Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Dell (1990), 432 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. "A rousing good story.... Laughter and tears: it's what Binchy does best.". HTML:There was never any question that Deirdre and Desmond Doyle would celebrate a gala twenty-fifth anniversary. Naturally, their daughter Anna, would plan their grand affair. Of all three Doyle children, Anna knew exactly what their mother wished--even as she lived her own secret life. Will Brendan, the rebellious son, even bother to return to London? Will Helen, the hapless would-be nun, embarrass them all? This is Deirdre's day, a triumph for a woman obsessed with keeping up appearances, her silvery revenge after "marrying down" twenty-five years ago. She's determined to show them all: the maid of honor, still unmarried, still gorgeous, now a successful London business woman...the best man, once Desmond's close friend, now his boss...their reluctant priest, who harbors his own guilty secret. As family and friends gather, a lifetime of lies takes its toll. But what begins as a family charade brings with it the transforming power of love--and truth. From the Paperback edition..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member eileenmary
I like her writing style, she dedicates each chapter to a charecter. However, the last chapter doesnt do sufficient job of tying the story together
LibraryThing member meli1029
At points during this book, I questioned why I continued to read because I wasn't sure that I actually like the book. But the focus of one character per chapter bit worked and I enjoyed the depth of each chapter. The author also brought home everyone at the end and that worked for me too. It was a
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quick read and after thinking about it, a pretty enjoyable one as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Desmond and Deirdre Doyle are about to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Binchy's novel profiles each of the important people involved in the original wedding and the couple's three children. The groom, bride, each of the adult offspring, the best man and the maid of honor all have
I've always had a soft spot for Binchy. I love her character-driven tales and have read almost everything she's written. This is definitely not one of my favorites. It's a quick read with some interesting aspects, but I won't remember the characters. If you want to try her out I would recommend Evening Class, Circle of Friends or Tara Road.
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individual chapters telling their story. I've always had a soft spot for Binchy. I love her character-driven tales and have read almost everything she's written. This is definitely not one of my favorites. It's a quick read with some interesting aspects, but I won't remember the characters. If you want to try her out I would recommend Evening Class, Circle of Friends or Tara Road.
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LibraryThing member jayne_charles
The main focus of this book is on the anticipated silver wedding celebrations of the two main characters, who live not in Ireland, this time, but in 'Darkest Pinner'. Each chapter concentrates on a different member of the family/friends, expanding the picture to include the characters' own
The triumph of this novel is in the creation of so many characters you can empathise with and care about, and the shades of light and dark in all their personalities.
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individual sub-dramas.The triumph of this novel is in the creation of so many characters you can empathise with and care about, and the shades of light and dark in all their personalities.
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LibraryThing member AprilBrown
What ages would I recommend it too? – Sixteen and up.
Length? – Several day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – London England, and Ireland 1980's.
Written approximately? – 1989.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – No.
Any issues the author (or
Notes for the reader: Not as good as some of her other stories. Each story is an individual story that begin and end together, and yet leave several open holes within the framework of the story.
Length? – Several day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – London England, and Ireland 1980's.
Written approximately? – 1989.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – No.
Any issues the author (or
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a more recent publisher) should cover? No.Notes for the reader: Not as good as some of her other stories. Each story is an individual story that begin and end together, and yet leave several open holes within the framework of the story.
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LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
Desmond and Deirdre will soon celebrate their 25th anniversary, and their daughter decides to organise something. The book spend one chapter on each of the main characters, and some of their relatives and friends, introducing various subplots and revelations in each. At the same time it moves
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towards the culmination of the party. A pleasant and enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member moonshineandrosefire
A silver anniversary is always an occasion to celebrate, and for Desmond and Deirdre Doyle this celebration is no less special. As the Doyles prepare to commemorate the twenty-five years of marriage they have shared, their closest family and friends gather around them in remembrance of such a happy
The Doyles face an uneasy moment of reckoning as their friends and family members begin to arrive for the festivities. So much time has passed for all of them, and so much has changed. The couple may have prepared themselves for anything; but they can only hope that everyone has come ready to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Everyone has certainly come to congratulate the happy couple, but each person seems to have also brought their own personal baggage to the party.
