Rating: 
Summary: a departure from her norm
Review: Even the title seems both ominous and hopeful. This collection of short stories by Binchy all revolve around different women during Christmas time. A lot of them are coming to decisions about their relationships with men --- either their husbands, boyfriends or, in some unfortunate cases, their married (to someone else) boyfriends, their in-laws, stepchildren, grown children, you name it. Let's say the others in these relationships are in for a shock as far as these decisions are concerned! But at the same time it is uplifting to see women take control and not get used, and all of these stories have an element of that -- from the overlooked single woman who discovers she can have a holiday right in her hometown, to the fed-up mother who decides she doesn't want to be solely responsible for Chistmas cheer for a houseful of adults. Binchy fans -- beware, this book is not like her novels, but once you switch gears and keep an open mind, you will enjoy what it has to offer.
Rating:
Summary: Read it over each holiday season....
Review: I bought this book the year it came out, and was slightly disappointed in the dismal tone some of the stories begin with. But Binchy is at her finest with characters that are full of flaws and concerns just like all of us. I have read it again and each year the characters become closer to me and I appreciate her writing more fully. Not heartwarming holiday faire, but insightful. Quietly thought provoking. Details make it rich. Thanks Maeve.
Rating:
Summary: Read it over each holiday season....
Review: I recommend that you sit down by the fireplace or Christmas tree and read this book during the Holidays. It will make you feel great inside. The stories are short and heart-warming to the soul.
Rating:
Summary: Tales of less-than-perfect Christmases
Review: In her novels, Binchy frequently addresses some of the more tragic aspects of life with humor and grace, and she does the same in this collection of stories. Each tale takes place at Christmastime, but there is little sentitmentality here. Instead, Binchy offers us a peek into the more trying aspects of the holidays: the teenager who captures all of her family's flaws on film, the young woman who realizes that her affair with a married man isn't quite as wonderful as she had been telling herself, the happily married woman who struggles with her rebellious stepdaughter, the wife and mother who is tired of having the entire responsibility for the holidays fall on her shoulders, the group of crotched-y nursing residents who have no families to go to on Christmas day, etc. Although these are not exactly "feel-good" stories, many incorporate an aspect of triumph. This book is likely to be appreciated by anyone who has ever strived for the "perfect" Christmas and has fallen short.
Rating:
Summary: Tales of less-than-perfect Christmases
Review: In her novels, Binchy frequently addresses some of the more tragic aspects of life with humor and grace, and she does the same in this collection of stories. Each tale takes place at Christmastime, but there is little sentitmentality here. Instead, Binchy offers us a peek into the more trying aspects of the holidays: the teenager who captures all of her family's flaws on film, the young woman who realizes that her affair with a married man isn't quite as wonderful as she had been telling herself, the happily married woman who struggles with her rebellious stepdaughter, the wife and mother who is tired of having the entire responsibility for the holidays fall on her shoulders, the group of crotched-y nursing residents who have no families to go to on Christmas day, etc. Although these are not exactly "feel-good" stories, many incorporate an aspect of triumph. This book is likely to be appreciated by anyone who has ever strived for the "perfect" Christmas and has fallen short.
Rating: 
Summary: What a downer!
Review: Maeve Binchy books are typically a delightful reading experience. I can't say that about this one. It was a downer. Very disappointing. If this had been my 1st Maeve Binchy book, it would have also been my last.
Rating: 
Summary: I laughed, I cried and most of all, I felt!
Review: Maeve Binchy has povided a series of short stories about the holiday season and how it affects people. Many are bitter sweet, some are just plain sad, while others provide hope and insight. While some people may say that the character development is not what you would normally expect from a Binchy story, the fact that these are short stories make the task all the more impressive. Each story hits a nerve. My particular sensitive spot was relfected in the story of the "difficult" step daughter who eats all of the hors d'oerves to the horror of the step mom only to think that they were going to decorate her bedroom for her. An instant bond is built between the two women, one young and one old. Age differences, women in love with married men, widows dealing with the holidays and people with dreams. This is an excellent book for the holiday season. It is easy to read and would make an excellent gift.
Rating:
Summary: For the mother-in-law who LOVES the holidays
Review: Of course, it's very Binchy (and if you've read anything by her you'll know that Ms. Binchy can get a bit formulaic and more than a little bit schmultzy), but it's a good read for that mid-December time when you need a lot holiday inspiration. Give it to your Mother-in-Law (the one with the 600 piece Christmas village) as a stocking stuffer. She'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: The end of the year is always a hectic season
Review: The atmosphere around the end of the year is always peculiar, it is specially "crazy", there's a lot of fuss, people are running here and there with their Christmas shopping, we experiment a plethora of mixed feelings and emotions such as melancholy and excitment, and it's mainly the time to think about and evaluate the finishing year. Binchy is a master at capturing these kinds of mood and expressing them in this outstanding collection of 15 short stories. There are some interesting ones about single women who date married men and their turning points that will arrive with the season. Again, the author offers us dialogues that make the characters real and believable - Binchy proves she is perfect at writing both short compact stories and long, full of details, engrossing novels. Pay special attention to "The Ten Snaps of Christmas", about a teenage girl who gets a Polaroid camera and decides to take some "secret pictures" as her Xmas day goes by. It shows readers how families can be hypocritical. What kinds of snapshots would we come across if we had the chance of taking them? And also enjoy the tale of a hard-working carer in an Australian home struggling with a group of four very difficult old people entitled "The Hard Core".
After a year or so you will probably have forgotten many details, and it will be a pleasure to read these stories again and have some new insights.
Rating:
Summary: The end of the year is always a hectic season
Review: The atmosphere around the end of the year is always peculiar, it is specially "crazy", there's a lot of fuss, people are running here and there with their Christmas shopping, we experiment a plethora of mixed feelings and emotions such as melancholy and excitment, and it's mainly the time to think about and evaluate the finishing year. Binchy is a master at capturing these kinds of mood and expressing them in this outstanding collection of 15 short stories. There are some interesting ones about single women who date married men and their turning points that will arrive with the season. Again, the author offers us dialogues that make the characters real and believable - Binchy proves she is perfect at writing both short compact stories and long, full of details, engrossing novels. Pay special attention to "The Ten Snaps of Christmas", about a teenage girl who gets a Polaroid camera and decides to take some "secret pictures" as her Xmas day goes by. It shows readers how families can be hypocritical. What kinds of snapshots would we come across if we had the chance of taking them? And also enjoy the tale of a hard-working carer in an Australian home struggling with a group of four very difficult old people entitled "The Hard Core".
After a year or so you will probably have forgotten many details, and it will be a pleasure to read these stories again and have some new insights.
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