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Irish Above All
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
20 posts | 4 read | 7 to read
Mary Pat Kelly showcases the most tumultuous years of the twentieth century through the eyes of an indomitable Irish-American in Irish Above All, a beautiful work of historical fiction. After ten years in Paris, where she learned photography and became part of the movement that invented modern art, Chicago-born, Irish-American Nora Kelly is at last returning home. Her skill as a photographer will help her cousin Ed Kelly in his rise to Mayor of Chicago (1933-1947). But when she captures the moment an assassins bullet narrowly misses President-elect Franklin Roosevelt and strikes Anton Cermak i nFebruary 1933, she enters a world of international intrigue and danger. She must balance family obligations against her encounters with larger-than-life historical characters, such as Joseph Kennedy, Big Bill Thompson, Al Capone, Mussolini, and the circle of women who surround F.D.R. Nora moves through the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and World War II, but its her unexpected trip to Ireland that transforms her life.
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review
BethM
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this but not nearly as much as the second. The setting of Chicago just wasn‘t as enjoyable. It was a nice ending. I am, however, annoyed that it says her website contains fact v fiction but it‘s not actually there.

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KristiAhlers
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Mehso-so

This was my January buddy and my 2015 published read for my other reading challenge. I felt this was a good read but not a solid rush out to recommend read. At times it was a wee bit tedious and I truly felt it could be 100 pages shorter. #19822022 #buddyread @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Thanks for joining the buddy read! 2y
KristiAhlers @Librarybelle I loved doing it! 2y
38 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Confession: I didn‘t read the book! 🤦🏻‍♀️ So, apologies for the vague discussion questions!

Please feel free to note anything you wish to discuss below. This is over 500 pages, so even discussion questions in general would not cover everything. I do have a few general discussion questions under spoilers - you can find them either by looking at the book‘s profile or my profile.

Thanks for reading this month!

KristiAhlers I read it but wasn‘t a huge fan about half way in. I really felt it could‘ve been 100 or so pages shorter. I‘m not sure if my tepid response is due to the fact I didn‘t read the previous books in the series or what. 2y
Jerdencon I have to agree with @KristiAhlers I found myself skimming along . I liked the parts in Ireland but all the us politics and everyone she met along the way was just a little over the top for me. (edited) 2y
BethM @Jerdencon I agree. I loved the Irish parts but so much of this was in the US and the Chicago specific politics bored me to death. I liked the last one better. 2y
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CarolineLovesToRead I completely agree with @BethM I did find that I liked the previous book better and her time in Chicago was missing interest. I felt like I was just reading and not enjoying. I did like the parts in Ireland. 2y
kspenmoll I liked the previous book better too. The emphasis of Chicago politics I got tired of. Skimmed alot over those parts. 2y
Crazeedi I agree with @Jerdencon I was over her mentioning all the political and famous people she was meeting along the way. I know Chicago was a really big place for all that in the mid 1900's, even more than NYC, but I got tired of the name dropping. The first part of book was good, about 2/3 way through I lost most interest and just kinda skimmed. 2y
11 likes6 comments
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Librarybelle
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
This post contains spoilers
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3. Nora Kelly once again finds herself in the thick of things. Do you think she grows as a character/person in the book? How does her past reflect decisions made? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

BethM She does grow. She becomes more sure of herself and her place. 2y
kspenmoll She grows more confident, into her own as a single career woman, always learning more about her craft ( photography). 2y
6 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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2. This book spans the 1920s-1960 (Kennedy‘s election). What was your favorite part of the book? Least favorite? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon I liked the parts when they went to Ireland the best - the least was all the politics - couldn‘t get into it (edited) 2y
BethM Definitely Ireland as the favorite. I liked the last chapter too- I was glad for a happy ending. 2y
CarolineLovesToRead I agree that the Ireland parts were the best and unfortunately I wasn't as interested with the rest of the parts. 2y
kspenmoll The Ireland parts were my favorite & also some of the relationships she had with her immediate family. (edited) 2y
5 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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1. As in the previous Mary Pat Kelly book #LiteraryCrew read, Of Irish Blood, this book entwines Nora Kelly with “in real life” people and situations. How well do you feel the author does folding Nora into current events and people? #BuddyRead

