The Magdalen

by Marita Conlon-McKenna

The wide open spaces of Connemara, filled with nothing but sea and sky, are all lost to Esther Doyle when she is betrayed by her lover, Conor. Rejected by her family, she is sent to join the 'fallen women' of the Holy Saints Convent in Dublin where, behind high granite walls, she works in the infamous Magdalen laundry while she awaits the birth of her baby.

At the mercy of nuns, and working mostly in silence alongside the other 'Maggies,' Esther spends her days in the steamy, sweatshop atmosphere of the laundry. It is a grim existence, but Esther has little choice--the convent is her only refuge, and its orphanage will provide shelter for her newborn child.

Yet despite the harsh reality of her life, Esther gains support from this isolated community of women. Learning through the experiences and the mistakes of the other 'Maggies,' she begins to recognize her own strengths and determination to survive. She recognizes, too, that it will take every ounce of courage to realize her dream of a new life for her and her child beyond they grey walls of the Holy Saints Convent.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Ireland, Historical, Irish Literature, Novels, Religion

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Born in Dublin in 1956 and brought up in Goatstown, Marita went to school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Mount Anville, later working in the family business, the bank, and a travel agency. She has four children with her husband James, and they live in the Stillorgan area of Dublin.
Marita was always fascinated by the Famine period in Irish history and read everything available on the subject. When she heard a radio report of an unmarked children's grave from the Famine period being found under a hawthorn tree, she decided to write her first book, Under the Hawthorn Tree.

Published in May 1990, the book was an immediate success and become a classic. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Bahasa, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Irish. The book has been read on RTÉ Radio and is very popular in schools, both with teachers and pupils. It has been made a supplementary curriculum reader in many schools and is also used by schools in Northern Ireland for EMU (Education through Mutual Understanding) projects. It was also filmed by Young Irish Film Makers, in association with RTÉ and Channel 4. This is available as a DVD.

Marita has written more books for children which were also very well received. The Blue Horse reached No. 1 on the Bestseller List and won the BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR Award. No Goodbye, which tells of the heartbreak of a young family when their mother leaves home, was recommended by Book Trust in their guide for One Parent Families. Safe Harbour is the story of two English children evacuated from London during World War ll to live with their grandfather in Greystones, Co Wicklow and was shortlisted for the BISTO Book of the Year Award. A Girl Called Blue follows the life of an orphan, trying to find who she really is in a cold and strict orphanage. Marita has also explored the world of fantasy with her book In Deep Dark Wood.

Marita has won several awards, including the International Reading Association Award, the Osterreichischer Kinder und Jugendbuchpreis, the Reading Association of Ireland Award and the Bisto Book of the Year Award.

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done to this Irish author for her bravery and support of women. This account of a fictional young woman's time in the Magdalene Laundries in the 1950s was written in 1999, before the Irish State had been forced to issue a fulsome apology to all the women so wronged.

Esther lives in a rural community in Connemara and with little excitement or world experience, her head is easily turned by a handsome lad who arrives to work a nearby spinster's farm. This portion of the book actually rings very true with another book I read recently, Would You Marry A Farmer? by Lorna Sixsmith, who examines the history of Irish farm domestic life. The grown farmers looking for wives had to wait until their parents had died or retired, the younger sons had to find other work as the farm would only support one family, while the women had to get work elsewhere or, if they inherited a farm, find a man willing to work it, who might be all too keen to marry into the farm. At the same time, in The Magdalen we see that children were generally cherished, even if the family had little money.

Halfway the story changes as Esther's religion-obsessed mother orders her pregnant daughter out of the house and the narrow-minded community would not accept a single mother or her child. The only recourse is a home for 'fallen women' run by the nuns and Esther chooses to go to Dublin where nobody knows her. In fact, she might as easily have gone to a nearby home, for high walls surround the place, the gates are locked and nobody ever leaves. The women have to work right through their pregnancies, laundering clothes and linen, much of which is sent by hotels and, as a report showed in 2013, by the State. Food is bad, beds cold, punishment and verbal abuse are frequent, prayers obligatory for their 'penance'. Then the babies are taken away - the book doesn't say, but the report showed that they were sold. Some women come in to the laundry as transfers from the orphanage next door, while others never leave and are worked to death in their middle age. Esther gets to know these girls and women, each with a different tale to tell, and has to face the fact that she might never be allowed to leave and if she does, she has no home to return to and nothing but her determination to survive.

