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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

Maeve Binchy

30 replies

Jux · 07/05/2013 13:37

Has anyone read anything by her?

I am reading my first ever book of hers, called Whitethorn Woods. So far it's lots of vignettes of different people, almost all written in the first person. Every 'voice' is exactly the same. It's really rather dull. Is she usually like this?

OP posts:

Newpuppymummy · 07/01/2023 10:07

I loved her older books. They are total comfort books to me. I have vivid memories of reading them when I was about 14 or 15.

EnlightenedOwl · 12/05/2013 09:55

Her earlier books are the best ones. Please read Circle of Friends/ Echoes/ Firefly Summer Circle of Friends and Echoes are magical. The Copper Beech is a clever book as well.

Willabywallaby · 10/05/2013 17:37

I thought it was odd she continued writing when she had retired, can you PM me info?

Lilymaid · 10/05/2013 13:58

The ony book by MB I've read is Tara Road and it was exceptionally dull and unbelievable. Never again.

mrsshackleton · 10/05/2013 13:53

PM-ed

valiumredhead · 10/05/2013 13:44

strikeout fail!

valiumredhead · 10/05/2013 13:44

Ooooooo really? Is that why the later books were so shit, was she rebelling? How could they force her, was she locked into a contract? you can always PM me

mrsshackleton · 10/05/2013 13:36

Sorry you're right, he didn't die, he was v sick

They did force her, have insider knowledge

valiumredhead · 10/05/2013 12:55

I'm sure he's still alive it's Maeve that died recently. She announced her retirement but then continued to write which always seemed odd to me, not sure about publishers forcing her to do it.

ChasingSquirrels · 10/05/2013 12:35

I am sure her husband is still alive

mrsshackleton · 10/05/2013 12:34

Agree, earlier ones are superb. MB much underrated. She really understood human psychology. Anything post Tara Road, not worth it, MB's husband died, she didn't want to write but the publishers forced her to keep churning out

ScienceRocks · 10/05/2013 12:25

Oh, please give her another chance! I agree with others saying that her early stuff is much better. Light A Penny Candle, Echoes, Firefly Summer, Circle of Friends are all great.

ChasingSquirrels · 10/05/2013 12:24

if you are desperate for books can I suggest the library and the kindle app (you can get it on a pc as well as a smartphone or tablet), they have a number of free books (although maybe a lot not worth reading) and also have lots of v cheap (20p) books.

Original poster

Jux · 10/05/2013 12:21

I finally finished it a day ago, and was soooooo relieved it was over. A book like that would normally take a couple of days to read as it is easy reading and there's nothing much to think too carefully about. This took twice yhe time because I kept falling asleep over it.

I'm sorry I started with a crap one as I am really not going to trouble myself with anything by her again, even though you all (and a few people in rl) say the candle one is great. There are enough consistently good authors I enjoy out there...... thank goodness.

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 10/05/2013 12:03

That's one of her later ones and imo they weren't that great.

Light a Penny Candle is fantastic imo.

wiltingfast · 09/05/2013 09:05

I think the early ones are much better. Light a penny candle etc. Hated the older ones and read nothing else after Tara Road.

Think most writers do their best work in their first books. Mairian Keyes is another example. When they start just churning them out the books lose vitality somehow.

Willabywallaby · 07/05/2013 22:20

My Mum loves Maeve, I've read most of her books and agree the older ones are better. My book club slated a book of short stories I suggested. She no literary genius, but they are naice easy read books IMO.

Hassled · 07/05/2013 22:02

Tara Road - I loved that. And then some of the characters live again in Scarlet Feather and something else I've forgotten.

It's not what you'd call a challenging read but you can sort of lose yourself - it's comfort reading, really.

Original poster

Jux · 07/05/2013 22:00

OP posts:

superbagpuss · 07/05/2013 19:40

jux I'm in my 30's now but started reading them in my teens

I mean they are light and not too complex, just keep bubbling along which is what you need in a book sometimes.

to accommodate my DT I had to lose a lot of my books and my whole set went ..... to my mum

Original poster

Jux · 07/05/2013 19:11

Bagpuss, I suspect comfort reading if you first read them when younger than I am.

Comfort reading for me is stuff I read in my teens and twenties, mainly. I'm in my 50s!

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katecreate · 07/05/2013 19:04

I really like 'Evening Class'.There's lots of characters and all their stories intertwine. It's just a nice little book.

I tried reading something else of Binchy's, can't remember what, but couldn't get through it.

sittinginthesun · 07/05/2013 18:56

Older ones are much better.

superbagpuss · 07/05/2013 18:55

its comfort reading, the older ones are better but all dated now

Original poster

Jux · 07/05/2013 18:53

Terra, I'm not sure a 15 year old would bother with this! I am a bit desperate for something to read but can't afford to get any more books, even from charity shops. Waiting for dh to finish the 'brilliant' book he has nearly finished... The World House - come across it? (Please tell me it's good, please tell me it's good.)

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