Aches & Pains [Hardcover]

Maeve Binchy (Author), Wendy Shea (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 2000

It's the perfect gift:  Laughter, the best medicine!  From beloved author Maeve Binchy.

Maeve Binchy has captured the hearts of millions with her spectacular national bestsellers, from Circle of Friends to Tara Road. Now she applies her signature warmth, wit, and understanding to something new--a wickedly funny book for anyone who's checked into the hospital, headed for an operation, or convalesced at home.

Drawing on her own experiences as a patient, Maeve Binchy, together with artist Wendy Shea, has created this wry, deliciously illustrated book of wit and wisdom, a hilarious insider's guide to hospital stays and at-home convalescence.  Filled with Maeve's candid real-life anecdotes and laugh-out-loud advice--plus Wendy Shea's irreverent drawings--Aches & Pains is just what the doctor ordered!

Discover:

Ten little jobs you can give to anyone who asks:  "How can I help?"

Outrageous ways to take advantage of your weakened state.

Things to say to annoy the patient in the next bed.

Dignified ways to cope with all the indignities of baring your body to strangers.

Great gifts to suggest when someone asks:  "What can I bring you?"

Tips on dealing with visitors...and hospital food. Plus recipes, poems, home remedies, and more!

The author's royalties for this book will be donated to the Arthritis Foundation.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A humorous account of surviving hospitalization, written after Binchy's hip replacement surgery.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

'Tonic for the spirit' HOME AND COUNTRY 'wickedly amusing self-help audio book, providing the tonic of laughter as well as useful tips for the patient' -- Vidar Hjardeng DISABILITY TIMES 'With a fine mix of humour and common sense, Maeve Binchy makes light of coping with ailments and hospitals... Laugh out loud anecdotes delightfully told by Kate Binchy.' CHOICE 'If you like fiction based on the trials and tribulations of real life but with a large dollop of humour, you will love this! Based on the author's own hip replacement saga, the perceptive text can be applied to any situation where you find yourself reliant on others. Whether you've been the patient, the carer or just love to laugh at the quirks of human nature, this audio CD will satisfy. It's docu-soap for the ears!' www.FromBumptoGrump.co.uk "Conversations in hospital corridors make a wonderful corrective to the pronouncements of specialists, and yield the sort of wisdom that bouys you up ... Life-affirming." THE SCOTSMAN --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press (June 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385335105
• ISBN-13: 978-0385335102
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #676,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maeve Binchy is the author of numerous best-selling books, including Nights of Rain and Stars, Quentins, Scarlet Feather, Circle of Friends, and Tara Road, which was an Oprah's Book Club selection. She has written for Gourmet; O, The Oprah Magazine; Modern Maturity; and Good Housekeeping, among other publications. She and her husband, Gordon Snell, live in Dalkey, Ireland, and London.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does laughter cause aches and pains?, July 7, 2000

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aches & Pains (Hardcover)

Many years ago, the writer Norman Cousins, wrote a now classic book about the part laughter and humor played in his recovery from a life threatening illness. And today, its as if Maeve Binchy continued this premise when she wrote her newest book, Aches and Pains.

Maeve Binchy is primarily known as the best selling Irish author who writes wonderful tales filled with memorable characters. Some also know her from her meaningful columns which appear in the Irish Times. But now readers everywhere will be introduced to a very different Maeve Binchy as learn about Binchy as a patient when she first had surgery to replace her hip and then during her recuperation. And readers will have an extra bonus from the illustrations done by Wendy Shaw who had the same operation as Ms. Binchy. The book is really funny, filled with all sorts of advice on how to survive a stay in any hospital and some anecdotal dopctor and nurse stories. And strange as it may seem, Binchy and Shaw make it a pleasure to read about their confinements.

Consider reading this book to see how it is possible to make light of your aches and pains or think about giving this as a gift to somebody who is also recuperating.

And an extra benefit is that all of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be contributed to the Arthritis Foundation.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughter is still indeed the best medicine!, October 7, 2000

By 

Carrol E. DiPeri (Medford, N.J. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aches & Pains (Hardcover)

Having had hip replacement surgery myself recently, this book was sent to me by a friend, both of us familiar with Maeve Binchy's books. I can't begin to tell you how each page brought tears to my eyes from laughter as I related to her stories of elastic stockings, "invalid" gadgets from walkers to commodes, the unfailing compassion of overworked nurses, and the embarassment of those wonderful hospital gowns! Wendy Shea's illustrations were hysterical reminders of hospitals and then the long awaited recovery period. You both deserve 10 Stars!

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to give to someone who's ailing, June 18, 2000

By 

Mary G. Longorio "Texasbookgirl" (Eagle Mountain, UT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aches & Pains (Hardcover)

An easy to read, entertaining, compilation of short vignettes and advice from one of my favorite writers. Some of the chapters originally appeared in Maeve's column in the Irish Times, which she used to chronicle her recent hip replacement. It is filled with humorous and matter of fact ways to deal with illness head on. Not a novel or short story....so regular readers may be a bit disappointed, but a delightful tidbit for to share with someone who is sick, or to read you.