About this item
Highlights
- "A love letter to sisterhood, Frank Sinatra, late-in-life romance, and the enduring ties of family.
- About the Author: Julia MacDonnell's fiction has been published in many literary magazines, and her story "Soy Paco" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
- 288 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Family Life
Description
About the Book
Originally published in hardcover in 2014.Book Synopsis
"A love letter to sisterhood, Frank Sinatra, late-in-life romance, and the enduring ties of family. The book's narrator calls to mind a Boston-Irish Olive Kitteridge, as peppery as she is big-hearted."--Sally Koslow, author of The Widow Waltz and The Late, Lamented Molly Marx
Mimi Malloy was born into an Irish-Catholic brood of seven, and she has done her best to raise six daughters of her own. Now they're grown, and Mimi cherishes the comforts of her new life: Frank Sinatra on her stereo, walks with her super, Duffy, and spare time that is finally hers to spend. Sure, her eldest worries about her memory lapses, and Mimi's surviving sisters, who love to gossip, question her indifference to the past. As far as Mimi is concerned, she's entitled to enjoy the present--and that includes the occasional Manhattan.
But when she stumbles upon a long-lost pendant of her mother's, recollections of a shocking and painful childhood begin to surface. With the help of her siblings and her daughters, Mimi must find the courage to confront her troubled history--and discover that the stories that refuse to be forgotten are the ones she ought to treasure most. A "moving, funny masterpiece about love, memory, and the family ties we sometimes need to untangle" (Caroline Leavitt), Mimi Malloy, At Last! is an unforgettable novel, alive with hope, unexpected romance, and the magic of hard-earned insight.
Review Quotes
"Cathartic, suspenseful and droll, Mimi offers a hopeful take on both old age and bad blood." --Joanna Powell, People
"It has been 20 years since Julia MacDonnell wrote her first novel, A Year of Favor. But readers will find her highly entertaining and heartfelt second novel, Mimi Malloy, At Last!, well worth the wait....MacDonnell truly shines in creating a cast of unforgettable characters who struggle to forgive each other, spinning a story that recalls The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, though with a bit more of an edge. Mimi Malloy, At Last! will ensnare readers with its human drama and fascinating references to Irish folklore--even as the vulnerable and brassy Mimi Malloy steals their hearts." --BookPage "MacDonnell's multifaceted novel unspools via flashbacks. Mimi's no-nonsense narrative voice and a cast of well-drawn characters take readers on a humbling journey that explores the past and present; the bonds between parents, children and sisters; the power of secrets; and heroic acts of love." --Shelf Awareness "Delightful... Sisters, mothers, daughters--MacDonnell gets the dynamics just right. On top of all that, there's a wonderful story, lots of humor, some unexpected romance, and a reminder that it's never too late." --Hudson Valley News "Julia MacDonnell treats her characters with sympathy while never failing to show their flaws... Many readers will understand and relate to Mimi Malloy [and] even those who don't should find her journey engrossing and truly extraordinary.... Highly recommended." --Blogcritics (Editors' Choice) "Humorous and poignant... MacDonnell captures perfectly the family dynamics between sisters, mothers, and daughters, as if she were sitting in on their gab sessions, taking copious notes. For readers who enjoy Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, this is a highly engaging family chronicle, with a healthy dose of Irish history laced in as well." --Booklist "Lightened by her sharp wit, feisty Mimi's saga is a sometimes troubling but ultimately triumphant tale of aging, the Boston Irish immigrant experience, and redemption. MacDonnell's first novel in 20 years (after A Year of Favor) will appeal to anyone who loves a good story with a strong heroine." --Library Journal "Julia MacDonnell's Mimi Malloy, At Last! is a triumph and a delight! Mimi is a gal you'll take into your heart--Irish and Catholic to her core, at once steely-eyed and unsentimental about a tragic childhood and even tougher breaks experienced as a mother in working-class Quincy, Massachusetts, raising six daughters and dealing with a charming cheat of a husband. Divorced and down-sized, Mimi treasures her solitude, but when troubling memories--and an unexpected suitor--show up, she is able to see through the mists of time to find a clear-eyed vision of forgiveness and acceptance. This is a novel of such heart and hope--and, yes, humor. I wouldn't trust anybody who couldn't fall for Mimi Malloy, At Last!" --Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of Ladies' Night "Mimi Malloy, At Last! is funny, wise, and devastating. Julia MacDonnell writes with tender insight, letting Mimi's old memories crack the defense of humor, allowing the buried truths of her family and childhood to shine through....I loved it." --Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author "The end of life becomes an unexpected beginning in Julia MacDonnell's moving, funny masterpiece about love, memory, and the family ties we sometimes need to untangle. Absolutely captivating." --Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Is This Tomorrow "A love letter to sisterhood, Frank Sinatra, late-in-life romance, and the enduring ties of family. The book's narrator calls to mind a Boston-Irish Olive Kitteridge, as peppery as she is big-hearted. Mimi Malloy, At Last! will make you laugh, cry and relive your own past." --Sally Koslow, author of The Widow Waltz and The Late, Lamented Molly Marx "With every word, Julia MacDonnell carries us along as she tells an utterly engaging story of family, loss, heartache, love, and second chances. In Mimi Malloy, At Last!, we cheer Mimi on as she faces her later years with both fear and courage, confronting memories of her painful childhood and frayed relationships with her daughters and sisters. Full of healing, hope, and, yes, romance, this may be the book that convinces you that the best really is yet to come!" --Susan Gregg Gilmore, author of The Funeral Dress and Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen "I gulped down Julia MacDonnell's juicy novel of revealed memories and startling characters....Mimi proves that some revelations take living long enough to have. Extraordinary." --Molly Peacock, author of The Paper Garden "I love Mimi! Such a feisty, endearing, hilarious character--yet also very vulnerable as the threads of her painful Irish-American past begin to unravel. Julia MacDonnell's fluent writing beautifully observes the iniquities of old age and the complexities of family. But also the benefits of both. What a wonderful book." --Hilary Boyd, author of Thursdays in the Park "With sensitivity and humor, Julia MacDonnell paints a rich and engrossing family portrait in this delectable novel. Mimi Malloy--feisty, determined, and courageous--confronts her heart-wrenching past and opens herself up to an unexpected future. I loved falling into this story with a triumphant woman at its core." --Katharine Davis, author of Capturing Paris and A Slender ThreadAbout the Author
Julia MacDonnell's fiction has been published in many literary magazines, and her story "Soy Paco" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her journalism has appeared in The Boston Globe, the New York Daily News, and the Columbia Journalism Review, among other publications. A tenured professor at Rowan University, she is the nonfiction editor of Philadelphia Stories. Mimi Malloy, At Last! is her first novel in twenty years.