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A Few of the Girls: Stories
A new collection of stories previously unpublished in the United States by beloved and best-selling author Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy’s best-selling novels not only tell wonderful stories, they also show that while times change, people often remain the same: they fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they have hopes and dreams; they have deep, long-standing friendships, and others that fall apart. From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve’s work has included wonderfully nostalgic pieces and also sharp, often witty writing that is insightful and topical. But at the heart of all Maeve’s fiction are the people and their relationships with each other. A Few of the Girls is a glorious collection of the very best of her writing, full of the warmth, charm, and humor that has always been essentially Maeve.
Maeve Binchy’s best-selling novels not only tell wonderful stories, they also show that while times change, people often remain the same: they fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they have hopes and dreams; they have deep, long-standing friendships, and others that fall apart. From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve’s work has included wonderfully nostalgic pieces and also sharp, often witty writing that is insightful and topical. But at the heart of all Maeve’s fiction are the people and their relationships with each other. A Few of the Girls is a glorious collection of the very best of her writing, full of the warmth, charm, and humor that has always been essentially Maeve.
319 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2015
1343 people are currently reading
5063 people want to read
About the author
Maeve Binchy
258 books5,009 followersAnne Maeve Binchy Snell was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, columnist, and speaker. Her novels were characterised by a sympathetic and often humorous portrayal of small-town life in Ireland, and surprise endings. Her novels, which were translated into 37 languages, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Her death at age 73, announced by Vincent Browne on Irish television late on 30 July 2012, was mourned as the death of one of Ireland's best-loved and most recognisable writers.
She appeared in the US market, featuring on The New York Times Best Seller list and in Oprah's Book Club. Recognised for her "total absence of malice" and generosity to other writers, she finished third in a 2000 poll for World Book Day, ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.
She appeared in the US market, featuring on The New York Times Best Seller list and in Oprah's Book Club. Recognised for her "total absence of malice" and generosity to other writers, she finished third in a 2000 poll for World Book Day, ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 752 reviews
April 6, 2022
EXCERPT: Taken from 'Half of Ninety'
Kay woke up because the curtains in her bedroom were being pulled back. This hadn't happened for a long time, not for five long years since Peter had left. It gave her a shock.
Then she heard a breakfast tray rattling and saw a big vase of flowers on a table. Her daughter Helen must have let herself into the house and was giving her a birthday treat.
'It's all from Nick as well,' Helen explained, not wanting to take all the praise. 'He delivered the flowers, reminded me to keep the half bottle of champagne cold, he would have been here if he could.'
'Champagne!' Kay couldn't believe it.
She felt tears in her eyes. They were so good to her and always had been.
'Just half a bottle and fresh orange juice - you are going to have a Bucks Fizz or a Mimosa or whatever they call it.' Helen was struggling with the cork.
Kay sat up in bed happily. There were fresh croissants on a warmed plate and a Thermos flask of coffee. This breakfast could go on all morning if she wanted it to. And why not? Her day was her own until ten o'clock when she went to work in a nearby antique shop, and it wouldn't really matter if she were late. They didn't depend on her to run it, exactly.
But she wouldn't think of that now as she sipped the fizzy orange. Alcohol at eight in the morning - whatever next?
'I'll just have a sip then I must go to work.' Helen was all busy and excited. 'Anyway, tonight Mum, it's the birthday present. Nick and I will be here at seven o'clock to pick you up and we'll all go to this restaurant and give you our present.'
'But this is my present, this and the dinner, surely?' Kay protested.
'Nonsense. We have to do something special - after all, it's not every day your mother makes it to half of ninety!'
ABOUT 'A FEW OF THE GIRLS': The Irish do love telling stories, and we are suspicious of people who don't have long, complicated conversations. There used to be a rule in etiquette books that you should invite four talkers and four listeners to a dinner party. That doesn't work in Ireland, because nobody knows four listeners'
Maeve Binchy's bestselling novels not only tell wonderful stories, they also give an insight in to how Ireland has changed over the decades, but how people remain the same: they still fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they still have hopes and dreams; they have deep, long-standing friendships, and some that fall apart. From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve's work has included wonderfully nostalgic pieces and also sharp, often witty writing which is insightful and topical. But at the heart of all Maeve's fiction are the people and their relationships with each other.
