Search results for ""Author Maeve Binchy""

A brilliantly funny guide to the trials and tribulations of hospitals and convalescence - from No. 1 bestselling author Maeve Binchy.Get the feel-better factor from Maeve Binchy as she teams up with artist Wendy Shea to bring us ACHES & PAINS. This gem of a book includes:Five things you can say to annoy the patient in the next bedHow to put on elastic stockingsSix ways to make non-alcoholic drinks bearableHow to be the perfect hospital visitorUnusual but essential things for your medicine cupboardFilled with the fun, warmth and wisdom for which Maeve Binchy is famous, ACHES & PAINS is the perfect alternative to a Get Well card.

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'A brilliant storyteller' GRAHAM NORTON'This is Binchy at her best' MAIL ON SUNDAYTHE 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF A CLASSIC NOVEL FROM THE WORLD'S FAVOURITE STORYTELLER, #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR MAEVE BINCHY - with a new introduction by Lorraine KellyRia and Marilyn have never met, but they're about to switch lives for the summer... Ria Lynch lives in a big, warm, Victorian house in Tara Road, Dublin, where her life revolves around family and friends. Marilyn Vine lives thousands of miles away in a quiet, modern house in New England. After a terrible loss, she has closed herself off from the world. Two more unlikely friends would be hard to find, but when each needs a place to escape to, a house exchange seems the ideal solution. Along with the borrowed houses come neighbours and friends, gossip and speculation, and Ria and Marilyn soon realise that swapping lives won't be the peaceful escape they'd been hoping for ... Though it might turn out to be exactly the change they both needed.*AN OPRAH BOOK CLUB PICK*

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'What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine_____________________________________________TROUBLE IS BREWING FOR THIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDSGenerous-hearted Benny Hogan and the elfin Eve Malone have been best friends for years, growing up in sleepy Knockglen. Their one thought is to get to Dublin, to university and to freedom...On their first day at University College, the inseparable pair are thrown together with fellow students: beautiful but selfish Nan Mahon and the handsome Jack Foley. But trouble is brewing for Benny and Eve's new circle of friends and, before long, they find passion, tragedy - and the independence they yearned for._____________________________________________'I absolutely adore Circle of Friends - my 'fave Maeve' - and I have returned to read it time and time again' LORRAINE KELLY'If any author can help you survive lockdown, it's Binchy... Sheer bliss from every page' VAL HENNESSEY, IRISH DAILY MAIL'I find myself yearning for the rain-soaked watercolour writing of Maeve Binchy [...] Circle of Friends is a good place to start' JENNY COLGAN, GUARDIAN Best Comfort Reads'Binchy's novels are never less than entertaining' SUNDAY TIMES'Full of warmth and pure delight' WOMAN & HOME'A beloved classic . . . This nostalgic, coming-of-age tale is always worth another read' IMAGE READS, 5 Brilliant Novels to Devour Again

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'Maeve Binchy! I love her stories and have since Light a Penny Candle.' TOM HANKS_____________________A FRIENDSHIP NOTHING COULD DESTROY.Evacuated from Blitz-battered London, the shy Elizabeth White is sent to stay with the O'Connor family in Kilgarret, Ireland, where she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the lively, boisterous Aisling O'Connor.Neither of them were to know it would become the most important friendship of their lives. Their bond is unshakeable, enduring over turbulent years of change and chaos, joy and sorrow, soaring dreams - and searing betrayals . . . With warmth, wit and great compassion, Maeve Binchy tells a magnificent story of two women, bound together in a friendship that nothing could tear apart - not even the man who threatened to come between them forever._____________________'What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine'Wonderfully warm and involving' KATIE FFORDE'If any author can help you survive lockdown, it's Binchy' DAILY MAIL'I find myself yearning for the rain-soaked watercolour writing of Maeve Binchy' JENNY COLGAN, GUARDIAN Best Comfort Reads'Binchy's novels are never less than entertaining' SUNDAY TIMES

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A fantastic Maeve Binchy - written specially for the World Book Day Quick Reads promotion.'Her storytelling ability is second to none' SUNDAY EXPRESS'It's little wonder that Maeve Binchy's bewitching stories have become world-beaters' OK MAGAZINE'Maeve Binchy is a master storyteller' NEW YORK TIMESDee loves her children very much, but now they are all grown up, shouldn't they leave home?Rosie moved out when she got married, but it didn't work out, so now she is back with her parents. Helen is a teacher, and doesn't earn enough for a place of her own. Anthony writes songs, and is just waiting for the day when someone will pay him for them. Until then, all three are happy at home. It doesn't cost them anything, and surely their parents like having a full house?When a crisis occurs, Dee decides things have to change for the whole family...whether they like it or not.

