there mother left them too.
July 6, 2020
A glimpse into an Irish man's fight with the government to gain custody of his children who had been placed in orphanages run by the Catholic church, that set a precedent for cases to come in ensuing years. I might not have picked this book up had I not seen the movie but I enjoyed both. It gave me great understanding of a child's perspective in their feelings towards a step parent, since the author was the child remembering her past. She wanted so much to live with her father and brothers but had such ambivalent feelings towards her new mammy. She didn't loathe her life at the convent, she loved many aspects of it, which made the decision even harder since the wishes of the child played a part in the court's decision.
December 30, 2024
This is an inspirational, autobiographical novel including the life of a young girl named Evelyn telling the story of her father's courageous fight to gain custody over her and her siblings in Ireland. During such a tough time of the conflicts of Ireland, her father fought through hardships and setbacks to have his family back, it shows how he was a loveable and compassionate person who fought for his family even when his wife who caused the struggles ran away with his cousin - showing her disrespect and carelessness- this caused a lot of issues. But overall this novel shows how if you fight for what you believe in, you will achieve it and don't give up on your family as they are extremely important in your lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
Very touching and quite emotional at times
June 27, 2020
het waargebeurde verhaal over een man die nadat zijn vrouw bij hem weg is gegaan hij werk krijgt in een ander land en daardoor zijn kinderen op laat nemen in een soort tehuis. als hij terug komt en alles voor elkaar heeft en zijn kinderen terug wilt doen ze moeilijk omdat zijn vrouw er niet is. hij begint een strijd om zijn kinderen terug te krijgen. dit alles is verteld vanuit zijn oudste kind, zijn dochter Evelyn.
July 6, 2020
Over een meisje en een verscheurd gezin. De kinderen worden geplaatst in verschillende kloosters omdat de moeder weggelopen is en de vader niet meteen de mogelijkheid had voor hun te zorgen. Nadat hij die mogelijkheid wel had, was het onmogelijk om zijn kinderen terug te krijgen en volgde er een proces. Het verhaal op zich was wel boeiend maar heel het procesgedoe en wetgeving was niet zo mijn ding.
August 28, 2010
A very good memoir about childhood in Ireland and a father's love. Turned into the film "Evelyn".
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_98112...
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_98112...
December 7, 2019
Tea and Green Ribbons by Evelyn Doyle
Publisher: Free Press, library edition-withdrawn
Year: 2002
ISBN: 0743242599
Pages: 243
Reviewed by: Tina H; Arkansas, USA
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tea and Green Ribbons by Evelyn Doyle is a story about when Evelyn was a young girl, seven to nine years old. It is a very interesting story, but I would have liked to hear more of Evelyn's story.
Evelyn Doyle was the eldest of six children, their mother "Mammy" abandoned her husband Desmond "Dessie," Daddy and also all six of her children-Evelyn the oldest at seven and Dermot the youngest at one year old. Dessie had been sick, in the hospital with lead poisoning, that he acquired while working as a painter (houses), to support his family.
While Dessie was so sick, Mammy had been sneaking around and seeing Gerry, who was Dessie's first cousin. Dessie, of course, didn't have any idea what was going on. Evelyn didn't know exactly, she was too young and innocent to understand what she was seeing. When Dessie got out of the hospital, he was going to work and one morning, Mammy got up early and told Evelyn that she was going for the messages, (in the 1960s slums of Dublin, there was no mailbox or postal service in their building), then her Mammy never returned.
Dessie needed a caregiver to take good care of his children, while he was at work, Evelyn was too little for that much responsibility. After much thought and a heavy heart-on the advice of a man from the child agency that looked in on children who were mistreated or neglected, he decided to put all five of his boys into the Industrial School, run by the government and to put his precious little daughter into a convent. Dessie in the meantime, was going to England to make some money, that he'd use to raise his children up properly with. The arrangements were that Dessie would collect his children, once he had a caregiver and a job.