MY THOUGHTS: A Few of the Girls is a collection of short stories from much loved author Maeve Binchy that were published posthumously. They are stories focusing on relationships, both good and bad. And just as there are good and bad relationships in the stories, there are good and bad stories in this collection. Some of them show their age and others are totally relevant. A mixed, but perfectly enjoyable, bag.
⭐⭐⭐.6
THE AUTHOR: Maeve Binchy was born in County Dublin and educated at the Holy Child convent in Killiney and at University College, Dublin. After a spell as a teacher she joined the Irish Times. Her first novel, Light a Penny Candle, was published in 1982 and she went on to write over twenty books, all of them bestsellers. Several have been adapted for cinema and television, most notably Circle of Friends and Tara Road. Maeve Binchy received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Book Awards in 1999 and the Irish PEN/A. T. Cross award in 2007. In 2010 she was presented with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bord Gais Irish Book Awards by the President of Ireland. She was married to the writer and broadcaster Gordon Snell for 35 years, and died in 2012.
Kay woke up because the curtains in her bedroom were being pulled back. This hadn't happened for a long time, not for five long years since Peter had left. It gave her a shock.
Then she heard a breakfast tray rattling and saw a big vase of flowers on a table. Her daughter Helen must have let herself into the house and was giving her a birthday treat.
'It's all from Nick as well,' Helen explained, not wanting to take all the praise. 'He delivered the flowers, reminded me to keep the half bottle of champagne cold, he would have been here if he could.'
'Champagne!' Kay couldn't believe it.
She felt tears in her eyes. They were so good to her and always had been.
'Just half a bottle and fresh orange juice - you are going to have a Bucks Fizz or a Mimosa or whatever they call it.' Helen was struggling with the cork.
Kay sat up in bed happily. There were fresh croissants on a warmed plate and a Thermos flask of coffee. This breakfast could go on all morning if she wanted it to. And why not? Her day was her own until ten o'clock when she went to work in a nearby antique shop, and it wouldn't really matter if she were late. They didn't depend on her to run it, exactly.
But she wouldn't think of that now as she sipped the fizzy orange. Alcohol at eight in the morning - whatever next?
'I'll just have a sip then I must go to work.' Helen was all busy and excited. 'Anyway, tonight Mum, it's the birthday present. Nick and I will be here at seven o'clock to pick you up and we'll all go to this restaurant and give you our present.'
'But this is my present, this and the dinner, surely?' Kay protested.
'Nonsense. We have to do something special - after all, it's not every day your mother makes it to half of ninety!'
ABOUT 'A FEW OF THE GIRLS': The Irish do love telling stories, and we are suspicious of people who don't have long, complicated conversations. There used to be a rule in etiquette books that you should invite four talkers and four listeners to a dinner party. That doesn't work in Ireland, because nobody knows four listeners'
Maeve Binchy's bestselling novels not only tell wonderful stories, they also give an insight in to how Ireland has changed over the decades, but how people remain the same: they still fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they still have hopes and dreams; they have deep, long-standing friendships, and some that fall apart. From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve's work has included wonderfully nostalgic pieces and also sharp, often witty writing which is insightful and topical. But at the heart of all Maeve's fiction are the people and their relationships with each other.
MY THOUGHTS: A Few of the Girls is a collection of short stories from much loved author Maeve Binchy that were published posthumously. They are stories focusing on relationships, both good and bad. And just as there are good and bad relationships in the stories, there are good and bad stories in this collection. Some of them show their age and others are totally relevant. A mixed, but perfectly enjoyable, bag.
⭐⭐⭐.6
THE AUTHOR: Maeve Binchy was born in County Dublin and educated at the Holy Child convent in Killiney and at University College, Dublin. After a spell as a teacher she joined the Irish Times. Her first novel, Light a Penny Candle, was published in 1982 and she went on to write over twenty books, all of them bestsellers. Several have been adapted for cinema and television, most notably Circle of Friends and Tara Road. Maeve Binchy received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Book Awards in 1999 and the Irish PEN/A. T. Cross award in 2007. In 2010 she was presented with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bord Gais Irish Book Awards by the President of Ireland. She was married to the writer and broadcaster Gordon Snell for 35 years, and died in 2012.
