The star of the sea book

A new york times notable book and thoroughly gripping historical mystery. Star of the sea 9780156029667 by joseph oconnor and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Star of the sea is set amid the irish potato famine of the midnineteenth century. It is a miserable november, the cold seeming worse because of the great famine that has stricken the country. Her audio plays based on doctor who and blakes 7 have been produced by big finish, and her short fiction has been anthologised by. We will be happy to add you to the emailing list at the bottom of the page for an occasional update on new acquisitions. Buy star of the sea by oconnor, joseph from amazons fiction books store. The history of the irish famine is so painfuleven for those of us who have never been more than slightly hungrythat we often avoid learning about it. The star of the sea is una mccormacks sequel to the baba yaga which i read last autumn. Cowboys and indians whitbread prize shortlist, desperadoes, the salesman, inishowen, star of the sea american library association award, irish post award for fiction, frances prix millepages, italys premio acerbi, prix madeleine zepter for european novel of the year, redemption falls, ghost light dublin. Buy star of the sea by joseph oconnor from amazons fiction books store. Identify specific scenes or dialogue to make your points.

Its so well written that the complex structure of the book seems natural and the shifting perspectives of the narrative effortless. On a ship packed with irish immigrants, one passenger is a killer people. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for newyork. Praise for star of the sea a brave and artful novel. Star of the sea was written by joseph oconnor and published in 2004.

Eighteen years after the famine ship star of the sea docked at new york, the daughter of two of her passengers sets out from baton rouge, louisiana, on a walk across a devastated america. The details about how the sea star moves and senses the world were fascinating. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by injustice and natural. The novel is set in 1847 against the backdrop of the irish famine. If youre a reader, write his name down along with the title of the book i. A guide to star of the sea by joseph oconnor for book clubs. On board are hundreds of refugees, some optimistic, many more desperate. As we sailed this day came heavy news of the wreck of the exmouth out of liverpool on the 4th ult.

Its name is stella maris, the star of the sea, a small world beyond the edge of the human expansion, where a few men and women vetch and human alike have made their homes. The murder mystery in the book is interesting because we know from the beginning. Since jerome, mary, star of the sea has been a beloved title of mary, especially among her many children who live and make their livelihoods by the sea. Fleeing persecution or oppression on their own worlds, here they have found peace and plenty, in communion with the otherworldly weird. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The nightwalker turned out to be pius mulvey, a central character in star of the sea. The book follows a single day of a sea star struggles to survive as both predator and prey.

Star of the sea by joseph oconnor, random house uk. In the bitter winter of 1847, a ship named star of the sea sails from ireland. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt lord merridith, his wife and children, and a killer stalking the decks, hungry for the vengeance that will bring absolution. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by injustice and natural disaster, the star of the sea sets sail for new york. Both novels are set in a universe originally created by eric brown, though i havent read browns books in the series, and take place in a farfuture universe where both humanity and their traditional enemies the vetch are threatened by the mysterious and massively deadly weird.

Star of the sea became an international number one bestseller, selling more than 800,000 copies in a year. Star of the sea is a thriller about an announced murder. In this, oconnor compares the starving irish population of the village of letterfrack good photos in the 1840s to people starving in. A bumptious epic about a new worldbound ship star of the sea, full of raging immigrants, conflicted aristocrats, and a flinteyed murderer its the tumultuous year of 1847 when oconnors gallimaufry of characters board a coffin ship bound from ireland to new york. Star of the sea is a historical novel by the irish writer joseph oconnor published in 2004. Among them are a maidservant with a devastating secret, bankrupt lord merridith and his family, an aspiring novelist and a maker of revolutionary ballads. Joseph oconnors impressive historical novel, star of the sea, examines the unsettled personal tragedies among a group of interrelated characters and their difficulties in disregarding the past. I have also never wanted to read a book more than once. Terry eagleton is transported by joseph oconnors star of the sea, a finely wrought novel of the irish potato famine. Lord merridith and his family board the titular ship in 1847, bound for new york, leaving behind an ireland devastated by famine and strife. This summary of star of the sea includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor book club discussion.

