Haley LeFaivre’s Reviews > Remembering Ahanagran: A History of Stories > Status Update

The epilogue and end of this novel wraps up with the author's explanation into his analysis with history and memory. In one of his assignment's he gives his students, they research their ancestors in relation to the currents of history at that time and why it influenced their decisions. From this, it can be conferred that history is like a river that has many down streams that affect decisions today.

Chapter 32 details the smaller aspects of Sara and Harry's marriage. It is more delicate to note the tension the author felt in bringing up any memories that came back false by cross checking resources. It is also interesting how much memory Sara was reluctant in sharing with her own kin. Is this characteristic of people from the wartime? As most subjects were touchy then, so they carry that into the present?

The fourth section of the book and in chapter 30, the author speaks about his mother's meeting with his father. This must have been a hard subject as chances for bias are strong in telling this narrative. On page 247, it is most interesting to look at Sara's protection of memory in regards to her meeting her husband in front of her child. That memories are tainted with what happened later in their marriage.

Chapter 26, delves into Sara's own self-finding identity away from Nell's once Nell found a husband and the centering of Nell and Sarah's attachment to their home on Mozart compared to Jackie's self absorbed behavior. It is interesting to bring this idea of Sara at first being a green horn, to not being one at all. I am unsure if I fully understand with the author's use of green horn, of what it means in his context.

Chapter 25 delves into the Irish dances and Sara's assimilation in becoming her sister's copy. The chapter left me with more questions as I am unsure of the significance of Gaelic Park and the University student's study into its activities. What does this information reveal about history and correlate to Sara's memories?

Chapter 24 delves into Sarah's new home in America and the streets of Chicago. From the memories of Sarah, the author reconstructs the environment in which she spent the rest of her teenage years. Taking into account some of the aspects Sarah didn't care to remember. It was interesting at the end of the chapter how Sarah was unaware of the history, like that of St. Rita.She went to the novenas as she was supposed to.

Chapter 20 delves into Sarah's first time in America and meeting her father who became a stranger to her. The author pieces together Jack Walsh's life with historical documents and little memory of him from his family members. History can place John Walsh, but his character was lost because those around the writer had little recollection of who he really was. Perhaps memory is the best form of revealing character.

Chapter 19 was important with analysis of history and memory as Sarah's document of her transferring to America. In this chapter, memory reveals more than history as we see that the man filling the form put down false information like how Sarah did not have fifty dollars, but stated she did. The reason she did is lost in memory, but falsely preserved in history. This is why memory and history are important together.

Chapter 18 is the analysis of memory as Sarah is recalling her passage to America. Sarah describes her sea sickness and the warped memory of her arrival. The author mentions that it is at that point that he must add/subtract from Sarah's memory.Interesting the author must continuously question his mother's memory as history has come up and contradicted her statements.This is why good booking is essential for history.

Chapter 17 reveals the many versions of death of Ed Mulvihill and the incorporation that Sarah had played into her memory of his death.In the analysis of history and memory, it's interesting to note that his death happened before Sarah was born.Was the death of Mulvihill tattered due to newspaper's headlinings? Or the lack of persecution for his murder? Is the way a murder conviction is written, could change history.