January 31, 2021
January 31, 2021: I just re-read a few of the stories that are my favorites in this collection. It's a perfect way to spend the day when you are sick in bed. I miss being able to get a new Binchy book every year.
Original review:
I was in a funk and not really in the mood to read much else so I went back and re-read two other short story collections by Maeve Binchy this past weekend. Then I saw there was a brand new collection that has been put out and I decided to just go for it and bought and read this new collection in less than a day. Although I finished it before I went home from work yesterday, I still re-read several of the stories that I found the most moving or at least left me thinking.
There are 36 short stories in this volume and although one is a repeat that was in her short story collection, London Transports, I still thought all of them were ridiculously good.
The collection is also divided into several sections. Section 1: Friends and Enemies
section 2: Love and Marriage, section 3: Your Cheating Heart, section 4: Relatives and Other Strangers, section 5: Work and No Play, and section 6: Holidays.
Be forewarned, the Love and Marriage one was pretty dark. Heck there were a lot of dark aspects to these stories and I for one loved them. I like when an author doesn't just have things wrap up in a pretty bow at the end. Life isn't like that, and I like that in just a few short pages Maeve Binchy can get you completely immersed in a story, make you feel sympathy or despise the character you are reading about in just a few short sentences.
I am just going to highlight my favorites instead of doing a mini-review of all 36 stories.
"Picnic at St. Paul's"-The main character Catherine was a better person than me. I felt sort of horrified by this story of a woman who has her life overrun by a friend she hasn't seen in almost a decade because she keeps sending her friends to stay with her while they are traveling through. At first you think this may be an unexpected meet cute/love at first sight story...
"Living Well"-I have been here. Your the poor friend trying your best to be there for a friend who keeps putting up with mess from their partner. In this story we have the character of Gina trying her best to get her friend Orla to get over her horrible boyfriend Eddie. Too bad things don't exactly work out the way she hoped.
"Someone's Got to Tell Her"-I absolutely loved how this story is a one way conversation that you the reader are on. You don't know what the other person is saying, but you can get clued in based on what the main character is saying and responding to. Also in just a few short lines here and there you realize that the main character (name unknown) is a ridiculous stuck up and prejudice person. I almost laughed at the ending.
"The Bargain"-This really touched me a lot. I think because I grew up in a small town and remember how hard it was to move to the city and be around so many people. The main character, Cara, has the opposite problem. She's fallen in love and now has to think about whether she is ready to move to the country. I loved the resolution in this story.
"Audrey"-Told from the point of view of a cat named Audrey. I laughed from beginning to end and now have been side eyeing my cat Junior. Maybe she really is trying to tell me something when she's meowing....
"A Tactful Conversation"-Wow. I loved the main character of Beth who was no holds barred with her new lover's children.
"The Custardly Case"- This story was heartbreaking to me. The main character in this is a little boy named Bernard who has no idea how his world is going to unravel. Readers will quickly get clued into what is happening here though. I was personally outraged by the resolution in this story too.
"The Consultant Aunt"- Holy cow. The aunt in this story could give lessons to Cathy from East of Eden on how to be diabolical.
"The Dream Holiday"-What I liked about this story is that quite quickly you become aware of the group's interactions with each other and you realize that all of them seem to be blind about the reality of their situations. I really did love how the story wrapped up in this one.
Original review:
I was in a funk and not really in the mood to read much else so I went back and re-read two other short story collections by Maeve Binchy this past weekend. Then I saw there was a brand new collection that has been put out and I decided to just go for it and bought and read this new collection in less than a day. Although I finished it before I went home from work yesterday, I still re-read several of the stories that I found the most moving or at least left me thinking.
There are 36 short stories in this volume and although one is a repeat that was in her short story collection, London Transports, I still thought all of them were ridiculously good.
The collection is also divided into several sections. Section 1: Friends and Enemies
section 2: Love and Marriage, section 3: Your Cheating Heart, section 4: Relatives and Other Strangers, section 5: Work and No Play, and section 6: Holidays.
Be forewarned, the Love and Marriage one was pretty dark. Heck there were a lot of dark aspects to these stories and I for one loved them. I like when an author doesn't just have things wrap up in a pretty bow at the end. Life isn't like that, and I like that in just a few short pages Maeve Binchy can get you completely immersed in a story, make you feel sympathy or despise the character you are reading about in just a few short sentences.
I am just going to highlight my favorites instead of doing a mini-review of all 36 stories.
"Picnic at St. Paul's"-The main character Catherine was a better person than me. I felt sort of horrified by this story of a woman who has her life overrun by a friend she hasn't seen in almost a decade because she keeps sending her friends to stay with her while they are traveling through. At first you think this may be an unexpected meet cute/love at first sight story...
"Living Well"-I have been here. Your the poor friend trying your best to be there for a friend who keeps putting up with mess from their partner. In this story we have the character of Gina trying her best to get her friend Orla to get over her horrible boyfriend Eddie. Too bad things don't exactly work out the way she hoped.
"Someone's Got to Tell Her"-I absolutely loved how this story is a one way conversation that you the reader are on. You don't know what the other person is saying, but you can get clued in based on what the main character is saying and responding to. Also in just a few short lines here and there you realize that the main character (name unknown) is a ridiculous stuck up and prejudice person. I almost laughed at the ending.
"The Bargain"-This really touched me a lot. I think because I grew up in a small town and remember how hard it was to move to the city and be around so many people. The main character, Cara, has the opposite problem. She's fallen in love and now has to think about whether she is ready to move to the country. I loved the resolution in this story.
"Audrey"-Told from the point of view of a cat named Audrey. I laughed from beginning to end and now have been side eyeing my cat Junior. Maybe she really is trying to tell me something when she's meowing....
"A Tactful Conversation"-Wow. I loved the main character of Beth who was no holds barred with her new lover's children.
"The Custardly Case"- This story was heartbreaking to me. The main character in this is a little boy named Bernard who has no idea how his world is going to unravel. Readers will quickly get clued into what is happening here though. I was personally outraged by the resolution in this story too.
"The Consultant Aunt"- Holy cow. The aunt in this story could give lessons to Cathy from East of Eden on how to be diabolical.
"The Dream Holiday"-What I liked about this story is that quite quickly you become aware of the group's interactions with each other and you realize that all of them seem to be blind about the reality of their situations. I really did love how the story wrapped up in this one.
December 5, 2015
This is a nice collection of short stories published after the author's death. Nothing earth shattering or very memorable, just lots of very typically Binchy tales of the good and the bad in people who all of course happen to be very typically Irish! Not really a book to read unless you are already a Maeve Binchy fan though. I am so I enjoyed it:)
November 18, 2024
Here we have a few short stories with sub-headings of friends and enemies, love and marriage, your cheating heart, relatives and other strangers, work and no play and holidays.
They all have a basic central theme of how the women (or girls, as Maeve Binchy likes to refer to them) handle each scenario with the man – or family.
Some are humorous, some leave you thinking, some keep you in a state of wonder.
All the stories are very Maeve Binchy.
If you are a fan of her writing, I believe you will enjoy these short stories.
This is a perfect in-between book – you know the kind that you want to turn to when you are not quite ready to put yourself in to the 300 plus page novel?
They all have a basic central theme of how the women (or girls, as Maeve Binchy likes to refer to them) handle each scenario with the man – or family.
Some are humorous, some leave you thinking, some keep you in a state of wonder.
All the stories are very Maeve Binchy.
If you are a fan of her writing, I believe you will enjoy these short stories.
This is a perfect in-between book – you know the kind that you want to turn to when you are not quite ready to put yourself in to the 300 plus page novel?
October 28, 2015
3.5 Stars. It's tough to rate a book of short stories that you're not sure were ever meant to be published. I can picture Maeve Binchy sitting at her writing desk, working away on one of her many best sellers, when she realizes she needs a break. She wants to keep writing but just not on the book she is currently working on. So she takes 30 minutes and free writes. She sees her cat walk in the room and writes "Audrey". She recalls a conversation she had with her young niece about losing her luggage on her holiday and writes "Sandra's Suitcase". She completes these short stories, tucks them away into a drawer and returns to her novel. Over the year of her incredible career, hundreds of short stories were probably produced.
