What a lovely story, it was hard to review as it would be so easy to give the wrong impression. It is a solid story, with a warmth to it. To me a comfort read, something to keep me grounded in the real world.
This book is set between a village in Ireland and New York and in some ways Ireland is never far away and the focus. Greta the main protagonist is like someone everyone has in their family, her character is beautiful and that really engaged me, she's far from perfect, like so many of us.
If I wanted crime, adventure or romance it might have been easy to look elsewhere but instead I found a beautifully old fashioned tale with a little of everything. This was something that was a pleasure to read at the end of the day. It wouldn't give me nightmares but a peaceful sleep and always a feeling I wanted more.

I wish this book could have ended one chapter later. I wanted to find out what happened after the last chapter, I needed more. I loved everything about the story, this story about a man and a woman trying to survive after immigrating as actually still children to America. This is the story of the life they built and the secrets they kept whilst growing older.
Great writing style that kept me entertained throughout the book.
This was my first Mary Beth Keane book.

A fantastically interesting story of Irish immigrants in the US - familiar in so many ways.
I found it a rather slow, long read. I loved “Ask again, yes”, but this felt very different.
And the sudden ending left me a bit unsatisfied!

3.5 stars for this one.

Atmospheric is how I'd describe The Waking People.

I felt an incredible weight of sadness when reading it, not because the whole story was downcast, more because I really felt for the characters, the decisions they made and the secrets they kept.

Looking at a certain part of immigration - the Irish travelling to America - we get to see the evolution of Greta (as well as her family) and how things change as the years go by. I admired Greta, she was determined despite being fearful and worrisome.

Moving.

This was a book that I feel will be even more moving when put in audio form. I spent my time imagining the Irish accents as I read.

The ending confused me somewhat. I'm not sure what the author wanted us to take away from it, it just seemed too abrupt, no real conclusion.

Over all a good, honest story. For me it just lacked a certain amount of wow factor to give the book an overriding edge.

I very nearly gave up on this book as I found the beginning not very interesting but I’m glad i preserved to get to the heart of the book. A gréât family saga

A rich, emotional story of Irish immigrants to New York in the early 1960s. I loved the author's previous novel Ask Again, Yes and her newest one did not disappoint. Beautifully written and tender in places it is also a social history as well as a family drama.

A rich family saga, spanning decades and continent, The Walking People explores the meaning of home and family. Where is home? Is it where generations of your family are from, or where you happen to live? What is family? How bound must you be to those who bore you?

In the 1950s Greta is living in rural Galway with her parents, her three brother and sister, Johanna. She’s slow and dreamy, affectionately laughed at by her family, but loved nonetheless and her mother’s secret pet. Johanna’s feisty and daring, climbing out the window at night to visit the Traveller’s camp. Tom, the same age as Johanna, is a Traveller who’s not sure the life is for him, despite the assumption that he could never want anything else.

Several years later, Johanna hatches a plan to emigrate to America, taking Tom and Greta with her. There’s no real opportunities for them in their small community and like many others before them they embark on a new life in New York. What happens to them and how they build a life is the subject of the rest of the book.

The Walking People is split into a tale of two halves, the detailed lushness of their life in Ireland in the first half of the book is contrasted with the fast-moving city-living in the second. Mary Beth Keane is excellent at drilling into intimate details and then moving outwards to show the wider experience. She shows how people’s environments shape them, even whilst they cling on to tradition. So many people talk about going home – meaning the Ireland of the year that they left – with no real idea of how Ireland had also changed as the years passed. The concept of home is also revealed as a metaphor for family. Greta worries that her daughter Julia wouldn’t be able to deal with the truth about her life and would feel rejected, but fails to see that the loving secure environment that she and Tom provide over the years represents home – and family – to Julia.

I felt completely immersed in The Walking People as I read it. Greta and Tom felt very real to me as I read about their day to day concerns, their hopes and desires. And as time passed in the book, so their wider issues were either concentrated or resolved, just as in life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane. It tells the story of Greta and her sister Joanna from childhood into old age. The tale takes us through the years and across the Atlantic, depicting life in rural Ireland and the contrasting experience of living in Manhattan. It’s a very moving account of an intense relationship between two sisters who have completely different personalities and how they carry a secret that affects the whole family. Such accomplished and insightful writing! I can’t recommend it highly enough.

My thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph UK Publishers for my copy.

I was so thrilled to get a review copy of the new book by Mary Beth Keane. I loved Ask Again, Yes so put this to the top of my reading list. What a fantastic read. A family saga starting in rural, remote Ireland in the 1950's to the big lights of New York City. I loved following the lives of Greta, Johanna and Michael. A beautiful, heart wrenching, heartwarming read. Stunningly scripted about this immigrant family's journey and one big secret. I can't wait for more from Mary Beth.

