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Star Sullivan
Molly Sullivan said that the new baby was a little star. She was no trouble at all and she was always smiling... so she became known as Star and no one remembered that her name was Oona. Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate. Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about...
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2006
72 people are currently reading
1492 people want to read
About the author
Maeve Binchy
258 books5,027 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 90 reviews
June 2, 2023
Star Sullivan was one of the rare Maeve Binchy books I had not read, and I was unable to source it for a good while. I was so happy to stumble across the audio version, as all of MB's books translate so well to this format. The accents are always done so well, and I love the added little bonuses like snooty and snobby old ladies really sounding like they are meant to!
Written in 2006, this story still translates well to current times as Maeve always writes about families, relationships - good and bad - money, the working class and of course, misunderstandings. This book was no exception to the rule, and there is always a lesson or two to take away. Of course these everyday issues we all face don't change with time.
Star is the good girl of the family, her brothers trouble makers, her sister suffering from an eating disorder in her attempt to make it in modelling, her father a gambler and poor mum a cashier strugglng to make ends meet at the local supermarket. Star is outwardly the steady and reliable gal.
Usually relied upon to make no trouble, she becomes enamoured (or should I say obsessed) with the boy next door. This lad seems to be trouble and strife as well, but Star will have none of that, she will continue to be the people pleaser she has always been, even bailing this boy out of police trouble by alibing him - and not telling the truth. She is undeniably frustrating, and one would like to shake some sense in to her! And in Maeve's storytelling way, she does that for us.
Star always meant well, but she is weak and not self assured. It was a most unappealing trait; but as this author always does, the lessons learned are important and always delivered with a twist.
Family meal times, barbeques, school life.. it's all covered here in its blandness. The story is not bland - the author knows how to deliver the human condition without cat and mouse, blow things up storylines. It is not exciting reading, but I do always love the morals behind the every day life and the interesting characters MB always fills in between her yarns.
The other small stories I had listened to previously, again, clever, witty and thought provoking. Always giving postives and negatives of human nature, and the types of people we run into everday also, in work and at play.
The literary world lost an angel when Maeve Binchy died. I still have a couple of her books unread, lucky me!
Written in 2006, this story still translates well to current times as Maeve always writes about families, relationships - good and bad - money, the working class and of course, misunderstandings. This book was no exception to the rule, and there is always a lesson or two to take away. Of course these everyday issues we all face don't change with time.
Star is the good girl of the family, her brothers trouble makers, her sister suffering from an eating disorder in her attempt to make it in modelling, her father a gambler and poor mum a cashier strugglng to make ends meet at the local supermarket. Star is outwardly the steady and reliable gal.
Usually relied upon to make no trouble, she becomes enamoured (or should I say obsessed) with the boy next door. This lad seems to be trouble and strife as well, but Star will have none of that, she will continue to be the people pleaser she has always been, even bailing this boy out of police trouble by alibing him - and not telling the truth. She is undeniably frustrating, and one would like to shake some sense in to her! And in Maeve's storytelling way, she does that for us.
Star always meant well, but she is weak and not self assured. It was a most unappealing trait; but as this author always does, the lessons learned are important and always delivered with a twist.
Family meal times, barbeques, school life.. it's all covered here in its blandness. The story is not bland - the author knows how to deliver the human condition without cat and mouse, blow things up storylines. It is not exciting reading, but I do always love the morals behind the every day life and the interesting characters MB always fills in between her yarns.
The other small stories I had listened to previously, again, clever, witty and thought provoking. Always giving postives and negatives of human nature, and the types of people we run into everday also, in work and at play.
The literary world lost an angel when Maeve Binchy died. I still have a couple of her books unread, lucky me!
June 13, 2020
Molly Sullivan said that the new baby was a little star. She was no trouble at all and she was always smiling - so she became known as Star and no one remembered that her name was Oona.
Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate.
Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about.
Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate.
Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about.
January 29, 2016
2.5 stars
This is an okay read but a little disappointed. I felt torn about Star and how she was treated.
It seems like a straight forward story about family life but it isn't!
This is an okay read but a little disappointed. I felt torn about Star and how she was treated.
It seems like a straight forward story about family life but it isn't!
June 10, 2017
3+ Kratki roman koji prati par životnih epizoda Molly Sullivan zvane Zvjezdica i njene velike porodice :)
November 29, 2013
Maeve Binchy excelled at characterization and defied style. I usually only care about a lead protagonist’s viewpoint. She defied genre because I seldom touch general fiction. She draws me in because she writes about normal people. She gives voice to less pleasant goings-on of family life and perhaps we are swept away by these ordinary circumstances because they exist. We understand them and likely benefit from seeing them discussed.
My interpretation of this books is: in a mishmash, struggling family “Star Sullivan” is optimistic. Other than her hard-working Mom, everyone is in a negative place. ‘Star’s’ brother fights with their Dad, another smuggles DVDs, their sister is anorexic, and their Dad is addicted to gambling. She falls for the new neighbour’s son, who is somewhat involved in her brother and Dad’s unhealthy behaviours. He considers himself a good neighbour and she bravely covers for them on a few occasions. After some bad situations boil and a few incidents are misconstrued, the neighbour resents her innocent nature and feels she is to blame for certain outcomes. His leaps are ridiculous. There’s a major difference between needing to mature past naivety and being a troublemaker. Star defended her family and cared for people all of her young life. The only standout mistake was clinging to the hope of dating the neighbour, when a very nice guy at work had feelings for her. That weakness in decision-making was understandable for a teen.
Maeve’s outcome seemed to be that when life improved for the Sullivans, the neighbour wound up outraged with them. I’m unsure I understand or concur with Maeve’s point this time. It felt pessimistic: “not everyone’s happy at once” or “wanting to help doesn’t mean it works”. Star was always honourable. It was the others who were in need of shaping up.
My interpretation of this books is: in a mishmash, struggling family “Star Sullivan” is optimistic. Other than her hard-working Mom, everyone is in a negative place. ‘Star’s’ brother fights with their Dad, another smuggles DVDs, their sister is anorexic, and their Dad is addicted to gambling. She falls for the new neighbour’s son, who is somewhat involved in her brother and Dad’s unhealthy behaviours. He considers himself a good neighbour and she bravely covers for them on a few occasions. After some bad situations boil and a few incidents are misconstrued, the neighbour resents her innocent nature and feels she is to blame for certain outcomes. His leaps are ridiculous. There’s a major difference between needing to mature past naivety and being a troublemaker. Star defended her family and cared for people all of her young life. The only standout mistake was clinging to the hope of dating the neighbour, when a very nice guy at work had feelings for her. That weakness in decision-making was understandable for a teen.
Maeve’s outcome seemed to be that when life improved for the Sullivans, the neighbour wound up outraged with them. I’m unsure I understand or concur with Maeve’s point this time. It felt pessimistic: “not everyone’s happy at once” or “wanting to help doesn’t mean it works”. Star was always honourable. It was the others who were in need of shaping up.
January 22, 2025
I really don't know what the point was?
A perfect little girl is not perfect?
Life sucks?
Something about love?
I have no clue. Seemed mostly pointless to me. Star wasn't a character I liked, nor were any of her family, nor the boy next door.
Reading time better spent elsewhere.
A perfect little girl is not perfect?
Life sucks?
Something about love?
I have no clue. Seemed mostly pointless to me. Star wasn't a character I liked, nor were any of her family, nor the boy next door.
Reading time better spent elsewhere.
December 28, 2012
Indeed a quick read, but I feel Maeve Binchy could have done a lot better. Star was such a lovely kid, everybody loved her and thought she was a very nice girl who only wanted everyone around her to be well, and then suddenly we discover that she was just a pain and she had to stop worrying so much and live her own life? Hummm, a bit sudden...
August 30, 2021
Overall I loved this book and its plot. My only criticism would be that it ended a bit too quickly for my liking. I would definitely recommend this book to people who need a quick read and like easy going stories.
July 22, 2011
This novel has good narrative and an interesting plot. The main character named, 'Star Sullivan,' is very charming and likeable, and she wants everyone including her family to 'just be happy,' but can they? Can she eventually make them happy?
June 24, 2015
I get the warm and fuzzies whenever I read Maeve Binchy. Her ability to capture the human condition in easy writing makes for good reading. Her characters, their situation and dialogue are always believable. Star Sullivan is one of those books I relish on a long weekend of R&R.
May 11, 2014
Wonderful, as always. A story of changes and growing older and wiser from the viewpoint of a teenager.
January 6, 2019
A really sweet but crisp story that was surprising in it's ending. Maeve Binchy is enjoyable to read and I recommend her to all.
May 23, 2018
This was okay. I didn't really connect with Star as such or her family for that fact. She was a sweet girl but also naïve. One of my lesser enjoyed quick reads. But okay to pass the time.
August 27, 2021
Good. I liked the story but there wasn't a plot in it.
October 24, 2021
Note to self: do not read from your mother's old bookshelf. Even in an emergency.
June 11, 2022
2 1/2 stars
A "Quick Read" novella.
A "Quick Read" novella.
December 18, 2014
Because Oona Sullivan was such a special child everyone started to call her Star instead. She never made any trouble, she always smiled and she was sweet and kind to everyone. Her only wish in life was for everyone to be happy. Growing up that doesn't change. Star is a kind and dreamy teenager who doesn't have any real friends. She can't stop worrying. Her father has a gambling problem, her brother is destined to be in trouble with the police and her sister has an eating disorder. When she meets Laddy Hale, her new next door neighbour who is just a few years older than her Star begins to change. It's love at first sight, but he doesn't seem to notice her. For years she's been doing her very best to make him love her. Now that she's in love it doesn't mean she's stopped worrying though. Star doesn't share her fears with anyone, except maybe with Laddy. Is she going to be all right or will Star see her whole world fall apart?
Star isn't the brightest girl, but she's the most helpful and sweet girl there is. Because she's never any trouble to anyone, nobody really bothers with her either. That makes her a lonely girl. The worrying and trying to make people happy leads to having to keep many secrets and they make Star even more worried. Star means well, but like the cover of the book already says, that sometimes isn't enough. There's an important lesson to be learned. Star has to see what the consequences of her actions are. The reader of the story actually learns from this as well. I loved this quick read. It's an amazing story about a girl who cares so much it makes her forget about who she is. I'm a big fan of Maeve Binchy's work and this is another one of her wonderful stories.
Star isn't the brightest girl, but she's the most helpful and sweet girl there is. Because she's never any trouble to anyone, nobody really bothers with her either. That makes her a lonely girl. The worrying and trying to make people happy leads to having to keep many secrets and they make Star even more worried. Star means well, but like the cover of the book already says, that sometimes isn't enough. There's an important lesson to be learned. Star has to see what the consequences of her actions are. The reader of the story actually learns from this as well. I loved this quick read. It's an amazing story about a girl who cares so much it makes her forget about who she is. I'm a big fan of Maeve Binchy's work and this is another one of her wonderful stories.
December 30, 2016
This is a novella that was meant to introduce me to this author and it was an interesting intro. The characters were an interesting bunch and well-described so I felt involved with their lives. Mostly they all have issues and the youngest, Star, is the worrier and wants to be the fixer. I struggled a little with what the point the author was trying to make. She was too young and naive to really help people? She didn't communicate well with her hunky neighbor so he turned on her? In the end, it was positive and affirmative as she grew up and learned about life so I liked it.
July 20, 2014
I thought that I had read all of Maeve Binchy and was surprised to discover that there were several of her stories that I had missed. This was one. It is part of a series of "Quick Read" books and at just 106 pages, it does qualify. It was a quick read and an enjoyable read. Maeve creates characters that are real enough and deep enough that not everything is predictable and it makes for very entertaining reading.
March 7, 2016
Another good little quick read, had this on my shelf for ages and decided to read in the garden in the nice weather, not tried this author before and will probably look for some more of her books in the future
December 29, 2019
What a lovely surprise to find a Maeve Binchy book that I hadn't read -- I miss her lovely stories and characters. This is a novella that shows the inner world of a gentle girl who is concerned about everyone around her, until she meets a new neighbour. Couldn't put it down.
August 31, 2008
A nice, simple but interesting book about a girl who is too truthful and nice. Reminicent of other charaters in Binchy books. This was a short pleasure.
May 6, 2009
Cute little book :)
February 27, 2011
Enjoyable quick read.
January 12, 2012
A quick nice story of a dysfunctional family and their naive good to do daughter.
August 3, 2012
Another delightful Quick read.
August 20, 2012
nice little short story easy to read. not one of bincheys best but still a great read
September 9, 2013
Really good story. Very enjoyable quick read.
June 3, 2016
Perfect Maeve Binchy style!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews