Publication
New York : Alfred A. Knopf ; Double Day Large Print Home Library Edition
Collection
Call number
Fiction B
Physical description
667 p.; 22 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
"While she was writing columns for The Irish Times and her best-selling novels, Maeve Binchy also had in mind to write a book that revolved around one street with many characters coming and going. Every once in a while, she would write about one these people. She would then put it in a drawer. "For the future," she would say. The future is now. Just around the corner from St. Jarlath's Crescent (which readers will recognize from 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. Written with the humor and understanding that are earmarks of Maeve Binchy's work, it is a pleasure to be part of this world with all of its joys and sorrows, to get to know the good and the bad, and ultimately to have our hearts warmed by her storytelling"--… (more)
Genres
User reviews
LibraryThing member Carolee888
aeve Binchy’s Chestnut Street is marvelous. It was a real treat to hear Sile Bermingham read the stories some finished and some not. This reader managed Irish accents beautifully. Ms. Bermingham had me catching the way the Irish speak the end of the sentence and love the lilt of it. Maeve Binchy
I have enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s books so much that I did not want her to die! Her writing is so full of emotional depth and the characters are live forever in my memory. I do not like short stories generally because I tend to get hooked on a character and then get mad at the author when the story is over. But Maeve linked the characters together with a street. They all lived on Chestnut Street. That meant that they could reappear in later stories. I love that.
The scope of Chestnut Street is amazing. She writes of a girl being jealous of her beautiful and pleasing mother who later learns a lesson and is much wiser and accepting of her mother later. She writes of people who act with good heartedness, of the extremely poor, the rejects of society, the parents learning to loosen the parental bonds so that their children can grow up free and not dependent. She writes of what is like to be fat, to have a low level of self-respect, extra martial affairs, of children of the divorced, of taxi drivers and birthday parties. She writes of people living fake lives and those who are true to themselves and others. She did this with beauty and the talent of a true Irish story teller.
I heartedly recommend this audio version of Chestnut to all who love stories.
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passed away in July 2012. I am so glad that her stories in this audio version were published.I have enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s books so much that I did not want her to die! Her writing is so full of emotional depth and the characters are live forever in my memory. I do not like short stories generally because I tend to get hooked on a character and then get mad at the author when the story is over. But Maeve linked the characters together with a street. They all lived on Chestnut Street. That meant that they could reappear in later stories. I love that.
The scope of Chestnut Street is amazing. She writes of a girl being jealous of her beautiful and pleasing mother who later learns a lesson and is much wiser and accepting of her mother later. She writes of people who act with good heartedness, of the extremely poor, the rejects of society, the parents learning to loosen the parental bonds so that their children can grow up free and not dependent. She writes of what is like to be fat, to have a low level of self-respect, extra martial affairs, of children of the divorced, of taxi drivers and birthday parties. She writes of people living fake lives and those who are true to themselves and others. She did this with beauty and the talent of a true Irish story teller.
I heartedly recommend this audio version of Chestnut to all who love stories.
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LibraryThing member lyndavaughan
Excellent book! If you have been a fan of Ms. Binchy, be sure not to miss this, her last book. I am not fond of books of short stories so it was the love of the author's previous works that caused me to read this. I loved it. Ms. Binchy's storytelling talent came through in each and every story.
What a shame that she passed away in 2012.
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Each story is about one of the residents of Chestnut Street. Her ability to develop the characters in just a few pages is amazing. I read this at night, for several nights. I actually saved the last two stories for the next night because I didn't want the book to end. What a shame that she passed away in 2012.
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LibraryThing member theReadingHead
The day Maeve Binchy past away, was a sad day for the literary world, and especially her fans. So when I saw Chestnut Street was being re-released, I had to review it. Giving it a 5 star review really is a no brainer for a Binchy fan like myself.
Chestnut Street is a series of short stories, each
Each story, like it’s subject, is completely different. The characters are so well-developed that you will think of them as your own neighbours. With the humor I can guarantee a giggle or two. Although fictional, Maeve had a skill for showing us the real world in Ireland, the customs, the people’s character’s and the amazing landscape.
There isn’t really much more I can say, as I feel a Maeve Binchy book really needs no introduction. If you’re already a fan, then this is definitely a book for you. If not, hmm, well then Chestnut Street is the perfect introduction to the Binchy world. Enjoy.
NB I received this book free for an honest review
Chestnut Street is a series of short stories, each
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about a different resident of the street. With Maeve’s trademark humor and attention to detail, we enter each residents life, there trauma’s, excitements, fear, etc.Each story, like it’s subject, is completely different. The characters are so well-developed that you will think of them as your own neighbours. With the humor I can guarantee a giggle or two. Although fictional, Maeve had a skill for showing us the real world in Ireland, the customs, the people’s character’s and the amazing landscape.
There isn’t really much more I can say, as I feel a Maeve Binchy book really needs no introduction. If you’re already a fan, then this is definitely a book for you. If not, hmm, well then Chestnut Street is the perfect introduction to the Binchy world. Enjoy.
NB I received this book free for an honest review
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
With Binchy's trademark style we are able to dip into the lives of people who live all along Chestnut Street. There is a couple that has put off marriage for years, another group of three women who decide to rent a house together so they can afford to live in that area. We see the world and an
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affair unfold through the eyes of a taxi driver and see a young girl in jealous awe of her glamorous mother. Each story is a little glimpse into their lives, but Binchy always manages to make her characters unforgettable. It's not my favorite of her books, but for me she will always be a wonderful comfort read. Show Less
LibraryThing member pennsylady
audio
4 ★
collection of charming Chestnut St. snapshots in true Maeve Binchy style
4 ★
collection of charming Chestnut St. snapshots in true Maeve Binchy style
LibraryThing member Erika.D
Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite authors. She is an excellent storyteller and her characters are always interesting and believable. Just wish the publisher would have said this was a collection of short stories since it is and not a novel.
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Audiobook read by Sale Bermingham
3.5***
From the book jacket: 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 the story in a drawer, “for the future,” she would say. (This
My Reactions
Binchy does a great job of giving us a picture of a neighborhood. Characters come in contact with one another, interact, leave, and return. They support one another, fight, make-up, deride, and defend in turns. They witness one another’s triumphs and defeats. But always there is a sense of community, of a shared culture and similar experiences. Binchy’s characters seem like real people; I recognize many of them though I live in Wisconsin and this is set in Dublin.
Sale Bermingham does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She really brought these characters to life.
3.5***
From the book jacket: 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 the story in a drawer, “for the future,” she would say. (This
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collection of short stories was published after Binchy’s death.)My Reactions
Binchy does a great job of giving us a picture of a neighborhood. Characters come in contact with one another, interact, leave, and return. They support one another, fight, make-up, deride, and defend in turns. They witness one another’s triumphs and defeats. But always there is a sense of community, of a shared culture and similar experiences. Binchy’s characters seem like real people; I recognize many of them though I live in Wisconsin and this is set in Dublin.
Sale Bermingham does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She really brought these characters to life.
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LibraryThing member sraelling
It was OK. just goes to show you that one's perception of life behind closed doors is only part of the story.
LibraryThing member Gingermama
Not her best work, not by a long shot, but still some sweet stories and flashes of humor here. Several would have made interesting longer works.
LibraryThing member Iambookish
More like a 3 stars, but for nostalgia's sake I had to give it a 4.
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
This is a collection of short stories put together posthumously, and some of them feel a tad unfinished. The one thread is that all the main characters either live (or grew up in) a residential street known as Chestnut Street. The characters are lightly sketched, yet it’s a testament to the Maeve
All the stories are about relationships of one kind or another. Each of the characters is different, and even with the limitations of a short story, I had a general feel for each one, whether likeable or not.
It’s not necessarily a book I would read again, nor one I’d recommend as a starting point to this author’s work. But if you have liked her novels, and would like a final glimpse into her fictional world, this is a pleasant and, in places, moving collection.
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Binchy’s rich world that she peopled an entire street with folk who don’t appear in any of her novels. Each has a story; many of them have secrets. All the stories are about relationships of one kind or another. Each of the characters is different, and even with the limitations of a short story, I had a general feel for each one, whether likeable or not.
It’s not necessarily a book I would read again, nor one I’d recommend as a starting point to this author’s work. But if you have liked her novels, and would like a final glimpse into her fictional world, this is a pleasant and, in places, moving collection.
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LibraryThing member jhullie
I almost gave this a So-So but that’s probably just because I am not really a fan of short stories. These were interesting and a few of them left me wondering what happened next so that’s a good sign. I did like the way all the stories revolved around the one street. Maeve Binchy was a
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remarkable story teller. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
You know, the hero really didn't redeem himself here. Yes he's a musician and yes he's out of control but he kept talking about how he wanted his wife back without really showing that he wanted her back. He treated her like garbage and it was a hard read to see her falling for his wiles. The real
They married in haste and then they fell out. He insulted her and when she moved out he installed a singer as his mistress in their house. Now she wants a child and he admits he wants one too to secure his inheritance. It's a mess and the relationship didn't feel quiite enough for me.
I wanted to like it but I felt like the relationship wasn't enough for the main story.
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romance that I wanted to see more of was between Tom and Lina.They married in haste and then they fell out. He insulted her and when she moved out he installed a singer as his mistress in their house. Now she wants a child and he admits he wants one too to secure his inheritance. It's a mess and the relationship didn't feel quiite enough for me.
I wanted to like it but I felt like the relationship wasn't enough for the main story.
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LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
An endearing walk along Chestnut St Dublin with a look into the lives of every resident in every house.
LibraryThing member mchwest
I loved everything Maeve Binchy ever wrote, this book simply fell flat for me. I found the stories a bit repetitive.
Language
ISBN
9780385351850