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'Heart-felt stories of life and love' Woman & Home from the No. 1 bestselling author'Maeve Binchy's work continues to inspire . . . thought-provoking, warm and funny in equal measure' WomanA pair of star-crossed travellers pick up each other's bags, and then learn that when you unlock a stranger's suitcase, you enter a stranger's life. An unspoken office passion meets the acid test on a business trip. A man and a woman's mutual disdain at first sight shows how deceptive appearances can be. And an insecure wife clings to the illusion of order, only to discover chaos at the hands of a house-sitter who opens the wrong doors.These and many more poignant, often humorous, unforgettable slices of life show why Maeve Binchy is one of the world's favourite storytellers.

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'Make no mistake, there is magic at work' Elizabeth Buchan, Sunday Times'Oh, the bliss ... Maeve's back, on top form ... The heart is the theme, literally and metaphorically, and this is heartwarming stuff' The TimesClara Casey has more than enough on her plate: two difficult daughters, a demanding new job running a heart clinic and an ex-husband who wants something from her . . . For Ania, meeting Clara is a miracle. She never intended to leave Poland - but perhaps a new country will mend her broken heart? Then there's Father Flynn, whose life is turned upside down when his reputation is threatened; and the beautiful, troubled nurse, Fiona, who can't leave the secrets of her past behind . . .

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Every summer the four Ryan children play in the ruins of Fernscourt, the once-grand house on the bank of the river.But when the estate is bought by Patrick O'Neill, the wealthy Irish American, his grand plans for its development threaten to shatter the peace. A new luxury hotel promises to breathe new life into the village, and yet it could also spell disaster for the Ryan family.And as old values and traditions begin to crumble away, no-one - not even Patrick - can predict what his big dreams will do to the heart of their quiet village._____________'Wonderfully warm and involving' KATIE FFORDE'If any author can help you survive lockdown, it's Binchy' DAILY MAIL'Firefly Summer is warm, humorous, sad and happy. Reading it is a joy' IRISH INDEPENDENT'I find myself yearning for the rain-soaked watercolour writing of Maeve Binchy' JENNY COLGAN, GUARDIAN Best Comfort Reads'Binchy's novels are never less than entertaining' SUNDAY TIMES'What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine_____________Readers love Firefly Summer ...***** 'Maeve Binchy never disappoints. I loved this book.'***** 'Date I finished this book is impossible to say, as I've read it so many times.'***** 'I loved this book! Such a great story!'***** 'Firefly Summer keeps readers engaged with the quotidian but never dull lives of Irish village life.'***** 'This is what good fiction does, gives you a story, draws you in, and won't let go and Binchy is at the height of her powers with this novel.'

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A society hostess entertains her husband's mistress to dinner; a country girl savours the delights of city life; a student faces the dilemma of unmarried pregnancy; and a drink-ridden photographer tries to relaunch a shattered career...This vintage collection of stories from the bestselling author of Light a Penny Candle and Circle of Friends is Maeve Binchy at her best - her trademark warmth, wit and compassion are unmistakeable.

