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jtlars7's review against another edition
I’ve enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s books for years, but never realized she was a journalist in addition to being a novelist. I didn’t read every one of these essays/articles, but I enjoyed many of them.
dja777's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, I enjoyed this book TREMENDOUSLY. I've always loved Binchy's books, and wished I could have met her in person. Reading this book was the next best thing. It felt like sitting in a cozy coffee shop and listening to my friend Maeve tell me stories.
lynnedf's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a lovely read - divided according to when Binchy wrote the pieces for The Irish Times - the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s - Maeve wrote about her views on women being fools, the ridiculousness of etiquette, travelling around the world, royal weddings, royal scandals, etc. Her voice could be heard in each and every one of the pieces. Whenever I read a Maeve Binchy story I always feel like I'm getting a great big hug. She wrote as she spoke - and what a lovely voice she had.
drelaine's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read this favourite of Maeve's classic Irish Times columns. Such warmth and understanding of what makes people tick.
08151991j's review against another edition
The short stories that were included in this book were about Maeve's past experiences and how she dealt with them. She wrote about the people and places that surrounded her, and it gave life to the book.
amyl88's review against another edition
4.0
I think I have read all, or nearly all of Maeve Binchy's fiction. I have often thought she had a great ear for dialogue and good observation skills when it comes to pointing out quirky human behavior. I never knew she was a journalist, but it certainly makes sense that she may have polished those skills writing about real people and events before writing fiction. This is a collection of her columns from The Irish Times, and it spans her career from the 60s up to the 2000s.
In one of my favorite selections, she describes developing a writing style. "Don't worry about style, if you speak like yourself for long enough, the style will be there. It will be your style. You will be writing like yourself. You will have found your own voice." I certainly think over the years, she wrote like herself and she did have her own distinct voice in her fiction.
Another favorite concerns how to treat people with a terminal illness. Hint: a "get well soon" card - maybe not.
Also, it made me laugh when she was talking about having a bra custom made. She said she looked "like the prow of a ship". Which I distinctly remember Benny saying in Circle of Friends as she looks at herself dressed up for a dance.
I enjoyed the stories she wrote about everyday people. These stories, like her fiction, sound like her. Less enjoyable, for me, are the observations about political figures and entertainers, as I'm not familiar with Irish and English politics and culture of the 60s-80s.
In one of my favorite selections, she describes developing a writing style. "Don't worry about style, if you speak like yourself for long enough, the style will be there. It will be your style. You will be writing like yourself. You will have found your own voice." I certainly think over the years, she wrote like herself and she did have her own distinct voice in her fiction.
Another favorite concerns how to treat people with a terminal illness. Hint: a "get well soon" card - maybe not.
Also, it made me laugh when she was talking about having a bra custom made. She said she looked "like the prow of a ship". Which I distinctly remember Benny saying in Circle of Friends as she looks at herself dressed up for a dance.
I enjoyed the stories she wrote about everyday people. These stories, like her fiction, sound like her. Less enjoyable, for me, are the observations about political figures and entertainers, as I'm not familiar with Irish and English politics and culture of the 60s-80s.
mishmashedme's review against another edition
I just wasn’t into the articles. They were witty and entertaining but some used jargon I didn’t understand (Irish colloquialisms and current affairs)
cynicalnovas's review against another edition
5.0
Never a more perfect audiobook has existed. Why? The more variables introduced, the easier it is to fall short on any given one of them. In this case, the narrator (Binchy's cousin) has impeccably performed these heart-bursting articles intelligently curated by the editor to form a holy trinity of material, voice, and collection by Binchy, Binchy and Ingle. I felt true mourning when I'd finished.
khoerner7's review against another edition
4.0
I had no idea that Maeve Binchy had been a journalist with The Irish Times for over 40 years. This book was a compilation of her stories organized by decade. They had the great storytelling vibes that you get from her fiction so it was hard to remember that these people and their stories were real. She was someone it seemed like it would be great to spend time with.