To those who wonder if the account is exaggerated: the thousands of women so treated were put to work without pay, without social insurance or pension contributions; they were totally dependent on the nuns for everything; they were not allowed to leave; if they did escape, the Gardaí were called and tracked them down and brought them back; their babies were taken from them and sold. As an international expert on slavery told us: "If there is a better definition of slavery I have yet to hear it."

Don't forget that nuns too, often had little or no choice in joining a convent, sent by their families, and received no pay or pension, but were obliged to hand over a 'dowry' and any inheritances to the Catholic Church; those who brought more money were better treated and were able to regard nuns from impoverished families as skivvies. The Church profited greatly from their labour.

Aside from all the social tensions which are still relevant today - as I write the State is inexplicably planning to build a maternity hospital on land which is owned by nuns who ran Magdalen Laundries, but which is heavily tied up in loans taken out by the nuns; the Order owes millions to the State as compensation to the survivors of its institutions and has paid very little of it, but would be the de facto owners of the new hospital - I like the small details of life. Such as the photographer on O'Connell Street, a well-known sight who preserved views of the changing times for decades.

The author originally wrote children's books and historical accounts, so she has found a more mature theme as her success enabled her to continue writing. Scenes are vividly described. Nice colloquial Irish phrases are used, and if I find anything to criticise, that would be the occasional clumsy wording, like: "You heard me!" smirked Joan - people don't smirk words. This should have been picked up by an editor.

You may also be interested to read:
Would You Marry A Farmer?
A Light In The Window
Dropping The Habit.

[Helga Soenimanggar · Rating 3 out of 5]

when i read this book then thanks God i am in Indonesia, and not in her place. even not really diferent in here, religious people sometime can be bad. but the way she lived and handle her problem can make me be strong too. you go girl. sometimes man always be coward and not take for responsibility for what he have done, hiding in his blancket!!!and for man like that,,hmhm,, just go to hell,, and u wasn't man enough and don't call yourself a man if you can't take responsibilty for what you've done. and not only women can me matrealistic,,man too. so change your mind set girl.hehehhe

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last week I received this book in the mail from the informal book group --- and had not ever heard of it. So, I read a few pages and found myself instantly concerned and interested in the lead character, Esther. It is a fast read, and I can see why it was a best seller in Ireland.
P.S. I am glad I am not Catholic and did not grow up when she did.

[fpk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Marita Conlon-McKenna. She has a very engaging story-telling style, and as someone who prefers nonfiction, I'm impressed. Her story here is a hard one, of an unwed pregnant young woman in 1950's Ireland who has few options but to enter a home for unwed mothers. The Magdalen(e) homes are run by nuns who are often harsh and punitive. Some of the parts of the story were painful to read, but there were also enjoyable parts, with great character development and interesting dialogue.

Conlon-McKenna bases her story lines on history; she has done her research well.

I'll definitely look into reading more of her writing.

[Patti Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

After seeing the movie "Philomena," I was interested in these young women of Ireland - "Maggies." I loved this book, following the story of Esther and the others taken in by the nuns and the difficulties they endured while in their care. My heart goes out to all the women who actually went through this experience.

[Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book. It was crafted well, and the prose is passable, but it lacks something. I can't put my finger on the problem, but I do think the ending was terribly clipped. It just ends abruptly, without building up to the finale. You know it's the end because it's the last page, not because the drama was resolved in some way.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther

What to write those poor people left In the magdalen laundries cast out by there families and left in the nuns care I wouldn't put an animal in there care it is hard to read but there stories must be told 5 stars.

[Esther Turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish....nothing exceptional and did not hold my interest.

[Ferina · Rating 4 out of 5]

1944, Perang Dunia II tengah berkecamuk. Warga Irlandia berharap, pemerintah mereka tidak memutuskan untuk bergabung dengan sekutu dalam perang itu. Dan doa mereka terkabul. Di sebuah daerah bernama Connamara, tepatnya di desa Carraig Beag, seorang gadis bernama Esther Doyle tengah berjuang membantu persalinan ibunya, melahirkan anak yang ketujuh. Perjuangan yang luar biasa bagi Majella di usianya yang sudah kepala empat. Bayi perempuan itu lahir dengan kondisi yang tidak sesehat kakak-kakaknya. Bayi itu dipanggil Nonnie.