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'They were still talking as the first stars came into the sky...' Four strangers meet at a taverna on a beautiful Greek island, with nothing in common except a need to escape. But over one magical summer they'll discover that sometimes, the people who understand you the best can be the ones who don't know you at all...Fiona left her nursing career in Ireland to be with the man everyone thinks is wrong for her. Elsa fled Germany and her high-powered television job once she learned what the man she loved was hiding from her. Thomas mourns his failed marriage and misses his young son in California, while David yearns to reconcile with his family in England without having to go into the family business. Chance has brought them together, and together they will find new ways of looking at the lives they left behind.___________Find out why millions of readers adore Maeve Binchy...'A story to lift your heart and bring you peace.' (Five stars)'Maeve Binchy in the sunshine of Greece - what more could one want?' (Five stars)'Happy and life-affirming' (Five stars)'The Greek island itself was so real, it made you want to pack a suitcase an rush off to live there.' (Five stars)'Set on a beautiful Greek island, and as you get caught up in the story you feel as if you have been there yourself.' (Five stars)'Romance, disappointments, opportunities taken, beautiful Greece all tied up in a holiday package.' (Five stars)___________SPECIAL EDITION FEATURING 'MEMORIES OF MAEVE' FROM: Minnie Driver - Marian Keyes - Cathy Kelly - Veronica Henry Jilly Cooper - Lorraine Kelly - Jenny Colgan - Katie Fforde - Ruby Wax Patricia Scanlan - Liz Nugent - Megan Nolan - Maeve's friends & colleagues Introduced by Maeve's husband, Gordon Snell. ___________'One of my all-time favourites' LORRAINE KELLY'An absolute joy. Maeve sweeps you away to an island paradise!' VERONICA HENRY'A brilliant storyteller' GRAHAM NORTON'A master storyteller' NEW YORK TIMES'Maeve Binchy was my hero' MARIAN KEYES'The Queen of Fiction' IRISH TIMES'A true star' JILLY COOPER'A remarkable writer' RUBY WAX'Wielded her pen with dizzying genius' CATHY KELLY

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'Irresistible' ElleAN OPRAH BOOK CLUB PICK'This is Binchy at her best' Mail on SundayA house swap leads to an unlikely and touching friendship, as secrets are unveiled and lives changed.Ria and Marilyn have never met - they live thousands of miles apart, separated by the Atlantic Ocean: one in a big, warm, Victorian house in Tara Road, Dublin, the other in a modern, open-plan house in New England. Two more unlikely friends would be hard to find: Ria's life revolves around her family and friends, while Marilyn's reserve is born of grief. But when each needs a place to escape to, a house exchange seems the ideal solution.Along with the borrowed houses come neighbours and friends, gossip and speculation as Ria and Marilyn swap lives for the summer...

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'Her storytelling ability is second to none' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Maeve Binchy is a master storyteller' NEW YORK TIMES'The Irish do love telling stories, and we are suspicious of people who don't have long, complicated conversations. There used to be a rule in etiquette books that you should invite four talkers and four listeners to a dinner party. That doesn't work in Ireland, because nobody knows four listeners' Maeve Binchy Maeve Binchy's bestselling novels not only tell wonderful stories, they also give an insight in to how Ireland has changed over the decades, and how people remain the same: they still fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they still have hopes and dreams; they have deep, long-standing friendships, and some that fall apart. From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve's work has included wonderfully nostalgic pieces and also sharp, often witty writing which is insightful and topical. But at the heart of all Maeve's fiction are the people and their relationships with each other. A FEW OF THE GIRLS is a glorious collection of the very best of her writing, full of the warmth, charm and humour that has always been essentially Maeve.

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'Warm, witty and with a deep understanding of what makes us tick, it's little wonder that Maeve Binchy's bewitching stories have become world-beaters' OK MagazineThe Italian evening class at Mountainview School is like hundreds of others starting up all over the city. But this class has its own special quality - as the focus for the varied hopes and dreams of teacher and pupils alike.Aidan Dunne needs his new evening class project to succeed almost as much as his pupils do. They too are looking for something more: Bill to find a way to keep spendthrift Lizzie at his side, and Fran to make sure that young Kathy finds her way out from behind the kitchen sink. The key to their success lies with the Signora. Her passion has drawn her from Ireland to Italy and back home again with a burning desire to share her love of all things Italian - and a secret hidden in her heart...

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'Her storytelling ability is second to none' Mail on Sunday'Maeve Binchy is a master storyteller' New York TimesAn old copper beech overlooks a school, and witnesses all the hopes and loves, dreams and ambitions of the children who grew up there...Shancarrig School stands in the shade of a glorious old copper beech whose colours tell the passing of the seasons and the years: a tree that has watched over many lives.The school mistress keeps a careful eye on the children, each of whom have their own hopes, dreams and ambitions for the future. As the children grow up, and become parents themselves, their stories are entwined in this gloriously nostalgic novel from the No.1 bestselling author.

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'THE GLASS LAKE is Maeve Binchy at her spellbinding best - you'll never want it to end' Woman's Journal'Maeve Binchy really knows what makes women tick. She crystallises their hopes, dreams and passions in her novels and now she has done it again in THE GLASS LAKE ... a marvellous read' Daily MirrorKit McMahon lives in the small Irish town of Lough Glass, a place where nothing changes - until the day Kit's mother disappears and Kit is haunted by the memory of her mother, alone at the kitchen table, tears streaming down her face. Now Kit, too, has secrets: of the night she discovered a letter and burned it, unopened. The night her mother was lost. The night everything changed forever...