Except that, when Dessie tried to get his children back, he was told NO! He and his father went to his father's lawyer, who looked into it for him and later the lawyer was discussing it with another lawyer friend, who decided to take up Dessie's case to help him get his children back, Pro Bono.
It turned out to be a national case, because children were never allowed to go back to just one parent, since his wife had run off with his cousin, she was not available for him to get her signature on the endless forms required, to recover his own children.
The book goes straight into the incredible fight Dessie Doyle fought to get all six of his children back, with no limitations. The Children's Court Justices kept trying to make a deal where they could repossess the children, if the court so desired.
Publisher: Free Press, library edition-withdrawn
Year: 2002
ISBN: 0743242599
Pages: 243
Reviewed by: Tina H; Arkansas, USA
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tea and Green Ribbons by Evelyn Doyle is a story about when Evelyn was a young girl, seven to nine years old. It is a very interesting story, but I would have liked to hear more of Evelyn's story.
Evelyn Doyle was the eldest of six children, their mother "Mammy" abandoned her husband Desmond "Dessie," Daddy and also all six of her children-Evelyn the oldest at seven and Dermot the youngest at one year old. Dessie had been sick, in the hospital with lead poisoning, that he acquired while working as a painter (houses), to support his family.
While Dessie was so sick, Mammy had been sneaking around and seeing Gerry, who was Dessie's first cousin. Dessie, of course, didn't have any idea what was going on. Evelyn didn't know exactly, she was too young and innocent to understand what she was seeing. When Dessie got out of the hospital, he was going to work and one morning, Mammy got up early and told Evelyn that she was going for the messages, (in the 1960s slums of Dublin, there was no mailbox or postal service in their building), then her Mammy never returned.
Dessie needed a caregiver to take good care of his children, while he was at work, Evelyn was too little for that much responsibility. After much thought and a heavy heart-on the advice of a man from the child agency that looked in on children who were mistreated or neglected, he decided to put all five of his boys into the Industrial School, run by the government and to put his precious little daughter into a convent. Dessie in the meantime, was going to England to make some money, that he'd use to raise his children up properly with. The arrangements were that Dessie would collect his children, once he had a caregiver and a job.
Except that, when Dessie tried to get his children back, he was told NO! He and his father went to his father's lawyer, who looked into it for him and later the lawyer was discussing it with another lawyer friend, who decided to take up Dessie's case to help him get his children back, Pro Bono.
It turned out to be a national case, because children were never allowed to go back to just one parent, since his wife had run off with his cousin, she was not available for him to get her signature on the endless forms required, to recover his own children.
The book goes straight into the incredible fight Dessie Doyle fought to get all six of his children back, with no limitations. The Children's Court Justices kept trying to make a deal where they could repossess the children, if the court so desired.
October 21, 2021
What a vivid, heart-wrenching journey this book took me on!
Evelyn was a 7 year old Irish girl - the oldest of 6, and only daughter of her parents. Home life was unpredictable - when Daddy was home, so was Mammy, who cooked and cleaned and looked after the children. But when Daddy was away, Mammy often left Evelyn in charge of her brothers, including the one year old. This often meant imposing on the hospitality of a generous neighbour, Mrs. Sullivan, or having to sell wooden chests to a creepy old pervert.
One day, soon after a nice-ish Christmas, Mammy left… and never came back. What followed was the struggle of a suddenly single father, and his desperate attempts to somehow take care of his 6 children while also earning enough to support them. Thinking he could entrust them to the state *temporarily*, while he went to England for work, he found out that his children were now *permanently* wards of the state. Evelyn writes in great detail how her father doggedly fought to get his children back - although whether he was able to get all his kids back, is unclear.
What struck me most was the account of Evelyn’s two years at a convent - a sort of Christian orphanage run by nuns. There was no cruelty, no abuse so often depicted in the narratives of convents; just strict but loving nuns, and the camaraderie of mostly parentless girls.
