-
This Year Will Be Different and Other Stories
- A Christmas Treasury
- Narrated by: Fionnula Flanagan
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 12-15-99
- Language: English
- Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $15.39
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Homecoming and Other Stories
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Kate Binchy, Sean Campion, Joanna Myers, and others
- Length: 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 99
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 65
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 63
In 'Homecoming', read by Sean Campion, the Brennans run Quentin's restaurant in Dublin for the owner, who lives abroad. But what will happen when he suddenly pays a visit? 'Telling Stories', read by Joanna Myers, sees Irene's fiancé turning up the night before the wedding with a face as white as the dress that is to be worn the next day. Then trouble starts....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A great listen for a short ride
- By Jan B. Cruz on 08-11-18
-
The Return Journey
- Stories
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Fionnula Flanagan
- Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 52
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 23
A secretary's silent passion for her boss meets the acid test on a business trip...A man and a woman's mutual disdain at first sight shows how deceptive appearances can be...An insecure wife clings to the illusion of order, only to discover chaos at the hands of a house sitter who opens the wrong doors...A pair of star-crossed travelers take each other's bags, and then learn that when you unlock a stranger's suitcase, you enter a stranger's life.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Poor audio quality
- By Connie on 07-17-11
-
A Week in Summer
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Maeve Binchy
- Length: 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 128
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 105
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 106
After many happy years of marriage and raising a family, Brian and Kathleen suddenly find themselves a bit lost in life. Midwesterners who've never traveled, Kathleen decides that what she and Brian need is a vacation, and she plans a trip to Ireland in search of her roots. In beautiful, quaint Lisdoonvarna, to the couple's surprise, they find themselves in the midst of a joyous yearly gathering, and they rediscover something much more important than evidence of long-dead ancestors: their love for each other and for life itself.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
In her own voice
- By Wendy on 10-11-11
-
Scarlet Feather
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Barbara Caruso
- Length: 20 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 481
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 413
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 416
New York Times best-selling author Maeve Binchy has a way of making everyday experiences extraordinary. Scarlet Feather introduces budding entrepreneurs Cathy and Tom who, along with their extended families, meet the trials and rewards of life head on. Scarlet Feather is a new catering company formed by two friends from cooking school, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather. Their dream is to have the best business in Dublin.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Another Hit on My List
- By JPisme on 08-25-11
-
A Few of the Girls
- Stories
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Sile Bermingham, Jayne Entwistle, John Lee, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 60
A Few of the Girls is a glorious collection of the very best of her short story writing, stories that were written over the decades - some published in magazines, others for friends as gifts, many for charity benefits. The stories are all filled with the signature warmth and humor that have always been an essential part of Maeve's appeal.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Narrated with a lisp?
- By denise on 05-05-16
-
Whitethorn Woods
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: various
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 229
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 110
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 113
When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann's Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction. People have been coming to St. Ann's for generations to share their dreams and fears, and speak their prayers.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not up to par for Binchy
- By Claire on 07-20-07
-
The Homecoming and Other Stories
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Kate Binchy, Sean Campion, Joanna Myers, and others
- Length: 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 99
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 65
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 63
In 'Homecoming', read by Sean Campion, the Brennans run Quentin's restaurant in Dublin for the owner, who lives abroad. But what will happen when he suddenly pays a visit? 'Telling Stories', read by Joanna Myers, sees Irene's fiancé turning up the night before the wedding with a face as white as the dress that is to be worn the next day. Then trouble starts....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A great listen for a short ride
- By Jan B. Cruz on 08-11-18
-
The Return Journey
- Stories
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Fionnula Flanagan
- Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 52
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 23
A secretary's silent passion for her boss meets the acid test on a business trip...A man and a woman's mutual disdain at first sight shows how deceptive appearances can be...An insecure wife clings to the illusion of order, only to discover chaos at the hands of a house sitter who opens the wrong doors...A pair of star-crossed travelers take each other's bags, and then learn that when you unlock a stranger's suitcase, you enter a stranger's life.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Poor audio quality