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'Maeve Binchy has a gimlet eye for the seething cauldron of emotions which lies beneath the surface of everyday life' Irish Independent'An adept storyteller with a sharp eye for social nuances and a pleasing affection for her characters' Sunday Times'Has a lovely warm heart . . . Her prose is magnificently simple and lucid' Evening Standard________________Every Friday without fail, the lilac bus transports the same seven people from the bustle of Dublin to spend the weekend in the quaint village of Rathdoon.Each passenger has their own reason for making the trip. What is Judy hiding? Why is Rupert so unwilling to return home? And why has driver Tom orchestrated the lilac bus's trip in the first place?As friendships are forged and secrets revealed, it soon becomes clear that there's more to these unsuspecting characters than meets the eye . . .________________Readers can't get enough of The Lilac Bus . . .***** 'This was the first Maeve Binchy book I ever read and by far my favourite.'***** 'This is a real 'comfort read' and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy this author.'***** 'If you are in need a good story, a kind story, a story with heart and a little intrigue, you won't go wrong with The Lilac Bus.'

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Millions of people travel on London's tube every day, yet we usually give our fellow passengers only a cursory glance. But each one of these nameless passengers has their own story to tell.At Notting Hill, the mysterious secretary, harbouring her secrets, travels to work; at Highburyand Islington, Adam has a sudden change of heart; and at Holborn, a disastrous reunion is about to take place...With her characteristic mix of compassionate humour and biting realism, this vintage collection of stories is Maeve Binchy at her very best

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READERS LOVE SCARLET FEATHER!''Fantastic read'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Wonderful'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Classic Maeve - just what I wanted!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''A book you will not put down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather have decided to create the best catering company in Dublin. They have plenty of talent, the perfect premises, and even a few contacts. But not everyone is as pleased by the idea of ''Scarlet Feather'' as they are.Tom''s parents are disappointed that he has turned his back on the family business. Cathy''s mother-in-law believes Cathy should be at home. And Tom''s relationship with his beautiful, ambitious girlfriend is slowly disintegrating.As Cathy and Tom strive to maintain their emotional ties amidst catering triumphs and disasters, they find both support and opposition where the

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Fascinating and informative - advice to inspire budding writers as well as entertaining Maeve Binchy fans the world over.'A motivating, and pleasingly undaunting volume for the would be writer in your life' DAILY MAIL'The most important thing to realise is that everyone is capable of telling a story. It doesn't matter where we were born or how we grew up' Maeve BinchyTHE MAEVE BINCHY WRITERS' CLUB gives a unique insight into how a No. 1 bestselling author writes. Inspired by a course run by the National College of Ireland, it comprises twenty letters from Maeve offering advice, tips and her own wonderfully witty take on the life of a writer, in addition to contributions from top writers, publishers and editors.Whether you want to write a saga or a thriller, comedy or journalism, or write for the radio or stage, the book also gives advice on the best way to get started, and what editors, publishers and agents are looking for.

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'A touching, funny, optimistic book full of wonderful, well observed characters' Daily Mail'Maeve Binchy at her best' ChoiceEverything is changing in small Irish town of Rossmore - and when a new road threatens to cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. At the heart of the conflict is the fate of St. Ann's Well. People have been coming to St. Ann's for generations to share their dreams and fears. Some believe it to be a place of true spiritual power, demanding protection; others think it's a mere magnet for superstitions, easily sacrificed. When one man is offered compensation for his land - but has a personal reason to save the well - and a childless London woman comes to Whitethorn Woods, begging the saint for help, the consequences are not as anyone anticipated . . .

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Maeve Binchy's highly successful Quick Read.'She is the Queen of Fiction and one of the funniest and best-loved storytellers in the world . . . once you read Maeve you are hooked for life' IRISH TIMES'Maeve Binchy's work continues to inspire ... thought-provoking, warm and funny in equal measure' WOMANMolly Sullivan said that the new baby was a little star. She was no trouble at all and she was always smiling - so she became known as Star and no one remembered that her name was Oona.Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate. Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about...