Maeve Binchy has been my favourite writer for the last 15 years. I know I will never walk into my local bookshop and see her latest novel in the window (which still, years later, makes me sad) but perhaps I will continue to be surprised when I discover a new book of her short stories.
Maeve Binchy has been my favourite writer for the last 15 years. I know I will never walk into my local bookshop and see her latest novel in the window (which still, years later, makes me sad) but perhaps I will continue to be surprised when I discover a new book of her short stories.
March 10, 2016
I'm sorry I read this collection as it taints my memories of the Maeve Binchy novels I have enjoyed. Her widowed husband, Gordon Snell, does tell us in the beginning that these are some of the stories Maeve was always writing, but my main impression was that there were reasons she hadn't published these while she was alive. Some of them are so short and undeveloped that I would hesitate to even call them stories, and some end so abruptly that I pictured the doorbell ringing, Maeve getting up to answer it, and shoving the unfinished story into a desk drawer. She might have worked on these and edited them into her usual warm-hearted storytelling if she had lived, but I did not enjoy reading her first drafts.
October 14, 2019
Published posthumously, this collection suffers a bit in comparison with the author's other stories. Men who cheat on their spouses, women who fall in love with married men, spoiled children of divorce playing the guilt card, parents who can't let go... I think she was trying to keep it real (because Maeve always kept it real, honestly), but so many of these themes all stuck together in one book is just a bit much. As always, the characters mostly feel real and the dialogue is true. It was just kind of depressing.
I did really enjoy Audrey, a charming story told from the POV of a cat. >^..^< I don't think I've ever read anything like this from Maeve.
I did really enjoy Audrey, a charming story told from the POV of a cat. >^..^< I don't think I've ever read anything like this from Maeve.
July 11, 2017
Maeve Binchy is one of my all time favorites. I love everything she writes.
May 24, 2016
I miss Maeve Bunchy. I miss her dearly. Her husband, Gordon Snell’s, posthumous release of some of her short stories is a deeply appreciated gift. Reading a FEW OF THE GIRLS was like sitting on a park bench next to Maeve on a blustery autumn day with a shared thermos of hot tea. Leaning toward each other conspiratorially—wind whipping loose hair across our faces—she catches me up on the news and happenings of longtime, common friends. Raised eyebrows, a knowing wink, heads thrown back in laughter, I learn the ins and outs—the gritty details—before she heads back from whence she came. I appreciated our short visit; I hope there will be more…
January 25, 2016
A Few of the Girls by Maeve Binchy is a lovely collection of short stories which will be the last ones found and written by Maeve Binchy which does make them pretty special.
The short stories are about everyday life, some are serious, sad, funny and even comical but all of them are real and true to life.
This was great holiday reading over Christmas and New Year and a lovely gift to receive.
Thank you, Maeve for leaving me with this wonderful collection of short stories. Your books and writing will stay with us all forever.
The short stories are about everyday life, some are serious, sad, funny and even comical but all of them are real and true to life.
This was great holiday reading over Christmas and New Year and a lovely gift to receive.
Thank you, Maeve for leaving me with this wonderful collection of short stories. Your books and writing will stay with us all forever.
December 1, 2015
The blurb pretty much sums it up – the collection really is full of warm, witty, insightful and sweet stories. Some, like “The Custardy Case”, touch the heart (told from a young boy’s point of view, this was probably my favourite story); others offer hope and promise; and yet others take readers on a walk down memory lane. I read most of the book in one sitting and enjoyed it, but after a while I did find the stories tended to blend into one another (Binchy tends to use the same name for different characters in different stories). I’d recommend savouring the stories over a longer period of time. Make a hot drink, grab a biscuit or two and take a break with a story or two.
As for me, I’m going to catch up with an old friend: time to re-read Circle of Friends.
As for me, I’m going to catch up with an old friend: time to re-read Circle of Friends.
