The further adventures of Agnes Browne, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time, with a few laughs in between. The kids are growing up and Agnes is having to leave her home, and as you know Agnes does not take to change very well. Highly recommended. ( )

Agnes Browne is back with a whole new set of adventures, and once again, she doesn't disappoint. This is the second book in Brendan O"Carroll's Agnes Browne trilogy, and it is just as heartbreaking and laugh out loud funny as the first one. This one begins three years after we left the widowed Agnes and her brood of seven children in the previous installment, so 1970's Ireland. Agnes has done well, but now she faces a new set of problems as she has just found out that her housing is being demolished and she must move her family from Dublin center to Finglas. With Agnes at the helm, you know that whatever happens, it won't be boring. Highly recommended! ( )

Agnes Browne, O’Carroll’s loveable heroine, returns with her seven children – whom she affectionately calls the chisellers. Readers: prepare for another family adventure as mother and children struggle to make their way in the world, with varying degrees of success. As if raising seven children single-handedly does not keep our heroine busy enough, she is devastated to learn the family will be forced out of its tenement home in the name of urban renewal. The Brownes are moving to Finglas, a suburb some eight miles away – though for Agnes, they might be moving to another continent.

“Agnes still hated the thought of leaving Dublin’s city centre. She had been born, christened, reared, confirmed, wooed, kissed and wed within a one-mile radius of James Larkin Court, and although all her furniture and personal things were carefully packed and ready for the move, Agnes knew that the memories encapsulated in that one-mile circle could not be taken out to the country.” (114)

Fortunately, Pierre, Agnes’ persistent suitor, is on hand to console her. And, on the joyous occasion of a family wedding, he does more than that, when the two hilariously celebrate “with yet another bottle of champagne, and a couple of 'organisms' thrown in for good measure." (168) Of course, in addition to joyous occasions, life will have it way with tears and heartbreak – and, amidst the joys and victories of The Chisellers, Agnes and her family are delivered their share.

Love this! and look forward to the next in ther series, The Granny. Highly recommended! ( )

This is the second book in the Agnes Browne trilogy, recounting the continued story of the Dublin widow and her seven children.
It is wise for the Dubliner (and everyone else, too) to remember: “If you take on one of Agnes Browne’s children, you take on all of them.”

Agnes is notified that her tenement building will be torn down in an urban renewal project, and she will be relocated to a modern, 3-bedroom, townhome in the suburbs, with electricity, a modern kitchen, indoor plumbing, and room for a garden. But she doesn’t want to leave the Jarro and all her friends; besides there’s no early morning bus from Finglas to central Dublin, so how will she get to the market before 5:00a to bargain for the best produce for her stand?

Her brood is growing up, leaving school (with or without graduating), and finding their way in the world. Mark is the steadfast oldest son, Frankie the wild one who will break her heart, Rory a gentle man with a secret, Dermot a charming rapscallion, Simon a studious and religious boy with a stutter, Cathy the lone girl and blossoming into a young woman, and Trevor the “baby” brother with a genuine gift. Agnes and her children have gone through some very tough times, but they are making their way and a little success goes a long way to lifting one’s spirits.

O’Carroll doesn’t ignore the difficulties and heartbreak, but he doesn’t dwell on them either. And he softens the blows with a generous dose of Irish humor. The Browne’s are an engaging lot, and I’m happy to spend some time with them. ( )

So far so good, not as sad as I thought it would be......and I'm hoping the wee Mamzer, Frankie, gets what's coming to him! Ah he did!

So, this is the sequel to The Mammy (aka Agnes Browne). It was definitely not as funny nor heartwarming, it was more sober/serious but it was a good & engaging read and I read it in less than 6 hours! ( )