Customer Reviews

Scarlet Feather

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

Scarlet Feather is Maeve Binchey at her best. Following the lives of several residents in modern day Dublin and their various involvement with the Scarlet Feather catering business. Friends from school days, Tom and Cathy have invested their all in the catering business.....but friends, family, lovers, and the odd abandoned child or two, have a way of getting involved. This is Maeve Binchey at her best, weaving the everyday lives of various people of all classes and interest, into a seamless story. The language and the dialog ring true and carry the story along. The characters are allowed to be themselves,their good and bad characteristics and all their human frailties included. The story is character driven, and moves along at a good clip. Even though it is over 500 pages, it is a fast read, one you don't want to put down. Sadly, Ms. Binchey has announced this is her last novel. I, for one will miss her, and have added this book to my collection to read and reread. It was worth figuring out the monetary conversion to order this from amazon,uk.

As an avid Binchy fan, I could not let her newest addition go unread. While not as engaging or cozy as her others, I enjoyed every last page of Scarlet Feather, the novel which marks the beginning of Maeve Binchy's retirement.

Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather, friends and former cooking school classmates, have embarked upon their dream -- owning and operating their very own catering business, aptly named Scarlet Feather. For an entire year, from one New Year's Eve to the next, readers get a glimpse into the lives of Cathy and Tom and all the happenings surrounding Scarlet Feather. And as usual, par to Maeve Binchy's excellent character derivation, we get to meet several fascinating individuals along the way. Ingredients include Muttie Scarlet, Cathy's father and compulsive gambler; Neil Mitchell, Cathy's husband and an exhaustive workaholic; Hannah Mitchell, Neil's mother and rich snob (think Dharma and Greg's Kitty Montgomery); and Simon and Maud, nine-year-old twins with very inquisitive minds. We also get an amble serving of Maeve's forte -- a story that delves into various characters' lives and how they relate to each other. Mix everything up in a great big bowl and you have one big heapin' helpin' of Irish goodness.

All Maeve Binchy veterans will need to read this book, if only to finish up the collection. If you are new to the wonderful world of Maeve, I suggest reading an older book first (Circle of Friends, The Glass Lake) because the content is much more indulging. Individually, Scarlet Feather is an easy read with lots of breaks in the story to ease the flow. Although I felt a little unattached in parts, I couldn't help but love this yummy smorgasbord.

Scarlet Feather centres around Cathy and Tom - two friends who meet at catering college and their endeavours to set up their own catering business. As with other Maeve Binchy's novels, the story of the main characters is supported by a host of supporting friends, lovers, and family (some of which are familiar from Tara Road), with little subplot storylines based around the various characters. These include an indifferent husband, beautiful girlfriend with dreams of being a model, two homeless children (the children's statements are a delight) and the well off and not so well off family, all intertwined. Cathy's father, Muttie, is a great character, relying solely on his winnings from the horses as a means of income. And of course there is the imperious mother in law... but I won't spoil the characters by relaying any further information.

As the early reviewer has said the story is predictable but it is an entertaining read and Ms Binchy once again draws you into a web of everyday people, their ups and downs, their fortunes and misfortunes, in her entertaining and straightforward style. Although not her greatest novel, if you are a fan of Maeve Binchy I am sure you will enjoy the book.

As a footnote I was saddened to read that this will be Ms Binchy's last novel (from her interview on Amazon.co.uk) and that she will only be writing short stories from now on, so it fortunate that all her stories are a joy to read over and over.

With a lilt to her voice and astutely paced phrasing Caroline Winterson reads the latest from popular Irish author Maeve Binchy, "Scarlet Feather."

Once again Ms. Binchy has chosen historic Dublin as her setting. Against this backdrop she introduces cooking school compadres Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlet. Young, gifted, and ambitious the pair begin to build what they hope will be the premier catering business.

As she so often does, Ms. Binchy has devised a series of sub-plots to season the story and keep interest high. Cathy's attorney husband, Neil, is dedicated to saving the world, acting as champion for refugees, the homeless. His society influenced mother is disdainful of Cathy whose mother is a cleaning woman. Hence, mother-in-law woes abound.

Tom's gorgeous girlfriend has modeling dreams which begin to occupy her more than Tom. His parents are disappointed in his career choice.

Add to the mix troublesome 9-year-old twin cousins on Neil's side, Cathy's Chicago based sister who returns to Dublin for an honest-to-goodness Irish wedding complete with leprechauns, and an impoverished relative who is bent on getting the money he needs. Now, you have a real Irish stew.

Once again with "Scarlet Feather" we see all of Maeve Binchy's trademark techniques. We have the canvass of lovely Ireland, particularly bustling modern Dublin; we have well drawn characters whom we love, hate or merely sympathise with; and we have all the ups and downs of our heroes' day to day existence.

This book will be of course be compared to Binchy's other books, but I have found that it is difficult to say which of her books are the best. They are all different, all lovely to read, and you miss them all when they are over.

It will be very appealing to old fans (which unashamedly I am), and hopefully win her some more.

I heard that this is Maeve Binchy's last book, if so I will miss her colorful characters that touch my heart, and make me smile. This book is no different. It has been a week since I've finished and stepped out of the world created by Binchy with Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather and I miss them already.