March 6, 2016
Full disclosure: I have adored Maeve Binchy ever since her first book came out decades ago. "A Few of the Girls", is a collection of short stories (most of them fewer than ten pages long). And while it's not the BEST of Binchy's writing...it's still classic Binchy; delightful, kind, witty, real. I'm going to copy a paragraph that made me laugh and that pretty much says it all about Binchy's writing style:
"It was quite a drunken wedding and the bridesmaid did an entirely uncalled-for striptease, which she would probably regret for the rest of her life. Brian [the groom] was rather too appreciative of the bridesmaid's displayed charms, and there was an argument about trade unionism that did no favors to either side but alienated a lot of people permanently. Three of the pageboys were sick, and the bride's father got into a poker game where he lost five hundred pounds."
Fans of Maeve Binchy won't want to miss this collection.
"It was quite a drunken wedding and the bridesmaid did an entirely uncalled-for striptease, which she would probably regret for the rest of her life. Brian [the groom] was rather too appreciative of the bridesmaid's displayed charms, and there was an argument about trade unionism that did no favors to either side but alienated a lot of people permanently. Three of the pageboys were sick, and the bride's father got into a poker game where he lost five hundred pounds."
Fans of Maeve Binchy won't want to miss this collection.
November 20, 2017
As many who have mourned Maeve Binchy's death, I was very pleased to learn that a collection of hitherto unpublished short stories of hers had been published. I was able to get it from my library a couple of weeks ago and was happy to read it. The book is a conglomeration of many stories about all aspects of life. The one thing I was surprised about though was that many of the characters had very cynical attitudes. Unlike in Maeve Binchy's books, the groups of friends didn't always stand by each other. Rather, there were many tales of people who were never able to express their real thoughts and ended up missing out. She wrote the stories in her usual easy to read style, but the message wasn't the same. I wonder if perhaps she never wanted these stories published. If she didn't, I wouldn't be surprised.
February 3, 2016
Picking up one of her books is like wrapping up in your favorite blanket on a cold day. Just when I thought I wasn't going to get that feeling again, this book came along. Even though it's short stories, you still get the warm fuzzies from it. I don't know that anyone will ever be able to capture human nature quite the way she was able to do it. If you're a fan, don't miss this one.
December 11, 2020
Maeve Binchy continues to be one of my favorite authors, though I'm not a fan of short story anthologies. This one wins for record use of the name Kate.
Overall, this collection delivers those lovely slice-of-Irish-life, character-driven stories for which Maeve Binchy is beloved, but it included way too many adultery themed stories for my liking. 🤷🏻♀️
Sorry, Maeve - RIP
I still adore you. 💜
Overall, this collection delivers those lovely slice-of-Irish-life, character-driven stories for which Maeve Binchy is beloved, but it included way too many adultery themed stories for my liking. 🤷🏻♀️
Sorry, Maeve - RIP
I still adore you. 💜
June 25, 2016
My only fault is I wanted more from several stories. More as in what happens next!
June 15, 2018
I always thought that Maeve Binchy made writing look easy. Her books flow beautifully, are engaging and full of the kind of detail which puts real flesh on a character. Her stories are of an era, a society and a set of values which absolutely reflect Maeve’s own experiences: and are the better for that. She knew the world that she wrote about and her characters are believable, interesting and enjoyable. I found this book by chance and decided to try it. I enjoyed many of the stories but I also wondered what Maeve would have thought about these stories being published now. Some are clearly forerunners to full length novels. Many are very similar to other stories that she wrote earlier in her career. However, as a night-time escape from the cares of the world - a couple of these before bed - did the trick in taking me away to Ireland and the company of unknown, yet strangely familiar characters. Like a warm bath or a bar of milk chocolate - sweet and easy.
January 3, 2024
Bin mal wieder @Magda sehr dankbar für diesen Autorinnen Tipp! Werde definitiv mehr von ihr lesen❤️
April 29, 2018
3,5 stars. Good read. Need something light after the last few books I read. Typical Maeve Binchy book. Short stories and enjoyable.
September 18, 2016
I read 50 pages of the new Maeve Binchy A Few of the Girls: Stories - 5 stories and am not going to finish. The stories so far are either bizarre, seem to abruptly end (not what short stories are supposed to do), cynical, and negative. It is not what I read Maeve Binchy for. I just read some other reviews that noted these were in fact scraps of writing she left behind and may not have meant to be published.