I would have loved to know what happened after the court case concluded; how Evelyn’s life unfolded after all that. But that is just my curiosity getting the better of me; the book, and the journey depicted herein, are nothing short of remarkable.
Evelyn was a 7 year old Irish girl - the oldest of 6, and only daughter of her parents. Home life was unpredictable - when Daddy was home, so was Mammy, who cooked and cleaned and looked after the children. But when Daddy was away, Mammy often left Evelyn in charge of her brothers, including the one year old. This often meant imposing on the hospitality of a generous neighbour, Mrs. Sullivan, or having to sell wooden chests to a creepy old pervert.
One day, soon after a nice-ish Christmas, Mammy left… and never came back. What followed was the struggle of a suddenly single father, and his desperate attempts to somehow take care of his 6 children while also earning enough to support them. Thinking he could entrust them to the state *temporarily*, while he went to England for work, he found out that his children were now *permanently* wards of the state. Evelyn writes in great detail how her father doggedly fought to get his children back - although whether he was able to get all his kids back, is unclear.
What struck me most was the account of Evelyn’s two years at a convent - a sort of Christian orphanage run by nuns. There was no cruelty, no abuse so often depicted in the narratives of convents; just strict but loving nuns, and the camaraderie of mostly parentless girls.
I would have loved to know what happened after the court case concluded; how Evelyn’s life unfolded after all that. But that is just my curiosity getting the better of me; the book, and the journey depicted herein, are nothing short of remarkable.
May 28, 2022
Bei "Evelyn" handelt es sich um die Autobiographie der Autorin Evelyn Dolye. Sie erschien 2002 und ist ihrem Vater Desmond gewidmet.
Dieser hatte in den 50er für Furore in der Presse gesorgt, da er sich dagegen gewehrt hatte, das ihm seine Kinder weggenommen wurden. Nach damals geltenden irischen Recht wurden in dem Fall, dass die Mutter die Familie verlassen wurde, dem Vater die Kinder weggenommen, da davon ausgegangen wurde, dass ein Vater sich nicht alleine um sie kümmern könnte. Lediglich das Einverständnis der Mutter wäre möglich gewesen, um etwas daran zu ändern. Im Falle der Familie Doyle jedoch war die Mutter gar nicht ausfindig zu machen, so dass es gar kein Einverständnis geben konnte.
Also hatte Desmond Doyle sich Rechtsbeistand geholt und versucht, um seine Kinder zu kämpfen.
Mir hat das Buch eigentlich sehr gut gefallen. Die Schreibe der Autorin ist flüssig und da das komplette Buch bis zur letzten Seite in der Sprache der minderjährigen Evelyn verfasst wurde, liest man es auch in einem Rutsch durch. Allerdings ist das auch mein einziger Kritikpunkt - die Perspektive. Für meinen Geschmack hätte das Buch eine bessere Wirkung gehabt, wäre es aus der Sicht der erwachsenen Evelyn erzählt worden. Aber das ist reine Geschmackssache. Auch die Rolle der leiblichen Mutter wird mir nur angerissen, hier hätte ich mir gewünscht, noch mehr Details zu bekommen, aber vielleicht gab es die einfach auch nicht.
Aber mal abgesehen davon bin ich sehr dankbar, durch dieses Buch ein wenig von der irischen Geschichte der 50 Jahre gelernt zu haben.
Dieser hatte in den 50er für Furore in der Presse gesorgt, da er sich dagegen gewehrt hatte, das ihm seine Kinder weggenommen wurden. Nach damals geltenden irischen Recht wurden in dem Fall, dass die Mutter die Familie verlassen wurde, dem Vater die Kinder weggenommen, da davon ausgegangen wurde, dass ein Vater sich nicht alleine um sie kümmern könnte. Lediglich das Einverständnis der Mutter wäre möglich gewesen, um etwas daran zu ändern. Im Falle der Familie Doyle jedoch war die Mutter gar nicht ausfindig zu machen, so dass es gar kein Einverständnis geben konnte.
