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Setting Sail
Book by GRACE ELLIOT
309 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 23, 2019
I was drawn in by the stories of these families and their challenges in the mid 1800's.
May 17, 2019
A lot of names to keep track of at first. The story was good though. I would read more of the series.
April 21, 2010
It started out a little slow as you delve into the characters lives, but then picks up as they make their way to set sail to a new life. the story takes place in the mid 1800's when the lower class worked for poor wages in poor conditions and for the benefit of their landlords and mines. Trying to make a better life for their families or their selves, Edward Morgan from Ireland leaves his former life as a farmer and embarks to Australia as a merchant. This is only after his family has either moved to "Zion" or been taken by disease.
In Scotland, Ewen McAllister and his wife are used to being forced into something they don't want to do. First they are forced to leave the Highlands where they made their home and then are forced to make a life in the coal mines until they break the chains and go in search for a better life for their children...ship building and then find the gospel and sail for New Zealand for a better opportunity.
In Ireland, Lauryn Kelly endures the hardship of no food and the cruelty of the wealthy. She takes the chance at working as a maid servant to go far away for a better life for her and her family.
They all meet on the "victory" ship and their lives are bond together forever because of shared sorrow and joy. Edward learns to accept that his heart can love someone else even though he loved and lost his childhood sweetheart Lizzy so young. He finds Lauryn to be just what he needs, but she is somewhat resistant until her employer and friend Lady Farnsworth tells her to be her lovely self and befriend everyone including Edward. The McAllisters are examples of people who are happy and well balanced even when tragedy strikes not once but twice when fiona and Jimmy loose not one but both parents. Their faith holds strong as they know they will see them again. Their faith inspires others to want to find out more and be better. Inspiring story the really shows how blessed we are now adays and how much we take for granted in our prosperity. We have food to each, jobs, and work for ourselves and our families.
In Scotland, Ewen McAllister and his wife are used to being forced into something they don't want to do. First they are forced to leave the Highlands where they made their home and then are forced to make a life in the coal mines until they break the chains and go in search for a better life for their children...ship building and then find the gospel and sail for New Zealand for a better opportunity.
In Ireland, Lauryn Kelly endures the hardship of no food and the cruelty of the wealthy. She takes the chance at working as a maid servant to go far away for a better life for her and her family.
They all meet on the "victory" ship and their lives are bond together forever because of shared sorrow and joy. Edward learns to accept that his heart can love someone else even though he loved and lost his childhood sweetheart Lizzy so young. He finds Lauryn to be just what he needs, but she is somewhat resistant until her employer and friend Lady Farnsworth tells her to be her lovely self and befriend everyone including Edward. The McAllisters are examples of people who are happy and well balanced even when tragedy strikes not once but twice when fiona and Jimmy loose not one but both parents. Their faith holds strong as they know they will see them again. Their faith inspires others to want to find out more and be better. Inspiring story the really shows how blessed we are now adays and how much we take for granted in our prosperity. We have food to each, jobs, and work for ourselves and our families.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2010
I had to concentrate to figure out all the characters (there are a lot of names through the first few chapters), but I kind of liked the challenge it posed (vs. being a over-simplified LDS fiction selection.)
I kept thinking of the Work and the Glory series as I read this, but (it's been at least a decade) if my memory serves me correctly, this book is much better. It's more succinct and compact. I'll enjoy reading the other books as she writes them. I appreciate that she has a master's degree and did her thesis on minority groups (explained in the preface.)
It was nice not getting the regular 'begin in England, sail to America, travel the plains' story. I really didn't know much about what happened in Scotland or Ireland. I'm guessing the Scotland story goes hand in hand with the movie Braveheart and the Ireland one with the potato famine.
I liked that Elliot skipped large chunks of time. Sometimes a reader just wants the storyline and not the details of everyday life for 7 years in order to get the storyline. She would slow down and give details to beef up the story, then jump way ahead. I liked that...kind of like watching the best scenes of a movie and getting to fast forward the dumb parts, I guess.
A nice LDS fiction fix, but not as simple and easily-read as others.
I kept thinking of the Work and the Glory series as I read this, but (it's been at least a decade) if my memory serves me correctly, this book is much better. It's more succinct and compact. I'll enjoy reading the other books as she writes them. I appreciate that she has a master's degree and did her thesis on minority groups (explained in the preface.)
