Lark, Sarah-- Toward the Sea of Freedom informal buddy read starts July 26, 2020

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This thread is open to discuss Toward the Sea of Freedom by Sarah Lark.



Synopsis
In mid-nineteenth-century Ireland, charming Kathleen and dashing Michael harbor secrets and dreams. Imagining a life beyond the kitchen and fields of the wealthy family they both work for, they plot to leave their homeland, marry, and raise the child Kathleen is secretly carrying. The luck of the Irish, however, is not on their side.

Soon, they find themselves swept up in circumstances they never could have fathomed. Kathleen is forced to marry against her will and immigrate to New Zealand. Michael is imprisoned for rebellion and exiled to Australia. As time passes and their new lives march on, they long for those stolen moments in the lush green fields of their native land. And they both still dream of escape, with no idea of how close fate will eventually bring them.

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[Laura]

I finished part 1
(view spoiler)[
It was a slow start but picked up.
I think my favorite part of this section was when Kathleen was at miss Daisy's house.
(hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Finished Part 1 too, I'm actually enjoying this so far.

(view spoiler)[I enjoyed Miss Daisy too. (hide spoiler)]

What do you think of Michael? He was described as having a silver tongue which to me isn't a good thing

[Laura]

Megan, I didn't really like Michael though I liked his fortitude- he hasnt given up despite being beaten and locked up.
I haven't been in a position that I need to do something illegal to survive (food, accomodations) so don't feel I can judge him for that

What do you think of Ian?

[Megan]

Mmm, I agree with you about Michael. No I must admit, I felt sorry for them all to be honest.

I think Ian has an ulterior motive, maybe its to get the ability to move away, or maybe its because he secretly likes her?

[Laura]

I agree with you about Ian, though I couldn't decide if he really wanted to leave or he really liked her or both?

I'm going to try and read the next section today

[Karen ♐]

I just finished Part 1...(view spoiler)[I agree, it started slow but picked up once Michael was arrested. I can't really decide about Michael. I think he was just trying to find a way out of their horrible situation. (hide spoiler)]

I think Ian has a motive for wanting Kathleen. The first time he offered her a ride, he was going to attack her. So what changed?

[Megan]

Just got through Part 2.
(view spoiler)[ I feel so sorry for Kathleen at the moment, shes basically being raped. Ian has shown his true colours and I'm not surprised at all. I didn't think he was this vicious. What do you think of Lizzie? I was a little confused with why we were following her and then Michael happened to be on her boat. (hide spoiler)]
I'm glad to be reading this in parts, I can stop at the end of each part and take a breather although this book is good its not a happy story is it?!

[Megan]

Karen ♐ wrote: "I just finished Part 1...[spoilers removed]

I think Ian has a motive for wanting Kathleen. The first time he offered her a ride, he was going to attack her. So what changed?"

You just wait!!

[Laura]

I didn't quite finish part 2. I'm in chapter 9
(view spoiler)[
I like Lizzie, at first I thought this whole section would be about her. She doesn't have an easy life. I enjoyed the boat voyage and hearing about what they did to survive. I'm wondering since she meets Velvet again if Velvet helps her or is Velvet in the same kind of predicament as Lizzie. I'm really hoping that Lizzie doesn't get mixed up with Michael after coming across him again.
I agree, Megan, Ian basically raped Kathleen- she is tough. I hope she can stand up to him in future chapters. I like the friendship she makes with the other women. Terrifying thought to know there is no one to help with the upcoming birth.
It is a rather sad story but I feel there is a bit of hope and perseverance as underlying themes from both Lizzie and Kathleen actions.

I'm looking forward to finishing this part and then making my way through section 3. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Ian(view spoiler)[
He only used Kathleen to get her money!! Hopefully she can build a sheep empire for them because he seems kinda useless and just nasty (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

End of part 2
(view spoiler)[Darn, well that played out how I thought.

Lizzie is certainly resourceful
(hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Laura wrote: "Ian"

Yes, we sort of predicted it. I'm sad hes a tool.

[Laura]

We did, I was hoping otherwise!

[Laura]

I finished part 3
Everytime I read about Kathleen I want to know how Lizzie is doing than vice versa. Anyone else feel that way? I suspect Lark deliberately set it up this way.
Who do you like more Kathleen or Lizzie?
Im really hoping for a happy ending for both of these women( and Claire)
(view spoiler)[
So much happens in this section. I was happy to see Kathleen and Claire find a little independence in their dress making business even though they both had to hide it. It was a happy moment reading that both Kathleen and Claire left their no good husbands. I'm hoping the next section talks about their new start.
I felt so bad for Lizzie she seemed to have a new start being a maid and then to find herself looking at that old lecherous man again...that scene was a little heartbreaking.

Lizzie and Michael keep intertwining, I hope she can make a go of her new business.

What do you both think of Kahu?
(hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Megan wrote: "Karen ♐ wrote: "I just finished Part 1...[spoilers removed]

I think Ian has a motive for wanting Kathleen. The first time he offered her a ride, he was going to attack her. So what changed?"

You ..."

I'm on Chap 9 of Part 2 - (view spoiler)[I thought Ian would be awful but I really didn't think it would be this bad. I'm up to the part where Kathleen has made friends with Claire. I'm hoping she can help Kathleen because she's so alone. I'm afraid that Michael will get together with Lizzie thinking he can never go back for Kathleen. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Laura wrote: "End of part 2
Darn, well that played out how I thought.