Her second to last novel A Week in Winter ended so abruptly I contacted Kennys to ask if maybe I had gotten a defective copy missing the last pages. They assured me that my book had the right number of pages and offered to take it back. Sending it back would have cost as much as the book did to begin with so I didn't.
I hate to taint my fondness for Binchy's unending optimism and wouldn't recommend this to her fans.
Her second to last novel A Week in Winter ended so abruptly I contacted Kennys to ask if maybe I had gotten a defective copy missing the last pages. They assured me that my book had the right number of pages and offered to take it back. Sending it back would have cost as much as the book did to begin with so I didn't.
I hate to taint my fondness for Binchy's unending optimism and wouldn't recommend this to her fans.
October 29, 2017
I always feel so restful after reading Maeve Binchy books. I want to be a better person, a more peaceful and accepting person. The thing I love most about her books is that there is nothing dramatic or earth-sharing. She had wonderful qualities in her writing, the best of which is observing without judgement-whether the story is about a cheater, or one being cheated on; or whether the priorities are mixed up in this story-maybe the character adjusts and learns what is truly important, or she doesn't. And either way it is okay. I just loved her books so much and when she died in 2012 I grieved. Her stories live on.
December 6, 2015
This collection of short stories deal with human relationships - and it shows that whether at the beginning of the 1900s or coming close to 2016 nothing has changed as far as basics go. We grow up sometimes in difficult circumstances, sometimes in comfortable ones, have careers, some get married, some don't, have kids, don't have children and learn to live, love and be comfortable with each other.
It was a very heartwarming collection of stories, each unique, each very real.
It was a very heartwarming collection of stories, each unique, each very real.
March 16, 2016
I greatly enjoyed this short story collection by the late Maeve Binchy. She could sketch as scene with vibrant characters and perfect clarity. I feel like I could walk around her Dublin and recognize the streets and some of her characters would be in their shops or eating chips at local pubs.
Wonderful collection.
Wonderful collection.
June 20, 2016
What a nice surprise - I presumed when she died it was the end of her books, but her husband has continued on with this volume of her short stories. Very "Binchy"' I enjoyed them all - nice reading while on vacation - pick up or put down.
March 25, 2017
Lovely slivers of very human emotions in a variety of relationships. I really enjoyed these stories. They were the perfect antidote to my end of winter blues.
September 5, 2020
love that all the short stories are in in one book!! and organized too!! (though the ebook version did not show dates published, which I would have liked to see).
June 7, 2023
I love Maeve Binchy and have read everything I could find of hers so I was happy to see this collection of short stories. I really enjoyed them though the subject matter was darker than most of Maeve’s books (end of relationships, unrequited love, etc). I’d give it a 3.5 if that was available. Pleasant stories but I missed being able to get into the characters. Not possible in this format.
October 7, 2021
As with all of Maeve Binchy's short stories there are some I loved and some I didn't care for. I'm always happy when I'm reading something she wrote, though.
April 7, 2024
perfect little book of short stories — nothing really HAPPENS in them but I think actually that’s why I love them
March 3, 2016
Thank you to the publishers for the advance copy of this beautiful collection of short stories by the late Maeve Binchy. Who knew we, the readers, would be so lucky to be able to enjoy more of Ms. Binchy's stories. Thank you to her husband, Gordon Snell and her agents for compiling these stories in one collection for us to enjoy. Divided into six sections, these stories deal with holidays, friends and enemies and marriages and breakups. Essentially, slice of life stories about people dealing with situations in their lives. Marriages are ending, relationships are beginning, holidays are being taken with friends or alone and forgiveness is being considered or withdrawn. If you liked any of Ms. Binchy's prior works, then this is a must read for you. But if you are new to the work of her, this a perfect way to get a sense of her style. She was a talented storyteller with a gift for making ordinary life events extraordinary. She knew how to paint a picture for her readers, draw them in and leave them content and happy. I know this may seem like a love letter to the memory of Ms. Binchy but she truly was a talented storyteller who thankfully shared her gift with the world and now we have one more present to open and enjoy!
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