alma difranco

“Why Hast Thou Forsaken Us”: The Second Novel by Mary McGuire, it is also another enjoyable read. In this book Mary seems to delve deeper into history, to a time when devastation hit the European country of Ireland, with starvation. It also realistically depicts the urgency at a family’s personal struggle with famine, and their dire need to take action and intervene, at all costs. It truly takes the reader on an unknown journey into uncharted territory, as an Adventure that would prove to test one’s faith in God, and human nature. This book was written descriptively, with a good understanding of foreign accent and character. And this story seems to have a delicate balance of love and compassion, while dealing with uncertainty, but hope, at the road ahead.

This is a very good read from first time author Mary McGuire. Although a work of fiction, it was written with simplicity, truth, and realism. It depicts a time in American history, in which we celebrated joyous occasions, but also mourned great personal loss. Mary shares the reality that while many men and women were sent to fight battles on the front lines, there were also men, women and even children, who rose to the occasion at home, fighting the good fight at preserving the American Way of life. What makes this story unique, is that it is experienced personally through the eyes of a young girl, as she shares how family’s, friends and loved ones came together to support one another, in good and bad times, alike. I truly believe that this book could have the earmark of being opted into a very heartfelt Hallmark movie, with a pitch line, as follows: “As seen through the eyes of a young girl, this is a story of a family’s love and endearment, as they struggle through the harsh realities of war, and the traumatic affects it had on their loved ones.