Badai dalam keluarga Doyle datang ketika ayah mereka ditemukan meninggal setelah menghilang beberapa hari saat sedang melaut di tengah cuaca yang tidak bersahabat. Tanggung jawab pun beralih ke kakak tertua, Gerard.

Di masa remajanya, seperti yang lainnya, Esther kerap datang ke acara pesta dansa yang diadakan di bar setempat. Di sebuah pesta dansa, Esther berkenalan dengan seorang pemuda pendatang yang bekerja di peternakan tetanggganya. Esther tidak bisa menolak pesona Conor dan ia pun menyerahkan dirinya pada pemuda itu.

Bencana datang lagi. Kali ini, Nonnie kecil mereka yang jadi korban. Majella menyalahkan Esther atas peristiwa ini karena menganggap Esther lalai menjaga Nonnie yang menjadi tanggung jawabnya. Belum habis rasa bersalah Esther akibat kejadian itu, ia mendapati dirinya hamil tapi harus menyimpannya sendiri karena Conor tidak mau bertanggung jawab.

Tapi, kehamilan itu tidak dapat disembunyikan terlalu lama. Akhirnya Majella pun mengetahuinya dan mengutuk puterinya karena sudah membawa aib bagi keluarga Doyle.

Tanpa punya pilihan lain, Esther terpaksa menyetujui usul bibinya untuk bersembunyi sementara di sebuah biara, yang disebut pusat rehabilitasi bagi para pendosa. Tempat itu dikenal dengan nama Magdalen Laundry. Nama tempat itu diambil dari nama Maria Magdalena.

Magdalen Laundry dikelola oleh beberapa biarawati. Tempat itu bagaikan penjara atau bahkan lebih buruk. Tidak ada yang namanya kasih sayang di tempat ini. Semua perempuan yang senasib dengan Esther diharuskan bekerja di binatu seharian, diberi makan seadanya, bahkan terkadang mereka harus mengais-ngais tong sampah untuk mencari makanan. Mereka bekerja tanpa diberi upah. Tidak ada tempat bagi mereka untuk melupakan dosa yang telah mereka perbuat. Sikap para biarawati sama sekali tidak bersahabat. Belum cukup dengan perlakuan buruk yang mereka terima, bayi-bayi ‘haram’ yang lahir dari rahim mereka ‘direnggut’ dari ibunya dan diserahkan ke panti asuhan untuk diadopsi.
sebagai keluarganya yang baru.

Kisah ini diangkat dari sebuah kejadian nyata. Di mana, sejak abad pertengahan abad ke-19 sampai tahun 1996, di Irlandia memang banyak terdapat pusat rehabilitasi untuk para perempuan yang terbuang dari keluarganya. Magdalen Laundry terakhir ditutup pada tanggal 25 September 1996.

[Kathleen Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The magdalen

Brilliant read really enjoyed this book looking forward to reading more thoroughly enjoyed it well worth a read thank you

[Sakinah Mariz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku ini hebat. Menunjukkan sisi baik dan sisi buruk dari sebuah tempat bernama Magdalen. Magdalen adalah sebuah tempat untuk perempuan-perempuan muda yang hamildi luar nikah. Terinspirasi dari seorang pelacur yang diselamatkan kristus, Maria Magdalena, Magdalen menjadi tempat perlindungan bagi perempuan hamil tanpa suami.

Peristiwa malang ini terjadi pada seorang gadis lugu di desa terpencil. Saya lupa namanya, yang pasti gadis itu pada dasarnya adalah kakak perempuan yang baik. Masa kecilnya dihabiskan dengan pekerjaan berat, mengurus adik-adiknya, membantu ibunya mengerjakan segala pekerjaan rumah, hingga menopang ekonomi keluarganya.

Gadis kecil itu kemudian bertumbuh menjadi remaja yang cantik. Kecantikannya dilirik semua lelaki, namun cintanya jatuh pada lelaki asing yang tinggal di desanya. Dia mabuk dengan asmara dan akhirnya melakukan apa yang tidak boleh dia lakukan. Petualangan cintanya dengan pemuda itu berlangsung gila-gilaan sampai-sampai adik bungsunya meninggal sebab kelalaiannya.