Jerdencon I think she entwined her with way too many people - it seemed so unrealistic that she met all those people 2y
BethM Again I agree with @Jerdencon . I even went to the website bc it said fact v fiction was listed there but it wasn‘t :/ 2y
CarolineLovesToRead the situations and people that Nora met was just a little too much and honestly I had a hard time keeping track and getting lost in the stories. I felt like her previous book flowed better than this one 2y
kspenmoll @CarolineLovesToRead I had a hard time with so many people, esp all the Chicago politicians etc. the book could have been shorter & I sometimes skimmed. 2y
5 likes4 comments
review
kspenmoll
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Pickpick

On my dad‘s side I am 5th generation Irish-his great grandfather came here at 12 from Dingle during the potato famine.On my mother‘s side,her great grands ended up in New Foundland.At times I took a break from this saga of Nora Kelly‘s,(1933 -1960).So many people & events to keep track of.She successfully evoked the celebratory feeling of Kennedy‘s inauguration.My parents were besides themselves -an Irish Catholic in the Oval Office!

marleed My late husband‘s paternal grandparents were Irish to Seattle by way of a generational stop in Newfoundland, as well! 2y
Librarybelle Yay! So glad you liked it! 2y
Suet624 My dad‘s grandparents were from Ireland too. 😍😍 2y
59 likes3 comments
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BethM
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Left my kindle at home so I wouldn‘t be tempted to skip my lunch workout. Instead I downloaded it to my phone and opted for the stationary bike so I could read. Balance right? Lol

BookBabe good job!
2y
Avanders Lol nicely done 😁 2y
34 likes2 comments
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BethM
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Disney was Irish and born in Chicago. I had no idea. #literarycrew

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kspenmoll
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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“Had remained Irish above all.”
Galway Bay pictured above,where the Kelly‘s hailed from.
#literarycrew
Of note:in Acknowledgements,the author thanks”my sister -in-law Martha Hall Kelly”among others,as a “great supporter(s).”Wondering if her sister-in-law is the same Martha Hall Kelly who wrote The Sunflower Sisters.#overbookedclub
From what I can gather,Martha Hall Kelly is married to Mary Pat Kelly‘s brother,Michael.Wild coincidence!

kspenmoll I think I may want to read Galway Bay now, the first book in this saga. 2y
megnews Wow! That is a wild coincidence! 2y
Librarybelle I did not know of the family connection! 2y
sblbooks Small world. 2y
50 likes4 comments
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kspenmoll
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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#coffeesndbooks #mugtour
We loved Acadia National Park so that we spent 2 summers there for 2 weeks.It‘s beauty was raw & startling,with huge boulder‘s to climb on.Got splashed at Thunder Hole.Hiked,walked the streets of Bar Harbor.Ate breakfast at 2 Cats,whose name I loved,had lobster rolls by the sea.We hiked 6 miles on the wide bike paths along side the lush foliage to enjoy popovers at Jordan Pond House.I would love to return to it‘s beauty.

Librarybelle My favorite National Park is Acadia! So beautiful! 2y
merelybookish Lovely! I have never been to Acadia which seems shameful since I've spent lots of time in Maine. 2y
MaureenMc Love Acadia! ❤️ 2y
67 likes3 comments
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kspenmoll
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Apologies to all fellow buddy readers who are involved in the same challenges as me.I couldn‘t focus this weekend; too burnt out from work. Having today off is a much needed gift.Anyway, I am behind in my reading & have not participated in discussions this weekend. Hoping to catch up & rejoin. But I do feel I need to bow out of #pemberlittens, #shesaid for now. Plan to catch up on the others during the week if work is not too exhausting!

