READ THIS: The Honey Queen by Cathy Kelly Our Coverage Sponsored by Maine Woolens
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Mover and Shaker Cathy Kelly has hit another out of the park with The Honey Queen, proving she herself is among the literary queens of the world. As an Irishwoman, Cathy Kelly is predisposed to possession of a superlative gift of the gab (we're not sure Whom You Know would have even come into existence without Peachy once kissing the Blarney Stone! or twice...) we learned in the first book we read by her, The House on Willow Street. She is back at it with top plots, clever characters and an arrayingly brilliant tale that once you crack open, you will find impossible to put down. Cathy Kelly writes in her own voice and you are going to LOVE it.
Redstone is a typical Irish town-different from American small towns that you'll understand nuances between once you have the great pleasure of visiting the Emerald Isle. There is a devout real sense of community there that is enabled by the sparkling personalities combined with the genuine care of those that inhabit the village. Everyone knows everyone, and their business personal and otherwise.
We love the mention of Kinsale; Peachy Deegan went on visits there both with Boston College and her aunt when she visited. However, you'll see it really is a small world as they are faced with the inevitable terrible things that life can throw our way-like losing a job, breakups in relationships, and possibly the worse case scenario, dealing with tabloids and the consequential gossip as a result. On page 10, she states, "Grief was a journey; she'd read that somewhere. A person didn't get over it, they moved through with it."
Characters face many obstacles including getting older, problems with their parents, discovering a past that was once unknown to them, and so much more that we want you to discover for yourself.
You'll immediately feel tuned into the lives of the characters and fall in love with each of them. She says she weaves her stories around the characters and each is stunning you will discover. Some of the simplest were the most effective, like Seanie and Ronnie.
"And isn't it a lovely day to be sitting here taking it all in?"said Seanie happily, with an expansive wave of his hand as though sitting on a seat at a bus stop at the side of the road in a small suburb outside Cork was on par with sitting on a private jet and flying off somewhere fabulous for the day."
The Irish have a true appreciation for life that many in America and Manhattan in particular forget to appreciate in our nonstop hustle and bustle. Probably the character that Manhattanites will find most relatable is Meredith, so fashionable and devoted to her career...but will it last? And if not, what should she do?
We loved this Irish hardcover edition-beautiful right down to the green ribbon bookmark.
Cathy, we did not merely enjoy this. We absolutely loved it; Cathy has a brilliant sensibility to the human condition. Hats off to Mover and Shaker Cathy Kelly: Whom You Know Highly Recommends The Honey Queen! Sweeten up your life with this top novel.
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Cathy Kelly
The queen of wise, big-hearted story-telling, Cathy Kelly is one of Ireland’s best-loved exports, and a hugely authoritative voice in the women’s fiction market
Warm, compassionate and with an infectious sense of humour, Cathy was the perfect judge for the recent People’s Novelist Competition, in conjunction with ITV’s The Alan TitchmarshShow, and carried her category through four stages to win
Cathy works with would-be authors regularly to advise them on the publishing process
Hailing from a strong line of female Irish writers that includes the likes of the late great Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes, Cathy is hugely passionate about Ireland’s storytelling heritage and the way this has developed out of the Celtic oral tradition. Her lyrical, perfectly spun yarns typify this earlier style and have won her legions of dedicated fans
A mum to twin-boys, Cathy lives in rural Ireland and is a committed UNICEF ambassador
The Honey Queen
14th February 2013 |HB | £14.99
To discover the sweetest things in life, you sometimes have to lose your way…
It’s easy to fall in love with the beautiful town of Redstone – the locals wave and chat to each other, the shops and cafes are full of cheerful hustle and bustle. And amidst all this activity, two women believe they are getting on just fine.
Francesca’s boundless energy help her to take everything in her stride, including a husband who has lost his job and the unwelcome arrival of the menopause, which has kicked in – full throttle.
Peggy has always been a restless spirit. But now, focused and approaching thirty, she has opened her own knitting shop on the town’s high street. It’s a dream come true, but she still feels adrift.
When Australian-raised Lillie finally makes it back home, she is drawn right into the heart of Redstone’s thriving community. But what she thought would be an ending is actually just a beginning; all of Lillie’s hard-earned wisdom will soon be called into play as she helps new friends navigate unchartered territory. . .
