Overview

"A 1960s American folk music legend weaves stories of a girlhood on ""the singing streets"" of Ireland, marriage in Scotland, and arrival in America"

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9781624910173

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Those of us who have been lucky enough overthe years to hear Maggi Peirce's stories, told in arich Belfast voice that beliesher decades of residencein Massachusetts, have heard a few of these vividvignettes- The Large Stuffed Rabbit, The Most Beautiful Doll in the World -and will delight inrevisiting them. Those who haven't had the privilegeof hearing Maggi in person will meether beautifully here, in this weebook of twenty poignant, funny, thoughtful stories that bring to life themid-century Northern Irish world inwhich, as Maggi writes, our parentshid the world from us but we didn'tknow it. --Jo Radner Storytelling Magazine (03/01/2014)

A Belfast Girl ForeWord Review These stories are quickly absorbed but not quickly forgotten; each contains moments that leave one nodding in recognition, while opening windows on a singular city. Maggi Kerr Peirce presents vignettes of life in Belfast before sectarian violence. With a penchant for well-turned observations and charismatic humor, she crisply details childhood encounters in the years after the Great Depression, with a few stories taking place on the brink of, or during, adulthood. Kerr paints a close-knit, domestic world that often appears gentle, but does not shy from darker realities like World War II and a neighborhood house rumored to be haunted by an abused child. These piercing recollections combine youthful wonderment with hindsight to provide eloquent insights on family. Raised in a Protestant home as the youngest daughter of a mother who was difficult to live with and a sober father, the author portrays her parents with affection and admirable restraint. Stories seldom dwell on the family's shortcomings, and instead reveal members as distinct, rounded individuals. Kerr's mother, in particular, emerges as a woman with a flair for lively language, advising the author to Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe. Stories that consider beloved objects, from a bisque doll in The Most Beautiful Doll in the World to a drawing room curio in A Little China Figure, skillfully capture period details through everyday moments. More richly layered stories widen in focus to consider disillusionments, including The Large Stuffed Rabbit, in which an adult's promise turns out to have been a lie, and The Secret Place, in which an older child's cruel comment ruins the magical ambiance of an outdoor hideout. Comedic events--such as the author's impersonation of an Italian woman at a dance, and an ungrateful young American visitor's stay with the author's family--coexist with serious considerations of human behavior, as in

Those of us who have been lucky enough overthe years to hear Maggi Peirce's stories, told in arich Belfast voice that beliesher decades of residencein Massachusetts, have heard a few of these vividvignettes- The Large Stuffed Rabbit, The Most Beautiful Doll in the World -and will delight inrevisiting them. Those who haven't had the privilegeof hearing Maggi in person will meether beautifully here, in this weebook of twenty poignant, funny, thoughtful stories that bring to life themid-century Northern Irish world inwhich, as Maggi writes, our parentshid the world from us but we didn'tknow it. --Jo Radner Storytelling Magazine (03/01/2014) A Belfast Girl ForeWord Review These stories are quickly absorbed but not quickly forgotten; each contains moments that leave one nodding in recognition, while opening windows on a singular city. Maggi Kerr Peirce presents vignettes of life in Belfast before sectarian violence. With a penchant for well-turned observations and charismatic humor, she crisply details childhood encounters in the years after the Great Depression, with a few stories taking place on the brink of, or during, adulthood. Kerr paints a close-knit, domestic world that often appears gentle, but does not shy from darker realities like World War II and a neighborhood house rumored to be haunted by an abused child. These piercing recollections combine youthful wonderment with hindsight to provide eloquent insights on family. Raised in a Protestant home as the youngest daughter of a mother who was difficult to live with and a sober father, the author portrays her parents with affection and admirable restraint. Stories seldom dwell on the family s shortcomings, and instead reveal members as distinct, rounded individuals. Kerr s mother, in particular, emerges as a woman with a flair for lively language, advising the author to Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe. Stories that consider beloved objects, from a bisque doll in The Most Beautiful Doll in the World to a drawing room curio in A Little China Figure, skillfully capture period details through everyday moments. More richly layered stories widen in focus to consider disillusionments, including The Large Stuffed Rabbit, in which an adult s promise turns out to have been a lie, and The Secret Place, in which an older child s cruel comment ruins the magical ambiance of an outdoor hideout. Comedic events such as the author s impersonation of an Italian woman at a dance, and an ungrateful young American visitor s stay with the author s family coexist with serious considerations of human behavior, as in John Knox, Odd Jobs Man, a story that recounts a scene of potential danger. A Belfast Girl shows traces of the author s background as an oral storyteller. Stories unfold with brisk timing, and often conclude with succinct wisdom gained long after the events depicted. Kerr handles such moments with natural ease, avoiding the didactic or epiphanic revelation. Many stories hinge on an image that eventually becomes a memorable hook, including a painstakingly embroidered apron in Two Gifts, a shocking bridal gift in The Awakening, and a highwayman s hat in Mein Hut Er Hat Drei Ecken. The personable, colloquial quality of the writing, however, should not be mistaken for simple entertainment. These stories are quickly absorbed but not quickly forgotten; each contains moments that leave one nodding in recognition, while opening windows on a singular city./div>--Karen Rigby Foreward Reviews (01/20/2014) Maggi Kerr Peirce, A Belfast Girl . Marion, MI: Parkhurst Brothers Publishers, 2013. ISBN 9781624-910173. Those of us who have been lucky enough over the years to hear Maggi Peirce's stories, told in a rich Belfast voice that belies her decades of residence in Massachusetts, have heard a few of these vivid vignettes- The Large Stuffed Rabbit, The Most Beautiful Doll in the World -and will delight in revisiting them. Those who haven't had the privilege of hearing Maggi in person will meet her beautifully here, in this wee book of twenty poignant, funny, thoughtful stories that bring to life the mid-century Northern Irish world in which, as Maggi writes, our parents hid the world from us but we didn't know it. Jo Radner (jradner@american.edu) for Storytelling Magazine Those of us who have been lucky enough over the years to hear Maggi Peirce's stories, told in a rich Belfast voice that belies her decades of residence in Massachusetts, have heard a few of these vivid vignettes- The Large Stuffed Rabbit, The Most Beautiful Doll in the World -and will delight in revisiting them. Those who haven't had the privilege of hearing Maggi in person will meet her beautifully here, in this wee book of twenty poignant, funny, thoughtful stories that bring to life the mid-century Northern Irish world in which, as Maggi writes, our parents hid the world from us but we didn't know it. --Jo Radner Storytelling Magazine (03/01/2014) Maggi Kerr Peirce, A Belfast Girl . Marion, MI: Parkhurst Brothers Publishers, 2013. ISBN 9781624-910173. Those of us who have been lucky enough over the years to hear Maggi Peirce's stories, told in a rich Belfast voice that belies her decades of residence in Massachusetts, have heard a few of these vivid vignettes- The Large Stuffed Rabbit, The Most Beautiful Doll in the World -and will delight in revisiting them. Those who haven't had the privilege of hearing Maggi in person will meet her beautifully here, in this wee book of twenty poignant, funny, thoughtful stories that bring to life the mid-century Northern Irish world in which, as Maggi writes, our parents hid the world from us but we didn't know it. Jo Radner (jradner@american.edu) for Storytelling Magazine

