Quentins (by Maeve Binchy)

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When I first read Maeve Binchy’s novels, I acquired them gradually and read them over the course of many years. I realised that there were overlaps in some of the characters, but couldn’t always remember them from previous books. Now I’m re-reading around one each month, in the order in which they were published, and am very much appreciating this aspect of continuity.

I last read ‘Quentins’ in 2003, and in more than two decades had totally forgotten the story, and the characters. The restaurant known as Quentins was first mentioned, as far as I recall, in the book ‘Evening Class’, which I reread in October last year. Its owners Patrick and Brenda are shown as hard-working, generous people, but we didn’t learn much about the restaurant. ‘Evening Class’, however, is primarily about Brenda’s closest friend Nora. 

The restaurant is mentioned again, in passing, in ‘Tara Road’, which I re-read at the end of November; that book introduces Ria, who lives in Tara Road, and various of her friends. And in ‘Scarlet Feather’, which I re-read at the start of January, the focus is on Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlett who run a catering company. They’re not in competition with Quentins, which is quite a high class restaurant by that stage. That book also introduces Cathy’s parents, known as Muttie and Lizzie, and  delightfully curious (and oddly naive) twins called Maud and Simon. 

In the novel ‘Quentins’, which I just finished, the main character is called Ella. She first visits Quentins, with her parents, when she is six, and she’s very impressed by the courtesy shown to her. She and her parents live in Tara Road, and although she has no siblings, they’re very happy. Or so they seem until she grows up, and realises that her parents have very little in common with each other. 

Ella eventually moves out, and takes a job teaching. And then she falls in love with a married man, who is charming to everyone and assures her that his marriage is dead. He spends a lot of time with her, and advises her friends and family financially, in ways that, at first, seem legitimate… 

Ella and some friends who work in film production decide that it would be good to make a documentary about Quentins and some of the patrons and staff. They apply for funding from an American company, and Ella is sent to talk to the wealthy boss, Derry King, who has historical links with Dublin but no desire to go back. 

The twins Maud and Simon appear several times in this book, as do Cathy and Tom of Scarlet Feather. We see Nora, too, and in each case I was delighted to read a bit more of their stories, to know how they were getting on. There are also a lot of other people introduced, with connections to Quentins, including the actual owner whose name is Quentin. 

When Ella is in the United States, telling the stories that are planned for the documentary, several chapters are taken up with different people. Some had been mentioned before, some are (as far as I could remember) new. Each had a story connected with the restaurant, whether positive or negative. And we learn more of Patrick and Brenda’s story too: how they decided that they needed their own restaurant, and what principles they believed in. 

Even though I had read the other books relatively recently, I found the number of characters a little overwhelming, and could not always remember who was whom. But the significant ones stood out; I liked Ella very much, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the twins again, with their awkward, innocent questions. I even laughed aloud at one of their song suggestions towards the end.

There’s a fair bit of drama in this book, and some quite tense scenes when Ella has to make some difficult decisions. But the whole is warm, showing a community that stands together, with people who support and care for each other. And the ending is uplifting and encouraging.

Definitely recommended, though it's probably best if read after other books with these characters; at least ‘Scarlet Feather’. 

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