Maeve's Times by Maeve Binchy audiobook

Maeve's Times: In Her Own Words

By Maeve Binchy
Read by Kate Binchy

Random House Audio 9780385353458
11.87 Hours • Unabridged
Format : Digital Download (In Stock)
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    ISBN: 9780553410143

Five decades of selected writings from the Irish Times by the beloved and best-selling author, filled with her hallmark humor, candor, and wisdom-a timeless gift to her legion of fans. Maeve Binchy once confessed: "As someone who fell off a chair not long ago trying to hear what they were saying at the next table in a restaurant, I suppose I am obsessively interested in what some might consider the trivia of other people's lives." She was an accidental journalist, yet from the beginning, her writings reflected the warmth, wit, and keen human interest that readers would come to love in her fiction. From the royal wedding to boring airplane companions, Samuel Beckett to Margaret Thatcher, "senior moments" to life as a waitress, Maeve's Times gives us wonderful insight into a changing Ireland as it celebrates the work of one of our best-loved writers in all its diversity-revealing her characteristic directness, laugh-out-loud humor, and unswerving gaze into the true heart of a matter.

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Summary

Summary

Five decades of selected writings from the Irish Times by the beloved and best-selling author, filled with her hallmark humor, candor, and wisdom-a timeless gift to her legion of fans.

Maeve Binchy once confessed: "As someone who fell off a chair not long ago trying to hear what they were saying at the next table in a restaurant, I suppose I am obsessively interested in what some might consider the trivia of other people's lives." She was an accidental journalist, yet from the beginning, her writings reflected the warmth, wit, and keen human interest that readers would come to love in her fiction. From the royal wedding to boring airplane companions, Samuel Beckett to Margaret Thatcher, "senior moments" to life as a waitress, Maeve's Times gives us wonderful insight into a changing Ireland as it celebrates the work of one of our best-loved writers in all its diversity-revealing her characteristic directness, laugh-out-loud humor, and unswerving gaze into the true heart of a matter.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Delightful. . . This warm, down-to-earth collection…works wonderfully. Fans of the author’s novels will enjoy learning more about her early life and about an earlier Ireland. —Henrietta Verma, Library Journal
Spanning five decades, this collection of Binchy’s trademark columns celebrates her unabashed delight in the human condition, yes; but it also uncovers a much sharper wit and a more trenchant observer with a more cynical attitude than she ever divulged in her fiction. For the legions of fans who mourned her passing, this revelatory collection of essays brings a little of their cherished Maeve back, and then some. —Carol Haggas, Booklist
Binchy’s trademark warmth, humor, and humanity characterize this volume. . . Wit, sarcasm, and big-heartedness emerge as hallmarks of [her] ‘direct and uncluttered style.’ . . . While the collection makes an enjoyable read on the merit of humor alone, editor Ingle’s selections capture Binchy’s journalistic apprenticeship, record an intelligent woman’s perspective on a changing world, and offer entertaining glimpses of a biography that Binchy fans will adore. —Publishers Weekly 
This selection of her work represents Binchy's eclectic interests, infectious sense of humor and wry take on social change. . . . A blithe, entertaining collection that will surely delight [her] many fans. —Kirkus Reviews
Maeve's Times is funny and clever and kind, which are excellent qualities in both books and people. . . what this wonderful collection of her work for this paper makes abundantly clear is that she was a superb journalist. —Anna Carey, The Irish Times
Like the best journalism, Maeve's newspaper pieces stand the test of time. —John Spain, Irish Independent
Brimming with Binchy's intelligence, incisive wit, straightforwardness and incomparable charm. —Pam Norfolk, Burnley Express
Maeve’s fresh voice and spirit are captured in these pieces [with] wonderfully clear, caring and humorous prose. —Michael D. Langan, Buffalo News
A brilliant anthology [and] a real godsend to those of us inspired by good reporting and increasingly frustrated by the rarity of it these days. . . . Whether she was writing descriptively, critically, forensically, amiably, sadly, optimistically, cynically (or in any other state of mind), Maeve Binchy the journalist always had something meaningful to say, just as much so in 1964 as in 2011. . . . If you’re among the few people on this planet who have never read a Maeve Binchy book, start with Maeve’s Times. Then you’ll truly understand how the outstanding reporter formed the iconic novelist. —Pauline Finch, Bookreporter.com
“Like the best journalism, Maeve’s newspaper pieces stand the test of time.” —Irish Independent
“Maeve’s Times is funny and clever and kind, which are excellent qualities in both books and people…what this wonderful collection of her work for this paper makes abundantly clear is that she was a superb journalist.” —Irish Times
“Brimming with Binchy’s intelligence, incisive wit, straightforwardness and incomparable charm.” —Burnley Express
“Binchy’s trademark warmth, humor, and humanity characterize this volume…Wit, sarcasm, and big-heartedness emerge as hallmarks of [her] ‘direct and uncluttered style’…While the collection makes an enjoyable read on the merit of humor alone, editor Ingle’s selections capture Binchy’s journalistic apprenticeship, record an intelligent woman’s perspective on a changing world, and offer entertaining glimpses of a biography that Binchy fans will adore.” —Publishers Weekly
“Delightful…This warm, down-to-earth collection…works wonderfully. Fans of the author’s novels will enjoy learning more about her early life and about an earlier Ireland.” —Library Journal
“This selection of her work represents Binchy’s eclectic interests, infectious sense of humor, and wry take on social change…A blithe, entertaining collection that will surely delight Binchy’s many fans.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Kate Binchy narrates this collection of columns from the Irish Times, written by her late cousin, Maeve Binchy. The columns, dating from the 1960s to more recent times, are all written in the distinct style that made Binchy’s novels so popular. Kate Binchy’s gravelly, grandmotherly voice and lilting Irish accent fit the stories nicely, capturing the essence of the people in Maeve’s life as well as her observations and personal revelations. Kate is especially engaging during conversations, which flow effortlessly and sound authentically Irish. Frequently, towards the end of each story, Kate’s gravelly voice becomes a bit overworked and sounds strained, which is distracting. Nonetheless, fans of Maeve Binchy’s novels are sure to enjoy the personal insights into her life through the years.” —AudioFile

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Author

Author Bio: Maeve Binchy

Author Bio: Maeve Binchy

Maeve Binchy (1940–2012) was the author of numerous bestselling books, including Minding Frankie, Heart and Soul, Whitethorn Woods, and Circle of Friends, as well as Tara Road, which was an Oprah’s Book Club selection. She contributed to Gourmet; O, The Oprah Magazine; Modern Maturity; and Good Housekeeping, among other publications. Married to Gordon Snell, she lived in Dalkey, Ireland, until her death in July 2012 at the age of seventy-two, shortly after finishing A Week in Winter.

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Details

Details

Available Formats : Digital Download
Category: Nonfiction/Literary Collections
Runtime: 11.87
Audience: Adult
Language: English

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