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The Crooked Branch

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The Crooked Branch

By: Jeanine Cummins
Narrated by: Aoife McMahon, Patricia Rodriguez
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About this listen

After the birth of her daughter, Emma, the usually resilient Majella finds herself feeling isolated and exhausted. Then, at her childhood home, Majella discovers the diary of her maternal ancestor Ginny and is shocked to read a story of murder in her family history.

With the famine upon her, Ginny Doyle fled from Ireland to America, but not all of her family made it. What happened during those harrowing years, and why does Ginny call herself a killer? Is Majella genetically fated to be a bad mother, despite the fierce tenderness she feels for her baby?

Determined to uncover the truth of her heritage and her own identity, Majella sets out to explore Ginny's past - and discovers surprising truths about her family and ultimately, herself.

©2013 Jeanine Cummins (P)2020 Macmillan Audio Fiction Historical Fiction

Critic Reviews

"Rich and intricately drawn...luminous prose." (Carolyn Parkhurst)
All stars
Most relevant  
Didn’t like the character in the New York story. Skipped through her story. Loved the Irish 1/2.

One half great

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The intertwined stories of a woman and one of her ancestor, just as she becomes a mother herself It is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Maybe the rest of my life. Great exploration of what happens for women in the transition to motherhood.

Deeply moving skilfully woven story.

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Loved listening to this book. Well written and read. Easy to listern too. Would recommend this book.

A mother's love for her family.

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This book was amazing, I found the beginning very difficult to listen to due the graphic description of Emma's birth. it really bought back memories of my own twins birth. Hearing about the coffin ships and the potato famine what harrowing life they lived. The grit and determination of Ginny to save her family was something to be admired.

Love this book, should come with trigger warning

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Two interwoven stories, the Irish story was very interesting and the whinging American story was painful. Sub stories that didn’t have an end was disappointing. Loved her other novels but not this one

Part great part terrible

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This is almost unbearable to listen to. Others in my book club in Australia strongly agree with me.
The whiny voice of Patricia Rodriguez makes me hate the main character.
I’d suggest reading the physical book instead. I’ve actually ordered it to finish the book it’s so bad.
Choosing someone without such a strong accent would make it much more appealing for non American listeners.
The story itself is quite likeable.

The worst voice I’ve had to listen to

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.