An interesting, slow burn book. This story took me a while to get into, describing a tough life in rural Ireland. The tale spans many years, starting in the present and before flashing back to the past, meeting the characters younger selves. An interesting array of larger than life personalities, Greta ‘the goose’ portrayed early in as a simple child and Johanna, her older and forceful sister, part of a large Irish family, led by the inimitable Lily and ‘Big’ Tom.

Michael and the Ward family of ‘Travelling People’ or ‘Walking People’ living around Ireland at the same time, offer an interesting insight into the ways of these traditional folk.

Keane is a very descriptive writer and certainly portrayed harsh conditions effectively in both Ireland and New York. The stories gradually entwine and develop, following the characters as their fortunes and secrets unfold in their adventures overseas.

A pleasant and enjoyable winding read although the sudden ending left me a little disappointed and full of questions.

Michael is coming to the end of his shift. Then we drift to the past and rural island. The story builds around Michael meeting two sisters Greta and Johanna and how they head for New York. Joanna leaves her baby with Michael and Greta, a secret they keep. The story feels slow but is beautiful and sad, a journey into people's lives. Would really recommend.

I loved Mary Beth Keane's first published novel Ask Again, Yes and have enjoyed The Walking People. I can understand why her publisher went with Ask Again first. The Walking People didn't speak to me in quite the same way but it is still a remarkable book.

The first part of the book is set in rural Ireland in the 1950s and, while most evocative, for me it was rather too long. I nearly lost interest but I'm glad I persevered as when the narrative moved to America everything made sense. The title refers to the travellers who move between Irish villages, never settling in one place for long. This story is about one such young man and two sisters who make their exodus together to New York in search of a better life. But they take with them secrets which affect the next generation.

Highly recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Michael Joseph for the opportunity to read and review The Walking People.

The Walking People is Mary Beth Keane’s debut novel, though it has been published after Ask Again, Yes, which is obviously a phenomenally popular book. This is such an ambitious story, which is huge in scope and has an real epic feel. With thanks to Michael Joseph for gifting me a digital copy to review.

It is 1960s rural Ireland and Greta Cahill joins her sister Johanna on a voyage to New York intending to forge a new, more exciting life together across the Atlantic. The novel spans more than 40 years, two continents, three generations, and a closely guarded family secret.

This is a slow-burn, fascinating family drama. The writing is beautifully lyrical, and I fell in love with Greta from the outset. There is a strong feeling of displacement throughout, as well as the sense that none of the main characters felt that they really belonged anywhere, which for me felt quite sad.

I would say that, though I enjoyed the writing and was interested to find out where the plot would go, the novel did feel a little long. But I did like how the story played out and I understand that each part of the novel was essential in feeding into the overall outcome.

Not one to read if you’re after a quicker pace but definitely worth a read for the wonderful characters and fascinating family dynamic.

Back in 2019 I read the absolutely wonderful Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane and so when I spotted that Keane’s debut novel, The Walking People was being published by Michael Joseph I was eager to read it. This novel is the sort of thing I really love, historical fiction which spans decades, has intricate storytelling and real human stories.

Set in 1950s rural Ireland, it follows the Cahill family who live in a small village at the edge of a small town. Their cottage sits between the Atlantic and a river, from where they poach salmon from under the nose of their neighbour. They’re a poor family of three boys who help their father with their farm and his midnight poaching trips, and two girls who help with housework and occasionally attend school. The youngest, Greta, is nicknamed Goose by her family due to the way she walks and carries herself. She is a curious child, the baby of the family, mocked by those who love her and pest to her older sister, Johanna, who she adores but who often leads her astray.

When some travellers descend on the nearby town, Johanna is transfixed by them and by the lives they lead. She is particularly enthralled with the Ward family and their son Michael, who seems, to Johanna, to have led a glamorous life as not only has he been all round Ireland but he has been to England too. He is a symbol of a different sort of future and Johanna can’t resist the thought of it.

The local town has seen an exodus of Irish families who have moved to America to start life afresh, promising to return once they have themselves on their feet and asking their neighbours to keep an eye on their properties back home in the meantime. But as the letters from America get fewer and far between the families left behind realise that the lure of America is strong. It certainly is for Johanna who sees a life there as being her destiny, and she plots to leave for the bright lights of New York. What she doesn’t quite plan for is Greta tagging along with her and Michael, making the duo a threesome.

This is an insightful novel about immigration, family, loyalty and love. Taking us from the 1950s almost to the present day it examines a myriad of themes against a backdrop of rural Ireland and glitzy New York. I didn’t know much about the immigration of the Irish to America beyond bits and pieces I had picked up over the years and I certainly wasn’t aware of the level of poverty in some places as recently as the 1950s. It makes for brutal reading at times and my heart ached for the trio who leave a quiet, sleepy place to live in New York, somewhere where you either sink or swim.

At its heart though, this is a book about family and the lengths you will go to for those you love. There are many instances in this book of the small and big things the characters do for one another, and the ways they can hurt one another. Keane has such a skilful way of writing about human nature and navigates complicated relationships and decisions in a delicate way. Like Ask Again, Yes, there is an event at the centre of the novel around which everything else orbits and Keane uses it to explore the notion of family, of duty and of responsibility.

