4.5 *

This is my second Jean Grainger novel and I love her writing! I listened to this one on audio and it included an excellent cast of three narrators as well as the author herself! The book that I listened to had a different cover and was dubbed, "The Aisling Series" Book One. I think this series was previously called, "Cullen's Celtic Cabaret."

What a storyteller Grainger is! It's 1915 and we meet Peter Cullen. He's an aspiring actor from Dublin, Ireland whose family is very poor. His Father is a drinker and is merciless. Peter meets May Gallagher, a girl from the other side of Dublin. Her family is wealthy and she hides the fact she is seeing Peter. As the Great War looms Peter enlists and leaves his family (and namely his Father) behind. He continues to write to May and they keep in touch while he is away. At the Warfront he meets some interesting characters. Nick Gerrity, is an aristocrat from England who is fleeing his family as he is shunned because he has a stutter. He does not want anyone on the warfront to know his real identity but he is also a gifted pianist. There's a Spaniard, named Ramon who is also musically inclined. Also, a man from London named, Enzo who has Italian heritage and can dance. There's also a Scotsman affectionally called, "Two-Soups" who is a comedian. They become friends of sorts and begin to entertain the troops. After the war they all go to London and form, "Cullen's Celtic Cabaret." There they are joined by Celine, A French girl they had previously met, Aida, who is Ramon's friend who is a dancer and Betty who is, "Two-Soups" girlfriend.

I was completely immersed in this story from the beginning. It was a 5 star book right up until that epilogue. It left me confused and I rewound it a couple of times. It's random to introduce completely new characters but perhaps it's gearing up for Book 2 that I will most certainl

This, unfortunately, will not be kind. There are aspects about this book that I like, but some I do not.

First, the official synopsis is terrible. Peter and Nick are the main protagonists. Peter grew up in a very poor home with an abusive alcoholic father. He joins the military to flee his abusive father who doesn't approve of his acting. A girl who has a crush on him, May, helps him and thinks herself in love with Peter. Nick is part of the aristocracy. He is the third son and has always had a stutter. The only time he doesn't stutter is when he is singing. After his eldest brother, the heir, dies in battle, he overhears his parents talking about him. They don't just not love him, they seem to hate them. He flees to join the military. There they meet a few more soldiers who like to perform in one way or another and are soon entertaining their fellow troops.

I really enjoyed the first part of the book- the prewar period. Then came the war section- I enjoyed it less, but it was okay. Then, the post-war period. This I enjoyed the least by far.

Alright, next issue. May is a terrible human and deserves to be put down several pegs. Her whining, priveledged chapters brought the book down, in my opinion.

Next, the audio narration.
Problem one- there are four POVs and three narrators. If you use multiple narrators, you need one for each POV. The exception would be if there are only a few pages. This is not the case.
Gary Furlong narrated Nick and Peter's chapters and did a good job.
Jean Grainger narrated May's chapters. The audio quality was bad. The pace was also much slower. And, lastly, her voice was far too old for the character.
Siobhan Waring narrated the Spanish girl's chapters. I did not have a print copy, so I am not sure how her name is spelled. While the narration itself was fine, there were audio quality issues here, too. There was a high pitched ringing in the background.

Lastly, the marketing. It seems that the series changed from Cullen's Celtic Cabaret to The Aisling Series. No idea where Aisling comes from. The first series name made a lot more sense. As did the cover art. While the Aisling Series cover is beautiful, it is a bit more misleading. I was also annoyed that the ending was abrupt to make you read book 2 in continuation.

I received and advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Set during WWI, 'For All The World' is a story of a group of young people, from different countries and backgrounds, who meet in the trenches of France and decide to not only survive the war but make their fortunes afterwards by doing the one thing they all are good at, i.e. entertaining people.

This group initially comprises of Peter Cullen, Nick Gerrity, Enzo who is Italian American, Ramon who is from Spain and a Scotsman who calls himself Two Suits. They are later on joined by a French girl Celine, Two Suits beau Betty and Aida with the group being named 'Cullen's Celtic Cabaret' by Peter.