Also hatte Desmond Doyle sich Rechtsbeistand geholt und versucht, um seine Kinder zu kämpfen.
Mir hat das Buch eigentlich sehr gut gefallen. Die Schreibe der Autorin ist flüssig und da das komplette Buch bis zur letzten Seite in der Sprache der minderjährigen Evelyn verfasst wurde, liest man es auch in einem Rutsch durch. Allerdings ist das auch mein einziger Kritikpunkt - die Perspektive. Für meinen Geschmack hätte das Buch eine bessere Wirkung gehabt, wäre es aus der Sicht der erwachsenen Evelyn erzählt worden. Aber das ist reine Geschmackssache. Auch die Rolle der leiblichen Mutter wird mir nur angerissen, hier hätte ich mir gewünscht, noch mehr Details zu bekommen, aber vielleicht gab es die einfach auch nicht.
Aber mal abgesehen davon bin ich sehr dankbar, durch dieses Buch ein wenig von der irischen Geschichte der 50 Jahre gelernt zu haben.
May 20, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down! Although short in length it is long in memory. Written from Evelyn’s perspective and in her voice, with her thoughts and feelings you are transported beside her watching the story unfold. A caring young girl with both mature and innocent thoughts, you can’t help love her. A true story that leaves you pumping the air at its conclusion.
In 1955 Desmond Doyle fought the government and contested the constitution in the Supreme Court for the right to have his children back from the Catholic industrial schools after his wife abandoned the family. A right for the rights of an individual parent, the rights of the child and the family unit as the main factor in a child’s life - not the government or the Catholic Church and their institutions that had an iron grip on Irish morality and society for a century.
It’s a heartwarming book in the voice of a child trying to understand all the adult goings on surrounding her life. Poignant and beautiful. Read it. 9/10 🌟
In 1955 Desmond Doyle fought the government and contested the constitution in the Supreme Court for the right to have his children back from the Catholic industrial schools after his wife abandoned the family. A right for the rights of an individual parent, the rights of the child and the family unit as the main factor in a child’s life - not the government or the Catholic Church and their institutions that had an iron grip on Irish morality and society for a century.
It’s a heartwarming book in the voice of a child trying to understand all the adult goings on surrounding her life. Poignant and beautiful. Read it. 9/10 🌟
January 5, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
This is a heartbreaking story of a father's fight to get his children back to him. With Evelyn in a convent school and Dessies 5 boys in another school as a result from their mother walking out on them.
It was hard reading the responsibility Evelyn had to begin with of looking after her brothers even at such a young age herself.
I knew that Dessie got them back and won the court case as I watched the film before. I would say the book and the film differ in some ways but I did prefer the film version with Pierce Brosnan.
This is a heartbreaking story of a father's fight to get his children back to him. With Evelyn in a convent school and Dessies 5 boys in another school as a result from their mother walking out on them.
It was hard reading the responsibility Evelyn had to begin with of looking after her brothers even at such a young age herself.
I knew that Dessie got them back and won the court case as I watched the film before. I would say the book and the film differ in some ways but I did prefer the film version with Pierce Brosnan.
June 23, 2022
This was a wonderfully engaging story about a little girl who grew up in poverty and how her dad fought for her in the Irish courts in the 1950's. It is told from her point of view, but with so much detail and insight.
I found myself really invested in her struggles, which kept me reading. At the same time, I was angry at her mammy and disappointed in her dad.
I found myself really invested in her struggles, which kept me reading. At the same time, I was angry at her mammy and disappointed in her dad.
May 11, 2018
Great book about a fathers fight for justice.
July 29, 2018
Loved the book and loved the movie!!
May 2, 2019
Good read, I had a good time reading Evelyn's story. I was able to fight the battle with Desmonds and left me with some tears of joy at the end. I would recommend it.
