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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Audio book read by Sile Bermingham.
This is a story of family, friends, patients and staff whose lives intersect at a heart clinic in Dublin. Dr Clara Casey has taken on the job of director of this underfunded but much needed clinic. She agrees to a one-year contract because she has plenty of other issues in her personal life – two adult daughters with whom she has a difficult relationship, and an ex-husband who is trying to worm his way back into her good graces. The staff she assembles is eclectic and not without their own issues. Ania is a Polish émigré looking to escape her disgrace and find a way to help her widowed mother. Dr Declan Carroll is still in training and doing a rotation at the clinic; he has a natural empathy that helps both patients and other staff members.
This is my first Binchy book, though her books have been on my TBR list for ages. This was the right book for me at the right time – a gentle, engaging story that focuses on relationships. It is a sort of snapshot of a year in these people’s lives. We learn of past heartaches, their insecurities, their strengths, and emotions.
Sile Bermingham does a fine job of reading the book. Her pacing and inflections are right on target, and she brings the many characters to life.
Update, Oct 2017 - I re-read this one to fulfill a challenge. Despite its length, it's a fast read. I've read other Binchy books since first reading this one, and now realize that it is a sequel of sorts to [b:Nights of Rain and Stars|41958|Nights of Rain and Stars|Maeve Binchy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355496059s/41958.jpg|41459], with most of those characters appearing here as well.
This is a story of family, friends, patients and staff whose lives intersect at a heart clinic in Dublin. Dr Clara Casey has taken on the job of director of this underfunded but much needed clinic. She agrees to a one-year contract because she has plenty of other issues in her personal life – two adult daughters with whom she has a difficult relationship, and an ex-husband who is trying to worm his way back into her good graces. The staff she assembles is eclectic and not without their own issues. Ania is a Polish émigré looking to escape her disgrace and find a way to help her widowed mother. Dr Declan Carroll is still in training and doing a rotation at the clinic; he has a natural empathy that helps both patients and other staff members.
This is my first Binchy book, though her books have been on my TBR list for ages. This was the right book for me at the right time – a gentle, engaging story that focuses on relationships. It is a sort of snapshot of a year in these people’s lives. We learn of past heartaches, their insecurities, their strengths, and emotions.
Sile Bermingham does a fine job of reading the book. Her pacing and inflections are right on target, and she brings the many characters to life.
Update, Oct 2017 - I re-read this one to fulfill a challenge. Despite its length, it's a fast read. I've read other Binchy books since first reading this one, and now realize that it is a sequel of sorts to [b:Nights of Rain and Stars|41958|Nights of Rain and Stars|Maeve Binchy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355496059s/41958.jpg|41459], with most of those characters appearing here as well.
kb_hg's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf @ 25% could care less about anything going on, so time to move on
shananananah's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Okay, this book is adorable and I love it so much. The characters are just so well developed and it is such a well written book.
4 / 5 stars ⭐️
4 / 5 stars ⭐️
tort5150's review against another edition
4.0
It was a little slow. I loved that characters from Nights of Rain and Stars were a part of this story as well.
allepuck's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
cathiedalziel's review
3.0
Ok story about life in a an Irish community and the people who are connected with each other through a community heart clinic.
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
I wanted to try a Maeve Binchy and was intrigued by the heart clinic setting, as I just read another book by a heart doctor -- but I ended up finding the novel dull with its strangely un-moving cataloguing of events happening to various people. They remained just characters on a page to me and I decided to stop spending time with them.
katemoxie's review against another edition
4.0
Feel good, happy ending novel. Perfect for dreary weather escape.
techiechick's review against another edition
4.0
Classic Binchy. Found myself a little frustrated at everything being tied up so neatly at the end, but what else can you expect :-D
mariesreads's review against another edition
2.0
Not really my thing, unfortunately. I did really like the characters and the dialogue, but I wanted more depth and detail in the settings.