Bulan berlalu, gadis itu merasa ada yang berubah. Si Lelaki Asing ternyata telah menemukan pelabuhan lain, pada wanita kaya yang bisa ditumpanginya. Gadis itu hamil dan lelaki itu pergi begitu saja. Mengetahui dia hamil, dia pun dicaci maki dan dihajar habis-habisan oleh keluarganya. Dengan beban kehamilannya, dia pun dikirim ke Magdalen untuk melahirkan dan membiarkan anaknya untuk diadopsi.

Banyak hal yang terjadi di luar dugaan, Magadalen tak sebaik yang dia pikirkan. Banyak hal mengerikan terjadi disana dan menurut saya, buku ini perlu dibaca bukan hanya sebagai kritik terhadap perempuan, namun sebagai selentikan terhadap misi kemanusiaan.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

For about five years now, I've had a private list on Amazon known as "the library list", as it was simply for me to be able to keep track of what books I'd look for/request from the library. Recently, I decided I should go to the earlier pages of the list, and see what still interested me.

This one was on the list since mid-summer 2008, having learned about it after reading Ann Patchett's 'The Patron Saint of Liars'. (The memory's working well today! LOL)

Anyways, I snuck this one in despite not being done with a previous book, since it's due back to the library today.

Overall, it was decent. While I had heard of the Magdalens before, and even read a similar story elsewhere, this is the first one actually set in Ireland in the 1950s.

It was a decent enough read, but nothing super outstanding. I feel I've been on a spate of just mediocre reads lately, and that's disturbing. I felt like there was a ton of build up at the beginning, and a lot of promise, and then by the end, it was rather a let down. I understand an author's desire to let the reader come to their own conclusion about a character's future, but I just like having all my ends tied. (This will forever be a statement of mine lol)

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magdalen Laundries in Ireland were state-sanctioned work houses run by nuns where young girls and women were sent who had shamed their families, primarily by becoming pregnant out of wedlock. The "Maggies" worked for no wages in very poor conditions, enduring mistreatment and hardship. Marita Conlon-McKenna used her conversations with survivors of the laundries to create this well-written novel about the fictional character, Esther Doyle, and her experiences at the Sisters of the Holy Saints Magdalen Home for Wayward Girls and Fallen Women in Dublin. The Magdalen Laundries are much in the news in Ireland today as the head of the Irish Parliament has recently issued a formal state apology to the 80 living Magdalen survivors and the government has established a fund to provide financial compensation to these women.

[Mardian Sagian · Rating 3 out of 5]

1/3 ceritanya.... membosankan!

[N Mursidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kisah Tragis Penebusan Dosa di Magdalen
(Sumber: Sinar Harapan, Sabtu 29 Sep 07)

Judul buku : The Magdalen,
Pengarang : Marita Conlon-McKenna,
Penerbit : Dastan Books, Jakarta
Cetakan : Pertama, 2007
Tebal buku : 527 halaman

TAK ada satu pun wanita di dunia ini yang mau menderita lantaran api cinta. Tapi pesona cinta kerapkali membuat kaum hawa sering lupa akan penderitaan yang ditanggung jika dia terpeleset asmara dan hamil di luar nikah. Padahal kaum hawa harus menanggung derita yang tak terkira. Ia tak saja sakit hati terhadap kekasih yang pergi melainkan juga ditimpa tudingan sebagai "wanita nakal". Lebih tragis, keluarga yang seharusnya jadi pelindung --tak jarang-- justru menjatuhi hukuman!

Nasib tragis akibat hamil di luar nikah itulah yang dialami Ester Doyle sebagaimana dikisahkan Marita Conlon-McKenna dalam novel The Magdalen ini. Diangkat dari kisah nyata kehidupan Ester Doyle, gadis asal Irlandia, yang menjalani hukuman tragis karena dikucilkan keluarga ke Magdalen Laundry dan diperlakukan seperti budak, tentu cerita novel ini memilukan, mengandung pesan moral serta pelajaran berharga bagi pembaca.