It was nice not getting the regular 'begin in England, sail to America, travel the plains' story. I really didn't know much about what happened in Scotland or Ireland. I'm guessing the Scotland story goes hand in hand with the movie Braveheart and the Ireland one with the potato famine.
I liked that Elliot skipped large chunks of time. Sometimes a reader just wants the storyline and not the details of everyday life for 7 years in order to get the storyline. She would slow down and give details to beef up the story, then jump way ahead. I liked that...kind of like watching the best scenes of a movie and getting to fast forward the dumb parts, I guess.
A nice LDS fiction fix, but not as simple and easily-read as others.
March 20, 2012
This is a good book with a solid look at life for the various European countries in the late 1800's. I have to admire people of the past with the drive to survive and make life a better place for those who followed. I wish people today were more concerned about the future of our children. The book did start to feel a bit long as I got to end, it could have been a hundred pages shorter and been fantastic.
March 4, 2010
I don't usually read books with ships on the cover because they tend to be terribly sad, but I'm so glad I read Setting Sail. I really enjoyed it! Things don't always turn out perfectly which makes the story and the characters more real. I also think there might be a sequel judging by the way Setting Sail ended.
July 4, 2019
Three families from Great Britain (Scotland, England, and Ireland) are trapped in the advancing age of Industrialism, until they find the light of the Gospel and sail to a new world, the lush island of New Zealand. A very good historical novel and an emotionally enthralling epic. Truly worth reading!
September 21, 2010
Another great book about the trials of the early Saints. This is set in Ireland, Scotland and England and how different people found the Gospel and then how they decide to leave their homelands to find a better life by sailing to New Zealand. The book tells a lot about that heoric voyage and the hardships and wonders that happen during their 3 months at sea.
October 3, 2010
I love historical fiction so I started this book with high hopes that I had found a great new author I could follow. Alas, this was not the case.
Too many storylines and backstories I quickly grew impatient for all the characters to just get on the darn ship already and begin the adventure of sailing halfway around the world to a new life in a foreign land. Could have been so much better.
Too many storylines and backstories I quickly grew impatient for all the characters to just get on the darn ship already and begin the adventure of sailing halfway around the world to a new life in a foreign land. Could have been so much better.
October 10, 2011
Seeking religeous freedom and a better life. That is how America was founded. We tend to think of 1600 - 1900 Europe as such a romantic time frame but the truth in many areas and time are far from it. In today's ACLU life can we actually even fathom such hardships or inequalities? This was an interesting read and look into life of the time.
January 15, 2012
LDS historical fiction telling a story of people from England, Ireland and Scotland leaving England by ship to immigrate to New Zealand and Australia in the late 1840's. I haven't read any book talking about that subject until now, so I enjoyed the history. The characters were also very believable.
February 27, 2012
This story made me thankful that I live in today's world and I didn't have to go on a ship for 3 months in stormy seas to get to another part of the world. Many people in Europe at that time were so poor, had nothing, and some starved to death. It was a story about some going after their dreams and getting out of difficult situations.
February 13, 2010
This was a good picture of what happened in the British Isles in the mid 1800's and what the poorer people did to help themselves. I will read more books by this author.
Merged review:
I have this as the title Setting Sail.
Merged review:
I have this as the title Setting Sail.
March 28, 2010
This is the best debut book I've read in a long time. It is the first in the series Upon The Isles of the Sea. Perhaps the subject matter is one that interests me. Highly recommended. I'm anxiously awaiting the next in the series.
November 14, 2012
This is the second time I have read this book. It is the story of people from Scotland, Ireland, and England that go to New Zealand and Australia. It is a good book.
September 22, 2010
I really liked this book. I believe it is going to be a series and I can't wait for the next one.
August 15, 2011
This was actually a good read. It took me a few chapters to really get into the characters but once I did I really enjoyed it. An easy read that makes me want to go on a boat....more like a cruise.
September 5, 2012
This was a nice story. It was neatly put together.
March 13, 2013
Loved reading about a different path some converts took in choosing to leave the problems of 1800's England, Scotland, and Ireland to colonize New Zealand.
June 10, 2011
Decent! Good story once you got into it. Finishes up fast! Intersting history to learn.
April 23, 2014
Story about the LDS converts who emigrated to New Zealand in the 1840's.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews