Maeve Binchy’s Treasury

by Maeve Binchy

Maeve Binchy is one of the world's best loved story tellers. This collection from Australia and around the world gives us stories that are sad and happy, thoughtful and humourous, but always abounding with the author's trade mark generosity of spirit. Families, friends, lovers and the lonely, all are drawn with affection and wisdom.
* Elsa makes a Christmas wish at the Statue of Liberty which comes true in a most unexpected way.
* Amy opts for the simple life when Dan bites off more than he can chew.
* Frankie uses an unexpected trip with Robert to find out what she really wants from their relationship.
* Victor, a self-confessed hopeless romantic, accompanies a friend to Australia with no thought of love on his mind.
* Nick and Janet meet at the Sydney Fish Markets...everything seems perfect, what could go wrong?
* Victoria imagines what it would mean to her widowed father to join her in his beloved Paris for a weekend.
* Bran enters a competition to broaden his horizons.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Ebooks

Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Anne 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.

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve Binchy’s Treasury is a collection of 43 short stories by popular Irish author, Maeve Binchy, and includes five previously unpublished stories. The collection encompasses all the stories contained in This Year It Will Be Different and The Return Journey, most of those in Cross Lines and one story from No Nightingales, No Snakes. This review will deal with the remainder.

There are a myriad of different settings for these stories: as well as Dublin and the Irish countryside, characters go to London, Greece, New York, the Riviera and more. Many are set at or close to Christmas. Some are very short, others quite a bit longer. Love is lost and found, problems are solved and friendships forged. Quarrels are averted, a wish comes true, a wrong shopping disaster turns out well, a new pregnancy elicits a surprising reaction and a Greek holiday goes in an unexpected direction. Binchy’s strength is in her characters and their interactions, and, whether in short stories or full length novels, her heart-warming tales are winners.

[Hannie]

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[Dianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank g-d that's over! I probably should have given up (life's too short!) but rule follower me, is a glutton for punishment, and just kept on reading, each time hoping the next story might be better. I was right. One was better; the last one. Admittedly, the last year of books (before this) I have read have been exceedingly high quality, good reads.
Whatever drugs the editor was on when they chose to describe this anthology as "40+ HEARTWARMING stories" should probably be avoided because they obviously distort reality way too much! Unless of course, you find adultery, self absorption, jealousy, bitchiness, narcisscism, gaslighting and good old patriachal indoctrination to be "heartwarming".
Perhaps it's just that they haven't held their age well, perhaps I have just matured as a reader, perhaps I've finally become a radicalised feminist, rather than just a token one. I don't know. I used to like this author, but frankly, these stories were depressing crap.

[Sheryl Sato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely collection of Maeve Binchy's amusing and relateable characters.

[Melissa Trevelion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maeve Binchy passed away in 2012 and all I can say is what an absolute delight it was to read this novel containing 43 short stories. If you are a fan of Maeve you will know most have been published before but as a special bonus 5 unpublished stories are included.

You will be transported on a trip around the world with stories based in Australia, New York, Greece, and Ireland to name a few. They are all set around Christmas time and the expectations we all have for the festive season and human interactions. Christmas means to spend more time with family, showing gratitude and loving, sharing and making people happy but it is not always the case and Maeve has encompassed this in her short stories in a very realistic way.

Each story is a take on a familiar festive romance trope; love is lost then found, second chance love, new love, friendships being forged, pregnancies, friends to lovers, grumpy people finding joy, exciting travel adventures. They aren’t particularly about Christmas or New Year’s, but the holidays provide the backdrop for the stories, and somehow make the romance all that much sweeter.
I must admit I am not a huge fan of Christmas but I confess I am a Christmas romance addict. I watch Hallmark holiday movies and enjoy Christmas baking shows. I especially love when romance authors have their books turned into films.
Treasury is warm, heart-breaking, joyful and generous but most of all comforting. We fall into the glittery red and green spangled world of Christmas with our characters and our hearts are warmed and we’re glad to be in their universe as they find happiness, even if just for a little while.
A book I highly recommend for the Christmas break or a great gift idea.
Thank you to Beauty & Lace and Allen & Unwin AU the chance to read and review.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't usually mind a reread of Binchy's stories, but this book consists of basically all the stories in This Year It Will Be Different, and other stories and The Return Journey: Stories with a few others added (one or two that I hadn't already read, I'll admit) and a few of her non-fiction essays thrown in.

Part of the problem could be the sheer number of stories - over 40; after a while they get kind of predictable. And I noticed several typos in the essays. Not normally a huge deal for me, but with the essays being placed at the end of the book, after all the repetitive stories before them, it just really irritated me. 🤷‍♂️

I hate to say it, because I do love most of her novels, the older ones anyway; but this one just really didn't do it for me this time.

[Gab · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a Maeve Binchy lover and a short story lover, you will love this collection of short stories. Most of them have been published before, in two different books, but there are five brand new (to me) stories. Maeve had a gift for creating a character you immediately empathise with, whether in a full length novel or a short story. Lots of these stories centre around Christmas, so this book would be a great Christmas present. Lots also centre around travel and journeys. My only criticism is that I wanted each and every story to be longer!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I miss reading new stories from Maeve Binchy! Whether you have read all her previous books or are new to Maeve’s writing, I recommend this collection. Who else can put so much detail, charm, and essence into a 15-page short story - enough that a whole movie was created from it? Who else studied her fellow humans so intently and created characters so entertainingly vivid?

If anyone out there is reading, I know there are two other Maeve stories in the wild that I have never been able to read - End of Term and Half Promised Land. I would love to read them! Please make them available!

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved all of Maeve Binchy’s novels, but most of these short stories left me cold. They were either about Christmas dreaded and unenjoyed because the relatives were coming, or about infidelities that were coming apart. The writing is still typical Maeve with well drawn characters.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories can be easy reading

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely collection of short stories - a few I had heard before but most were new to me. Unlike a typical short story collection there were very few that didn't hit the mark.

[Natalie O'Donnell · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I have to read another story about infidelity it will be too soon

[Julie Bye · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had no idea that this was primarily a bunch of stories about Christmas. I was about 75% through before a non culture story appeared. The Christmas stories were well-written and even a scrooge like myself could appreciate the fact that it's a season that brings relationships to a head. The other stories were average. If you like short stories and you're into Christmas, I'm sure you'll love this book. I'm off to find something a bit meatier.

[Shelley Mcconnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy book of short stories. The author transports the reader in her relaxed style.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent to dip in and of!

[Serendipity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like all short story collections some appealed more than others, but all had that typical Binchy feel to them Many were focused on Christmas and I especially enjoyed the tale of Orla who used her new camera to capture all her family's supposed secrets.