The Lost Garden

by Kate Kerrigan

'Hilarious, insightful and has that rare quality of making politics fun. A brilliant book everyone should read, whoever you vote for.' Owen Jones, author of The Establishment From the giddy heights of New Labour's landslide victory in 1997 to the shock result of the 2017 snap election, these are the frank and funny memoirs of one bewildered Labour activist who tried to carry on as usual long after politics had stopped making sense. With a literary flair that has been compared to Donald Trump's tweets, John O'Farrell attempts to explain the alarming rise of populist politics, Labour's twenty-year identity crisis, and why you should never tell your mother you are doing a radio phone-in, unless you want her ringing up to tell everyone she agrees with you. On everything. Along the way, John stood for parliament against Theresa May but failed to step into her shoes; he took his campaigning skills to America (but still Obama got in); and he was dubbed 'the sickest man in politics' by the Daily Mail when in truth he's only the second or third. The long-awaited sequel to the best-selling Things Can Only Get Better is for everyone who could use a good laugh after Brexit, Trump and learning you were governed by the DUP. A twenty-year journey from hope to despair and back again, packed with political confessions even more outrageous than running through fields of wheat.

Genres: Historical

354 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2014

About the author

Kate Kerrigan is an author living and working in Ireland. Her novels are Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, The Miracle of Grace, Ellis Island, City of Hope, Land of Dreams and The Lost Garden.

Kate began her career as an editor and journalist, editing many of Britain’s most successful young women’s magazines before returning to her native Ireland in the 1990’s to edit Irish Tatler. She writes a weekly column in the Irish Mail about her life in Killala, County Mayo – and contributes regularly to RTE's radio's Sunday Miscellany.

Her novel, The Dress, published by Head of Zeus was shortlisted at the Irish Book Awards in 2015, and her new novel, It Was Only Ever You, was published in hardback edition, October 2016.


www.katekerrigan.ie

I devoured this book in one sitting. I LOVED it!
Marian Keyes

This story is written with so much heart you can hear its beat and feel its pulse in every word on every page.
Cecelia Ahern

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Garden: Can love bloom twice in a lifetime? is my first introduction to Kate Kerrigan’s writing. I thought it was a great read and I look forward to reading more by her in the future. The story was exciting, the characters were likeable, and the setting was fabulous.
I highly recommend The Lost Garden and give it 5 plus stars. Many readers would definitely enjoy this wonderful book.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Karen Mcnicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is WOW. I pretty much read this book in one day. I loved this story, its about true love, tragedy, helplessness, hope, friendship and faith. The faith is knowing you are doing something you just have to do and good comes of it! After Aileen falls for Jimmy so quickly over a summer, then losing him, her father and brothers due to an awful fire (that she thinks is her fault) in Scotland she goes back to Illaunmor Ireland, to be her mum. She finds herself alone and lost. She is taken in my a very nice neighbor who is looking after his nephew and niece. Aileen finds friendship even when she thinks she does not want or need it. I could not put this book down and had to keep reading to the end. I have to say "spoiler alert" when I reached the end of this story, Brett Young song "In Case You Didn't Know" was playing on the radio...perfect!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been so long since I was so entranced by a book I had to force myself to put it down. This book re-acquainted me with that magical feeling. I love everything about this book, from the magical and msyterious vibes to the Wuthering Heights references to the romance and action and tragedy and hope... this book is so beautiful.

Chapter 35 scared me for a moment because there seemed to be an edge of homophobia, but thankfully the book itself and the characters didn't seem to agree with the homophobia the bible taught them.

[Ginger Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author. Thank you so much, Kate Kerrigan! A wonderful book of love, loss, family and the resilience of life. Based on a true story, this book is not to be missed. Very deeply developed strong characters. I look forward to reading more from this author! Highly recommend!

[Hannah Shattock · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story with a lot of heart, belonging, love and home.
The romantic tale of two people finding true love.
I found this difficult to get into, the pace was slow and I found it didn't hold my attention for long.

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish the book. I lost interest in the characters and the plot.

[Sandra Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1665T0...

[Tractor Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely story, true love finding a way, interspersed with the reclaiming of a lost garden. The garden was so well described I could picture the work Aileen and her compatriots were doing.

[Michelle Stenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story, it took awhile to get into but recommend to stick with it

[Olivia D'silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than just a love story! The characters begin with their lives ahead of them and all the possibilities of youth. They are brought down to earth with a bang add the result of a huge tragedy and a great loss, which shatters all their dreams. We then follow them as they build up their lives in very different ways. Aileen is fortunate to find people to love and care for her and a sanctuary in the beautiful garden. While Jimmy's experience is unfortunately very different to that.

The story is also one of Irish migrant workers and some of the issues they faced, from the tattie fields of Scotland to the underworld of London, all set against a backdrop of WW2.

[Machel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book with much love for the characters. A wee late a night...but looking forward to updating my fav. passages in the book and the write a passionate review for a book that deserves the attention. I have been reading Kate Kerrigan/Moral Purity for 5 or 6 years now!! One of my favorite authors!

[PAOLA · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a quite nice book about love, family and home, about facing hardships and finding your own way to move one from these tragedies. It was a nice read, just not a page-turner, I enjoyed myself reading it, nevertheless I wasn't all that hooked. The thing is it reminds you of your own losses, and how you've dealt with your own hardships.

[Jinger Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it ~ as redhead I've heard all the superstitions.
Well written, lovely story. Would love a follow up

[Claire Lawlor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Read it over the weekend.