Review: The Third Mrs. Galway

The Third Mrs. Galway by Deirdre Sinnott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first chapter or two in, I was pretty well convinced I would not like this book. Helen was a very young bride, immature and flighty, and making a series of bad choices. But it didn’t take long before the book hooked me. I came to like most of the characters very much. And Helen showed a remarkable amount of growth.

I learned a little about the period before the Civil War from a northern point of view. I’d known that come people had suggested colonizing the slaves back to Africa, but hadn’t realized how concrete that plan was, with a colony already in place. It was also interesting to read the points of view of the ‘colonists’ vs. the ‘abolitionists’. They both had the same goal—to end slavery—but favored different paths to reach this goal. They let their differences divide them to the point they attacked each other and forgot about their common goal. I think that has some lessons for us today, and would make a great topic for book clubs to discuss.

One thing I didn’t like so much was the ending. Overall I was happy with it; it had the ‘happy ending’ I wanted for most of the characters. But I also felt some of it was a little unrealistic. Without giving spoilers, I can only say that there seemed to be no consequences for the actions at the end, and I don’t think that was realistic.

This wasn’t the type of historical fiction that sent me rushing to Google to learn more, and the only real people in the story had minor roles, but it was a book that I enjoyed, and a story that will keep me thinking about it for quite some time.

I received this book as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers program.

My rating: ✭✭✭✭

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