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Summary: one the best books I've read this year!
Review: A graceful, eloquent and moving portrait of a restaurant, QUENTINS. I was sorry when this book ended ~ I wanted it to go on and on. Binchy has written wonderful reads in the past but QUENTINS is the best yet!!! Such a cozy read and an ideal gift for the holidays.
Rating: 
Summary: Lovely work by a skilled author
Review: This is my first Maeve Binchy read and it won't be the last. The characters in Quentins are extraordinarily vivid, especially Ella. Her struggles with the married man who cons her parents and breaks her heart are touching and real. Also, the short stories within the novel -- various tales that define the history and legacy of a Dublin restaurant called Quentins -- are compelling and poignant. This is a tale by a master storyteller. Even though I have not read Binchy's previous efforts, I identified with her writing and language. I consider myself quite fortunate to have ventured into this novel, and will read everything else by this skilled author...
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Summary: Binchy draws the reader in
Review: As a long time fan of Maeve Binchy's detailed writing, I eagerly awaited the arrival of the newest novel. Her latest did not disappoint me. I loved re-visiting the characters from past novels, as well as getting to know the new characters. My favorites are the twins from Scarlett Feather. Maud and Simon are probably among the most "real" charaters in the book; I can almost see their eager little faces and their earnest attempts to entertain with song and dance. In this book, you root for Ella, but never quite understand Don. In Tara Road, we knew Danny Lynch was faithless and had no ties to his parents, so his leaving of Ria was expected. It seemed that Don gave no hint to Ella about his departure and betrayal. I also liked getting to know Brenda and Patrick from the restaurant. I couldn't help but cheer for Blouse's happy life in Dublin. If you love a good story, as I do, you will want to read Quentin's.
Rating:
Summary: as good as it gets
Review: Not one of her sharpest but a lovely antidote to stress (finished it in 2 days); "Evening Class" was her most endearing. I found the usage of old characters a clever ploy but I believe that Nora's second time around lover (Aidan) had a wife (in "Evening Class") who worked as a cashier at Quentin's in that novel and no mention was made of that fact by the very astute Brenda. Insofar as her dear friend Nora is now working as a veggie cutter at the restaurant, it would have made sense to connect this fact -so what happened to the unfaithful wife of Aidan - was she terminated? Possibly to be revealed in the return of another "Quentin's" sequel. I can fully understand Ella's enchantment with the cheating Don; she was looking for a special love and found it but with the wrong man.Every woman wants to believe that she can change the mold of the man she loves given the right opportunity and profound devotion. Thank god she didn't get pregnant. I did love it and finished it at 3:45 AM.
Rating: 
Summary: Please...No More!
Review: Usually enjoy Binchy's books....but can see why she had to be begged to write another. She has run out of ideas. The main character, Ella, makes anyone with a brain or a sense of social responsibilty want to slap her silly. It's not just the old, boring, getting involved with a married man theme.....but to belive that you would not let the authorities know about "THE COMPUTER" that was "ACCIDENTALLY" left behind.....pleasssssse! To think that all these other interesting characters would leap to her defense and help, including her screwed over parents, is just more than can be tolerated. Kind of makes you think they all are dumber than dirt. Please, no more until you can really put your heart in it.
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Summary: Tales Within a Tale, a Beautiful Tapestry of a Story
Review: Maeve Binchy manages to take the imperfect, the damaged, the not-so-nice and not-so-clever, and allows us to both know and to care about her characters. Indeed, they become quite real. Ella Brady, beautifully cool, the perfect child, the loved schoolteacher and the Ultimate Ice Maiden, indulges in an affair of the heart with a married man. Ella manages to get not only herself, but also her family and friends, terribly and publicly burned by the experience. In an effort to pay back debts, Ella joins forces with friends and proposes a documentary video on the Dublin restaurant Quentins. Quentins is familiar to all the faithful readers, as are many of the characters. With what can only be genius, this very seasoned author skillfully weaves many tales within Ella's tale, and allows us to renew our acquaintenance with many characters from earlier books (including the twins, Simon & Maude who once again completely charmed me). Maeve Binchy characters receive realistic and sympathetic treatment, the dialogue is enormously enchanting, and this reader felt like she was closing her suitcase after a delightful trip to Dublin when I turned that last page and closed the book. Let me say also that this is a beautiful book. The cover captures exactly the feeling of the writing and the inside flyleaf is a rich and striking touch.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read but not Binchy's best
Review: Maeve Binchy excels at creating casts of lovable and eccentric characters in charming yet realistic situations set in her native Ireland. In "Quentins" she does so once again, successfully for the most part. The people who work and eat in Quentins restaurant are a widely varied and likable bunch and the glimpses we get into their lives are engaging and entertaining. The book succeeds best in these slices of life, which often overlap with one another or with some of Binchy's previous books ("Evening Class," "Tara Road" and "Scarlet Feather"). I was not as enchanted with the main storyline. Before getting into the story of Quentins we are introduced to Ella, who has had an idyllic childhood and is a happy young woman until she gets involved with a married man. Ella's willingness to become this man's doormat is irritating, especially since she appears fully conscious of what she is doing, and her persistence in believing her lover even after he has wreaked havoc in the lives of people she knows and loves is unbelievable. The structure of the novel is somewhat muddled. Ella's story takes up the first part; then follows a series of brief tales about the customers and staff of Quentins; then we return to Ella. It is as if Binchy had two stories to tell and decided to put them both in the same book. Given the problems with Ella's story, I felt it might have been better if it had simply been one of the many vignettes rather than the main story. Overall I found this to be an enjoyable read, but Binchy can and has done better. For her many fans, it is a joy to visit Binchy's Dublin once again. For someone just starting to read her books, I'd recommend "Scarlet Feather," "Tara Road" or her first and my favorite "Circle of Friends."