November 3, 2020
A great read
Loved this and how this one modest family in the fifties had a voice in ‘holy’ Ireland. It paved the way for many a child.
Loved this and how this one modest family in the fifties had a voice in ‘holy’ Ireland. It paved the way for many a child.
June 28, 2021
Heartwarming and sad
January 24, 2022
Very well-written and an easy read, but was not interesting enough for me and I ended up skipping a few sections near the end when it felt like it was repeating itself
April 28, 2022
Could not put this down, named my daughter after this book! Evelyn Doyle is a legend!
March 28, 2023
Op waarheid berust en leest vlot.
Speelt zich af omstreeks 1950.
Het proces in de rechtbank wordt ook beschreven maar niet te langdradig waardoor het interessant blijft.
Speelt zich af omstreeks 1950.
Het proces in de rechtbank wordt ook beschreven maar niet te langdradig waardoor het interessant blijft.
April 25, 2023
David and Golith story about a father taking on the Irish State to get his children out of the care system.
True story told very simply and child like but worth a read.
True story told very simply and child like but worth a read.
June 16, 2023
Hard story to read, a father’s fight for his children, and a conflicted daughter
January 27, 2024
I red the Dutch translation of this book and found the next book of Evelyn Doyle second-hand. Just waiting for the book to arrive...
January 15, 2025
A distressing tale of poverty and neglect and one man's fight to change an unjust law.
July 22, 2025
What a fight that has led to lasting change in Ireland.
April 8, 2021
Book over movie
I loved the movie and when I realised it was origionally a book I wanted to see the world where it wasn’t sterilised for the masses. It is a lovely story but with some darker shows of the world. A very interesting read!
I loved the movie and when I realised it was origionally a book I wanted to see the world where it wasn’t sterilised for the masses. It is a lovely story but with some darker shows of the world. A very interesting read!
August 18, 2013
Ένα βιβλίο που θα μπορούσε να είναι πολύ καλό αλλά τελικά δεν προσφέρει και πολλά.
Όταν το αγόρασα και ξεκίνησα την ανάγνωση του, νόμιζα ότι αφηγητής θα ήταν ο πατέρας. Τελικά αποδείχθηκε ότι η Έβελυν, το μεγαλύτερο από τα παιδιά, θα είχε αυτό τον ρόλο. Αν και αρχικά με ξένισε καθώς η αφήγηση ήταν πολύ παιδική, καμία σοβαρή περιγραφή και τα συναισθήματα καθώς και οι σκέψεις που αποτυπώνονταν ήταν συγκεχυμένα, καθώς προχωρούσε η υπόθεση το συνήθισα και τελικά μου άρεσε. Ήταν μια τελείως διαφορετική ματιά στην υπόθεση. Παρόλα αυτά σύντομα η αφήγηση αλλάζει οπτική γωνία και παρόλο που η Έβελυν είναι αυτή που αφηγείται, περιγράφει καταστάσεις από τις οποίες απουσιάζει: " ο μπαμπάς πήγε στο δικηγόρο/ γύρισε στο σπίτι αφηνιασμένος και μόνο η Τζέσι ήταν εκεί" Πάρα πολύ κακή η συγγραφή του βιβλίου. Επίσης, υπάρχουν και πολλές άστοχες παρατηρήσεις όπως : "μετά από εκείνη την στιγμή ποτέ δεν είδα τον μπαμπά να κλαίει ξανά " ενώ μετά από 5 σελίδες διαβάζουμε "τον είδα να γυρίζει από την άλλη πλευρά για να κρύψει ότι έκλαιγε". Υπάρχουν όμως και καλές στιγμές στο βιβλίο που παρουσιάζονται η αγωνία, η σύγχυση, οι σκέψεις αλλά και οι πραγματικές σκέψεις ενός κοριτσιού που ζει σε ένα βίαιο περιβάλλον καταπίεσης και εξαθλίωσης από την μία και έντονου θρησκευτικού πνεύματος από την άλλη.