Peter Cullen, Nick Gerrity and May Gallagher are  from Ireland but belong to different echelons of society. It was interesting to see that even while Ireland was fighting for its freedom from English rule, there was still a line drawn against the Irish middle and upper classes mingling with the poor class.

The contrast between the abject poverty of Peter, the comfortable middle class life of Mary and the position of Nick's wealthy parents is described very well and is further brought home when Mary, even though she loves Peter, tries to hide his social status from her parents.

I listened to the ALC of the book which was narrated very well by a cast of narrators. This is the first book in what looks to be a four part series (previously sub-titled as Cullen's Celtic Cabaret) and I am interested enough to know how this story moves forward.

This is also the first time I have read any book by Jean Grainger. I checked out the list of her other works and they are mostly historical fiction novels centered around Ireland. I will surely be checking them out in the future 😊.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Dreamscape Select/Gold Harp Media Ltd. and the author for the ALC.

I listened to the audiobook version of For All the World by Jean Grainger. The story appears to be the first book in an ongoing saga that includes four parts. It is a heart tugging emotional look into WWI from the perspective of a poor Irish young man, Peter Cullen, from the slums of Dublin. Prior to the war, he was an actor who despite not being able to read, could recite lines for all the parts just by mimicking the other actors. One night when asked to play a woman’s part after the actress was rushed to the hospital, he didn’t hesitate. However, his abusive and constantly drunk father found out and beat him because it was a poor reflection on the father. Peter enlisted in the war the following day. Over the next few years Peter befriends three other enlisted soldiers with their own unique backstories. Eventually they end up entertaining the troops to help keep up moral.

When the war ends, the four friends embark on a journey to England and Peter organizes a cabaret show around each of the friend’s talents. They find success, and that is almost where the book ends. There were two more chapters, one involving May, Peter’s girlfriend, who runs away from her affluent family to join him in England - without being asked to join him. And another totally out of the blue scene where it appears one of Peter’s friends is the target of a sinister plan to see him killed by a distant relative. Those two chapters left me confused by what I had just listened to. I guess you could say it was an unexpected cliffhanger. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the audiobook and look forward to what happens to Cullen’s Celtic Cabaret (not sure why the author decided to change the saga’s title to The Aisling Series).

This World War I historical drama, the first in a series, features a young Irish actor named Peter and his well-bred sweetheart May, who are separated by the war. Other characters feature throughout as they are pulled into Peter's orbit to start an entertainment troupe.

This story felt a bit disorganized at times but it was very unique, right up until the end when new characters are introduced in a bit of a cliffhanger. My big gripe with this book was May. I found her to be whiney and clueless, but I suppose that's due to her extremely sheltered and privileged upbringing. If I get the chance to continue this series, it will be interesting to see how things go for her and Peter.

The audio wasn't bad. The quality of the author's narration as May was a bit lacking soundwise, but both narrators were very skilled and engaging.

Every character in this book was captivating. They are all flawed, selfish and self centered. You have the main hero Peter, who is a bit wishy washy and not beyond using his connection to May, but lukewarm in his affections towards her. Nick was the saving grace in this book. Hes sweet, generous and kind. The women were all just a bit too much May was pushy, Celine was using Nick, and Aida was just annoying.

The setting was wonderful, the narration was really good and even though I sound like I am complaining, I would like to finish this saga and see where each of the characters and relationships end up.

#netgalley #ForAllTheWorld

For All The World was the first book in the Cullen Celtic Cabaret series by Jean Grainger. It took place in Dublin, Ireland during the early years of 1900 as World War I was beginning. The one thing that was very apparent right from the start was that there was a fine and impenetrable line drawn between the classes of Dublin. Families that were born into the upper and middle classes did not mingle with those that lived in the poorest neighborhoods that teetered on being called the slums. Jean Grainger was able to portray these distinctions clearly and accurately by painting detailed images of life in both parts of Dublin. The characters in For All The World were well developed and complex. I listened to the audiobook of For All The World that was well narrated by Sobhan Waring and Gary Furlong.

