This is the first book by Maeve Binchy that I have read, I've heard of her before but never thought to buy one of her books. Not that I even had to this time, my mum came to visit and brought it with her telling me that "I just had to read it!", since I've had it I haven't shut it until it was finished.
This book is amazing, you lose yourself in the lives of all of them, especially Ria (the main character), and Marylin the American with whom she swaps homes with for two months.
In the beginning Ria lives at home, and is working at an estate agents. She becomes friends with a girl who already works there called Rosemary, who is stunning, compared to Ria who is pretty but not beutiful.
Not long after she starts, a man called Danny starts, and for Ria it's love at first site. You follow them through their journey of buying a house, getting married, having children and building their life together. On the outside it is a picture of perfect happiness, even to Ria... However it soon becomes clear that everything is not as it should be and financial and marital difficulties rear their head.
After revelations are made, and actions taken, Ria makes a decision that will change her life. She swaps homes with Marilyn in America after a chance phone call. Marilyn has had a difficult time and keeps herself to herself, and never has anyone round her house, completely different to Ria who's house is like the local community centre. You can imagine how they react when they are both dropped into completely different lives for two months.
Maeve manages to get you interested in not only the main characters, but also the supporting characters. First there is Gertie, the friend of Ria's who ends up staying with her husband, even though he beats her. Then there is Rosemary who she met at the Estate Agents and seems to have a life that is the complete opposite of Ria's.
Reading this book, you feel like you are living in the street with everybody, and are involved in all their lives. This book doesn't just follow the lives of Ria, and Marilyn, but you see the other characters change and grow over the years. They all have their different dramas, and achievements and you lose yourself in this world.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and if you should take my advice and read it I can promise that you will enjoy it.
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Amazon.com Oprah Book Club(r) Selection, September 1999: Against all odds, two newlyweds ... more
manage to buy the house of their dreams. In 1982, property speculation is beginning to be a big, big thing in Dublin--and their street is very much in an up-and-co...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Amazon.com Oprah Book Club(r) Selection, September 1999: Against all odds, two newlyweds ... more
manage to buy the house of their dreams. In 1982, property speculation is beginning to be a big, big thing in Dublin--and their street is very much in an up-and-co...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Amazon.com Oprah Book Club(r) Selection, September 1999: Against all odds, two newlyweds ... more
manage to buy the house of their dreams. In 1982, property speculation is beginning to be a big, big thing in Dublin--and their street is very much in an up-and-co...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Amazon.com Oprah Book Club(r) Selection, September 1999: Against all odds, two newlyweds ... more
manage to buy the house of their dreams. In 1982, property speculation is beginning to be a big, big thing in Dublin--and their street is very much in an up-and-co...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Amazon.com Oprah Book Club(r) Selection, September 1999: Against all odds, two newlyweds ... more
manage to buy the house of their dreams. In 1982, property speculation is beginning to be a big, big thing in Dublin--and their street is very much in an up-and-co...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Pleasant light reading, some great characters, satisfactory ending Disadvantages: Rather convoluted plot, too many minor characters, some a bit flat
Kukana 28.10.2003 (28.10.2003)
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