It makes for hugely affecting reading. Setting the book over decades allows the themes to be fully explored whilst giving them room to breathe. It is heart-breaking and difficult to read in places (I did have a little weep once or twice) but is incredibly rewarding and is a sweeping novel wide in scope. I fell in love with Greta, a young sixteen year old who finds herself in a situation she never envisaged for herself and she will stay with me for quite some time. If expansive historical fiction is your thing then The Walking People could be the book for you.

Having previously read Ask Again Yes I was excited to read another book by this author.

I must admit the book was a slow burner for me. It took me a while to get into the story but when I did I found myself page turning and falling in love with the characters and their life stories.

I loved how the author painted such a true reflection of life in both Ireland and America. From the rural landscapes to the cosmopolitan cities you could almost believe you were there yourself!!

This story centres around the Cahill sisters. Johanna and Greta who are as different as chalk and cheese but are bound together with sisterly love.

Into their lives comes Micheal Ward and he joins Greta and Joanna travelling to new life in America. Events occur which map out the course of their futures in ways they had never imagined.

This book travels through time from the 50’s to the present day and this really keeps you engaged with the characters and how their individual stories develop. As we get older we realise how quickly time passes and I loved how this was portrayed

Once you get hooked on this story you are guaranteed to not want the story to end. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this beautiful family saga.

Mary Beth Keane is a master of family sagas. I didn’t love this as much as her previous title (‘Ask Again, Yes’), but would still thoroughly recommend it. She creates characters, settings, and scenes that are intricate without being too lengthy, which truly immerses you in the story. With little knowledge of Irish history, I found the beginning of the book interesting and have made a note to add some further reading to my TBR. But it came alive for me once the protagonists reached New York, where the plot developed more rapidly. I wasn’t so caught up that I felt compelled to keep reading, but the experience was enjoyable nonetheless. The ending was interesting: at first I thought it a little unsatisfactory, but I think this is actually Keane making a clever comment on Greta and Julia’s relationship.

The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane
This book, which is the author’s debut novel, has just been released in the UK following the success of Ask Again, Yes. I really enjoyed Ask Again, Yes and this book has the same close observation of characters displayed in that book. It concerns sisters Johanna and Greta who live in the small village of Ballyroan on the windswept coast of the west of Ireland.
The sisters set off across the ocean to a new life in the United States with Michael, a tinker; a walking person. The first half of the book is set in Ireland, describing the poor rural upbringing of the characters. The second half of the book deals with their lives after their arrival in America and how they gradually begin to fit in. Life takes an unexpected turn in America and for years Greta and Michael keep a shocking secret close to their hearts. I found the writing is excellent and the story draws you in. I would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

This is the touching story of the Cahill sisters, the headstrong Johanna and the slightly fey Greta, and their relationship with Michael Ward one of the walking people, otherwise known as tinkers or travellers; with a time span from the 1950s to the 2000s this is a real Irish American family saga and it is a lovely one.

In 1950s Ireland the Cahill family are living a life of subsistence supplementing their meagre food provisions by poaching salmon. One night an incident occurs which brings the family into contact with a group of travellers, including Michael to whom Johanna is instantly drawn.

Greta, in particular, believes that she will live out her life in the West of Ireland. However, wilful Johanna has set her sights on going to America; with her friendship with Michael developing she persuades him to join her on the passage. At their mother's insistence, Greta goes with them. Once they arrive an event happens which will map out all their lives.

This novel explores some powerful themes: prejudice towards the travelling community; the situation of the Irish in America and their homeland; the nature of motherhood; the loyalty and devotion of sisters and the role of the family.

All the characters are beautifully crafted. Greta is an innocent but she is also wise and kind. Johanna is more ambitious and hard-headed. Michael is a gentle soul who carries a burden of thinking he is not good enough because of his background.

The descriptions of rural Ireland, cosmopolitan New York and the nature of Michael's work tunnelling under the city are very evocative. The writing is beautifully restrained and suits the story perfectly. The plot is lovingly crafted.

This is simply an outstanding and engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I often enjoy an Irish family saga and had read some good comments about the author Mary Beth Keane but this one just wasn’t for me. I loved the opening chapter but when the story moved over to Ireland and set the scene so to speak for the rest of the book I found it unrealistic and quite hard going. So so 3 of the book did flow better than others but it was dragged out in some parts and rushed in others.

A beautiful, lyrical book that quietly but insistently explores family and where we belong and what makes home. The characters of Johanna and Greta sing off the page as the first half of the book tells of the lives of the two sisters in rural Ireland in the fifties. The walking people are the Irish gypsies and Michael, the third part of the trio, is one of these. The second half is set in New York and carries on with Greta as the main focus. This is a densely written, multi layered story of family and the ties that bind.