A Week in Winter

By: Maeve Binchy

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Stoneybridge is a small town on the west coast of Ireland where all the families know one another. When Chicky Starr decides to take an old, decaying mansion set high on the cliffs overlooking the windswept Atlantic Ocean and turn it into a restful place for a holiday by the sea, everyone thinks she is crazy. Helped by Rigger (a bad boy turned good who is handy around the house) and Orla, her niece (a whiz at business), Chicky is finally ready to welcome the first guests to Stone House’s big warm kitchen, log fires, and understated elegant bedrooms. John, the American movie star, thinks he has arrived incognito; Winnie and Lillian are forced into taking a holiday together; Nicola and Henry, husband and wife, have been shaken by seeing too much death practicing medicine; Anders hates his father’s business, but has a real talent for music; Miss Nell Howe, a retired schoolteacher, criticizes everything and leaves a day early, much to everyone’s relief; the Walls are disappointed to have won this second-prize holiday in a contest where first prize was Paris; and Freda, the librarian, is afraid of her own psychic visions.

Sharing a week with this unlikely cast of characters is pure joy, full of Maeve’s trademark warmth and humor. Once again, she embraces us with her grand storytelling.

©2013 Maeve Binchy (P)2013 Random House Audio

Disappointed!

I have been a fan of Maeve Binchy since "Light a Penny Candle" and have read all of her books. This one did not meet the mark. I found it more like a series of vignettes rather than a novel. Too many characters to keep me engaged for any length of time. I enjoyed the narrator and the book had some lighthearted moments but not like any of her other novels.

more like short stories, but binchy a pleasure!

When reading Maeve Binchy's books, it's a question of whether what you have picked up is very good or terrific. This one is on the very good side, but still wonderful. Reads a bit like loosely tied short stories, however once you come to expect this the listening is relaxing and satisfying in the Binchy way. Narration is excellent. Well worth the audible credit.

Warm and Interesting story.

If you could sum up A Week in Winter in three words, what would they be?

Like hanging out with old friends. I love Maeve Binchy. She writes stories that make me feel good.

A Bittersweet Read of Maeve's Final Book

I thoroughly enjoyed this Binchy book, as I have every book she wrote. It was sad to think it would be the last one.

A Week in Winter follows a format that Bichy began a few years back: individual stories in chapters weaved together with a theme. It worked a little better - a little less forced - here than it has in some of the more recent ones.

Absolutely delightful!

Made me want to plan a trip to Ireland! Wonderful characters and true to life stories.

Delightful story

I enjoyed the various story lines and the characters tied together with Chickie’s story and the development of the hotel.

Delightful!

Interesting characters and storylines and great setting. Kept my attention, rested and fed my heart. Exactly what I needed.
So glad to have finally read one of her books. Will be looking for more now.

nice read

I liked that it was easy read. no major plot but to get away, it was enjoyable

the characters were real.

loved the narrator. the author did a good wrap up of the story giving it a good ending but kept me wanting to hear more

hotel

what I liked was how all the characters end up at the same hotel in Ireland and its a feel good story