First to arrive are the three Doyle children: Anna, Helen, and Brendan. Their hapless daughter Helen is still struggling with her vocation to become a nun. Having reached a crossroads in her life, she plans on making her final decision at her parents silver anniversary. Their rebellious son Brendan prefers a life of solitude spent on the family farmstead in Ireland, rather than living with his parents and sisters in London.
Desmond's best man - Frank Quigley - was once his very best friend, but is now Desmond's boss. Deirdre's bridesmaid - Maureen Barry - is now a successful career woman, looking forward to opening a London location in her chain of fashion boutiques. Father James Hurley - the priest who married the couple - arrives to the silver anniversary carrying his own guilty family secret.
Yet it is her parents silver anniversary that will prove to be a time of ultimate transformation for the Doyles' eldest daughter, Anna. She is the person tasked with the seemingly impossible: navigating through the troubled waters of the past and smoothing out ruffled relationships. For only Anna can confront their tarnished lives and find a truth strong enough to draw them into a circle of love that might nourish, protect, and finally heal them all.
As I have probably said many times before, Maeve Binchy was such a remarkable author. This was actually the second time that I have read this particular book, yet it still felt like a fresh story to me. In my opinion, Ms Binchy created so many memorable characters; as well as poignant and emotionally-driven stories. This was just another one of her many delightfully written books and I would give it a definite A!
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time. However, it is also a time fraught with tremendous uncertainty.The Doyles face an uneasy moment of reckoning as their friends and family members begin to arrive for the festivities. So much time has passed for all of them, and so much has changed. The couple may have prepared themselves for anything; but they can only hope that everyone has come ready to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Everyone has certainly come to congratulate the happy couple, but each person seems to have also brought their own personal baggage to the party.
First to arrive are the three Doyle children: Anna, Helen, and Brendan. Their hapless daughter Helen is still struggling with her vocation to become a nun. Having reached a crossroads in her life, she plans on making her final decision at her parents silver anniversary. Their rebellious son Brendan prefers a life of solitude spent on the family farmstead in Ireland, rather than living with his parents and sisters in London.
Desmond's best man - Frank Quigley - was once his very best friend, but is now Desmond's boss. Deirdre's bridesmaid - Maureen Barry - is now a successful career woman, looking forward to opening a London location in her chain of fashion boutiques. Father James Hurley - the priest who married the couple - arrives to the silver anniversary carrying his own guilty family secret.
Yet it is her parents silver anniversary that will prove to be a time of ultimate transformation for the Doyles' eldest daughter, Anna. She is the person tasked with the seemingly impossible: navigating through the troubled waters of the past and smoothing out ruffled relationships. For only Anna can confront their tarnished lives and find a truth strong enough to draw them into a circle of love that might nourish, protect, and finally heal them all.
As I have probably said many times before, Maeve Binchy was such a remarkable author. This was actually the second time that I have read this particular book, yet it still felt like a fresh story to me. In my opinion, Ms Binchy created so many memorable characters; as well as poignant and emotionally-driven stories. This was just another one of her many delightfully written books and I would give it a definite A!
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LibraryThing member nx74defiant
I think I had read this before. I remember Desmond deciding to run the store for the Patel's after the robbery. I thought it was a horrible idea of Frank's to have Helen be a nanny for his illegitimate child. Yes, she gets along well with children; but that is because she is like a child in many
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ways. Helen had shown herself to be irresponsible. The sisters at the convent couldn't trust her to remember to take care of cat. And Helen had displayed very bad judgment. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
Another charming collection of Irish stories from Maeve Binchy. These ones deal with the celebration of the O'Hagans twenty-fifth anniversary. I truly think Binchy does short stories better than novels.
LibraryThing member Cecilturtle
It's so delightful to have a long flight home and delve into a well-crafted novel, completely emerged in another world. Although the chapters could almost be stories on their own with characters stringing them through, Binchey ties them up in a lovely, optimistic, and yet not at all tacky,
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conclusion: it's simple, it's hopeful with a dab of nostalgia. Whereas I can find Binchey a bit of a gamble, this one definitely rates among my favourites. Show Less
LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
One of her very early books but the style is consistent with her later works. Enjoyable.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1988
Physical description
432 p.; 4.2 inches
ISBN
0440207770 / 9780440207771