Cathy and Tom have started a Primo catering business in Dublin, and things are not always as smooth as one would like. As they find themselves up against theft, and one disaster after another it looks like they might have to close by the end of the year. Throw in the antics of young Maude and Simon who have somehow been thrust upon Cathy's household and you have the perfect lighthearted balance that makes this author one of my favorites.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the unabridged book on tape and the readers accent only added to the story. It captured my attention from the minute I started to listen. I will certainly miss this author's works. Hopefully she will come back with just one more book. Kelsana 10/17/01

Maeve Binchy has done it again - written a book that wraps you right up into her characters lives, loves, problems and possibilities. When I first read the summary (a year in the life of a catering business) I found myself wondering what could possibly be entertaining and interesting about that? I went ahead and bought it anyway, based on the many good books of hers that I had read in the past. Am I ever glad that I did! I was caught up in the story from chapter one and was hard pressed to put the book down - even finding myself wishing that there was a Book Two for their second year in business. I seldom read a book a second time, but this is one that I know I'll want to revisit. So, how entertaining could it be? Delightfully entertaining!

I read "Scarlet Feather" last summer when a friend brought it from England. I thought it was a marvelous book, and the characters have stayed with me for months now, a sure sign that a writer has done a good job.

Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather have finally realized their long-time dream of starting a catering business in Dublin. They have some initial success but several setbacks, while discovering that their business is about much more than food! It is also about publicity, placating customers, dealing with vendors, being in the right place at the right time, and knowing the right people. The reader feels for them when their agonizingly hard work does not bring about a proportional reward, and when their personal lives seem to be unravelling.

Binchey gives us a wonderful picture of the problems of starting up a small business and all of its attendant details. She must have done a great deal of research. She sure does know how to tell an appealing story, one that leaves the reader wanting more even after 500+ pages. All of her characters and their situations seem so real.

Character development is one of Binchey's strongest points. I found myself getting angered at the neglectful, self-important attitude of Neil, Cathy's lawyer-husband; feeling so sorry for the beautiful Marcella, that her life's dreams were so shallow and precluded love; and absolutely loving poor, neglected little Maud and Simon. These children steal the show in many scenes and the things they say are absolutely wonderful. I wish I had taken notes.

The secondary characters are also very sharply drawn and realistic: Cathy's working-class parents with their hearts of gold and Neil's upper-class parents -his mother is such a pill!

Binchey has given us a wonderful and enteraining story about regular people in everyday situations, but makes it seem like so much more. She weaves their lives, loves, highs, lows, joys, sorrows, problems, and triumphs into a compete story that will captivate readers from the first page.

What a nice,comfy farewell novel from Maeve Binchy to mark her exit from the popular novel scene!It's a story of a troubled young marriage (which you can see heading for the rocks quite early in the piece)and of the catering firm of a most likeable young couple--business only please!Throw in a pair of unloved scallywag children,irresponsible and uncaring parents,a criminal brother and stir all together for an irresistible story with a happy ending.Cathy Scarlet, a girl from a very working class background,married Neil Mitchell,a young lawyer with aspirations to save the worlds poor and homeless,and has spent years trying to convince her parents and Neils that she is worthy of him.The catering business which Cathy and her partner Tom Feather are running,is nearly ended after a destructive burglary of their premises,and the story is a testament to their courage and determination in rebuilding and coping at the same time with huge family pressures.

When I turned the last page in this book, I was a little sad ~~ because it's rumored to be her last book that she'll ever write. Fortunately, there isn't a law against re-reading her books again!

I do have one thing to suggest ~~ do not read this book while hungry. If you're hungry, grab a scone or muffin, a cup of tea and settle down for a nice long read. If you don't prepare the food first, you will find yourself settling the book down to make something to eat and you don't want to put the book down!

Cathy and Tom are partners in a new catering business called Scarlet Feather. They are also best friends ~~ becoming more so as their personal lives unraveled in a course of a year. There's Cathy's husband Neil, a barrister interested in saving the homeless ~~ and little time to spare for Cathy and her business. There's Marcella, Tom's live-in partner, whose dreams of being a famous model interferes with their plans for the future. There's Simon and Maud ~~ the twins who burrowed their way into the Scarlets' family lives ~~ and the reader's heart as well. There are other characters too ~~ too many to name individually. This book consists of many stories in a novel ~~ and everyone in it is related somehow to the main characters ~~ Cathy and Tom.

It may seem that Binchy skips around when writing of the different scenes in the characters' lives ~~ but don't despair. It does become less confusing as the story moves along. It's not my favorite way of reading, but once you're into the story, it's hard to put the book down. You just have to know what's going to happen next!!

I can guarantee that this book is not a boring book ~~ Binchy keeps the characters hopping with extraordinary events that happen in one year. This book is truly a story about ordinary people beset with events that seem to be out-of-control ~~ only to see everything fall in place. There are laughter, tears, anger and love ~~ a book to suit even the most persnickety reader.

And though this may be her last book (or so she claims), it leaves you with the hope that it isn't. No one can write like Binchy ~~ and you long for just one more book from her. Till then, read this one and remember why Binchy has captured your heart from her first book. It is a pleasant book ~~ and one that will capture the imagination as well as the heart.