TheBookHippie ♥️ lots of us in that boat. Quite a few are talking today and have been throughout our weeks as we read and they catch up as well. Take time to breathe my friend! ♥️ 2y
KristiAhlers Reading shouldn‘t be a chore but a pleasure. Take time out! The book will still be there and the conversation thread open! Take time for you! ❤️ 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Take all the time you need, I‘ve been there myself. Recently even. Take the break you need. 2y
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Librarybelle I completely understand! Take time to breathe. ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
kspenmoll @KristiAhlers Thanks for the reminder! I took on too much; I have to remember that come February. Felt sooo overwhelmed & yes it was a chore I was ignoring but it lurked… appreciate your thoughtfulness! 2y
kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Librarybelle Thank you my friends for your support, kindness, & “ been there” understanding! What would I do w/o you all my friends! 💕 2y
TheBookHippie @kspenmoll ♥️♥️♥️ 2y
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Librarybelle
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Checkin post for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead !

My copy FINALLY arrived, so I have a lot of reading to do! How is everyone else doing?

PageShifter I have still high hopes that I would participate 😅 Let's see if I am going to make it. But I loved our December read and I am interested in this series. 2y
Librarybelle Sounds good, @PageShifter !! 2y
KristiAhlers I‘m plugging right along. 😊 2y
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Crazeedi I started it this morning! Hope to get through before end of week 2y
Jerdencon Starting today! 2y
CarolineLovesToRead I just got my copy on Friday and was hoping to start it on the weekend but that didn‘t happen. Will be starting it tonight 2y
Crazeedi Are you doing #19822022, can you explain Jess? 2y
Librarybelle @Crazeedi I am hosting #19822022 ! I thought to “celebrate” my big 4-0 this year I would read a book first published each year from 1982 to 2022. There are a few on Litsy who have joined in as well, and I have the challenge laid out on StoryGraph. 2y
BethM We‘ve not been sleeping much so my reading time has been limited but i‘m enjoying it. 2y
Librarybelle Sorry to hear about the sleeping, @BethM , but glad you are enjoying it! 2y
Crazeedi @Librarybelle I'll follow you on storygraph, I'm crazeedi73 on there 2y
Librarybelle @Crazeedi Great! I‘ll be sure to follow you as well! 😁 2y
katy4peas I‘m plugging along. I‘m a slow reader but enjoying the book! 2y
Librarybelle @katy4peas Yay! Glad you‘re enjoying it! 2y
Crazeedi @Librarybelle this book is very good, but for some reason taking me forever to read!!! I hope I'm done by 31st!! 2y
Librarybelle @Crazeedi I haven‘t even had a chance to start yet! 😱 2y
59 likes1 stack add18 comments
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kspenmoll
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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#coffeeandbooks #mugtour

The Raven Used Books mug means a trip to Northampton, MA, which we did pre Covid 2 or more times a year. Lots of different bookstores in town, & if we want a drive we can hit South Hadley & Amherst for their bookstores!

Ruthiella I‘m really enjoying your tour via mugs! 😃 2y
Pogue Is the pizza place that makes garlic pizza still in Amherst? I loved that pizza when I lived in MA 2y
Librarybelle What a cozy looking scene! 2y
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kspenmoll @Ruthiella Thanks! I am glad you are enjoying my tour! Actually I did not foresee all the warm, grateful feelings these mugs evoke in me for these places we visited as a family.precious memories. 2y
kspenmoll @Pogue I don‘t think@I have bern to that pizza place- sounds Yum though! 2y
kspenmoll @Librarybelle It feels cozy while I am drinking my morning coffee! 2y
82 likes6 comments
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kspenmoll
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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This tells you the state of my mind. I was into ch 2 of The Moth Catcher & the plot started to feel familiar. OMG I read it only 10 months ago!! 😂🤯
So I started these two books this afternoon. Only got a few pages of preface read of The 1619 Project- so much to reference & take in- plan to start Irish Above All tonight. #1619groupread #literarycrew

Ruthiella 🤣I was reading a Tony Hillermann mystery a few years ago and only realized 1/2 way through that I‘d already read it before! (edited) 2y
Librarybelle Oh boy!!😂 2y
Reggie Lolol 2y
Crazeedi Katherine I picked up a book the other day because it looked going, I think someone gave it to me, started to put it on goodreads and love and behold it popped up that i read it in 2014!! Lol 2y
51 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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January‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead selection is the third in the Galway Bay series, Irish Above All.

