January Book Club: County Kildare by B. E. Kennedy
Written by Bailey Kennedy
County Kildare
Two Timelines. Two Women. One Truth That Changes Everything.
Welcome to Read the North, your new favourite book club.
Inside you’ll find:
A book recommendation
A hosting guide complete with food and beverages
Discussion questions to dive deep into the intricacies of the novel; like the characters, motives and plot lines.
Introducing…
County Kildare, by B. E. Kennedy
As our inaugural feature, we chose By The North's own COO- Bailey Kennedy’s debut novel County Kildare.
“Two women, two generations, one story of love and sacrifice. County Kildare is about the families we lose, the ones we choose, and the bonds we can never break.”
If you enjoy deeply moving, character-driven stories that stay with you long after the last page, read on.
Summary:
In the summer of 2011, Maeve Grisham is a journalist restless for a story that matters. When new legislation reveals the name of her birth mother, she is thrust into an investigation that is both deeply personal and profoundly political. Her search leads her into the shadowed world of mother-and-baby homes and institutions that tore families apart for decades.
Across the ocean and a generation earlier, in 1984 County Kildare, sixteen-year-old Fiona Grisham finds herself in love for the first time. But when her pregnancy takes her away from home, she is left with no choices of her own.
Spanning two timelines and two countries, County Kildare is a story of resilience, silence, and secrets long buried. It asks what it means to belong: to a place, to a family, and to ourselves. With themes of motherhood, love, and sacrifice at its heart, this debut novel offers readers an intimate glimpse into one of Canada’s darkest histories—while exploring the unbreakable bonds that connect us across generations.
Perfect for readers who love:
Dual-timeline historical fiction
Novels about mothers and daughters
Stories of family secrets and redemption
Emotional, book club–worthy reads
Your Hosting Guide:
County Kildare is a dual timeline novel set between Guelph, Ontario and County Kildare, Ireland. In the book we explore the parallels that exist between Ireland and this small town in Canada and the Irish settlement that built it. The main character Maeve Grisham travels across an ocean to stay at a farm-to-table bed and breakfast, which uses homegrown ingredients to provide well thought out meals for the guests. With that in mind, I had some ideas for how to make your next book club delicious and inspired.
Foraging board:
In a nod to the character, a farm-to-table B&B owner, Colin Walsh- the perfect way to host this month is with a diverse foraging board full of local cheeses, preserves and cured meats. Want to elevate it? Add berries, nuts and marinated olives. If you really want to impress your guests, warm up a baguette just before they arrive!
Meats, cheeses, preserves and nuts.
Fizzy Beverages
An Irish Classic
The natural choice for a novel in an Irish setting is Guinness, of course. It is a true Irish staple and perfect for the winter months. For those who choose not to imbibe- Clearly Canadian has a fantastic range of flavours to add a little pop and fizz to your glass! .
Discussion Questions
Do you think Maeve and Ethan would have lasted if she didn't get the letter?
What do you think the mother-daughter dynamic would have been had Fiona kept Maeve?
How did you feel when Maeve left Ethan behind?
Orla’s character had Alzheimer's. How different do you think Maeve's life would have been if she could have stayed with her?
There was a lot of heavy emotion baggage tied through the many characters of the book. How did you feel at the end?
If you want more Behind the Scenes of County Kildare, check out our interview with Bailey here.
Looking to purchase County Kildare? It is available here.
If your book club chooses County Kildare, Bailey offers virtual book club appearances to answer any questions or provide colour to your discussion. You can contact her at baileykennedybooks@gmail.com or visit www.baileykennedy.ca for more information.