Love and Mary Ann

The Mary Ann Series #4

by Catherine Cookson

Her expensive convent education hadn't changed Mary Ann Shaughnessy one little bit. Sure, she could come over all refined when she had to, but who'd want to talk ever so nice on a farm?

But in other respects she was growing up fast. As Mary Ann began to learn about the feelings of adults, so could she see that the more they loved someone, the more they could hurt and be hurt. And it wasn't just grown-ups who felt this way either. With something of a start, she realised that - whenever she caught sight of Corny Boyle - she could recognise those same feeling swelling up inside herself.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.

Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.

For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely Mary Ann novel. Lots of fun and carry on. Mary Ann starts a new school closer to home and escapes the taunting of Sarah Flannagan. However there are lots of surprises for Mary Ann in this novel as she meets Cornelius Boyle and her brother Michael just astonishes her. Of course Mr Lord has to have his say. A most enjoyable read.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light easy read. I like how Catherine Cookson understands how a 12 year old child thinks. She has cast Mary Ann as such a thoughtful and caring girl but also with feisty and frustrating mood swings if things don't go her way.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not her best, light

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth and in my personal opinion, best one so far of the Mary Ann series. Perhaps its improvement in my eyes is due to the fact that the story is no longer about an eight year old, but twelve going on thirteen... or thirty if you go by the heroine's evergrowing maturity. In this segment in the life of the fiesty Mary Ann, so many things are happening. There is never a dull moment. A situation with a very agressive bull and yet another gal that Mary Ann cannot get along with, Lorna, leads to a lot of excitement that could very well end in court. Mary Ann's brother is making eyes at her longtime enemy, Sarah Flannegan. Mary's Ann's mother's former beau is getting a divorce from his present wife and of course, Mary Ann has to meddle in that cause she cannot have him making trouble in her ma and da's marriage again. Her dad's boss, Mr. Lord, reveals some shocking intentions regarding Mary Ann's and his grandson, Tony's, futures. These revelations may cause Tony to leave the farm, resulting in the loss of a good friend for Mary Ann. And in the middle of all this ruckus, (in between prayers for her granny's death), Mary Ann is having a "pre teen" romance with a trumpet player whose clothes are way too small for him.

What makes this one even better is you know without a doubt that the err... S(edited) will hit the fan at Mary Ann's thirteenth birthday party. Terrific drum roll like sequence of events. I am looking forward to more of this older Mary Ann.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are eight books in this wonderful series. You meet her as a
young girl with an alcholic father whom she worships. She has many
struggles in her young life and through the series she marries and
has a family of her own. You will laugh, cry, and enjoy reading her
life story and she became like family to me.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th in series

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a brilliant and heart-warming book,also most of the sentences don't really make much sense.

[Janet Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this through in one go, probably loaned from Stretford Library. A nice read. Now I just keep the omnibus Mary Ann on my shelves.