Cashelmara

'Cashelmara' is Susan Howatch's re-telling of the story of Edward II, King of England 1307-1327, updated to nineteenth-century Ireland. If you're not at all interested in Edward II, or know nothing about him, it's absolutely no problem - you can thoroughly enjoy this novel anyway. However, working out who each character represents historically - for example, Derry Stranahan is 'really' Edward II's favourite Piers Gaveston, while Maxwell Drummond stands for Queen Isabella's lover Roger Mortimer - was a big part of my enjoyment of the novel! 'Cashelmara' is divided into six sections. Each section is narrated in the first person, by a different character. I love this structure, as you really get into the heads of the different characters, and see how they think and see themselves and others. Howatch has complete command of her structure and pulls it off wonderfully. If you know anything about fourteenth-century English history, you'll see how accurate a re-telling it is. If not, you're sure to enjoy a well-told and fascinating novel that's full of emotional ups and downs. I agree with a previous reviewer who called it emotionally draining! 'Cashelmara' is a highly rewarding read.

This is the kind of book I love--- involved, lots of interesting charactors, a story that is believable and makes one want to keep reading. The middle of the book gets into a subject that was not mentioned much in other books I have read that were written in the mid 70's, and I was surprised when the plot took that turn, although the hints were there from the first. I just wasn't expecting the story to get so specific. I had my favorite charactors, then they would turn out to be not what I had thought-- the whole book was one I kept looking forward to going back to. When I finished it, I was almost drained with emotion. That sure doesn't happen to me very often. I loved it.

Rave rave rave. You'll never tire of this complex and revealing novel, and once you read it, it will occur to you at odd moments forever.

This is the first book I have read by Susan Howatch. I generally dont read much of fiction and this book looked too thick as well. But I picked up this book at a friend's place when I had nothing to do and started reading it just for the sake of it. Well, I had to borrow the book home (and have no intentions of returning it) and read it as if my life depended on finishing it. The story spans three generations and the characters seem real. These are people who driven by circumstances (including a crop famine) and family ties hate, love,sacrifice, take revenge, and even kill. Gripping stuff. You will be able to identify with all the characters in the book and thanks to the writer's skill, will be able to understand why they behave the way they do. Just read it! .

I read this book 20 years ago and have re-read it several times since then. I was drawn in to the book immediately upon opening it. I have read every novel of hers except the Church of England series. I love her style in which she tells the story from each of the character's perspectives. Does anyone know if she plans on writing another historical novel along the lines of this book or Penmarric? I can't get into the spiritual clergy theme of her latest novels, much as I've tried, and am ever hopeful she'll write a new novel similar to Cashelmara.