Book Review: Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan

Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan

My Rating: 5 of 5

I was introduced to this book about by the TV book club show that was on during the summer. I wasn't sure whether it was going to be a great read but the reviews on it were good. I bought it for £3.99 so that wasn't too bad. It's a must read book. I couldn't stop reading it, that's how much I loved it. I love it and would recommend to anyone. A book I could read again and again.

Ellis Island is about a woman who fell in love with her childhood friend and they got married . Unfortunately, he got shot in the leg and was unable to walk. The doctor told them without an expensive operation he wouldn't walk again. Due to poverty and having no income and no money, Ellie decided to take a job offer in New York for one year so he could have this operation and they would have some extra money for their future. After sending him enough money for the operation she decided to stay longer to save more money.

Alex, her friend's boyfriend, gave her an opportunity to earn a lot more money as a receptionist and she was now able to afford a fancier lifestyle, more than she ever dreamed of and had no intention of giving it all up. She loved New York and everything about it. When her father took seriously ill she didn't want to leave New York but knew she had too. Ellie told her friends and herself, she'll be back in two months and John, her husband, would have to come back with her.

RMS Celtic Ship - image from wikipedia.org

When she got back to Ireland her father had died and things with John picked up just where they left off. Ellie realised she loved John more than ever and no one could replace him. John had no intentions in leaving Ireland after all he went through for his country but Ellie felt she didn't belong in Ireland anymore. She didn't know what to do, stay with her beloved husband in Ireland or leave John and go back to New York. 

I don't want to tell you too much more about this book because it would spoil it for you.

New York in 1920's - image from jigsawgallery.com

I know the conflict that Ellie had been going through. I was born in Northern Ireland but moved with my family to Canada when I was 6 years old and was heartbroken to leave all my family but as I got older, I settled into my life in Canada. As I just got settled with my life at 16 years old, my mum decided she couldn't live in Canada no more so, we moved back to Northern Ireland. As soon as I got back to Northern Ireland, I just fell back into my old life with all my family, except my dad.

When I was 20 years old mum decided she wanted to keep the family together and we all moved back to Canada to be with my dad, unfortunately things didn't work out just as it was planned and they stayed apart. After being in Northern Ireland for the four years of my adult life I realised I no longer fit into the Canadian lifestyle and my old friends, I had changed. I just wanted to leave Canada but hated leaving my family. It broke my heart to make this difficult choice and leave Canada for my own happiness but I had too.

Since, I hated all the troubles of Northern Ireland and my grandmother said 'Scotland is beautiful' (plus, my grandad is from Scottish decent, a Bruce), I decided Scotland was my next bet, close enough to go see my other family and there was no political troubles that stopped you from getting a good job, especially in the small towns. Plus, the bonus was the countryside and the people were the same.

Have you read this book? If so, tell me how me what you thought of it. If not, tell me if you are going to read this book.

Georgina x