Lizzie is certainly resourceful
"

Finished Part 2 also. I thought the same thing. (view spoiler)[Without Lizzie, Michael would still have been in chains. She is really sharp. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

ha, or drowned! They really didn't think their boat stealing plan through!

[Laura]

Are you both enjoying the book?

[Karen ♐]

I'm just starting Part 3. I'm enjoying this book. I love all the different characters. Assume their stories will intersect.

[Karen ♐]

Finished part 3 - I’m really enjoying reading about Kathleen and Claire. Also I really like Lizzie. My favorite still is Kathleen. I’m really hoping for a happy ending for all the women. (view spoiler)[ I’m so glad that Kathleen and Claire left their husbands. I’m hoping that they end up OK. And it’s really interesting how the author brought Michael and Lucy back together again and he’s making whiskey for her. Something that got him into trouble in the first place (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

I am enjoying it but I don't like Lizzie. Its got nothing to do with her being a sex worker I just don't like her.

I think its too many love stories. Its the who is ending up with whom.

I've also finished part 3. I love the partnership Kathleen has with Claire. Poor Claire!! (view spoiler)[Were you surprised one of the kids didn't want to go with them? Also I liked Kahu, what a sweet person to help out someone but then hes in love with Lizzie. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ♐]

Megan wrote: "I am enjoying it but I don't like Lizzie. Its got nothing to do with her being a sex worker I just don't like her.

I think its too many love stories. Its the who is ending up with whom.

I've als..."

I agree with you about too many love stories. I'm on Chap 3 of Gold (Part 4) and (view spoiler)[now we have the reverend being in love with Kathleen! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Karen's last spoiler
(view spoiler)[
I actually like the reverend for Kathleen, I'm hoping they end up together.
(hide spoiler)]
Part 4
(view spoiler)[
This part took an unexpected turn for me... I wasn't expecting anything about gold but as Karen said earlier they all had to meet and cross paths eventually.
I quite like the Reverend- he is one of my favorite characters, Lizzie is my other.

Ian is just poison, I was hoping that Chris would be okay. The beating was sad and heartbreaking and Im okay with Lizzie killing Ian.
I wish Kathleen had told Peter( the Reverend) that she had seen Ian instead of running away.
(hide spoiler)]
I like that this book is broken up into sections - I was content to read a section per day but I think Ill finish this sometime tomorrow as it works for another challenge and I really want to see how it ends.

When we finish do you both want to read book 2 right away or take a few days break?

[Karen ♐]

Laura's spoiler in answer to mine (view spoiler)[I was just thinking the same thing. I hope Kathleen ends up with Peter and Lizzie and Michael get together (finally). (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

I hate Lizzie. She really annoys me which is silly I just don't like her. I think its because I feel it should be Kathleen and Michael. No one else.
I've just read the Gold section. I'm going to finish this I think today. Maybe we could start book 2 on Monday? Give us a few days?
(view spoiler)[I'm glad Kathleen is finally free, like truly free of her husband. I think Lizzie had no other choice to kill Ian, he wouldn't have stopped. (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Ok I'm finished.
I don't like Lizzie. Still don't.
Not happy with the ending. Going to go sulk lol

[Laura]

I'm finished too
I enjoyed the book once I got into it.
(view spoiler)[
I didn't always like Michael.... he never would have survived without Lizzie. I always thought he was a man child that didn't grow up.

Megan, you mentioned Kathleen's son earlier that she left behind... Colin was it? Being a mom I thought that was a difficult decision to make though she needed to leave her husband

I enjoyed Claire's tactics to get Kathleen back to work! I didn't mind the ending, in fact liked it but I liked Lizzie 's character. I think even though the book started about Kathleen this story for me became more about Lizzie.
4 stars
<\spoiler>

Monday works for me and since I won't need it for another challenge I can follow the parts to the end this time and not leave Karen behind (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

(view spoiler)[ I agree about Michael, Lizzie saved his butt a fair few times. I didn't think she should have taken him back after he left her for Kathleen again.

Yeah Colin was left behind, I was surprised she made that decision but I think it was right, she had let him be too much like his dad and he wasn't ever going to let that go.

Claire was a good friend to Kathleen, it was nice actually to see the two women band together after having bad husbands. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Megan wrote: "Ok I'm finished.
I don't like Lizzie. Still don't.
Not happy with the ending. Going to go sulk lol"

Lol... I had to chuckle when I read this comment!

[Karen ♐]

I finished also. I agree with all of your statements. I really didn't like how this book ended either. (view spoiler)[All of the back and forth with Kathleen and Michael and he ends up with Lizzie? smh. I'm assuming that Kathleen ends up with Peter which was a better fit for her actually. I always thought Michael was immature.

I thought it must be so hard to leave a child behind. Even though he preferred being with his father.

I did like the friendship that Kathleen and Claire had. Especially after the lives they had led. (hide spoiler)]

Please feel free to go ahead with the next book. I have quite a few books that I need to get to so I don't know when I'd be able to read the next book.

[Laura]

Ahh, I think I liked this book more than you both.

Megan, since Karen can't read with us for the next book, does Monday still work for you?

[Megan]

Laura wrote: "Ahh, I think I liked this book more than you both.

Megan, since Karen can't read with us for the next book, does Monday still work for you?"

Sorry thought I'd replied. Yes it does

[Laura]

Book 2 thread, Megan

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...