Peter Cullen had been born into a large and very poor family. He lived in what was considered the slums of Dublin. His father had a mean streak especially when he had too much to drink. Unfortunately, that happened quite often and when it did Peter and his siblings knew to stay clear of their father. Peter worked as a messenger but his true passion was acting. He had a gift that allowed him to easily imitate different voices and accents and remember parts quite easily. Peter knew to keep his acting aspirations a secret from his father. One night, Peter was asked to perform the part of Lady Macbeth. The actress who normally played that role had been rushed to the hospital. Peter was able to perform the part easily and he was met with lots of applause and a promise of better parts in the future and a chance to make his dream finally come true. Peter was floating in all his glory when he arrived home. That was until his inebriated father heard that Peter had played the role of a woman at the theater that night. Peter was met by his father’s fury. He was kicked out of his house and told never to come back.

May Gallagher was an eighteen year old woman who had been born into a well established family of considerable means. Her parents coddled her and kept her on a short leash especially since her older brother had been reported missing in action. May enjoyed the theater immensely and often snuck out of her house to attend performances. The night Peter played Lady Macbeth, May had been in the audience. She had seen Peter perform prior to that night and had sought him out. There was something about Peter that May liked a lot. They were from different backgrounds but she didn’t care. May had set her mind on marrying Peter. Peter and May had barely shared a few kisses but May knew that she wanted Peter to be her husband.

On the night that Peter was thrown out of his house by his father, he decided that he would enlist in the war. Peter thought that he should see May before he took off. After all, Peter had nowhere to sleep that night. All he had was the clothes he had been wearing. He had no money, food or extra clothes. May convinced Peter to stay the night. She convinced Peter that they would marry when he returned from the war. Peter had major doubts and concerns about May’s plans. Did she realize how different his life, home and family were from hers? Before Peter left the next morning, May gave Peter some of her brother’s clothes, a significant amount of cash and some food to tide him over. May also told Peter that her brother had written about soldiers that entertained other soldiers in the war. She thought Peter would become a famous actor someday but in the meantime he could stay safe by offering to entertain his fellow soldiers. Peter kept that information in the back of his mind and hoped that he might find a way to put it to use someday.

Over the course of the war, Peter met three soldiers who became his close friends. Eventually, they did perform for the troops and they well accepted. As time went on, they were joined by other talent. Peter and May corresponded during the war but May was disappointed with Peter’s lack of commitment and romantic intentions. Will Peter and May find their way to each other? Does Peter have a career on stage? What will Peter do after the war ends?

I enjoyed For All The World by Jean Grainger up until the last part of the book. The ending left me wondering what I just read. It left me with a sense of bewilderment and disappointment. I was totally confused by what I had just read and wondered in what direction Jean Grainger would be taking the next book in this series. Up until the ending I had been enjoying For All The World. I imagine that I will read the next book and then make up my mind to continue reading it or not. I enjoyed past books by Jean Grainger so I will not give up on her.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of For All The World (Cullen’s Celtic Cabaret, #1) by Jean Grainger through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to 'For All the World' by Jean Grainger.

This audio book thoroughly kept my attention. I have read other WWI books before, but not ones that had an artistic and entertaining touch like this one did. This book had segments of the discomforts and misery of war life, but a bigger segment that focused on the talents that these young soldiers had and how they used their talents both during and after the war. Some of them had life challenges that they were embarrassed about, but with their friendship, they found acceptance and a community which was very heartwarming.

The narrators had distinctive voices with accents that were entertaining and also differentiated them from each other. They played their part so well I felt like I was visiting the theater.

I wasn't very happy about the ending, but everything else was fabulous.

The story is set in the 1920's during the war against Germany in England. Tales of young love woven amongst stories the war buddies trying to avoid the front lines while helping the war efforts by entertaining the troops. May Gallagher is a beautiful 18-year-old living in the middle-class society while the young man she fell in love with, Peter Cullen, lives in a broken home with abuse, crammed into a one room shared living quarters with other families. She first saw Peter in the suburbs theatre and there she fell in young love. Peter to escape his home life and abusive father, decided to join up fighting in the Great War thinking it would end in months. When it didn't, he and his fellow war buddies, who had a lot of talent for entertainment, made up a troupe of cabaret. This adventure takes Peter away from the front lines and does it pull him further away from May who is so in love? This book is a first in the series. I liked the book and would like to read the next one in the series. #ForAllTheWorld #JeanGrainger #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

Oh how I loved this book!!
This was so absolutely amazing to read, characters that I could love and be disappointed in like come on peter don’t lead a girl on ! Fascinating period in time and incredible writing I want to read this again in the future physically and read the rest of the books as they come out as well. I really recommend this if you enjoy a historical fiction or just anything with an entertaining story of some kids through a difficult period in time. Absolutely amazing.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 29th October and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of November.

I highly recommend the audiobook For All the World: The Aisling Series Book 1 written by Jean Grainger and narrated by Gary Furlong, Michael Healy, Siobhan Wearing and Jean Grainger. They bring the story alive with their accents and intonations.

This is a new series with young men of different nationalities united by war and a desire to entertain. The characters are genuine and engaging. The scenes of the battlefield in WWI are gripping and the joy they find in entertaining the troops is uplifting.
This is a well written novel with lifelike characters that step from the page, and much attention to detail creating an interesting and believable story. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks to @NetGalley and #DreamscapeSelect #GoldHeartMediaLimited for providing me the opportunity to listen to the ARC #ForAllTheWorld by @Jean Grainger and write an honest review of my own thoughts about the book.

For All the World
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed the book & story. The ending twist will surprise you. It was a Fun relaxing story. This is the first book of a upcoming series. I will loved the characters full overcoming obstacles in life.
Thank you NetGalley!

I like this author’s writing style. 💕 It was a pleasant audiobook. 🎧 The narrator did a nice job. I liked the Irish element. I adored the female character. She’s loyal and a supportive partner. I wish it wouldn’t have ended the way it did. Caution: fade to black unmarried relations trigger warning: abusive father and heavy

This novel of the Great War takes readers along on a journey with a struggling actress hoping desperately that her brother will return from the conflict unscathed as she fights her feelings for a fellow actor who in her social standing

Thank You for the opportunity to listen to For All The World by Jean Grainger.

It is a heartwarming read about boys who meet during the First World War and find a camaraderie that keeps them sane.

It is the story of a young girl who is willing to go to any length for love.

It is a simple story, nothing that will grab your attention but still worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook, published on 3 October, and narrated by the author herself, Siobhan Waring and Gary Furlong.

I’ve always enjoyed Jean Grainger’s historical fiction, and her novels are especially resonant when you can actually hear the characters speaking in their Irish accents. This is the first in her new Aisling series. It is set in Dublin in 1915, as the horrors of the Great War are becoming increasingly known. Peter Cullen is from a large and very poor family living in one of the worst of the city’s slums. He works as a messenger by day but takes on whatever role he can get at the Gaiety Theatre, hoping to one day make it as an actor. May Gallagher is a much-indulged only daughter of a middle-class family, whose enlisted brother is missing in action. The overwhelmingly optimistic May clings to her belief that David will return. She is much enamoured of the handsome Peter and seemingly unafraid of how her parents will respond to her relationship with a young man so ‘beneath’ her. Peter is enchanted by May but realistic about breaching class divides. He sees no future for them beyond friendship.

Just as Peter scores his first real part—filling in for a suddenly hospitalized Lady Macbeth—to much acclaim, he gets into a serious fight with his heavy-drinking physically abusive father, who won’t tolerate his son being thought a ‘nancy-boy’. His father is knocked down and seriously injures himself. Fearing both that his father will kill him, take out his rage on his wife and children, or set the police after him, and with nowhere to go, he enlists.

Grainger, as usual, demonstrates how the class divide in Ireland is as oppressive as the animosity between the Irish and the English, and how both forms of suspicion follow them onto the frontlines. The scenes set on the front are very well-researched in their nightmarishness. But she also shows how survival, mentally and physically, created instant and frequently intensive friendship, or at least camaraderie, among the men. Peter becomes involved with a disparate group of men assigned to keep up morale by performing—acting in skits, singing, making music, dancing. The Italian Enzo, Spanish Ramon, Scottish ‘Two Soups’, and the enigmatic Nick, third son of an aristocratic English-Irish father who detests him for his stuttering and runs away to enlist as a private, become each other’s salvation. Meanwhile, back in Dublin, May dreams of escaping her dull life by marrying Peter and sharing in his future theatrical successes.

The author provides readers with sympathetic, if often tragic, glimpses into life in wartime. She realistically describes how the Irish who fought in an ‘English war’ were maligned as traitors by those who fought and lost their fight for Irish independence in 1916, even while the English disparaged them as ignorant drunken ‘Paddies’ despite the fact that they were fighting thus English war. This story is very compelling, and very much an excellent series debut.

This is the first book for me by this author. For All the World is an intriguing historical fiction that follows four characters who meet in the trenches during World War 1, where they all have plans on making it in the show business after war. Excellent series beginning - set in Ireland, on the Western Front in France 1917-18, and in post war London with an aside in Valencia, the book follows a few intriguing characters - Peter Cullen of the title, a handsome young man from a poor Dublin family saddled with a brutal alcoholic father who doesn't take well at Peter's acting aspirations especially when by chance he once plays Lady Macbeth, May Gallagher, a very strong-willed girl from a middle-class Dublin family who is in love with Peter and is willing to do anything it takes to marry him, Nick Gerrity (actually the honorable Vivian Nicholas Shaw, 3rd son of an Anglo-Irish baronet who decides to run away and enlist as a private after all the derision got from both of his parents for his stammer and musical inclinations), his love interest, Celine the beautiful and musically talented daughter of a French innkeeper near the front lines and a few others - Italian, Spanish, Scottish etc who bond in the trenches and have big dreams of making it into the show biz after the war The surprise is how this author can bring together these people from such varied backgrounds, and put them together in WWI...in the trenches fighting, and then, in a theatrical production, bringing laughs to all those around them. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley.

What a refreshing read!

This one takes place in the early 1900's and revolves around a few main characters.

Peter, who is the 3rd child of a loveless couple and has suffered for it. When he and his father have a big fight, his life changes forever. He runs away and joins the Army. BUT...before this, he was starting to show promise of a budding career as a theatre performer.

And May, a girl from the other side of town...who wants for nothing and is coddled and spoiled by her parents...who would never allow her to be Peter's girl. She loves the theatre...and Peter too. And when he has problems with his Dad, this is who he runs to...

🛑🛑 Stop here as I'm going to outline the book a bit below...so if you don't want to know... 🛑🛑

Once Peter joins the Army, he meets a bunch of guys and becomes friends with them. He is disheartened to see all the pain and loss that is going on around him due to the war, but is very happy to hear from May and get care packages from her. She always tells him to look into 'entertaining the troops', but he just blows her off. Until one day he does not...and he saves the day...and his talent is starting to be known...

He meets up with Enzo, the Italian; and Nick...from an upper class family, who has a stutter and is ostracized from his family; and Ramon, the Spaniard who plays a mean Flamenco tune on his guitar and wants to kill all the German's; and Two Soups, the Scotsman who is a comedian. They all seem to be wildly talented, so when they enlist them for a show for the troops, it's no surprise!

The surprise is how this author can bring together these people from such varied backgrounds, and put them together in WWI...in the trenches fighting, and then, in a theatrical production, bringing laughs to all those around them!! I mean, you feel as if you are THERE, witnessing the actual destruction of the WAR, and then you are THERE again, in the audience, laughing at the show! 😮👀🫣😊
It. Is. Amazing!!!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #DreamscapeSelect and #GoldHarpMediaLimited for an ARC of the audiobook which releases TOMORROW, 10/3/24!! (Although I see that the actual book was released in 2023.)

#ForAllTheWorld by #JeanGrainger and narrated beautifully by #SiobhanWaring, #GaryFurlong and the author herself #JeanGrainger.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!! Of Note: This is book #1 in the series!

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