Helpful Score: 4
Nothing bad to say about Maeve.
Helpful Score: 2
Kate Ryan and her husband have pub in an Irish village with plenty of dreams but that all changes when an American millionaire comes to town with his irresistible charm.
Maeve Binchy always has such interwoven characters which are also beautifully drawn with great depth.
Maeve Binchy always has such interwoven characters which are also beautifully drawn with great depth.
Helpful Score: 2
Binchy's typical story with intimate and intrinsic descriptions of characters and daily life. One of her longer books but will hold you til the end.
Another Jem by Maeve Binchy. The secerts hidden behind lace curtins,a young girl's first kiss,childrens summer games,unexpected pregnacies,sudden deaths.It makes us feel asd if we also know the place and the people...one of those good old fashioned stories that are as comfortable and comforting as home itself.
Wonderful story - in typical Binchy fashion.
This was one of my Mother's favorite authors. I am reading her books in order, and find them enjoyable, easy reads. This one is about a family supported by their tavern in the expectation of major competition when an American returns to renovate his family mansion into a resort hotel.
This book was really interesting, although I enjoy all Maeve Binchy books...she wrote a fascinating story about a group of young people and how they all related to their families and the small community they grew up in there in Ireland. It had a surprising conclusion and although the story is lengthy, it is well worth your time spent reading this book.
wow. this was a great book took me a long time to read it as my life has been busy but I was so glad when I got back to the book it had so many things going on and they were all so realistic it was a heart breaker yet it was very mesmerizing I had to finish it and was very pleased with this one
Binchy is one of my favorite authors, although some of her books are better than others. This one ranks at the top of the list along with Tara Road, Copper Beech, and the Evening Class.
This was tedious. Oftern changing charachters where were talking, without identifying who it was.
Story of a small Irish town where an American man comes to re-build an old ruin. He and his children win the town or do they? The story really revolves around the pub that will be severely impacted by the new hotel and its bars. Great story of that family.
This was one of my favorite books by Maeve Binchy. As usual, set in Ireland, but one of the smaller towns. Lots of themes of family, social class, triumph over hard circumstances.
I was sad when I was finished with this book -- I wanted the story to go on and on!
I was sad when I was finished with this book -- I wanted the story to go on and on!
If you are a fan of Maeve Binchy, you will love this book! I could not agree more with a summary on the back cover; "Totally engrossing...unforgettable...an absolutely grand story...Mountfern and its residents come vibrantly alive". She is truly a great writer.
Its been a very long time since I read this book - but have always thoroughly enjoyed Maeve Binchy!
As a long-time Maeve Binchy reader, FIREFLY SUMMER was in my TBR pile waiting to be read for many years, so I was glad to finally pick it up for a potluck activity in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
Unfortunately, it's downhill from there.
I know to expect a leisurely pace from a 650-page Maeve Binchy book, but this one wasn't leisurely - it was plodding and painfully slow. The narrative felt like it had nowhere to go but all day to get there.
The premise of a handsome American moving to Mountfern and shaking things up should've been engaging, but the characters and sloooow-moving events didn't hold my interest.
So after reading all of Part 1 and some of Part 2, I just had to give up and move on to another book - there are so many waiting for me.
FIREFLY SUMMER was definitely not one of Maeve Binchy's better books, it's a DNF for me. I cannot recommend it. But I do recommend others, like THE GLASS LAKE, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, TARA ROAD, LIGHT A PENNY CANDLE, and HEART AND SOUL.
Unfortunately, it's downhill from there.
I know to expect a leisurely pace from a 650-page Maeve Binchy book, but this one wasn't leisurely - it was plodding and painfully slow. The narrative felt like it had nowhere to go but all day to get there.
The premise of a handsome American moving to Mountfern and shaking things up should've been engaging, but the characters and sloooow-moving events didn't hold my interest.
So after reading all of Part 1 and some of Part 2, I just had to give up and move on to another book - there are so many waiting for me.
FIREFLY SUMMER was definitely not one of Maeve Binchy's better books, it's a DNF for me. I cannot recommend it. But I do recommend others, like THE GLASS LAKE, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, TARA ROAD, LIGHT A PENNY CANDLE, and HEART AND SOUL.
The secrets hidden behind lace cutains, a young girl's first kiss, unexpected pregnancies, sudden deaths. She made me feel as if I know the people and that Mountfern, Ireland was my home town. Her best I've read yet.
great family drama
A hard book to put down about an Irish family. Maeve Binchy is always worth the time.
This is one of Maeve Binchy's best!! A great story and a family drama. Warm characters!
Absolutely fabulous. I'm addicted to Maeve Binchy.
If you like Maeve Binchy you will love this book. The New York Times Bood REview said " The best Binchy Yet".
This is one of my most favorite Maeve Binchy novels and is one of her best sellers, as well.
Binchy does it again...engrossing!
good book, romantic
It was a summer of warmth.... Kate Ryan and her husband, John, have a rollicking pub in the Irish village of Mountfern... lovely twelve-year-old twins... and such wonderful dreams.... It was a summer of innocence... but all that is about to change this fateful summer of 1962 when American millionaire Patrick O'Neill comes to town with his irresistible charm and a pocketful of money... when love and hate vie for a town's quiet heart and old traditions begin to crumble away.... It was a summer of love that would never come again.... A time that has been captured forever in Maeve Binchy's compelling family drama... a novel you will never forget.
I've enjoyed reading this book. I'm a newer fan to Maeve Binchy books and she never lets me down with a good read!
very well written
Mrs. Binchy was truly one of the finest writers of character development; she died in 2012 and is sorely missed.
Kate Ryan and her husband, John, have a pub in the Irish village of Mountfern. In the summer of 1962, American millionaire Patrick O'Neill comes to town with an idea to build a hotel with a bar that could put a dent into Kate and John Ryan's business. It seems everything starts to go downhill as the hotel is being built and the community will never be the same. I enjoy Maeve Binchy's books but I am not happy with the abrupt ending of this one. I felt the same way after reading The Lilac Bus. It seems like we are suppose to make up our own ending or Maeve just ran out of steam. I will, however, continue to read her books because I find the characters very entertaining. Highly recommend her books if you love to read about Ireland.
NY Times book review "the best Binchy yet!".
Back cover - "It was a summer of warmth,,, a summer of innocence.. it was a summer of love that would never come again. "
Back cover - "It was a summer of warmth,,, a summer of innocence.. it was a summer of love that would never come again. "
A book that nearly hurt to read. So poignant, good characterizations. Book in excellent condition, except that the paperback binding has only just this minute popped off. Bad binding glue? The pages themselves are in there securely. I'm afraid to re-glue that cardboard back in case I mess up the spine for you. =(
