My first read of 2021 and it’s been great! The World Starts Anew is the fourth novel on the saga “The Star and the Shamrock” by Jean Grainger. Honestly, I didn’t know there was a fourth book until I saw it somewhere on my recommendations list and the surprise was well received. Would it be a continuation in the acclaimed series? I don’t know, but I do know, I enjoyed the last one as much as the first three of them.
This time, the author put the spotlight on Erich, the little kid who rode the Kindertransport to Liverpool in the first novel, frightened and clenched to his sister’s arm. In this new book, Erich is a grown man, hardworking and charming, but as Liesl in The Hard Way Home he is trying to find his place on earth.
Erich falls in love with an Irish catholic girl, and although none of them care a bit about their individual origins, it seems her family did, and it soon became a problem that could end the lovely relationship they’d grown. Erich finds himself having to make some difficult decisions and learning lessons that as his sister learned herself, are most times, too rough but needed.
The novel is mainly focused on the anti semitism hatred of last century beyond World War II. As we know from the prior novels on the series, the kids are raised by two families who had at least one member of their faith and also counted with the spiritual and emotional support of their Rabbi. There is a lot to highlight on the way the author addresses the matter, and the internal battles Erich goes through in his attempt to make peace with his origins. He is happy with whom he is, and his faith is just his faith, not a definition of himself.
“What was the point of it all? Religion just divided people, created barriers where none were needed.
Erich Bannon’s thoughts
Also, the author carefully touches a delicate subject as she speaks of the terror of unmarried pregnant girls within the walls of catholic convents in which they were basically enslaved as a punishment for their sins. I found such thing outrageous, although not new as I’ve read of similar places in countries like Spain, but a little research confirmed that these “baby mother homes” did exist until about 40 years ago and their main purpose was hiding the shame of out of wedlock children.
Another interesting turn into the story is that this time, the author gives the men in the saga more protagonism, placing all the women in a secondary role. This is not only true about it being Erich’s journey, but that of the Rabbi Frank, Daniel and even the struggles of Jamie dealing with fierce pregnant Liesl and the challenges with his family.
Religious discrimination is so presently highlighted along the entire saga, but I believe it is discussed in a deeper way in this novel, even from the perspective of the Catholic priest and the Rabbi agreeing on the matter that religion posed more division than unity.
Patrick O’Toole had served the church for many years and saw how dogma and doctrine didn’t serve people as well as humanity and compassion did.
The book title is inspired on Rabbi Frank’s reminder of the Talmud’s words: ‘With each new child, the world begins anew.’ You too soon will welcome new life. Ah, how precious that is. And I believe it is a call to hope and gratefulness.
The book cover is very similar to The Hard Way Home and if one looks closely, will notice a pregnant woman in the background coming down the stairs. I believe the cover illustrates the story well. Overall, I enjoyed this reading a lot just as I did with the rest of the saga.
‘Til next read!
Sarah Javier 