A Belfast Girl ForeWord Review These stories are quickly absorbed but not quickly forgotten; each contains moments that leave one nodding in recognition, while opening windows on a singular city. Maggi Kerr Peirce presents vignettes of life in Belfast before sectarian violence. With a penchant for well-turned observations and charismatic humor, she crisply details childhood encounters in the years after the Great Depression, with a few stories taking place on the brink of, or during, adulthood. Kerr paints a close-knit, domestic world that often appears gentle, but does not shy from darker realities like World War II and a neighborhood house rumored to be haunted by an abused child. These piercing recollections combine youthful wonderment with hindsight to provide eloquent insights on family. Raised in a Protestant home as the youngest daughter of a mother who was difficult to live with and a sober father, the author portrays her parents with affection and admirable restraint. Stories seldom dwell on the family s shortcomings, and instead reveal members as distinct, rounded individuals. Kerr s mother, in particular, emerges as a woman with a flair for lively language, advising the author to Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe. Stories that consider beloved objects, from a bisque doll in The Most Beautiful Doll in the World to a drawing room curio in A Little China Figure, skillfully capture period details through everyday moments. More richly layered stories widen in focus to consider disillusionments, including The Large Stuffed Rabbit, in which an adult s promise turns out to have been a lie, and The Secret Place, in which an older child s cruel comment ruins the magical ambiance of an outdoor hideout. Comedic events such as the author s impersonation of an Italian woman at a dance, and an ungrateful young American visitor s stay with the author s family coexist with serious considerations of human behavior, as in John Knox, Odd Jobs Man, a story that recounts a scene of potential danger. A Belfast Girl shows traces of the author s background as an oral storyteller. Stories unfold with brisk timing, and often conclude with succinct wisdom gained long after the events depicted. Kerr handles such moments with natural ease, avoiding the didactic or epiphanic revelation. Many stories hinge on an image that eventually becomes a memorable hook, including a painstakingly embroidered apron in Two Gifts, a shocking bridal gift in The Awakening, and a highwayman s hat in Mein Hut Er Hat Drei Ecken. The personable, colloquial quality of the writing, however, should not be mistaken for simple entertainment. These stories are quickly absorbed but not quickly forgotten; each contains moments that leave one nodding in recognition, while opening windows on a singular city./div>--Karen Rigby Foreward Reviews (01/20/2014)

Author Information

Maggi Kerr Peirce sang her native Irish ballads from the Newport Folk Festival to Puget Sound during the 1970s. She performed on many of the same stages as Pete Seeger, the Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary. Her Irish stories have graced storytelling festivals coast-to-coast. She lives in Fairhaven, Massachusetts with her husband, Ken and the support of her nearby daughter, Cora, and son, Hank.

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