OnlineBookClub.org

Anu Anand wrote: ↑13 Dec 2024, 05:04 Thank you for sharing this heartfelt and well-written review. Noreen's hardships, from losing her mother to enduring neglect, are truly heart-wrenching. Your review really brought her journey to life, and I'll surely grab a copy if I get the chance to read it.

Brian Mansour wrote: ↑17 Dec 2024, 20:36 Unbelievable story of the unbelievable life of a little girl growing up in Ireland. Very well written. This book gave me a warm feeling in my heart on how this child persevered in her hope of just wanting to be loved by her family and those closest to her.

Naimah Agboluaje wrote: ↑25 Dec 2024, 06:27 Yeehaw, after perusin' this delightful review of "Ward of the Court" by Noreen Anne Roche, I reckon this book seems like a mighty fine read! With Noreen sharin' her heartwrenchin' journey as a ward of the court, the review highlights her incredible strength and resilience through unimaginable hardships. The reviewer praises Noreen's remarkable memory and powerful storytelling, paintin' a vivid picture of her life. Although there are some sensitive content, I reckon it ain't stoppin' the reader from feelin' deeply engaged. With a sprinklin' of gratitude, positivity, and a touch of Irish culture, this memoir sounds like a powerful and engrossin' tale. I can surely see myself hunkerin' down with this book by the campfire. I recklessly rate it a full-fledged 5 outta 5 stars! Heartwarming story, filled with love and warmth.

Catherine Sweet wrote: ↑26 Dec 2024, 18:38 This is such a good review, which gives a clear insight into the book and its content. Although the book contains some very sad events, the reader can appreciate Noreen's strength and how she goes on to experience better things.

Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑11 Dec 2024, 02:08 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ward of the Court" by Noreen Anne Roche.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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Ward of the Court is a compelling biographical account by Noreen Anne Roche. In this riveting narrative, she walks us through her life journey as she tackles various struggles and evolves from an innocent girl to a lovely young woman. At the story's beginning, we could see Noreen, a happy four-year-old girl, enjoying her life with her family in County Waterford, Ireland. However, everything changed with a tragic event: the death of her mother. This terrible loss snatched away the happiness and shattered the world of her family. Her beautiful family, consisting of her parents, an older sister, and two younger brothers, was torn apart, leaving Noreen's once-happy childhood in ruins. At that time, the government had deemed fathers without spouses not fit to take care of their children, and they had to be placed in the care of others. Noreen's sister, Margaret, was sent to their nanny, while her six-month-old brother, Johnjoe, was sent to their uncle. Noreen and her brother, Thomas, were together placed with two sets of aunts and uncles, only to suffer cruelty and neglect at both places. After some troubling incidents, they were returned to their nanny. They continued living with their nanny until the government intervened again, declaring them wards of the court. As a result, they were sent to church-run orphanages. Noreen was placed at The Good Shepherd Convent in Waterford, while Thomas was sent to a separate orphanage for boys. Thus, another phase of Noreen's life began.

In this book, Noreen shares her experiences at the Good Shepherd Convent and her school life at the Ursuline Convent. She reflects on how her life in the orphanage impacted her childhood, leaving her feeling shy, nervous, and insecure, and how she missed out on the love and affection typically provided by a mother. Noreen mentions how she felt different from the other kids in school. She also recounts her life with her nanny and the cruelty she faced in her uncles' homes. If you are interested in reading about Noreen Anne Roche's journey as she navigates a sea of challenges, be sure to grab a copy of her book!

I was astonished by Noreen's remarkable memory power as the detailing regarding her childhood was awesome. In the prologue, she states how her extraordinary memory is both a blessing and a curse. Her writing was easily understandable and soul-stirring. The raw emotions and confusion she felt as a young girl regarding her situation were portrayed effectively. Her strong descriptive skills drew me into her incredible journey. The numerous photos included in her story enriched my reading experience and helped me get closer to her life story. Be advised that there are some sensitive and emotional contents that really wrenched my heart while reading. Though these elements are only a small part of her narrative, sensitive readers might find them affecting. The narrative begins when Noreen is four years old and follows her blossoming into a young woman. However, in the middle of the narrative, the timeline shifts abruptly between different ages of Noreen, creating a non-linear experience.

Some incidents in the book highlight the cruelty that people can show towards others and I got infuriated when reading about them. The routines of life in the orphanage and the difficulties of rural living —especially the lack of plumbing and electricity during Noreen's time with her nanny—were fascinating to read. But I felt saddened to read about their struggles which made me grateful for my life. I appreciated Noreen's ability to find positivity in every situation and I believe this quality can greatly help us on our journey through life. I also appreciated Noreen emphasizing the importance of the education she received and expressing her gratitude towards the significant people in her life. The epilogue was satisfying, and Noreen effectively conveyed her thoughts on the protection system provided by church-run orphanages. I also loved the addendum, where she shared a small delightful surprise.