Dilahirkan di daerah terpencil di Carraig Beag, Connemara, (bagian Barat Irlandia), Ester Doyle adalah gadis yang lahir dengan lilitan derita. Lahir dari keluarga (nelayan) miskin, nyaris membuat Ester harus kerja keras membantu ibunya; mengurus rumah, memasak dan mengasuh adiknya apalagi setelah ayahnya meninggal dunia saat ia berumur 13 tahun.

Tapi derita itu masih kuat ditanggung Ester. Ia menganggap itu adalah jalan hidup yang harus dijalani. Penderitaan yang nyaris tak terbayangkan oleh Ester ketika ia harus menjalani hukuman akibat hamil di luar nikah. Kala Ester tumbuh dewasa dan mengenal lawan jenis, ia jatuh cinta terhadap Conor O`Hagan. Diam-diam, ia sering menemui Conor dan melakukan hubungan badan. Buah dari kecerobohan Ester itu membawa petaka. Ia hamil. Conor tak mau bertanggung jawab. Demi uang, Conor pun memilih menikahi Naula McGuiness, majikannya yang berumur lebih tua.

Tak ingin menanggung malu, keluarganya membawa ke Magdalen di Dublin daripada digunjing tetangga sebagai hukuman yang pantas diterima Esther. Magdalen dikenal sebagai "tempat rehabilitasi" yang diperuntukkan bagi wanita nakal; seperti pelacur, gadis yang hamil di luar nikah juga gadis malang yang menjadi korban inses dan pemerkosaan --yang didirikan sebagai "tempat penebusan dosa". Karena dianggap berlumur dosa, maka di Magdalen itu Ester diperlakukan seperti budak dipaksa kerja di binatu dengan imbalan makan sekadarnya dan tak diberi upah.

Meskipun dalam kondisi hamil, Ester tetap tidak mendapat makanan bergizi. Bahkan, ia harus bangun pagi untuk misa subuh, sarapan, lantas bekerja di binatu. Bersama para maggie (sebutan untuk penghuni Magdalen) yang lain, ia diperlakukan seperti tahanan. Tak diijinkan keluar, bahkan menerima tamu pada jam kerja. Lebih tragis, saat dia melahirkan, anak haram itu pun tidak menjadi anak Esther. Seperti wanita lain di Magdalen, para biarawati menganggap Esther bukan sebagai ibu yang baik karena itu, anaknya dititipkan di panti asuhan Haly Saints dan hak Esther sebagai ibu pun dirampas.

Tak mau hidup terus di Magdalen yang mirip penjara, maka dia mengirim surat pada keluarga di kampung. Esther lalu dijemput bibinya, Patricia O`Malley. Tetapi, Esther tak mau jauh dari anaknya. Pasca dari Magdalen, ia memilih tinggal di Dublin. Ia tak mau menghadapi hidup bersama keluarga. Dia sudah bertekat menjadi Magdalena, tak mau bersembunyi di Magdalen --seperti Detta, Bernice dan para meggie lain-- untuk memalingkan diri dari kehidupan. Esther memilih melupakan masa lalu dan memulai kehidupan baru. ]

***
NOVEL The Magdalen ini boleh dikatakan belum selesai. Masih ada ruang kehidupan baru yang dijalani Esther dan nasib Roinan (anak Esther) setelah diadopsi orang lain. Ending yang dipilih McKenna, penulis Irlandia yang sering memperoleh penghargaan ini sengaja digantung --setelah Esther keluar dari Magdalen. Padahal, peristiwa Esther melahirkan Roinan itu tahun 1952, yang masih memungkinkan ada ruang bagi pengarang untuk menulis kelanjutan kisah ini.

Terlepas dari semua itu, yang jelas, novel The Magdalen ini adalah potret buram perempuan di Irlandia yang mengalami nasib hamil di luar nikah. Padahal, lahir sebagai perempuan bukan pilihan yang bisa ditawar siapa pun. Tetapi, hukuman bagi Esther yang diperlakukan buruk layaknya budak dan hidup di Magdalen adalah hukuman yang layak dipertanyakan. Conor yang juga sebagai pelaku kejahatan tidak mendapat hukuman --kecuali dihajar saudara Esther-- dan dapat memilih menikahi Naula juga mendapat kekayaan. Karena itu, novel ini adalah sebuah memoar kesaksian yang luar biasa, menguncang kesadaran dan ideologi patriarki terutama di Irlandia yang jadi setting novel rajutan Ketua PEN Irlandia ini.

