Circle of Friends (by Maeve Binchy)

I first started reading books by Maeve Binchy about twelve years ago, I suppose. I picked up the earlier ones at charity shops, and found myself quickly absorbed into the people and lifestyles described, although I wouldn't have ranked them as absolute favourites. I have gradually collected all her books over the years and enjoyed the later ones rather more. Now, after some years have elapsed, I am re-reading Binchy's earlier books, and finding I like them rather more than I did originally.

'Circle of Friends' is an family saga novel, 550 pages in all. As with so many of this author's books, it is based in Ireland. It revolves mainly around Benny and Eve, unlikely friends from school. Benny has loving, over-protective parents, and is a very big-built girl. Eve is an orphan, small and rather prickly, who has been adopted and brought up by nuns.

When eventually both Benny and Eve start college in Dublin, Eve has to work for her keep, while Benny has to return home on the bus each day. They make new friends - the beautiful but rather self-centred Nan; the handsome Jack; and many others. The minor characters are well-developed enough to add to the rich tapestry of friendship which is the overriding theme of this book.

There are several subplots as the girls grow up, begin to learn about love, and gradually discover what is most important to them. Nan is determined to rise above her rather sorded background, and Eve is determined to have nothing to do with the upper-class relatives who have cut her off.

There are some shocks in this novel, all of which I had totally forgotten in the ten years or so since I first read the book. While I didn't find it deeply moving, or even memorable, it was a very enjoyable saga overall, painting vivid images of childhood in convent schools and student days in Ireland at the end of the 1950s.

Recommended. Still in print in the UK and USA, and widely available second-hand.

Whitethorn Woods (by Maeve Binchy)

I do like Maeve Binchy's books. I seem to enjoy her recent ones more than her earlier novels, but they're all great stories, well written, with believable and three-dimensional characters.

However I'd heard rather mixed reviews about her latest book, 'Whitethorn Woods. Some mentioned that it wasn't really a novel, it was just a collection of linked short stories. Others said it was good, but nothing like as enjoyable as - say - 'Scarlet Feather', or 'Nights of Rain and stars'. Yet others said it was enjoyable and well worth reading.

But I had it on my wishlist, and was given it for Christmas; I read it in the last few days. I find I agree in some sense with all the opinions I had read!

'Whitethorn Woods' is, indeed, like a collection of short stories, though not exactly. It's not one novel with just a few central characters: instead, each chapter focuses on two primary people, and then rather cleverly tells a story from their two points of view.

However, all these stories are linked. The beginning and the end of the book are written from the point of view of Father Brian Flynn, who is trying to maintain neutrality about a major political issue. There are rumours that a new road will be running through the village, probably cutting right through the ancient woods, and destroying a controversial shrine to St Ann (reputedly the mother of Mary, mother of Jesus). People in their droves have been going to this shrine for many years, praying for health, or restored relationships, or to find husbands - and many other requests.

Father Flynn knows all the locals, and is aware that for some of them a new road will be a great blessing, whereas for others it would be too big a sacrifice to lose the woods and the shrine. He can see both sides of the issue, and tries to avoid committing himself either way.

Then, in each chapter, we meet either a resident of the town, or someone who is connected with it in some way. Most of the stories build - however loosely - on the previous ones, and gradually expand on some of the previous subplots. For instance, in one of the earlier stories we hear about a woman whose husband is in jail; he accused her of selling their first baby, while she claimed the baby was stolen. We then meet the mother in a later story, and later still actually meet the person who stole the baby - and see her perspective.

Other stories stand more alone, merely showing yet another instance of someone for whom the shrine of St Ann has been significant in some way. And they introduce us to the kinds of people who live in this area of Ireland.

So it's a circular kind of book - we see the problem of the road at the beginning, we see various perspectives on it, and eventually we find out what happens, having understood better why it's so significant.

