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Maeve Binchy is not a well-known author, at least in the blogs I follow, but people who have read her novels usually recommend them, so I tried this one. I took it from the public library of my hometown; I saw it in the English section and I didn’t think twice. Later at home, I realized it was a short stories compilation, all of them about Christmas, so it was ideal for these days.
The book includes 20 short stories and they are really-really short: they only have five or six pages and talk about different families in all kind of Christmas situations, and how this year things are going to change. For example, there is one story about a woman who has to deal in Christmas time with a teen step-daughter who really hates her, or another story about four unbearable elders in a nursing home that are ready to complain, as they do year after year, about every Christmas detail – menu, presents, decoration, nursing staff, etc.
Most of them have a little touch of humor; I liked very much a story about a woman who has a full-time job and she also has to do all the housework and cook the meals for her husband and her two adult sons because she thinks they have to spend their time studying their degrees instead of losing their time with this unsatisfying work. But this situation changes one day when she finds herself in the kitchen while the rest of her family is in the sitting room watching TV, and she says Enough!. The way the family faces the situation is really fun.
In addition to enjoy reading, I have also learnt a lot about British and Irish Christmas, which is a bit different from here. For example, we don’t have traditional meals for Christmas, so we “must not” cook turkey for hours on Christmas Day or special mince pies. Or Boxing Day, a day we don’t celebrate – we don’t give gifts to the poor in a specific date. It’s curious to know about other countries’ traditions.
I have to say I usually don’t like short stories, but I have discovered they are great when you are reading in another language because you can stop whenever you want and don’t forget the story, and you can read a little every day without worrying about the length of the chapter you are currently reading (I read very slowly in English); so I like them very much when I read in English, and particularly these ones because I also like Christmas time!
I won’t add any score today: I enjoyed all the stories, but some of them are better than others so, in general, they would be between three and four stars.
My Spanish review here.
From Isi 
I like Maeve Binchy, her histories are always warm and very human. Reminds me to Rosamunde Pilcher a little. I’m glad that you have discovered MB in her original language!!
Thank you Mónica! When you recommend an author, I have to put him/her on my list 😉 So yes, I liked Maeve Binchy and I’m reading one of her long stories in 2013, for sure.
Hello Isi – I’m glad you enjoyed this collection of short stories. It was interesting to read your thoughts on Maeve Binchey because, as you say, she doesn’t crop up very much in the corner of the blogosphere that I’m familiar with. Having said that, she’s a very well-known author here in England. My mum read lots of her books (and Rosamunde Pilcher’s!) when I was growing up but I’ve never actually picked any of them up – perhaps this was a mistake, judging by your comments above.
You certainly seem to have chosen the perfect time of year to read this. It’s certainly true that turkey figures prominently in the British Christmas. Indeed, in typical British fashion I’m just about to start preparing turkey curry with the Christmas dinner leftovers 🙂
Leander,
if you haven’t read any of Rosamunde Pilcher’s novels, I must tell you that you should do it. She is one of my favorite authors, and I really meant it. For instance, a review of one of her most famous books (The shell seekers) has been sent to my teacher and I will post it soon 😉
So back to Maeve Binchy’s books, I’m sure people think they are romantic novels, and that’s not true; perhaps they include a romance, but it’s an actual romance with almost real characters, not a stupid love story.
Ohh, I see turkey has no end after Christmas: you have to spend hours at Christmas Day roasting the turkey and you have to eat turkey all over the week!! 😀
Isi, I love Maeve Binchy. I think I’ve read most of her books. But not this one, I am also not a keen short story reader. But since you are not either and still enjoyed it, maybe I’ll read it for Christmas next year, it does sound good.
I’ve never read any Maeve Binchy – my grandmother likes her books so I guess I’ve always thought they would be a bit old-fashioned and not to my tastes. This sounds good, though. It’s nice to try short stories when you are trying a new author. But maybe it would be a bit strange to read Christmas stories now Christmas is over, I’ll have to wait until next year!
I’m in my 40s but I read a lot of Maeve Binchy when I was in my early 30s. I think she’s a general women’s fiction reader that will appeal to many women of any age.
Judith: you’ve said just what every reader who has read Maeve Binchy says 😀 I have to try this new year with any of her novels, I’m sure I’ll like them. I think the same: is a writer for women of all ages! Like Rosamunde Pilcher, I have to say.
Marie: well, here in Spain Christmas lasts for 2 weeks!! The end of the Christmas holidays is on January the 6th, when we celebrate The Three Magi Day 😀
But yes, you should read it on Christmas time!
She’s well known in America, but I haven’t read anything by her at all yet.
You should try, Rebecca. It is said she creates wonderful characters and stories. (I will detail more when I read any of her novels)