Η πλοκή όμως και τα γεγονότα που παρουσιάζονται παρουσιάζουν ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον. Βλέπουμε από τη μία την έλλειψη αναγνώρισης δικαιωμάτων στις μονογονικές οικογένειες, την αισχρή οικονομική κατάσταση της Ιρλανδίας μετά τον δεύτερο παγκόσμιοι πόλεμο, τη διάδοση των σχολείων εργασίας καθώς και την κυριαρχία του καθολιτικισμού στην Ιρλανδία αλλά και την αμοιβαία αντιπάθεια των Ιρλανδών με τους Άγγλους.
Όσων αφορά την πλοκή, η Έβελυν είναι η μεγαλύτερη από τα 6 παιδιά μιας φτωχής οικογένειας εργατών στην Ιρλανδία που ζουν σε ένα διαμέρισμα εργατικών πολυκατοικιών. Η ιστορία ξεκινάει όταν ο πατέρας της έχει ένα ατύχημα και αναγκάζεται να παραμείνει στο νοσοκομείο για ένα μεγάλο διάστημα αφήνοντας την οικογένεια χωρίς κανένα εισόδημα. Βλέπουμε τα παιδιά να ζητιανεύουν για μερικές κούτες από το τοπικό παντοπωλείο και να τρώνε τις σταφίδες που έχουν μείνει μέσα. Πραγματικά θλιβερές καταστάσεις. Η μητέρα της οικογένειας δυστυχισμένη στο γάμο της συνάπτει παράνομο δεσμό με τον ξάδερφο του συζύγου της και παρακολουθούμε τις επιδράσεις που έχει αυτή η κατάσταση στην οικογένεια αλλά και την αντιμετώπιση της κοινωνίας. Συχνά η μητέρα λείπει και η Έβελυν αναγκάζεται να αναλάβει την επίβλεψη των μικρότερων αδερφών της με αποτέλεσμα πολλά τραγικά ατυχήματα. Όταν η μητέρα της εν τέλει εγκαταλείπει την οικογένεια ο πατέρας λόγω οικονομικής αδυναμίας να συντηρήσει την οικογένεια του, παραδίδει προσωρινά τα παιδιά του στην προστασία του κράτους. Τα παιδιά τοποθετούνται σε σχολεία εργασίας, δηλαδή μονές στις οποίες τα παιδιά συμμετέχουν στις δουλειές συντήρησης τους. Δεν είναι τόσο τραγικό όσο ακούγεται, τουλάχιστον σύμφωνα με τα λεγόμενα της ηρωίδας. Όταν ο πατέρας καταφέρνει να ορθοποδήσει και βρίσκει μια καινούρια σύντροφο την οποία εμφανίζει ως οικονόμο λόγω της συντηρητικής κοινωνίας και διεκδικεί τα παιδιά του πίσω σκοντάφτει στο νομικό πλαίσιο που απαιτεί και τη σύμφωνη υπογραφή της εξαφανισμένης όμως μητέρας. Εκεί ξεκινάει μια δικαστική διαμάχη διάρκειας ενός χρόνου με αμφίβολο το αποτέλεσμα.
Θεωρώ ότι η συγγραφέας, που είναι η ίδια ή Έβελυν της ιστορίας, αντί να μας δώσει τις αναμνήσεις της, τις εντυπώσεις της αλλά και ίσως τη συνέχεια της ιστορίας με μεγαλύτερη ενάργεια κατέληξε να αναλώνεται στην αναφορά ποιών άρθρων να χρησιμοποιούσε η δικηγορική ομάδα του πατέρα της. Κρίμα.
