Review of Colors

Barbie_sidhu · Post by **Barbie_sidhu** » 13 Nov 2021, 10:08

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Colors" by Samuel J Murray.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Colors by Samuel J Murray is a non-fiction read. It is a genuine account of an Irish immigrant family. The book has a mystery. Also, it is a compilation of the lives of every important Murray family member starting from 1823 till now. The narrative starts around the mid-nineteenth century when Irish people immigrated to the US because of poverty and famine. The book will take the readers through some events of history I believe most people are unaware of.

William Murray, born in 1823 in Scotland, moved to the US in 1836. He got married and had a long line of descendants. Murray was reported dead in the War of Gettysburg, fighting for the Union Army in 1863. But this is not what actually happened. He never died in the war, nor was he enlisted in the army. This mystery will be solved by the accounts of the author's ancestors. Another aspect this book focuses on is the life of an Irish family in the slums of Brooklyn in the mid-nineteenth century. It has it all: the struggle they went through, the lives they lost, the tragedies that fell upon this family, how they turned rich, but still tragedy was a part of their lives, etcetera. The book will also enlighten the readers about the history of printing presses and the manufacturing of playing cards that are still used. This book offers a lot to the readers.

The book is hardly 130 pages long, but it offers a great deal to take in. I was amazed to read the accounts of the Murray family members and friends. It involves a mystery, crime, politics, death, and industrial struggle. More than three generations of the Murray family tell their account, serving the purpose of throwing light upon their settlement and growth in the US as poor immigrants, as well as solving the mystery about William Murray.

The best thing I like about the book is how it is written. There are a lot of family members in the book; some of them have kind of same names, which can confuse the readers, but the author has written the book brilliantly. Every family member's year of birth and death are mentioned, along with their relation to each other. I found this to be really helpful. One thing that I did not like about the book is that the author could have given a little more material. There are accounts of a lot of family members, but some of them are rather short. Some more detail would have done the job.

Coming to the editing part, I did find several typos and errors in the book. But nothing major enough to affect my reading experience. The writing style of the author is plain and simple. Moreover, it is a fast-paced read and can be completed in a single go. On the whole, I will rate it a 4 out of 4 stars read. The book is an amazing account of an untold story that has links to Irish immigration, which is something I knew nothing about, and the present manufacturing of playing cards. It is beautifully written and does not contain enough errors to take away a star. Hence, the perfect rating.

I will recommend this to readers who like to read non-fiction that contains historical events. Those who like to read about events that were never a part of the bigger picture, especially the ones between the nineteenth to the twentieth century must go for this read. Even historical fiction lovers can also give this book a try. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

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Colors
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Paluk Pathania · Post by **Paluk Pathania** » 29 Nov 2021, 06:24

Immigrants' lives are very harsh. It's impossible to know what they're going through. I'm looking forward to dive into this book. And also, I can't get my eyes off the cover of the book! Thanks for a lovely review!

Clare Jose · Post by **Clare Jose** » 07 Feb 2022, 11:51

While I think the inclusion of several themes is fascinating, this doesn't look like something I would enjoy greatly.
I'll be taking a pass on this one. Thank you for your review!

Iva Stoyanova · Post by **Iva Stoyanova** » 07 Feb 2022, 11:57

I don't enjoy reading books related to history especially non-fiction so I'll pass. Thanks for the review!

1badapp · Post by **1badapp** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:00

A lot of history, some mystery as well as survival within the family, immigration and culture traditions. This doesnt look like something i would enjoy, but great review.

Stizzy Monday · Post by **Stizzy Monday** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:01

I like books that give account of people's real experiences.
I always believe that if you pay attention, you'd learn a lot from those experiences.
Immigration stories have lots struggles, pain and tragedies, sometimes.

Amazing review. Weldone!

Jorge Leon Salazar · Post by **Jorge Leon Salazar** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:02

The story about this Irish immigrant family seems appealing. It is pleasant to learn about historical events that are unknown to most. Also, the mystery of why William Murray was not killed in the War of Gettysburg and did not even enlist in it is interesting.

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 07 Feb 2022, 12:06

I like history, and the story of Irish immigration is a topic I don't know much about. The abundance of characters can seem a little daunting, but I always enjoy solving a mystery!
Thank you!

Post by **Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:07

I find it intriguing how a person who never enlisted is declared to have died in service, and that's the aspect of this book that I find appealing, the real-life mystery.

Pandora10 · Post by **Pandora10** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:10

I like historical non-fiction as well as fiction, so I think this story would be an enjoyable read. Although it is a short book, it seems to have packed a lot of information into its pages. I like the fact that the author included the name, birthdate and death of the family members in the book. It would be interesting to find out how family members solved the mystery surrounding their ancestor, William Murray. Great review.

Deval Sodha · Post by **Deval Sodha** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:10

The book is an amazing account of an untold story that has links to Irish immigration. It is a compilation of the lives of every important Murray family member starting from 1823 till now. The book involves mystery, crime, politics, death, and industrial struggle.
The review is superb.
Congratulations on Botd

AntonelaMaria · Post by **AntonelaMaria** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:10

It seems like a lot is going on in this book in only 130 pages. I like nonfiction books but I'm not sure I want to read a book with so many characters. But the mystery part is intruding. Great job with the review.

Post by **Wayne Njoroge** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:12

Non fiction is always appealing to me. I find that it can intergrate various themes. This novel is no different incorporating themes of politics, crime and industrial struggle. I am curious in knowing the history of the Murray family and their progression over time. Congrats on being BOTD.

KandiceMiles · Post by **KandiceMiles** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:12

Thank you for the review! Your review confirmed that this book is something I would be interested in reading, so I will be picking it up soon! I look forward to learning more about the Irish and the Murray family as they settled into the United States.

Harsh Soni 3 · Post by **Harsh Soni 3** » 07 Feb 2022, 12:14

It appears that the author includes various type of themes in the book such as, death, mystery, and politics. I will consider this book for reading. Thanks for this informative review.