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'I literally could not put the book down' Sunday Express'This is Binchy at her finest' Woman and Home'It's little wonder that Maeve Binchy's bewitching stories have become world-beaters' OK MagazineCathy Scarlet and Tom Feather have decided to create the best catering company in Dublin. They have plenty of talent, the perfect premises, and even a few contacts. But not everyone is as pleased by the idea of 'Scarlet Feather' as they are.Tom's parents are disappointed that he has turned his back on the family business. Cathy's mother-in-law believes Cathy should be at home. And Tom's relationship with his beautiful, ambitious girlfriend is slowly disintegrating.As Cathy and Tom strive to maintain their emotional ties amidst catering triumphs and disasters, they find both support and opposition where they least expect it. 'Drama, humour, warmth and great characters - it's what we expect from Maeve Binchy, one of the world's best-loved writers' Woman's Weekly

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Superb storytelling from one of the world's best-loved writers.Just round the corner from St Jarlath's Crescent (featured in MINDING FRANKIE) is Chestnut Street. Here, the lives of the residents are revealed in Maeve Binchy's wonderfully compelling tales:Bucket Maguire, the window cleaner, who must do more than he bargained for to protect his son. Nessa Byrne, whose aunt comes to visit from America for six weeks every summer and turns the house - and Nessa's world - upside down. Lilian, the generous girl with a big heart, and the fiancé not everyone approves of. And Melly, whose gossip about the neighbours leads to trouble in the form of the fortune teller, 'Madame Magic'...'In Chestnut Street [there is] enough kindness, wisdom and insight into human nature, to remind readers why Maeve Binchy was one of the most beloved writers this country has ever produced' Irish Times

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'Binchy weaves her magic once again in an addictive story about families and people who aren't always quite what they seem' Woman & HomeBaby Frankie is born into an unusual family. Her mother is desperate to find someone to take care of her child and she doesn't have much time.Noel doesn't seem to be the most promising of fathers but despite everything, he could well be Frankie's best hope. As for Lisa, she is prepared to give up everything for the man she loves; surely he's going to love her back?And Moira is having none of it. She knows what's right, and has the power to change the course of Frankie's life...but Moira is hiding secrets of her own.Sink into this beautiful and uplifting novel about a community coming together to raise a child, filled with warmth and wisdom from the world's favourite storyteller, Maeve Binchy.REAL READER REVIEWS⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Maeve Binchy's books are like sitting curled up in your favourite armchair with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This will make you smile and cry, it will tug at your heart strings⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'You really come to care about her characters, almost as if they are part of a vast family.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Truly a page turner. It was sad in places and you cry, then you cry for joy in other places.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A great book to snuggle up with in a comfy chair and forget your own (minor) troubles for a few hours.'

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Ambition, betrayal, love. A wonderful love story from the bestselling author of Light a Penny Candle and Circle of Friends.'A powerful story of love and jealousy' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'A master storyteller' MARIAN KEYES'I have returned to read Maeve Binchy time and time again' LORRAINE KELLY'Compulsive reading... Binchy has the true story-teller's knack' OBSERVER_________________Growing up in a quiet seaside town, Clare O'Brien and David Power shout their hearts' desires into the echo cave, praying their destinies will carry them far away from Castlebay.Years later, their paths cross again. David, following in his father's footsteps, is studying medicine and Clare has won a scholarship to University College.But eventually Castlebay will draw them back and, against a backdrop of empty grey skies, sea-spray and howling winds, this drama of ambition, betrayal and love will reach its turbulent conclusion._________________Readers love Echoes . . .***** 'Maeve Binchy is a first class story teller, and ECHOES is one of her best. If you pick it up, you will not be disappointed.'***** 'I was transported by this book and also its characters stuck with me. 5 stars.'***** 'A warm, page-turning novel that makes you sad when it ends.'***** 'Maeve Binchy is always a pleasure and this book is no exception.'***** 'Just a wonderful and beautifully told story.'