Όταν το αγόρασα και ξεκίνησα την ανάγνωση του, νόμιζα ότι αφηγητής θα ήταν ο πατέρας. Τελικά αποδείχθηκε ότι η Έβελυν, το μεγαλύτερο από τα παιδιά, θα είχε αυτό τον ρόλο. Αν και αρχικά με ξένισε καθώς η αφήγηση ήταν πολύ παιδική, καμία σοβαρή περιγραφή και τα συναισθήματα καθώς και οι σκέψεις που αποτυπώνονταν ήταν συγκεχυμένα, καθώς προχωρούσε η υπόθεση το συνήθισα και τελικά μου άρεσε. Ήταν μια τελείως διαφορετική ματιά στην υπόθεση. Παρόλα αυτά σύντομα η αφήγηση αλλάζει οπτική γωνία και παρόλο που η Έβελυν είναι αυτή που αφηγείται, περιγράφει καταστάσεις από τις οποίες απουσιάζει: " ο μπαμπάς πήγε στο δικηγόρο/ γύρισε στο σπίτι αφηνιασμένος και μόνο η Τζέσι ήταν εκεί" Πάρα πολύ κακή η συγγραφή του βιβλίου. Επίσης, υπάρχουν και πολλές άστοχες παρατηρήσεις όπως : "μετά από εκείνη την στιγμή ποτέ δεν είδα τον μπαμπά να κλαίει ξανά " ενώ μετά από 5 σελίδες διαβάζουμε "τον είδα να γυρίζει από την άλλη πλευρά για να κρύψει ότι έκλαιγε". Υπάρχουν όμως και καλές στιγμές στο βιβλίο που παρουσιάζονται η αγωνία, η σύγχυση, οι σκέψεις αλλά και οι πραγματικές σκέψεις ενός κοριτσιού που ζει σε ένα βίαιο περιβάλλον καταπίεσης και εξαθλίωσης από την μία και έντονου θρησκευτικού πνεύματος από την άλλη.
Η πλοκή όμως και τα γεγονότα που παρουσιάζονται παρουσιάζουν ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον. Βλέπουμε από τη μία την έλλειψη αναγνώρισης δικαιωμάτων στις μονογονικές οικογένειες, την αισχρή οικονομική κατάσταση της Ιρλανδίας μετά τον δεύτερο παγκόσμιοι πόλεμο, τη διάδοση των σχολείων εργασίας καθώς και την κυριαρχία του καθολιτικισμού στην Ιρλανδία αλλά και την αμοιβαία αντιπάθεια των Ιρλανδών με τους Άγγλους.
Όσων αφορά την πλοκή, η Έβελυν είναι η μεγαλύτερη από τα 6 παιδιά μιας φτωχής οικογένειας εργατών στην Ιρλανδία που ζουν σε ένα διαμέρισμα εργατικών πολυκατοικιών. Η ιστορία ξεκινάει όταν ο πατέρας της έχει ένα ατύχημα και αναγκάζεται να παραμείνει στο νοσοκομείο για ένα μεγάλο διάστημα αφήνοντας την οικογένεια χωρίς κανένα εισόδημα. Βλέπουμε τα παιδιά να ζητιανεύουν για μερικές κούτες από το τοπικό παντοπωλείο και να τρώνε τις σταφίδες που έχουν μείνει μέσα. Πραγματικά θλιβερές καταστάσεις. Η μητέρα της οικογένειας δυστυχισμένη στο γάμο της συνάπτει παράνομο δεσμό με τον ξάδερφο του συζύγου της και παρακολουθούμε τις επιδράσεις που έχει αυτή η κατάσταση στην οικογένεια αλλά και την αντιμετώπιση της κοινωνίας. Συχνά η μητέρα λείπει και η Έβελυν αναγκάζεται να αναλάβει την επίβλεψη των μικρότερων αδερφών της με αποτέλεσμα πολλά τραγικά ατυχήματα. Όταν η μητέρα της εν τέλει εγκαταλείπει την οικογένεια ο πατέρας λόγω οικονομικής αδυναμίας να συντηρήσει την οικογένεια του, παραδίδει προσωρινά τα παιδιά του στην προστασία του κράτους. Τα παιδιά τοποθετούνται σε σχολεία εργασίας, δηλαδή μονές στις οποίες τα παιδιά συμμετέχουν στις δουλειές συντήρησης τους. Δεν είναι τόσο τραγικό όσο ακούγεται, τουλάχιστον σύμφωνα με τα λεγόμενα της ηρωίδας. Όταν ο πατέρας καταφέρνει να ορθοποδήσει και βρίσκει μια καινούρια σύντροφο την οποία εμφανίζει ως οικονόμο λόγω της συντηρητικής κοινωνίας και διεκδικεί τα παιδιά του πίσω σκοντάφτει στο νομικό πλαίσιο που απαιτεί και τη σύμφωνη υπογραφή της εξαφανισμένης όμως μητέρας. Εκεί ξεκινάει μια δικαστική διαμάχη διάρκειας ενός χρόνου με αμφίβολο το αποτέλεσμα.