- By Connie on 07-17-11
-
A Week in Summer
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Maeve Binchy
- Length: 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 128
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 105
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 106
After many happy years of marriage and raising a family, Brian and Kathleen suddenly find themselves a bit lost in life. Midwesterners who've never traveled, Kathleen decides that what she and Brian need is a vacation, and she plans a trip to Ireland in search of her roots. In beautiful, quaint Lisdoonvarna, to the couple's surprise, they find themselves in the midst of a joyous yearly gathering, and they rediscover something much more important than evidence of long-dead ancestors: their love for each other and for life itself.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
In her own voice
- By Wendy on 10-11-11
-
Scarlet Feather
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Barbara Caruso
- Length: 20 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 481
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 413
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 416
New York Times best-selling author Maeve Binchy has a way of making everyday experiences extraordinary. Scarlet Feather introduces budding entrepreneurs Cathy and Tom who, along with their extended families, meet the trials and rewards of life head on. Scarlet Feather is a new catering company formed by two friends from cooking school, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather. Their dream is to have the best business in Dublin.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Another Hit on My List
- By JPisme on 08-25-11
-
A Few of the Girls
- Stories
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Sile Bermingham, Jayne Entwistle, John Lee, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 60
A Few of the Girls is a glorious collection of the very best of her short story writing, stories that were written over the decades - some published in magazines, others for friends as gifts, many for charity benefits. The stories are all filled with the signature warmth and humor that have always been an essential part of Maeve's appeal.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Narrated with a lisp?
- By denise on 05-05-16
-
Whitethorn Woods
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: various
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 229
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 110
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 113
When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann's Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction. People have been coming to St. Ann's for generations to share their dreams and fears, and speak their prayers.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not up to par for Binchy
- By Claire on 07-20-07
-
Chestnut Street
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Sile Bermingham
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 223
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 187
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 188
Maeve Binchy imagined a street in Dublin with many characters coming and going, and every once in a while she would write about one of these people. She would then put it in a drawer; “for the future,” she would say. The future is now. Across town from St. Jarlath’s Crescent, featured in Minding Frankie, is Chestnut Street, where neighbors come and go. Behind their closed doors we encounter very different people with different life circumstances, occupations, and sensibilities.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
What Just Happened?
- By Bex on 05-21-14
-
Evening Class
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Kate Binchy
- Length: 6 hrs
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 140
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 69
The Mountainview School in working-class Dublin boasts a brightly festooned room brimming with paper flowers and Renaissance posters. There, in an evening class, "An Introduction to Italian," come Aiden Dunne, the supervisor, Signora, the professoressa, and 30 or so students, whose hopes and dreams are bound up in the Tuesday and Thursday lessons.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Binchy's Best!
- By Janet on 12-28-03
-
September
- By: Rosamunde Pilcher
- Narrated by: Jilly Bond
- Length: 20 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 228
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 204
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 207
A place you will never forget. Rosamunde Pilcher's Scotland...where the fields flourish with greenery, the bills bloom with purple, and the lochs glitter with the bright blue of the sky. A time you will never forget. September...when the heather is in full flower, the first chill of autumn cools the air, and the countryside stirs with the hunt, balls, dinner parties, and dance. Rosamunde Pilcher's September...a story of homecomings and heartbreaks, friendships, betrayals, forgiveness, and love.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
An old and much loved favorite
- By Jeanette Finan on 12-31-17
-
Light a Penny Candle
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Kate Binchy
- Length: 2 hrs and 45 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 50
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 35
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 34
World War II had begun, and London was being bombed. Most parents were sending their children to live with relatives in the countryside for safety's sake. But shy, delicate Elizabeth didn't have anyone nearby. Instead, she would have to go far away, to Ireland, to stay with an old classmate of her mother's - whom Elizabeth hadn't even met. Accustomed to a life of unspoken rules and quiet discipline, Elizabeth wasn't prepared for the large, boisterous O'Connor family.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good Adaptation, poor sound quality
- By Micheline Golden on 01-22-06
-
The Copper Beech