An introduction to the ochre sea star, a pacific coast variety. Its a beautiful, layered and dense read, set against the lofty sails of a. Among the refugees are a maidservant, bankrupt lord merridith, an aspiring novelist and a maker of revolutionary ballads. I write childrens books but if i could write an adult fiction book like joseph o connor, i feel i would have reached the ultimate in writer status. When she takes too long, the tide flows back without her and sea star becomes easy prey. It uses the format of mixed narratives, including newspaper series, diaries, letters, statements, ballads lyrics to tell the reader about the famine in ireland around 1847 with the consequent death and migration of thousands of irishmen to the us and canada, it is a. Exceptional roman catholic and anglocatholic books reflecting the intellectual, aesthetic, and liturgical memory of the church. It uses the format of mixed narratives, including newspaper series, diaries, letters, statements, ballads lyrics to tell the reader about the famine in ireland around 1847 with the consequent death and migration of thousands of irishmen to the us and canada, it is a story of murder and guilt, full of surprises.

Halfmann appropriately focuses on sea stars more amazing adaptationssticky tube feet, a stomach that can be extruded from its body and the ability to regenerate its rays. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor author official website. Star of the sea is a polyphonic novel, as different voices, social accents and national idioms weave their way in and out of the text. Star of the sea by joseph oconnor books the guardian. Buy the paperback book star of the sea by joseph oconnor at indigo. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and i. I have read it four times now over the years and i know i will read it again and again.

In the spring of 1847, from an ireland torn by disaster and injustice, the star of the sea sets. Brush drawing meditations on the prayer of consecration illustrated allan rohan crite. It is a day to pray for all seafarers and give thanks for their contribution to. But she is built to survive and eventually makes her way back to the sea, although with one less ray than before. Eliza duane mooney is searching for a youngster she has not seen in four years, one of the 100,000 children drawn into the war. The apostleship of the sea has for many years now, been commemorating the feast of stella maris, our lady, star of the sea, with mass each year in september for seafarers. Winter 1847, the star of the sea sets sail from ireland for new york. The reader watches as the sea star makes her way out of the water toward a group of mussels. My personal interpretation is that the book is more of a character study. There is no sense that reaching the destination will bring a good change. In 2008, london band silvery released the song star of the sea on. Indeed, in dutch and other translations the book was given the title stella maris. The irish famine of the 1840s was the greatest social catastrophe of 19thcentury europe, yet inspired surprisingly little imaginative.

Look again at the date that appears below dixons signature at the end of star of the sea. In the bitter winter of 1847, leaving an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for new york. Joseph oconnors star of the sea and sheila sims garden. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt lord merridith, his wife and children. On board are hundreds of refugees, some of them optimistic, many more of them desperate.

Cowboys and indians chronicles the mayhem aboard star of the sea, a leaky old sailing ship crossing from ireland to new york during the bitter winter of 1847. On board are hundreds of fleeing refugees, some brimming with optimism, many more desperate. For a beautiful reflection on this special title of mary please see sarah reinhards article on the subject for catholic exchange. The characters who make the voyage on the ship star of the sea to america. In the bitter winter of 1847, a ship named star of the sea sails from ireland, bound for new york. A new york times notable book this is a brave and artful novel.

Star of the sea is the fourth book in eric brown and una mccormacks weird space saga, and follows on directly from the baba yaga in which eric pretty much passed the baton to una last time round. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book. Children follow along as one sea star uses the nights high tide to reach the shore, where the mussel beds and her next meal lie. Thrilling and full of suspense, this is a novel of ireland set on a new yorkbound ocean liner. In the bitter winter of 1847, from an ireland torn by famine and injustice, the star of the sea sets sail for the new world.

Starfish facts for kids facts about sea star for children simply elearn kids duration. More than that, i hope it also celebrates the solidarities which fill life with joy. Which characters in this novel might be seen as representations of the cain and abel paradigm. Una mccormack is a new york times bestselling author of novels based on star trek and doctor who.