Rating: 
Summary: Not one of her best
Review: I am not as enthusiastic about this book as some of the other readers have been. I simply could not manage to care for the characters, especially Ella Brady. I kept thinking, "Well you dumb little tart, what did you expect!" The characters seem to have no problem with adultery (they've all done it after all), and really, they seem to be lacking some very basic morals. I was not at all surprised how the story unfolded, and the ending wrapped itself up in a tidy (and predictable) package. If you want to read a really good Binchy book, try The Glass Lake for starters, then read the rest of her work. I really feel Tara Road was her last great book, with Scarlet Feather and Quentins pale follow-ups.
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Summary: The triumph of good nature
Review: Reading a Binchy novel is almost a guilty pleasure, like ice cream with hot fudge AND whipped cream. The characters are human and likeable, the stories involving and optimistic. Nothing too awful happens and what awfulness there is will inevitably work out for the best in the end. And the writing is fine, drawing the reader into the bustling atmosphere of today’s Dublin. At the center of the story is a restaurant, Quentins. The primary protagonist is Ella Brady, a young woman who first felt grown-up at Quentins at age 6. Loving daughter of doting parents, her life proceeds smoothly until she falls hard for the charismatic and married Don Richardson, whose treachery sends shock waves through the city, devastates Ella and bankrupts her family. In desperation she throws herself into a documentary about modern Ireland, as seen through the evolution of her favorite restaurant and its clientele. Most of the primary characters work in or around Quentins and fans of Binchy’s will again meet Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather from “Scarlet Feather,” as well as the incorrigible twins. Nora from “Evening Classes” works at Quentins and Ria from “Tara Road” offers practical comfort to Ella and her family. The documentary brings in a host of minor characters with brave or heartwarming stories of overcoming adversity, whether from without or within. Ella’s story continues to develop - there’s missing money and visits from the Fraud Squad as well as betrayal and one very serious dilemma to cope with, but there’s no doubt Ella will do the right thing – whatever it turns out to be. In Binchy’s world good nature triumphs over bad and it never feels pat or saccharine; it feels like the way life should be.
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Summary: Heartwarming Story Set in Modern Day Dublin
Review: We can all stop mourning Maeve Binchy's retirement. She's back and as good as ever with heartwarming stories about ordinary people whose lives are changed while dining at Quentins. The popular Dublin restaurant from her previous novels is at the heart of this story. Its owner, managers, employees, and customers all have a story to tell: Martin, the father with a short fuse, who dines with his son Jody; Maggie, the good student whose parents give her a serious celebration at the restaurant; Drew the visitor whose change of heart changes his life; Mon the waitress who unwittingly unmasks the banker's book in the plain brown wrapper; Yvonne whose mother's little white lie creates a new life for Frank and his three daughters; Laura who finds a way to spend Mother's Day without her children. And best of all, there is Quentin himself, whose encounter with a shabby and eccentric old man sets the whole story in motion. The fabulous bonus of this book is we find out what happened to some favorite characters from previous books. Ria Lynch's life was left on hold when TARA ROAD ended, but now we know what happened. Ditto for Tom and Cathy and Simon and Maud from SCARLET FEATHER and the Signora and Aidan from EVENING CLASS. The story of the restaurant and its people are all brought into focus by Ella Brady who is in charge of developing a documentary about modern day Dublin. Her love affair with an unscrupulous married man has left her life in shambles and nearly destroyed her family and friends. But Ella has a special place in her heart for Quentins and its managers--- the unflappable Brenda Brennan, her chef/husband Patrick, and his uniquely appealing brother Blouse. When she chooses to tell Dublin's story through the people who walk through the door of Quentins she gets more than she bargained for. So pour yourself a cup of tea and book the best seat in the house for a relaxing time at Quentins.
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