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Fionnula Flanagan
- Length: 3 hrs
- Abridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 48
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 32
Carved in the trunk of the mighty copper beech tree that embraces the schoolyard in Shancarrig are declarations of love, hope, and identity - the youthful dreams of the children who studied there. Now grown, yet shaped by their years in the schoolhouse, they lead different lives. The Copper Beech is about 8 of these dreamers. From Ryan's Hotel to Barna Woods, where the gypsies came each year, from Nellie Dunn's sweet shop to Father Gunn's church, the tenor of life in Shancarrig is outwardly placid and uneventful. Some, like Nessa Ryan, in search of passion, would say deadly dull. But behind the calm exterior, serenity fades into unexpected drama: Maddy Ross has a secret love; Eddie Barton, a surprising friendship; the Darcy's, the glamorous newcomers, find a curious partner in poor Maura Brennan. The Dunnes, Kelly's, Leo Murphy, and Dr. Jim's all have their own extraordinary stories to tell...brought to life by Maeve Binchy's sure touch.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
SLOW
- By Brenda on 08-26-16
-
The Shell Seekers
- By: Rosamunde Pilcher
- Narrated by: Hayley Atwell
- Length: 19 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,112
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,039
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,039
At the end of a long and useful life, Penelope Keeling's prized possession is The Shell Seekers, painted by her father and symbolizing her unconventional life, from bohemian childhood to wartime romance. When her grown children learn their grandfather's work is now worth a fortune, each has an idea as to what Penelope should do. But as she recalls the passions, tragedies, and secrets of her life, she knows there is only one answer...and it lies in her heart.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Back again
- By LINN CANNING on 01-22-18
-
Voices in Summer
- By: Rosamunde Pilcher
- Narrated by: Jilly Bond
- Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 27
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 23
As in her worldwide best sellers The Shell Seekers and September, it is the richness of emotional seasons that has made Rosamunde Pilcher's novels beloved the world over. Now she invites listeners into long summer days on the coast of Cornwall - and into the stormy heart of newlywed Laura Haverstock. Shy, recovering from illness, and away from her husband, Laura's is a fearful heart on the verge of intimate discoveries...about herself, her family, and the source of true love within her.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
LOVE the author. Detest the narration.
- By Charity on 02-28-18
-
A Week in Winter
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,289
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,110
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,111
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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Didn't want it to end.....
- By Vicki Unger on 02-26-13
-
Circle of Friends
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Fionnula Flanagan
- Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars 90
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars 68
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 68
It began with Benny Hogan and Eve Malone, 2 inseparable young Irish women, growing up in the village of Knockglen. Benny, an only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents and Eve, an orphan, abandoned to be raised by nuns, seemed an unlikely pair. Together, Eve and Benny knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own. The pair becomes a circle when Benny and Eve leave for university in Dublin, and meet beautiful Nan Mahon and Jack Foley, a doctor's handsome son. But heartbreak and betrayal would bring the worlds of Knockglen and Dublin into explosive collision. Long-hidden lies would emerge to test the meaning of love and the strength of ties held within the fragile gold bands of a...Circle Of Friends.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
don't waste your time
- By kathryn queen on 10-12-10
-
Nights of the Rain and Stars
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Terry Donnelly
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 166
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 90
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 89
In a small Greek island village, a group of travelers from around the world and the local residents they encounter are brought together in unexpected ways when sudden tragedy strikes. In her inimitable style, Maeve Binchy shares with readers the lives of these strangers, learning their hopes, dreams, and fears as they move forward, forever changed by their experience.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I did not want it to end!
- By Susan on 01-03-05
-
Low Country
- A Novel
- By: Anne Rivers Siddons
- Narrated by: Cristine McMurdo-Wallis
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 14
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 12
Caroline Venable has everything her Southern heritage promised: money, prestige, a powerful husband - and a predictable routine of country-club luncheons, cocktail parties, and dinners hosting her husband's wealthy friends, clients, and associates in his successful land-developing conglomerate. To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true solace is the Lowcountry island her beloved Granddaddy left her - an oasis of breathtaking beauty that is home to a band of wild ponies.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Superbly written and performed <br />
- By Debbie on 12-05-17
-
Maeve's Times
- In Her Own Words
- By: Maeve Binchy
- Narrated by: Kate Binchy
- Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 67
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 58
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 58
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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A glimpse into the writer's memory.....