The pacing of the book was excellent, and I never felt bored at any point. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I noted two errors. But other than that, the editing was good. As I didn't dislike anything in this book, I would love to rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I believe readers who love memoirs and are interested in knowing about church-run orphanages and rural life in Ireland will surely enjoy this book.

******
Ward of the Court
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Neha Panikar wrote: ↑06 Jan 2025, 05:58 Nothing moves me more than stories of unmeasurable struggle with people overcoming them! As much as I wish some of the atrocities never existed, I'm left speechless by the resilience and determination shown by the protagonists despite these untoward cruel events... The strength and courage we have to make our life successful and worthwhile?! Exemplary! This sounds like one such story. Love your review for its structure, detail and analysis. Look forward to reading more!!

Julie Basil wrote: ↑06 Jan 2025, 09:10 I tend to enjoy memoirs and biographies and this sounds like a very worthwhile read. Thank you for your detailed and inviting review!

Gerry Steen wrote: ↑06 Jan 2025, 18:24

Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑11 Dec 2024, 02:08 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ward of the Court" by Noreen Anne Roche.]

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5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Ward of the Court is a compelling biographical account by Noreen Anne Roche. In this riveting narrative, she walks us through her life journey as she tackles various struggles and evolves from an innocent girl to a lovely young woman. At the story's beginning, we could see Noreen, a happy four-year-old girl, enjoying her life with her family in County Waterford, Ireland. However, everything changed with a tragic event: the death of her mother. This terrible loss snatched away the happiness and shattered the world of her family. Her beautiful family, consisting of her parents, an older sister, and two younger brothers, was torn apart, leaving Noreen's once-happy childhood in ruins. At that time, the government had deemed fathers without spouses not fit to take care of their children, and they had to be placed in the care of others. Noreen's sister, Margaret, was sent to their nanny, while her six-month-old brother, Johnjoe, was sent to their uncle. Noreen and her brother, Thomas, were together placed with two sets of aunts and uncles, only to suffer cruelty and neglect at both places. After some troubling incidents, they were returned to their nanny. They continued living with their nanny until the government intervened again, declaring them wards of the court. As a result, they were sent to church-run orphanages. Noreen was placed at The Good Shepherd Convent in Waterford, while Thomas was sent to a separate orphanage for boys. Thus, another phase of Noreen's life began.

In this book, Noreen shares her experiences at the Good Shepherd Convent and her school life at the Ursuline Convent. She reflects on how her life in the orphanage impacted her childhood, leaving her feeling shy, nervous, and insecure, and how she missed out on the love and affection typically provided by a mother. Noreen mentions how she felt different from the other kids in school. She also recounts her life with her nanny and the cruelty she faced in her uncles' homes. If you are interested in reading about Noreen Anne Roche's journey as she navigates a sea of challenges, be sure to grab a copy of her book!

I was astonished by Noreen's remarkable memory power as the detailing regarding her childhood was awesome. In the prologue, she states how her extraordinary memory is both a blessing and a curse. Her writing was easily understandable and soul-stirring. The raw emotions and confusion she felt as a young girl regarding her situation were portrayed effectively. Her strong descriptive skills drew me into her incredible journey. The numerous photos included in her story enriched my reading experience and helped me get closer to her life story. Be advised that there are some sensitive and emotional contents that really wrenched my heart while reading. Though these elements are only a small part of her narrative, sensitive readers might find them affecting. The narrative begins when Noreen is four years old and follows her blossoming into a young woman. However, in the middle of the narrative, the timeline shifts abruptly between different ages of Noreen, creating a non-linear experience.

Some incidents in the book highlight the cruelty that people can show towards others and I got infuriated when reading about them. The routines of life in the orphanage and the difficulties of rural living —especially the lack of plumbing and electricity during Noreen's time with her nanny—were fascinating to read. But I felt saddened to read about their struggles which made me grateful for my life. I appreciated Noreen's ability to find positivity in every situation and I believe this quality can greatly help us on our journey through life. I also appreciated Noreen emphasizing the importance of the education she received and expressing her gratitude towards the significant people in her life. The epilogue was satisfying, and Noreen effectively conveyed her thoughts on the protection system provided by church-run orphanages. I also loved the addendum, where she shared a small delightful surprise.

The pacing of the book was excellent, and I never felt bored at any point. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I noted two errors. But other than that, the editing was good. As I didn't dislike anything in this book, I would love to rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I believe readers who love memoirs and are interested in knowing about church-run orphanages and rural life in Ireland will surely enjoy this book.

******
Ward of the Court
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

This memoir is a reminder that we must always count our blessings as there is always someone who has lived a tougher life than us. Thank you to Noreen Anne Roche for sharing her story with us. Great review, Priya!