Maeve Binchy – författare

'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.'

'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.

'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

Nan Ryan lives by herself at Number 14 Chestnut Road. When it's heard that the builders are coming to work on the deserted house next door, everyone has an opinion.

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.

'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

Another unforgettable novel from the bestselling author of Light a Penny Candle and Circle of Friends.'What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine_______________An unforgettable novel from the bestselling author of Light a Penny Candle and Circle of FriendsDesmond and Deirdre Doyle's silver wedding anniversary is drawing ever closer, and it falls to the couple's eldest daughter, Anna, to decide how best to commemorate the big day.No use asking her sister Helen, living in her London convent, or her brother Brendan, who has chosen exile on a bleak farm in the west of Ireland.But it is unthinkable not to have a party, even though for the Doyles, family occasions are more difficult than for most. And as the day draws nearer, so the tension mounts, until finally the guests gather at the party itself. . ._______________Readers can't get enough of Silver Wedding . . .***** 'When I read a Maeve, I feel I have come home.'***** 'A clever and insightful read.'***** 'I love her style. Her characters are so rich.'***** 'One of my favorite writers, she understands people in a rare way.'***** 'An excellent read, as always!'

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

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.'

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.'

A New York Times Bestseller"Love, longing, and rich scenes of daily life.... What could be sweeter than a trip to an Irish village packed with robust native characters." —The Christian Science MonitorWhen a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann’s Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction. People have been coming to St. Ann’s for generations to share their dreams and fears, and speak their prayers. Some believe it to be a place of true spiritual power, demanding protection; others think it’s a mere magnet for superstitions, easily sacrificed.  Father Flynn listens to all those caught up in the conflict, as the men and women of Whitethorn Woods must decide between the traditions of the past and the promises of the future.

With the insight, humor, and compassion we have come to expect from her, Maeve Binchy tells a story of family, friends, patients, and staff who are part of a heart clinic in a community caught between the old and the new Ireland.Dr. Clara Casey has been offered the thankless job of establishing the underfunded clinic and agrees to take it on for a year. She has plenty on her plate already—two difficult adult daughters and the unwanted attentions of her ex-husband—but she assembles a wonderfully diverse staff devoted to helping their demanding, often difficult patients.Before long the clinic is established as an essential part of the community, and Clara must decide whether or not to leave a place where lives are saved, courage is rewarded, and humor and optimism triumph over greed and self-pity. Heart and Soul is Maeve Binchy at her storytelling best.From the Hardcover edition.

Maeve Binchy is back with a tale of joy, heartbreak and hope, about a motherless girl collectively raised by a close-knit Dublin community.When Noel learns that his terminally ill former flame is pregnant with his child, he agrees to take guardianship of the baby girl once she’s born. But as a single father battling demons of his own, Noel can’t do it alone. Fortunately, he has a competent, caring network of friends, family and neighbors: Lisa, his unlucky-in-love classmate, who moves in with him to help him care for little Frankie around the clock; his American cousin, Emily, always there with a pep talk; the newly retired Dr. Hat, with more time on his hands than he knows what to do with; Dr. Declan and Fiona and their baby son, Frankie’s first friend; and many eager babysitters, including old friends Signora and Aidan and Frankie’s doting grandparents, Josie and Charles. But not everyone is pleased with the unconventional arrangement, especially a nosy social worker, Moira, who is convinced that Frankie would be better off in a foster home. Now it’s up to Noel to persuade her that everyone in town has something special to offer when it comes to minding Frankie.

After many happy years of marriage and raising a family, Brian and Kathleen suddenly find themselves a bit lost in life. Midwesterners who’ve never traveled, Kathleen decides that what she and Brian need is a vacation, and with the help of an enthusiastic travel agent she plans a trip to Ireland in search of her roots. In beautiful, quaint Lisdoonvarna, to the couple’s surprise, they find themselves in the midst of a joyous yearly gathering dedicated to celebrating the life and work of a late Irish poet, and they rediscover something much more important than evidence of long-dead ancestors: their love for each other and for life itself.

Maeve Binchy imagined a street in Dublin with many characters coming and going, and every once in a while she would write about one of these people. She would then put it in a drawer; “for the future,” she would say. The future is now. Across town from St. Jarlath’s Crescent, featured in Minding Frankie, is Chestnut Street, where neighbors come and go. Behind their closed doors we encounter very different people with different life circumstances, occupations, and sensibilities. Some of the unforgettable characters lovingly brought to life by Binchy are Bucket Maguire, the window cleaner, who must do more than he bargained for to protect his son; Nessa Byrne, whose aunt visits from  America every summer and turns the house—and Nessa’s world—upside down; Lilian, the generous girl with the big heart and a fiancé whom no one approves of; Melly, whose gossip about the neighbors helps Madame Magic, a self-styled fortune-teller, get everyone on the right track; Dolly, who discovers more about her perfect mother than she ever wanted to know; and Molly, who learns the cure for sleeplessness from her pen pal from Chicago . . . Chestnut Street is written with the humor and understanding that are earmarks of Maeve Binchy’s extraordinary work and, once again, she warms our hearts with her storytelling. This eBook edition includes a Reading Group Guide.

Five decades of selected writings from the Irish Times by the beloved and best-selling author, filled with her hallmark humor, candor, and wisdom-a timeless gift to her legion of fans.Maeve Binchy once confessed: "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." She was an accidental journalist, yet from the beginning, her writings reflected the warmth, wit, and keen human interest that readers would come to love in her fiction. From the royal wedding to boring airplane companions, Samuel Beckett to Margaret Thatcher, "senior moments" to life as a waitress, Maeve''s Times gives us wonderful insight into a changing Ireland as it celebrates the work of one of our best-loved writers in all its diversity-revealing her characteristic directness, laugh-out-loud humor, and unswerving gaze into the true heart of a matter.“Binchy’s wry, self-effacing style reminds one of a Celtic Nora Ephron. . . . [She] throws a spotlight on strong, imperfect women confronting complicated challenges.” —The Christian Science Monitor