The Return Journey

Rating:
Summary: Great to read, especially if you like short stories
Review: I found the short stories entertaining and short. I don't care for short stories that go on and on. A good book to take on a short plane or bus trip.

Rating:
Summary: A great travel companion--even for an armchair traveler!
Review: I usually don't like short stories as much as novels, but this book was a wonderful surprise. I loved The Return Journey and highly recommend it! Often short stories seem unsatisfying to me; if I like them, I am frustrated by their stopping too soon. That didn't happen with this book. I found these glimpses into the lives of the various characters to be intriguing and thought-provoking--and just the right length. Somehow Maeve Binchy has provided just enough for the stories to be absolutely satisfying and complete--although you may find yourself lost in your own thoughts afterwards! Each story deals with a journey. If you've ever wondered what human tale lies behind the sad or excited face of a stranger met on the road, or been curious about an unlikely pair of travel companions--you may enjoy this set of stories. I think the book would be just perfect to tuck in a suitcase for a vacation. The stories would also do well on your nighttable to read before bedtime--and then dream of your own trip! If you're the type of person who likes to sit with a cup of tea and daydream next to a sea with "twenty different shades of green and blue"--and wonders about that person over there who is sitting on a rock doing the same: try this book!

Rating:
Summary: The Return Journey
Review: The Return Journey was the first book I have read written by the author Maeve Binchy. I did not like this book because it was a bunch of short stories about love, cheating, and other soap opera stuff that I don't like. The one story I liked in the book was The Wrong Suitcase it was about how two people Annie Grant and Alan Green who don't know each other go to London and then they go to baggage claim and pick up their suitcases by looking at the initials A.G that they have had enscribed on them. They each go back back to their hotels and open up the suitcases and find out that it is not theirs'. They each go through the suitcases to try to find the place where the other is staying. They end up finding both personal and professional information. They end up finding where the other is staying and they set a place to exchange them. They exchange them and our amazed how different they look then what they thought from the suitcase. I like this story because it is totally ironic that two strangers who have the same initials and suitcases where on the plane. The one story that reminded of a soap opera was Excitement because Rose who is married and her neighbor Ted who is also married and has kids go off together to have a affair. They each end up running into family, Rose runs into her mother and Ted runs into his wife's brother and his wife but that does not stop them from their excitement.

Rating:
Summary: A book of great stories
Review: When I first started reading this book, I never realized it was one of short stories. As usual Maeve Binchy fleshes out the characters and you can understand very quickly what is going on.

What I like about each of these stories, is that it shows a point of view, of a character at a pin point of time. That pin point of time, is a crossroads. They can opt to continue on, in their well worn rut or they can make decisions that change their lives. These are not earthshattering choices, but ones that define their character.

If you don't want to settle into a book that will take a while to read, and you've never read Maeve Binchy, here is a good taste. I liked it especially well, as when I read it, I had little time available to read, it gave me just enough story to ponder on, each time I read.

Excellent bunch of stories.