Golden Boxty in the Frypan

by Pat Spencer

• ISBN10: 1639844694
• ISBN13: 9781639844692
• Publish Date: 6 September 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Pen It Publications
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 290
• Language: English

Reviews

[bookfreak]

This book centers around young Katie Ryan, her family dynamics, and life during the Great Depression period. The family is Irish-Catholic, so connectedness, spirituality, and faith have gotten them through the toughest of situations, like job insecurity, poverty, loss, and societal discrimination. Golden Boxty in the Frypan is truly one of the most intense books I've ever read. I really do sympathize with Katie and her siblings. Katie is also the author's mother, so Pat Spencer has chosen a very effective way to illustrate the injustices that many immigrant families, and children on a whole, faced during the Great Depression. She compellingly explores these issues through her mother's eyes as a child. So, in essence, this book serves as a testimony of the hardships that the Ryan siblings underwent during that period in their lives and how their love and closeness kept them together and helped them to thrive despite their traumatic childhood experiences. I truly do not know which life event stands out to me the most. There are so many of them. Maybe it's when Miss Carter ignores Katie's attempt to participate in classroom activities. But even so, Katie's persistence and determination got her through that ordeal. Or maybe it's when Rose and Katie stand outside the orphanage discussing the horrors that take place inside that institution, yet ironically, unknown to Katie, her father is planning to abandon her and her siblings there.

 

Like I said, the book is intense and emotional, yet skillfully and elegantly sculpted. Even though it highlights a lot of heartbreaking experiences that this family endured during the Great Depression, there is still a message of hope and vigor flickering throughout the pages. I appreciate being given the opportunity to read it. I will not hesitate to give it 5 stars. People who love coming-of-age stories will love this book. Reading it is more than simply creating a memorable reading experience—it's about going on an incredible journey into the author's family history. It goes without saying that Mrs. Spencer is a powerful storyteller, and this book is an intellectual gold mine. In addition to learning about societal traditions and historical events, you will undoubtedly enjoy every word that has been carefully selected to portray this amazing story.

[lovelyreader]

The plot for 'Golden Boxty in the Frypan' is motivated by real events that the narrator and her family experienced during the Great Depression Era. This book is narrated by the author's mother, Katie. Throughout the book, Katie and her siblings experience poverty, loss, parental alcoholism, desertion, betrayal, and systematic abuse within an orphanage. It speaks of the horrors that the author's mother and her younger siblings had to endure after they were abandoned by their father in an orphanage. Nevertheless, despite the children's struggles, their life is one of resilience, faith, respect, and love. The unwavering love among Katie and her siblings serves as the foundation of their unity and strength. This book is captivating and deeply moving. In fact, as you read about Katie and her siblings' struggles throughout the Great Depression Era, you will naturally find yourself rooting for them to have a better future. The scenery and characters seem remarkably authentic for the historical period. Katie's narration tugs at your heartstrings even more, especially because it is told through the eyes of an innocent child. I am profoundly moved by Katie's tenacity while working hard to preserve the unity and bond between her siblings and herself. Once I started reading this book, I simply could not stop reading it.

 

The author, Pat Spencer, has written an amazing novel. She does justice by highlighting the social and economic terrors associated with the Great Depression Era. This work of literature is a brilliant example of excellent storytelling. The quality of Pat Spencer's writing is nothing less than astounding. Every syllable in her book is written with exactitude, and every scenario is given life by her thorough attention to detail. Moreover, she masterfully uses analogies to create the most vivid images in the reader's mind. This is why I rate this book 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who loves reading novels where the characters persevere despite their life challenges.