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'There's nobody like Binchy for warming the cockles, and this collection of Christmas stories warms them to white heat' Kate Saunders, The TimesChristmas: a time of year when emotions run high and long-held secrets can unexpectedly surface...This Year It Will Be Different powerfully evokes the lives of wives, husbands, children, friends and lovers. As the festivities take hold, there are step-families grappling with exes; long-married couples faced with in-law problems; a wandering husband choosing between the other woman and his wife; a child caught up in a grown-up tug-of-war.Filled with Maeve BInchy's unique warmth, wit and storytelling genius, this collection is the perfect festive treat.'We are all in her pages, all of us: mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, husbands, wives, children, friends, lovers ... It is this combination of Maeve's understanding of what it is to be human, and how to cope with life, that makes her so popular' Veronica Henry, bestselling author of Christmas at the Beach Hut

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'Maeve's Times is funny and clever and kind, which are excellent qualities in both books and people' Irish Times'As someone who fell off a chair not long ago trying to hear what they were saying at the next table in a restaurant, I suppose I am obsessively interested in what some might consider the trivia of other people's lives.'Maeve Binchy is well known for her bestselling novels, but for many years Maeve was a journalist. From 'The Student Train' to 'Plane Bores' and 'Bathroom Joggers' to 'When Beckett met Binchy', these articles have all the warmth, wit and humanity of her fiction. Arranged in decades, from the 1960s to the 2000s, and including Maeve's first and last ever piece of writing for the Irish Times, the columns also give a fascinating insight into the author herself.With an introduction written by her husband, the writer Gordon Snell, this collection of timeless writing reminds us of why the leading Irish writer was so universally loved.

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'A book designed to be read in a dark January chill; it begs for a fireside and the sound of wind and rain howling outside' THE LADYThis winter, escape to a warm and wonderful clifftop hotel with the world's favourite storyteller. Now with brand new introduction by Cathy Bramley, bestselling author of Merrily Ever After.'Sometimes she would go and walk the cliffs at night and look out over the ocean...'Set high on the cliffs on the west coast of Ireland, Stone House was falling into disrepair until one woman, with a past she needed to forget, breathed new life into the place. Now a hotel with a big warm kitchen and log fires, it provides a welcome few can resist. And so gather the guests: some with secrets, some longing to leave their old lives behind, and some hoping the break at Stone House will help them find a way to face the future...'A book to treasure' HELLO'Full of her trademark warmth, humour and lovable characters' WOMAN'A master storyteller' MARIAN KEYES

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Sometimes when he didn't know he was being watched Meggie would look at him and try desperately to imprint his face upon her brain's core ...And he would turn to find her watching him, a look in his eyes of haunted grief, a doomed look. She understood the implicit message, or thought she did; he must go, back to the Church and his duties. Never again with the same spirit, perhaps, but more able to serve. For only those who have slipped and fallen know the vicissitudes of the way ...

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A collection of full-cast dramatisations and readings from the bestselling author ‘There’s nobody like Binchy for warming the cockles’ Times Maeve Binchy was one of Britain’s best-loved storytellers and this compilation of her finest fiction, as heard on BBC Radio, demonstrates all the warmth, wit and compassion that made her so popular. Firefly Summer is a moving, humorous novel about a sleepy Irish town facing monumental change, dramatised in six parts with a full cast including David Soul and Lorcan Cranitch. No Nightingales, No Snakes features full-cast dramatisations of five Maeve Binchy short stories, with a distinguished cast including Niamh Cusack, Sam Dale and Harry Towb. The Garden Party contains four short stories specially commissioned for BBC Radio 4, read by Niamh Cusack, Dervla Kirwan, Doreen Hepburn and Stella McCusker. The Homecoming comprises four more stories exclusively written for BBC Radio 4, read by Sean Campion, Joanna Myers, Patricia Hodge and Kate Binchy. Dealing with families, friendship, love, loss, sorrow and joy, these stories will delight all Maeve Binchy fans. Duration: 6 hours approx

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Maeve Binchy is one of Britain’s most popular and bestselling authors, and this collection of four stories from the BBC Radio 4 archive shows her at her most insightful and imaginative. In The Garden Party, Helen envies her neighbour Debbie Kennedy’s garden – and her life – but discovers that things are not always as they seem; while The Special Sale sees lonely Yvonne arranging a special lunch for her friend Frank and his children on the day after Christmas. The Sensible Celebration finds Lorna about to throw a small party to celebrate the decade gone by: but as she plans, she starts to think about her life, and her marriage. Finally, in Dolly’s Mother, the beauty, grace and efficiency of her perfect parent have always made Dolly feel inferior – until the day of her sixteenth birthday. These four stories, never collected together in book form and unique to audio, are read by acclaimed actors Niamh Cusack, Dervla Kirwan, Doreen Hepburn and Stella McCusker.1 CD. 57 mins.

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