Θεωρώ ότι η συγγραφέας, που είναι η ίδια ή Έβελυν της ιστορίας, αντί να μας δώσει τις αναμνήσεις της, τις εντυπώσεις της αλλά και ίσως τη συνέχεια της ιστορίας με μεγαλύτερη ενάργεια κατέληξε να αναλώνεται στην αναφορά ποιών άρθρων να χρησιμοποιούσε η δικηγορική ομάδα του πατέρα της. Κρίμα.
April 2, 2018
This could have been a good book, or at least an important book. Evelyn Doyle, who was a little girl in the 1950, is at the heart of a fierce custody battle between her hapless father and the Irish state. As a middle-aged woman, Ms Doyle decided to write down her memoirs. However, she decided to write them from the perspective of the child she was, and she maintains her perspective even when she writes about events she could not have been present at (her father's stay in England, or meetings with his lawyers), her perception of her father's new girl-friend, and other key information.
Therefore, we only get a very limited story angle. We do not know what happened between her parents, or why her mother decided to abandon the family. Desmond Doyle is the hero of the book because he desperately wanted his children back, and went to great lengths to wrestle them from the hands of the unrelentingly conservative Irish Catholic law. But what events led his wife to elope and leave her six young children behind? Not one bit of information on that. It is only hinted that Desmond might have had a temper, and liked to spend an unwise amount of hours at the pub. A balanced presentation of the parents' points of view would have been much appreciated.
Naturally, we don't get to hear Evelyn's brothers' story, because the kids were separated. However, Evelyn seems to be rather content and settled in at the industrial school, where the nuns seem to take good care of her. Much to my surprise, because these institutions have reaped a reputation for neglect and abuse, of which not a word is mentioned. Good for Evelyn, of course, but this is contrary to popular belief and therefore confusing for the reader.
Overall, the book is poorly written and leaves you wanting for more information. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to read the sequel, but I am not sure if I will. Does the writing improve?
Therefore, we only get a very limited story angle. We do not know what happened between her parents, or why her mother decided to abandon the family. Desmond Doyle is the hero of the book because he desperately wanted his children back, and went to great lengths to wrestle them from the hands of the unrelentingly conservative Irish Catholic law. But what events led his wife to elope and leave her six young children behind? Not one bit of information on that. It is only hinted that Desmond might have had a temper, and liked to spend an unwise amount of hours at the pub. A balanced presentation of the parents' points of view would have been much appreciated.
Naturally, we don't get to hear Evelyn's brothers' story, because the kids were separated. However, Evelyn seems to be rather content and settled in at the industrial school, where the nuns seem to take good care of her. Much to my surprise, because these institutions have reaped a reputation for neglect and abuse, of which not a word is mentioned. Good for Evelyn, of course, but this is contrary to popular belief and therefore confusing for the reader.
Overall, the book is poorly written and leaves you wanting for more information. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to read the sequel, but I am not sure if I will. Does the writing improve?
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