Scan barcode
wordsofclover's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Eating disorder
jtwolf33's review
4.0
This book is beautiful. It's so strange to think about but isn't this how we all live? We know people, we're friends with people but how well do we really know anyone? It's so refreshing seeing something come together like this. It's wonderfully written and inspiring in so many ways.
mschrock8's review
3.0
The perfect author for when I don't want to read about things that will upset me.
cathiedalziel's review
3.0
Good characterization study of 7 people and their driver who ride the Lilac Bus every weekend from Dublin to Rathdoon, Ireland (a 3 hour drive).
heylancie's review
3.0
This review features spoilers!!
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ R E V I E W
< P O S I T I V E S > :
○ I was so surprised to find an achillean couple (although, I don't like how feminine terms was used to refer to them) and a character with an eating disorder represented in this book, considering it was written in the late 20th century. I think these people were well represented!
○ I also enjoyed the drugs and fake removal company plots.
○ I thought Tom's lack of understanding of his misinterpretable-named (Phil!) sister's eating disorder was very realistic though!
< N E G A T I V E S > :
○ I detested this insane misconception that different types of Christians believe in different religions (no, they are BOTH Christian!), and apparently have specific personality traits because of what 'type' of Christian they are!!
○ I also found there to be too many characters, and found myself bored reading, in the first half, especially.
○ The ending only referred to two main characters' resolutions.
< N E U T R A L > :
○ Some of the reviews I've read include details from this book that I don't recognise. This made me think I read a different edition of the book. As well as this, I could not find an edition here on Goodreads that LOOKS like the one I read. I could, however, find one that looks like what I read on Google Images ~ https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/164/255/1523255164.0.m.jpg
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ D E T A I L S
○ WRITTEN ON: G050323
TRANSCRIBED ON: G110623
○ HOURS TAKEN TO READ: 7 hours, 40 minutes
RATING: ☆ ☆ ☆
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ R E V I E W
< P O S I T I V E S > :
○ I was so surprised to find an achillean couple (although, I don't like how feminine terms was used to refer to them) and a character with an eating disorder represented in this book, considering it was written in the late 20th century. I think these people were well represented!
○ I also enjoyed the drugs and fake removal company plots.
○ I thought Tom's lack of understanding of his misinterpretable-named (Phil!) sister's eating disorder was very realistic though!
< N E G A T I V E S > :
○ I detested this insane misconception that different types of Christians believe in different religions (no, they are BOTH Christian!), and apparently have specific personality traits because of what 'type' of Christian they are!!
○ I also found there to be too many characters, and found myself bored reading, in the first half, especially.
○ The ending only referred to two main characters' resolutions.
< N E U T R A L > :
○ Some of the reviews I've read include details from this book that I don't recognise. This made me think I read a different edition of the book. As well as this, I could not find an edition here on Goodreads that LOOKS like the one I read. I could, however, find one that looks like what I read on Google Images ~ https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/164/255/1523255164.0.m.jpg
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ D E T A I L S
○ WRITTEN ON: G050323
TRANSCRIBED ON: G110623
○ HOURS TAKEN TO READ: 7 hours, 40 minutes
RATING: ☆ ☆ ☆
dwm_1040's review
2.0
Enjoyed the first section about the riders on the lilac bus and the way the stories intertwined. The 2nd section of stories were just sad.
jodisings's review against another edition
I occasionally downshift to a Binchy book because they're generally light and charming. Couldn't finish this. Structural problems, too many subplots--it's a muddy mess.
ladidareads's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up in a charity bookshop in Belfast. It was nice to read while actually visiting Northern Ireland and Ireland (Dublin) myself :)
toellethebooks's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a novel but it turned out a collection of interwoven short stories of different characters from the same town. As always, she never disappoints in exploring the feelings of ordinary people in different circumstances.
Some people complain that there is no point in the plot but what they don't get is her storywriting had always been more about exposing the intricate human emotions and experiences and leaving the resolution to the readers. That's how I always took it ever since I started reading her books. Reading her stories have always been my favorite form of escapism lately.
Some people complain that there is no point in the plot but what they don't get is her storywriting had always been more about exposing the intricate human emotions and experiences and leaving the resolution to the readers. That's how I always took it ever since I started reading her books. Reading her stories have always been my favorite form of escapism lately.
anneduff's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another warm, golden nugget from Maeve Binchy. Each character in The Lilac Bus has their own story and it's interesting to see life from their perspective, as well as from from the perspective of their fellow travel companions. It reminds us not to to judge anyone until we've walked a mile in their shoes. I always enjoyed Maeve Binchy's books and this is just as entertaining as her others.