But it's also quite thought-provoking, seeing the storylines from different points of view. And there are some interesting comments on society expectations too: the bright school teacher marrying a local lad considered 'not the sharpest knife in the drawer', for instance. But not being ultra sharp is not a problem in this case. The young man is organised, thoughtful, generous, and utterly honest.

I quite liked each chapter being complete in itself - it was easy to stop reading at any point, and it was also easy to pick up the book for just fifteen minutes or so, and read just one chapter. But I also liked the clever characterisation, so that several people could see the same events through radically different viewpoints.

As always with Maeve Binchy, the writing was excellent and the people believable. I did find the sheer number of them a little confusing at times, and had to check back to see who was being referred to - but that wasn't really a problem. All in all, I enjoyed 'Whitethorn Woods' very much, and would recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys light character-based fiction.

Echoes (by Maeve Binchy)

'Echoes' is one of Maeve Binchy's earlier novels, one I had read before - about ten years ago - but I couldn't remember much about it.

It's the story of Clare O'Brien, one of six children of a grocer in a small Irish holiday resort. Clare isn't like her siblings - she's very intelligent, believes in working hard, and likes to ask questions. She wants more from her life than marriage to a local boy and work on the checkout of some shop. She's lucky enough to have a teacher who believes in her, and who encourages her to take exams and apply for university.

Gerry is the son of a photographer, a charming, friendly kind of guy who attracts girls from a young age. He's a bit of a risk-taker, too...

David is the only son of the doctor. His father is delightful, but his mother is a snob. So when David and Clare become friendly as children, she tries to ensure they see as little of each other as possible. She's not keen on David's being friendly with Gerry, either.

This book is about these children and others growing up, learning about life and love, discovering what - and who- really matters to them. It's also about the attitudes of people a few decades ago, and the conservative nature of a small Irish town where everyone knows everyone else.

It's very well-written, evocative in places, and there's a prologue hinting at tragedy to come, which keeps the reader wondering what's going to happen for quite some time. The climax to the book is somewhat shocking, but leads the way to a hopeful ending.

And yet... somehow I found it hard to get into the story. It wasn't so much that there were a large number of characters: the main ones were clearly defined, and the minor ones didn't matter so much. The subplots were well-woven into the main story, and all had significance later on. But the characters seemed a bit flat to me. I could recognise them, but couldn't empathise with them.

I'm glad Maeve Binchy kept writing, since her characterisation in later novels is excellent, and I'm glad I re-read this book as it passed the time in an enjoyable way. But it was nothing special.

Recommended for a light holiday read, since it's easy to put down in between reading sessions.

Little Girl Lost (by Katie Flynn)

I quite like light historical novels, but am generally not so keen on the rather gritty ones that tend to be set in Liverpool around the turn of the 20th century. However I found this one, 'Little Girl Lost' by Katie Flynn, to get about the right balance as far as the realism goes. There was no glossing over the poverty, suffering and abuse that went on, but few details were given: none that made me wince or feel squeamish.

The plot centres firstly on Sylvie, who is walking along the banks of the Mersey trying to solve a problem: she's pregnant, but not by her husband who is in jail. Moreoever, he's a violent and possessive man. Her sister (not surprisingly) just thinks she was stupid to get herself in this position. Enter Brendan, a policeman off-duty, who startles Sylvie so much that she falls into the river, and (naturally) he rescues her.

It's a clichéd opening, and the book is rather full of such scenarios. It's also rather confusingly structured more like a soap than a novel. There are plenty of dramatic scenes and sub-plots, but it's hard to get hold of a broad theme or overall plot. Sometimes the action is in Liverpool, sometimes in Dublin. There are many minor characters, some of whom die off conveniently when no longer needed, and extras appear as necessary.

Moreover I had very little sympathy for Sylvie who is both selfish and stupid, and it was hard to believe in Brendan, who is not only handsome, brave and kind, but solves her problems easily by producing a cousin in Ireland who can look after her until the baby is born and can be adopted.

However the Irish family were much more believable and rounded, and I found their story rather more interesting than that of Sylvie. Despite a slow start, I found myself wanting to keep reading. Even though many of the outcomes to the sub-plots were predictable, they were well-written, with just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. The conversations flowed well, with sufficient colloquial language to help me 'hear' the voices and accents - yet not so much that it became awkward to read. There was enough description to enable me to imagine the locations and people fairly clearly, but not so much that I became bored.

The ending was encouraging too, if a bit too tidy and contrived. So, all in all, recommended for anyone who likes this kind of book.

(If you're interested, you can read my longer review of 'Little Girl Lost' at The BookBag)

Evening Class (by Maeve Binchy)

'Evening Class' is one of my favourite novels by Maeve Binchy. As with much of her work, the setting is Ireland. The main focus of the story is an Italian evening class, set up by a rather disillusioned school teacher, employing an Irish lady who has lived in Siciliy for many years. Thirty students gather and become deeply involved in each other's lives.

The book is written from several perspectives, starting with the school teacher, explaining why he is unhappy, and how the idea of the evening class arose. His wife and daughters are introduced, along with some other people who will appear later in the novel.

In the second section we meet Signora, who is to become the Italian teacher. The book goes back to her life in Sicily, her reasons for being there, and why she eventually leaves. Then we follow her as she returns to Ireland, finds somewhere to live, and is eventually persuaded to try her hand at teaching.

The novel continues in this way, changing perspectives in each section, but this is not at all disruptive; instead, each viewpoint adds to the understanding of the story as a whole. I did find the rather large cast-list a bit confusing at times, and couldn't always remember what relationship each one had with the rest, but this wasn't too disturbing. Each chapter starts a way back in a character's life, and ends a little further forward in time than the previous one, so there's a sense of moving forward as well as the ever-increasing knowledge of different people.

I found it very enjoyable. I first read this book eight years ago, and found that re-reading it, I had forgotten almost everything, so was surprised anew by some of the revelations.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes character-based novels with more depth than many average modern books.

Firefly Summer

I like Maeve Binchy's books. I don't rave about them, as I do about Rosamunde Pilcher or Susan Howatch, but I enjoyed them all when I first read them five or six years ago, and particularly liked the later ones which have been published since then.

However I've only just started re-reading them this year, and am pleased to find that I like them better than I remember. Or maybe, as I have vague memories of the main plots, I'm reading more for the characterisation and the subplots. Or perhaps they're just books that improve with subseuqent readings.

Firefly Summer is quite a long book, 760 pages in paperback, and it's taken me nearly two weeks to finish it. Albeit fairly busy weeks. It's mainly focussed on the delightful Ryan family: John and Kate who are very happily married and run a pub, and their four children. The oldest two, Michael and Dara, are twins and much of the book revolves around their activities and gradual growing up as young teenagers in Ireland in the 1960s.

The main plot is about Patrick O'Neill, an American of Irish descent, who decides to return to his roots and build a hotel on the site of a mansion which was burnt down forty years previously.

The Ryans and the O'Neills soon make friends, yet maintain a constant tension; it's entirely possible, after all, that the pub trade will be taken by the hotel which is to be built nearby. Moreover Patrick also has two teenagers: the beautiful Grace and the rebellious Kerry. The Ryan twins are instantly attracted to them.

I don't find Maeve Binchy portrays children as well as some other authors do, but still I found I warmed to both Michael and Dara, and was mildly amused by their amazingly naughty younger brother Eddie. Other children were a bit more shadowy, appearing more as extras than as main characters. Much the same was true of the adults: a few were strong and believable, others less so. At first it was a bit confusing working out who was who, as there's a fairly big cast involved, but in the end it didn't matter too much. If I needed to know who someone was for the plot, it was probably clear.

It was well-written and fast-paced with just the right amount of conversation for my tastes. It wasn't high action, but it certainly wasn't dull. There's just enough description to give me a vague picture of the place, but not so much that I started to skim.

There were a few dramatic shocks along the way, two of which I had totally forgotten about since my initial reading of this book. Somehow, though, I wasn't really emotionally moved. So although I'd recommend this, and will probably read it again in another five or six years, I still don't rank Maeve Binchy as highly as the authors who can move me to tears.

The Glass Lake

It's been a while since I read Maeve Binchy's books - four or five years at least - and my memory was that I liked the more recent ones considerably more than the earlier ones. Nonetheless, I decided to try 'The Glass Lake' again, and while it took me a week to finish the 700-odd pages, it was much more enjoyable than I remembered. Or perhaps, taking it more slowly, I had time to appreciate it better.

Kit McMahon is twelve when the book opens, in Ireland in 1952. She's a normal schoolgirl whose live is changed by a dramatic event that effects not just her family but the whole village. The story is about hope, love, white lies and betrayal in a family saga setting. There's interesting post-war social history too, as we see rapidly changing attitudes towards women's roles in society, divorce, and the issue of unmarried mothers.

The book was well-written without being at all boring despite its length. There are several subplots that work alongside the main story of Kit's growing up, and just enough action for my tastes. The ending was satisfactory without being too neat and tidy.

And yet...

Somehow I had no empathy with any of the characters. They all seemed realistic, but not quite real. I didn't feel as if I knew any of them by the end of the book, and I didn't really care what happened to them. There wasn't much humour in the book - which is fair enough - but although there were moments which should have been emotional, they left me mostly untouched.

Scarlet Feather (by Maeve Binchy)

I do like Maeve Binchy's books. They're warm, and relaxing, and I find the later ones even more enjoyable than her earlier works.

'Scarlet Feather' is set, as are most of this author's work, in Ireland. Cathy Scarlett and Tom Feather are building a good reputation as a catering company in Dublin. They are close friends in a platonic way, each of them being involved in a different relationship romantically. Tom's girlfriend struggles to be a model, Cathy's husband is a high-flying lawyer.

We see the world through many of their friends, including some delightful - and rather neglected - young twins. Emotions run high and the catering company is almost destroyed; but Tom and Cathy rediscover what's important to them, and the book ends with a hopeful and reassuring conclusion.

The characterisation may not be quite as brilliant as that of Rosamunde Pilcher, but this was a very readable and moving book which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Highly recommended.

Cashelmara (by Susan Howatch)

'Cashelmara' is a historical saga novel by Susan Howatch.

Edward, a 60-year-old widower, falls in love with Marguerite, a 17-year-old American distant cousin. He brings her to the UK to marry her.

His home is Cashelmara, an Irish estate, during the Irish potato famine of the 19th century, giving a background to the book of tragedy and raw anger. Edward's son Patrick inherits the estate and similarly marries a young American girl, but there the similarities end since Patrick turns out to be a gambler who should never have married.

Some very unpleasant scenes and violence made this book rather distasteful in places, although I still found myself eager to keep reading.

This is one of Susan Howatch's earlier (and longer) books, written in her distinctive style with each section written from a different viewpoint, gradually revealing more as the novel progresses.

Tara Road (by Maeve Binch)

'Tara Road' is a long saga novel by Maeve Binchy.

This book begins from the point of view of Ria, who falls in love with and marries Danny, a smooth businessman. They buy an old, huge house and slowly renovate it. Gradually tensions creep in, and the mid-saga crisis is not unexpected.

We then meet Marily, an American woman, who does a house-swap with Ria for two months. Each discovers new things about the other.

Superbly intricate plots and sub-plots, surprising (although believable) revelations, and delightful characters. Recommended.

Light a Penny Candle

A saga novel by Maeve Binchy.

This is the story of two ten-year-old girls, Aisling and Elizabeth, who are thrown together by the war and develop a lifelong friendship. Believable people are portrayed in realistic settings in England and Ireland.

This is a well-written and fast-moving book, although I found the ending to be rather depressing with too many broken marriages and deaths for my tastes.