Dengan latar kisah nyata Esther sebagai tokoh utama yang dihukum di Magdalen dan divonis "dosa" akibat hamil di luar nikah, jelas novel ini menyentak kesadaran. Nyaris membuat pembaca seperti tidak percaya jika di pelosok Irlandia masih ada hukuman bagi wanita hamil di luar nikah. Meski diakui bahwa novel ini dari pencapaian estetis kurang menggelorakan kesadaran, karena kering diskripsi tapi pesan pengarang tentang derita di Magdalen sungguh mencekam. Karena itu, novel ini seperti menyibak tabir bisu di balik tembok Magdalen yang masih memperlakukan para wanita hamil dengan buruk.

***

MEMBACA The Magdalen ini, saya teringat klimaks novel Burned alive yang ditulis Souad (nama samaran) yang menceritakan kisah nyata yang dialami setelah ia hamil di luar nikah dan keluarga Souad memutuskan membunuhnya atas nama kehormatan keluarga. Tetapi, nasib Esther yang tidak mendapat hak sebagai ibu, nyaris mirip akhir kisah novel Gadis Pantai karya Pramoedya yang kehilangan hak asuh anak yang dilahirkan gadis pantai. Padahal, gadis pantai itu dinikahi secara sah dan setelah melahirkan, ia diceraikan dan tak memiliki hak bahkan untuk sekadar menjenguk anaknya.

Sebagaimana novel Burned alive dan Gadis Pantai, novel The Magdalen inipun membawa pesan tentang perjuangan perempuan atas nasib tragis yang kerapkali diterima lantaran ia lahir sebagai kaum hawa. Lebih tragis, di balik dalih kebenaran agama juga tradisi justru tak jarang "hukuman yang buruk" terhadap kaum hawa yang hamil dan hak ibu ternyata tidak memihak kaum perempuan. Padahal, agama seharusnya jadi pencerah bagi kehidupan bukan mencelakai nasib perempuan.

Tak salah, pengarang asal Iralandia yang mendapat "kesuksesan # 1 national bestseller" untuk novel ini, mengangkat kisah nyata ini tak lain untuk menguak tabir bisu di balik tembok Magdalen atas penderitaan yang dialami warga Magdalen untuk dapat dijadikan "pelajaran" bagi peradaban. (n. mursidi, cerpenis asal Lasem, Jawa Tengah).

[Laurean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of The Wonder by Emma Donoghue, although nowhere as literary, magical, or compelling, but Conlon-McKenna is a good solid storyteller. If you have grudges against Catholicism, either book will reinforce those prejudices.
Set in post WW2 rural Ireland, teen Esther finds herself broken-hearted by a one-sided infatuation and pregnant. Her mother severely rejects her as an embarrassment, although the family had insisted, when she was thirteen, that she leave school to cook, clean, care for babies -- be a general workhorse for her large male-dominated family. Esther has a prosperous aunt who intervenes to try and give her help in the only way she knows, through the Catholic church. Between her family and the village priest , Esther ends up in a Magdalen Laundry run by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit Magdalen Home for Wayward Girls and Fallen Women in Dublin where appalling cruelty and unjust practices abound. These penitental convents actually existed all over North America until the late 20th century. See movie, The Magdalen Sisters. Finally Esther matures, gains strength, and attempts to pursue life. The author pulled me into the story, and foreshadowing indicated perhaps a happier ending for Esther than expected. If you are interested in crimes committed against women for being women, and the reasons women rose up and fought for their rights, you will benefit from reading The Magdalen. I will read Conlon-McKenna again.

[Jenee Rager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esther Doyle has never had what anyone would call an easy life. Her family lives hand to mouth in Ireland. When her mother gives birth to her youngest sister, and her father dies shortly afterwards, Esther is often left in charge of running the household and carrying for her little sister with disabilities.

As she enters her late teens she falls in love with a man named Conor and gives in to the temptation of romance. She finds herself pregnant, around the same time as Conor ends their relationship. Her family is ashamed of her situation and she is sent off to a Magdalen house for the rest of her pregnancy. The author does a good job of describing the different women in the Magdalen house, and not only how they came to live there but their different reactions to their situation. Some fight, some become placid with acceptance and many, like Esther ache for what they've lost, yet try to just make it through the days.

[Pamela mahady · Rating 4 out of 5]

very sad that this kind of treatment was dished out by nuns

A very good and detailed story of girls who became pregnant out of wedlock and the humiliation and dreadful treatment they experienced from both the nuns and their families. They were made to give up their babies because they were given no other choice. Their families and the nuns should be ashamed of themselves.
The writer related the story very well but I would have liked to have had more information about what became of them after she was released from the Magdalen. It seemed a bit of an abrupt and unfinnished end.

[Lorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book took me a while to read because I struggled to pick it back up whenever I put it down. Given the subject matter I'm afraid I found it weak and lacking depth. The way women like Esther were treated is a very dark part of Ireland's history, but the poverty, cruelty and tragedies that Esther faced are passed over quite quickly, with no real lasting sense of suffering or even atmosphere. A couple of my family members have enjoyed it, and there is nothing wrong with it as such, I think I just expected to feel more impact from such a tragic subject.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book

Its not your usual Magdalene tale with theming and work being described in a far gentler manner than is the norm. You feel the sense of sisterhood that develops between the girls and find yourself wanting only the best for them. The one thing I can complain about is the ending because I wanted a significantly different outcome for the main character and a lovely family man.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting reading a Martina Conlon-McKenna book after so long. The last book of hers was Under The Hawthorn Tree in primary school. The voice of Esther is very believable and the book was a good read. I did feel though it possibly was softer depiction of what life in the laundries would have been like. Anyway it’s worth a read.

[Amalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

buku ini berhasil bikin aku nangis karena ceritanya yang terasa sangat nyata. di awal memang ada beberapa cerita yang panjang yang membuat cerita ini sangat pelan untuk menuju ke inti, tapi itulah yang membuat cerita ini sangat membekas dan sangat terasa nyata sampai aku ingin sekali memeluk Esther. aku sangat suka dan puas dengan keputusan Esther di akhir, yah semoga dia baik-baik saja.

[Ann J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently came across a book review that touched on the topic of young, unwed pregnant teen mothers in Ireland in the 1950s who were sent to work in the Catholic convent laundries. This led me to read this book and I was blown away. The "Maggies" as they were called endured separation from the families, banishment from their communities as being a "disgrace ", abuse from the nuns and other girls, in addition to giving up their baby for adoption. Such an emotional subject and a tough topic that still has ramifications in the present day.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having some background knowledge of Ireland during these times, this book is accurate and well written, steeped in fact despite it being non fiction and appropriately hard hitting. Ita easy to believe and understand the main character and, especially asa woman, relate to her. The ending seemed upbrupt which I usually HATE but actually in this sense, it fits perfectly!

[chlorinda naish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadness

So awful what the Magdalen ladies went through, what is worse it is all true, thank God things have moved on since then, hopefully, the Nuns thought they were doing their best, I wonder how many are still alive and remember the way the ladies were treated.

[Nellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Loved this from the start,I kept saying to myself just another 10 mns,
but it would go on longer,reading till late but loved the book,very sad
as I know a lot of these stories,are based on truth.a good read very enjoyable all the characters,all were good in the story.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I loved it. Stayed up into the wee hours, couldn’t put it down. Well written, loved the characters too, a very talented author and story teller. Can’t wait to read her other books now.

[dorothy cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down!

This is an excellent read and only took me a couple of days to read it.
The book tells the story of Esther an Irish girl who falls pregnant and becomes one of the Magdalen girls.
It is well written and makes you wish that it has a happy ending.

[Diane Cogswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good, however I think it minimized the actual cruelty these girls suffered. My mother had a friend who was a "Maggie" and she told some horror stories. I was glad that Esther found herself at the end and has a bright future ahead.

[Derith Rolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fair

I have read better, with regard to the Magdalena launderies. This seemed to hint at cruelty rather than address it. However, I wouldn't wish that life on anyone. To be treated in such a harsh and cruel way, when you're at your most vulnerable. Seems inhumane.