All Rivers to the Sea

The final book of the Galway Chronicles is a masterfully woven tale. Joseph Connor Burke is finally reunited with his wife and family after learning that he has been pardoned for treason.Shortly after his return the potato famine begins. Joseph and Kate are faced with anguish and dispair as they try to keep their family and their people from starving. Their unfailing trust in God is what keeps them hopeful in this tormented time.The addition of the Grogan family only adds to the story.As you read this book you will learn more about the people of Ireland in the 1840's then you have ever before. The treatment of the Irish people by the English is deplorable. I was surprised that as the people of Ireland are starving ships are being sent to England full of grain and livestock to feed the English. Always new that the famine was horrible to Ireland but now I know the whole history of why it was so horrible.I think I now have some insight as to why my Great-great-grandparents came to America.As you read the books in the Galway chronicle you feel like you are witnessing first hand their joys and sorrows and their steadfast faith in God.

All Rivers to the Sea was a wonderful way to end the Galway Chronicles. Once more I was moved to laughter and tears as I followed the lives of the people of Ballyknockanor. Martin's character was fleshed out nicely, Corrie and Ceili's story made a heart wringing sub-plot, and Mad Molly was as wise, humorous, and prophetic as ever. Though it's nice to think of Kate and Joseph living "happily ever after," I would love it if the authors would continue this story in a different series as they have done with their Zion sagas.

This work, the fourth in "The Galway Chronicle" series, has afforded me a much deeper understanding of "things Irish" in the 19th century. Frankly, I could have gleaned much information from textbooks or historical treatises. But this series goes deeper: it incarnates the history. My daily encounters with Joseph Burke have encouraged me to more deeply consider the challenge and possibility of squaring off against today's rampant and relativist postmodern mindset with truly biblical moral courage, compassion, and Christlikeness. So sorry to see this series completed; I would devour more.

Mrs. Thoene is not just one of the best writers of faith of our day, in fact, she is one of the best writers of our day period. Her writing style reaches to the depth of your soul. She emotionally transports you to the scene she is describing. You really feel the hunger, the pain, the anger, the despair, the elation. I advise you to read this book slowly if you want the full impact of the emotion and beauty of this powerful story.

All Rivers to the Sea gives a bird's eye view of the struggles of the Irish people under English rule and the horrors of the potato famine. The Thoenes are able to write with such clarity and description that I feel the cold and the dark and the fear but also the faith and the hope and the love that sustains us all. I truly hope that there are more glimpses into these people and their lives and that this is not the end of this series. I will surely miss these new friends.