Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Heart and Soul
Book Review: A Heart Clinic Builds the Hearts and Souls of Patients, Families, and Staff
Summary: 4 Stars
Maeve Binchy deftly demonstrates that kind, uplifting support can be found in a hospital's heart clinic (helping those who have had heart disease to lead healthier lives) as well as in a loving woman's kitchen. Fans of Ms. Binchy's earlier books will be delighted to find many of their favorite characters playing important roles in Heart and Soul that build on their prior histories.
As the book opens, a hospital's board is considering whether or not to take a rich offer for a disused storage depot. When a possible therapeutic use is proposed, the board members quickly shift direction. There's space . . . but not much money available when Dr. Clara Casey agrees to head the heart clinic. She finds it easy to attract a great staff but fights an on-going and frustrating battle with Frank Ennis who wanted to sell the depot.
The story follows the clinic over its first year and develops several story lines about love. Dr. Casey is separated from her husband (who likes young women) and is having a hard time with two grown daughters who live at home. Where will she take the clinic and her personal life?
Hilary Hickey rues the clinic beautifully and keeps Frank Ennis at bay, but she's finding it more and more difficult to deal with her mother's failing mental health. What's the right next step? Should her mother go into a home?
Dr. Declan Carroll has a heart of gold, but no girl friend. He's immediately attracted to Nurse Fiona Ryan. Is she over her old boyfriend Shane who treated her so badly when she was pregnant?
Chemist Peter Barry doesn't know what to do about his daughter, but he's devoted to his patients. Can he overcome having been a widower raising a daughter alone to find love again?
Ania Prasky is a hard-working, poor Polish immigrant who wants to earn English and send money home. She has some dark secrets to overcome and falls madly for the son of a rich couple who come to the clinic. How does he feel?
Father Brian Flynn wants to build up his parish's activities and is at first delighted by an enthusiastic new supporter . . . but then things start to go terribly wrong.
Quentins restaurant is often used for celebrations during the book, and there's even a wedding anniversary catered by Scarlet Feather.
Keep your eyes open and you'll find other old friends among the stories.
It's hard not to compare any Maeve Binchy novel about love with Tara Road. Heart and Soul lacks the impetus that the planned exchange of houses (and lives) brought in that book. As a result, in many sections the book seems more like a series of loosely short stories than a novel. Some of the character development will plod for those who like stories to move quickly from one stage to another.
Ultimately, the book is quite charming . . . just the sort of read that makes it fun to stay home with a good cup of tea and a warm blanket on a rainy night.
Enjoy!
Book Review: A Sequal to Quentins?
Summary: 3 Stars
Binchy's books are beginning to sound like an unending circle as characters spring from one book into another. This one has a group of uninteresting characters who in her usual style all gather in the end with the expected results. One can predict the plot of her next book.
Book Review: A great read
Summary: 5 Stars
Maeve Binchy does it again! Just when the last novel knocked your socks off this new novel is better. I love how she incorporates past favorite characters from Evening Class, Scarlet Feather, Quentins etc with new characters in this book. She brings a modern look into the new Ireland. I couldn't put this down! It is enchanting and lively that follows the lives of these rich characters. She is one of my favorite authors.Book Review: A great storyteller hits the mark again
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a Binchy fan and this is storytelling at its best. Reading all her books has given me insight into my Irish parents background and all the quaint excpressions that the Irish use,,,like an iijit. I have never been to Dublin, but a visit this Spring seems in order after reading Binchy's latest.Book Review: A perfect title for a perfect book
Summary: 5 Stars
Heart and Soul is truly what this is book is about. Maeve Binchy brings you into the lives and homes of each character and brings other characters back and makes them inter twine perfectly like a magnificiant tapestry. She creates a story in a heart clinic, pure genius! From the very first written word to the last you cannot put this book down. You are invited into the lives of each character you share their happiness and sorrow. You feel like you are right there, a part of this world. The simple things in life that we take for granted, Maeve Binchy reminds us of it. I have read every one of her books and hope she writes forever. Reading this book, I want to go back and re read them all. I want to go back and re visit the lives of Cathy and Tom Scarlett, how they met and what they went through together. Fiona, when she was in Greece, I feel like they are my old friends. Maeve Binchy's writing style captures you from the very start. I can never put her books down. The respect she has for people, life, love, her country and characters, to see it through her writing just takes you there. I can't wait for her next book.