- By Karen Voyles on 05-04-16
Publisher's Summary
The stories in this completely unabridged production powerfully portray many lives - step-families grappling with exes, long-married couples faced with in-law problems, a wandering husband choosing between "the other women" and his wife, a child caught in grown-up tugs-of-war - during the one holiday when feelings cannot be easily hidden. The time of year may be magical, but the situations she describes are universal. And Maeve Binchy's writing, combined with Fionnula Flanagan's storytelling ability, makes us care about each one in this extraordinary collection - on the night before Christmas, or anywhere, any time of the year.
More from the same
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars7
-
4 Stars14
-
3 Stars6
-
2 Stars7
-
1 Stars10
Performance
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars5
-
4 Stars4
-
3 Stars5
-
2 Stars4
-
1 Stars6
Story
-
3.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars8
-
4 Stars8
-
3 Stars4
-
2 Stars1
-
1 Stars4
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Andrea
- Burlingame, CA, USA
- 12-03-06
Easy Christmas Entertainment
Each of the short stories have a bit of a lesson to them, and you'll find the same charming kind of characters that appear in so many of Maeve Binchy's books. Not everything is perfectly heartwarming, but that makes it more realistic.
I just wish this one were available with higher audio quality - it's only available in audio formats 1 and 2, and thus a little scratchy-sounding for those of us who use format 4. I burned cds of this to listen to in my car on a long roadtrip and it sounded horrid.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
- Heather Burwell
- 02-04-11
Great Stories and Narrator Lost in Bad Recording
I absolutely adore the stories and bought this so I could listen while I baked or traveled. Fionnula is a great narrator that brings life to the story but the recording sound/engineering itself is quite horrible. It sounds like it was recorded using tin cans. It is hollow, fuzzy, and muffled. I am very disappointed in the recording.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sharon
- 10-30-11
Quality of Sound
was disappointed in the quality of sound, it was scratchy and noisy which took away from the stories...
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Tiffany
- San Diego, CA, United States
- 01-03-14
Kind of depressing but insightful
This is also a Christmas book for those of you who may not have noticed.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Hettie
- nacogdoches, TX, United States
- 02-02-12
VERY POOR QUALITY!!!
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
Usually, I love Maeve Binchy, especially the lovely, lilting, Irish accents! This one is recorded with terrible sound quality, though. I couldn't even listen to it! I could barely understand it! It might have been a 4 or 5 star experience if it had been a tolerable recording!
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- mmm
- Colorado
- 01-08-18
sounds like it was recorded in a phone booth
through a tin can but otherwise I love this author's works just wish the recordings were a bit better
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Linda Clare Morton
- 12-16-15
Don't waste your money!
Going ask for a refund. The audio is terrible quality and there is no excuse for that these days.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Katharine Hansen
- Kettle Falls, WA, US
- 12-04-15
Poor Audio Quality
Any additional comments?
This is the first Audible book I've encountered with inferior audio quality. The narrator's voice is muffled, as though she's recording with a blanket over hear head. "S" sounds are especially sibilant and hissy. When music plays between stories, static can be heard. Voiceovers on top of the music cannot be understood. Really hard to listen to . Glad it's short.
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- DDD
- 09-29-15
Awful sound quality.
I couldn't hear everything and had I known it was so bad I wouldn't have purchased it. It's a pity because these are wonderful stories and the narrator is equally wonderful, but the sound quality is just terrible.
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Jonathan Jan Springer
- Sparks Nevada 89436
- 09-14-14
POOR RECORDING
What would have made This Year Will Be Different and Other Stories better?
A better recording, the story was garbled, hard to hear and understand. The reader's brogue was too hard to understand. very unenjoyable and quit after 45 minutes of strenuous listening.
What do you think your next listen will be?
Not sure as I LOVE to read Maeve Binchy's books
Would you be willing to try another one of Fionnula Flanagan’s performances?
NO
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- amanda
- 12-10-13
Do not buy this the sound quality is appalling
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
Rerecording the sound quality is truly awful and detracts from the stories which are charming
What will your next listen be?
Pass
How could the performance have been better?
Rerecording
What character would you cut from This Year Will Be Different and Other Stories?
None
Any additional comments?
Good stories spoiled by the sound quality