We‘re a low key buddy read group. I‘ll post periodic check-ins throughout the month, and discussion will take place on the 31st.

Tagging those who have expressed interest, but this is open to everyone. If you are not tagged but wish to join this month, please comment below!

sblbooks I won't be joining this month, but I will in future months. 2y
BethM Excited for this one! 2y
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Jerdencon I will be picking up my copy from the library on Monday. 2y
PageShifter I am trying to join but it depends how I have time to read the two first books in the series 😁 (edited) 2y
Librarybelle @PageShifter Totally understandable! 2y
Crazeedi My book is to arrive by the 10th 2y
Librarybelle @Crazeedi Great! I‘m still waiting for mine to arrive too! 2y
CarolineLovesToRead Just waiting for my copy. Looking forward to reading what is next for Nora 2y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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We are tucked in at a beautiful cabin in the mountains 🏔 this porch is the perfect reading spot! There are others that I‘m sure you will see at some point! ❤️📚 I can‘t help but share this beautiful place with y‘all!

#LiteraryCrew
#BuddyRead

Happy New Year everyone 🎈🎆🎊

Nikki_E Cozy, 2y
Krystle13 It's beautiful 😍 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Krystle13 @Nikki_E I don‘t want to leave!! 2y
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Librarybelle So cozy!! 2y
Crazeedi Looks perfect Misty, enjoy!! 2y
Mollyanna Heavenly! Enjoy! 2y
tracey38 Nice! Enjoy! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Librarybelle I just realized that this is the last book in a trilogy… is that why I‘m so confused with all of the characters? Lol 😆 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Crazeedi thank you Diane!! ❤️ 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Mollyanna it truly is!! Thank you ❤️ 2y
Blueberry ❤️ 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @tracey38 thank you Tracey!! ❤️ 2y
Librarybelle @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks We actually did not read the 1st one…I didn‘t realize that Of Irish Blood, which was our November read, is the second one. But, there were so many characters in that one, and I think most of them were introduced in the second one. So, I think she just has a lot of characters in her books! 😂 2y
curiouserandcurioser @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful!! Happy New Year, my friend!!💜 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Librarybelle I may skip this one because I feel behind!! I‘m in for February! I got the book for Christmas 🎅 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @curiouserandcurioser Happy New Year!! Love y‘all! ❤️ 2y
Krystle13 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I don't blame ya! I would stay in that room for days! 2y
66 likes21 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Got my book in the mail from ThriftBooks!! So excited for the #BuddyRead with @Librarybelle !! I‘m hoping for a better year with my reading!

#LiteraryCrew

Librarybelle Yay! I‘m waiting for my copy from ThriftBooks too! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Librarybelle maybe it will come soon! We are going out of town so I hope I don‘t get behind! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Librarybelle I‘m on page 19, good so far! Lots of characters!! 2y
55 likes3 comments
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LitsyEvents
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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Here are the 3 titles for Q1 of 2022 for #LiteraryCrew !

Tagging those who have expressed interest. I know some are interested in only specific titles…let @Librarybelle know which ones, & she'll tag you for just those titles. She can also tag you for every month.

#LiteraryCrew is a low key #BuddyRead group that reads 1 title per month, with discussion at the end. I post periodically during the month. All are welcome!

Librarybelle Thanks for reposting this! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Can‘t wait! Have all the books ordered! 2y
35 likes2 comments
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BethM
Irish Above All | Mary Pat Kelly
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@Annie1215 you really didn‘t need to but thank you so much! Can‘t wait to read this one!

Librarybelle How nice! And, you‘re all set for January‘s read of this!! 2y
30 likes1 comment