Nights of Rain and Stars
by Maeve Binchy
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Book Reviews of Nights of Rain and Stars
Book Review: Maeve spins a tale of POLYESTER!
Summary: 1 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maeve's books when her yarns were spun of silk thread. Unfortunately, in this novel, "Nights of Rain and Stars" Maeve traded in her imported silk threads for polyester. I'm sad to say, it totally fell short and on its face. In past novels, Maeve's yarns unraveled naturally to reveal the tale. This story was utterly simple, way too elementary, far too predicatable, downright unbelievable and much too straight forward. As the reader, I was insulted by the ignorance she perceived her audience to possess. She wove four foreign tourists into the beautiful Greek countryside. Each of them could have had their own identity but turned out to be flatter than Gumby. No depth. I feel that Ms. Binchy just typed in a few details and names onto a story map from her computer and created this book. How can each of the tourists just happened to be either a mirror image of a Greek character or lead a parallel life? David and Adonis were mirror mages of one another leading parallel lives. The remaining three tourists all bore uncanny bits of their lives to the main character, Vonni. Fiona was the young Vonni with a happier ending. Elsa gave up everything like Vonni to escape. Elsa fled from a man (Deiter) and Vonni fled into a man's (Stavros) arms. Lastly, Thomas and Vonni were estranged from their sons. Thomas knew enough to return to his son,Bill whereas Vonni was hoping against all hope to have her son Stavros return. Prayer was her vehicle. Not action. All in all, I found the novel a disappointment. An easy, somewhat enjoyable read, but lacking realism, interest, complexity and subtleness for Maeve Binchy to have penned it! I expected more.Book Review: Maeve Binchy always makes you feel warm and welcome
Summary: 4 Stars
A group of strangers gather at a small Greek tavern in the village of Aghia Anna on a night of tragedy. Several people end up dying in a ferryboat accident. Fiona and Shane from Ireland, Elsa from Germany, David from England, and Thomas from California watch the fire helplessly from high up on the hill. All these visitors have personal problems that they ran away from, thinking that was their solution. Andreas, the tavern owner, treats them like family that night, and all of them are touched by his gestures. David especially grows close to Andreas since he came to Greece because of problems with his father. Andreas himself has problems with his own son who left him to go to Chicago. Vonni, Thomas' landlord, was once married to Stravos a native of Aghia Anna; long ago developed a drinking problem, and never saw her son again. Resolved to continue on, she tries to help this group of visitors. Fiona reluctantly leaves the drunk and bitter Shane behind. Vonni tries to point Elsa and Thomas in the right direction but they stubbornly have to rediscover themselves on their own. David unwillingly decides that he has to go back to England to run the family business. Solutions to problems come probably too easy to be realistic. Motivation behind certain characters actions leave more questions than answers. However you are left with a message that the bonds of friendship and family are the strongest bonds of all. This group of strangers, now friends share in the joys, sorrows, and tragedy of Aghia Anna. I do miss her stories that take place in Ireland, but Nights of Rain and Stars once completed leaves you feeling quite satisfied.Book Review: Still a cozy reading
Summary: 3 Stars
After reading some of the reviews, I have to agree that this is not Binchy's best novel to date ~~ but it is still a cozy, comfortable reading! Who else would try to write about a group of strangers bonding on a small Greek spot and becoming friends of a lifetime?
Bonded by a tragedy that happened on a boat that they were just on the day before ~~ Elsa, David, Thomas, Fiona, Vonni (an Irish woman who has lived there for over thirty years) and Andreas, the restaurant owner who provided a place for the friends to meet ~~ they share their disappointments and reasons for fleeing home ~~ and together, they grew close as friends and circumstances brought them closer together till they left the little place. Their stories are stories that most people relate to ~~ broken hearts, broken dreams and joy and love ~~ and finding the courage to begin anew. Old themes, yes, but wonderful themes. And Binchy still has a touch of her magic in weaving those stories together.
If you're expecting a return to her older novels ~~ this book isn't it. If you're a devoted Binchy fan ~~ you'll still enjoy this novel as it is just comforting and cozy reading ~~ and perfect for a lazy afternoon reading. If you are new to Binchy ~~ please be sure to read her other books, "Light a Penny Candle" and "Circle of Friends" are two of my favorites. Read this and read those ~~ and you'll fall in love with Binchy's storytelling!
3-11-05
Book Review: I Loved It
Summary: 4 Stars
Having read the reader reviews before reading this latest from Maeve Binchy, I began it with a sinking heart, because I have agreed that her last few efforts have not been stellar. But surprise--I loved this book, and disagree with the negative comments it has received.
It might be because I had a slightly different take, and here it is: The plot concerns a group of disparate tourists from America, Ireland, England and Germany, who find themselves drawn together in the tiny Greek village of Aghia Anna , after a terrible fire kills a large number of locals and tourists alike. In a sort of "Ship of Fools" venue, if you will, the tiny group becomes, for a short time, inseparable, sharing various stories, heartbreaks and dreams.
In the unreal bubble that is the island in a particular time warp, there is one voice of truth in Vonni, an Irish expatriate who has spent her last 30 years in the village, and who refuses to be bowled over by either romance or dreaming. Don't ask me why, but I consistently thought of Vonni as Maeve Binchy herself--exasperated with her own characters and the fact that they cannot see what is right in front of their noses.
All the foibles of human nature appear in this one short microcosm, with Vonni desperately making everybody "see" the truth. It's interesting, and it worked for me. I'm sorry that the majority does not agree, but I was pleased that Binchy seems back on track!
Book Review: Might be Maeve Binchy's best book, yet
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are looking for a story centered around women of Ireland in Ireland, this is not the Binchy title for you.
But if you can broaden your thinking to embrace the realities of the "new" Europe, as Maeve Binchy obviously has in writing this book, this is a rewarding and delightful read. To the extent that Mrs Binchy writes thoughts and dialog for women and men of nationalities other than Irish, some might say that the novel's voice is not what they expect of her. Too true! Men's voices are more prominent and a number of characters from non-Irish cultures speak and think here in their own voices, not in the cadences so familiar from previous forays into Irish living. There are a few familiar (but always different) kinds of characters; all else in the physical and cultural landscape is changed.
The prose marvelously evokes Greece: a quick visit to the bustle of Athens near the end contrasts with life in island towns. But the plot shows how these aspects of the country remain tightly connected, just as in ancient Greece.
Certainly no prior framework is needed to enjoy this journey, but those with even a little grounding in myth and history may find special pleasure in Mrs Binchy's telling of the odysseys of her characters. How inspired, especially in this Olympic year, to bring the story home to Greece.
Kydos, Mrs Binchy! More! More!