The Tide Between Us

The O'Neill Trilogy, Book 1

De: Olive Collins

Narrado por: Jack Nolan

1821: Among the thousands of Irish deportees to the Caribbean British Colonies is a 10-year-old Irish boy, Art O’Neill. As an indentured servant on a sugar plantation in Jamaica, Art gradually acclimatizes to the exotic country and the unfamiliar customs of the African slaves.

When the new heirs to the plantation arrive from Ireland, they resurrect the ghosts of brutal injustices against Art. He bides his time and hides his abhorrence from his new master by channeling his energy into his work. During those years, he prospers, acquires land, sees his colored children freed after emancipation as he takes us on a multi-generational historical saga.

Eventually, Art is promised seven gold coins for seven decades of service. He doubts his master will part with the coins. The morning Art sets out to claim his gratuity, he ignores his sense of foreboding that he may not return home alive.

Ireland, 1991: One hundred years later, a skeleton is discovered beneath a fallen tree on the grounds of Lugdale Estate. By its side is a gold coin minted in 1870. Yseult, the owner of the estate, watches as events unfold, fearful of the long-buried truths that may emerge about her family’s past and its links to the slave trade. As the skeleton gives up its secrets, Yseult realizes she too can no longer hide.

Inspired by the real story of 2,000 Irish children deported to Jamaica and the statistics that 25 percent of Jamaican citizens claim Irish ancestry. The Tide Between Us is a powerful novel documenting true historical events and the resilience of the human spirit.

©2018 Olive Collins (P)2021 Olive Collins

Good story but many characters

Hard to remember characters that change names. Back and forth from one decade to another

Most important: Reader paused for long periods of time at awkward spots. I hope the next book has a different reader. Music before and ending chapters was loud.

Not for me

The story didn’t grab me, and the reader was too formal. He seemed to pause at the end of lines rather than the at end of sentences.

Wonderful book

I enjoyed the topic of this book because I enjoy learning history. I recommend this to those who want to know more about Jamaica and history. It’s well written and very interesting.

Slow, with little to keep the reader engaged.

Maybe it was the narration, which was bad (sometimes wondered if it was AI?), but it was just a slow story, and eventually I lost interest and stopped listening. Unrealized potential.

Not what I expected, disappointing

Listening to the audio version was extremely unpleasant. What was the purpose of the music before and after each chapter? Reader was not much better. Couldn’t finish it with these hair pulling distractions.

Great story

It was a great story, but I found that the narrator would change the speed of his talking, and he would hesitate on areas that did not need to be hesitated on other than that I really enjoyed this book

The reality of the time

It was confusing when it switched to current day, but after a big more, I came to understand who people were.

Expected more

This book came highly recommended by several people but I found it lacking. There is so much room to go deeper and it didn’t. I never felt connected to the characters or the story.

The narrator left a lot to be desired. And the music between chapters was not needed and a bit corny.

The Irish/Jamaican Connection

I enjoyed the audio version but would have appreciated a family tree.
The readers pace and dialects became a melodic element that complements the dialogue. I had to listen until my ears tuned in.
The ending is complete or you can venture into the next of the series.
I’m considering the next book to tie some of the fragments that were written in the final chapters.

Very confusing

I had to listen to the story three times to connect the dots. Maybe I’m slow. It would’ve been nice each time they changed eras or dates they would’ve let us know what time They were in. The reader sounded like a computer that had no inflections or emotions. There were stops in the middle of sentences for no reason. I think if I had read the book I would’ve liked it better but didn’t have the time.