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Summary: What happened to Jacko?
Review: Though I loved Ms. Binchy's "Circle of Friends", I was dissapointed with "Evening Class." At the close of the book I felt as though I had watched a made-for-prime-time movie of the week, which due to time limitations, suffered from random editing. There must be alot of story left on that cutting room floor. Though the first half of the book offers enjoyable, indepth introductions to the characters and the clever (though, perhaps unlikely) intertwining of their lives, I found the end hurried, contrived and implausible. Did Ms. Binchy have a deadline to meet? Her attention to detail is most entertaining and therefore it's dissapointing when she fails to carry through. For instance, without giving away the plot, a long awaited reunion of Jacko and Connie was a "done deal" when he offered to oversee the lighting for the evening class party; Connie first joined the class, with hopes that she might run in to her first love, Jacko again; she went to the party...and then Jacko was never mentioned again!? Poor Connie. Oh well. Perhaps the problem was the number of characters introduced. "Too many cooks spoiled the broth."
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Summary: Not as enjoyable as the other Binchey books
Review: I felt a bit let down when I read this book, in that I don't think I got to know the characters as well. There were just too many of them, and I kept thinking, "Now, who is that one?" I have always loved her books, so I guess it's only natural that there might be one that I didn't like as well.
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Summary: Maeve Binchy, always a GREAT READ !
Review: This is one of my favourite books of all time. I work in a public library and I constantly recommend this book to customers. We have never had one customer return "Evening class" who did not enjoy it thoroughly. It is vintage Binchy, with a number of characters whose lives intertwine in various subtle ways. As usual, we learn not to judge others and make assumptions about their lives based solely on appearances. She is a wonderful Irish writer who is able to convey the way of life in Ireland through the written word. I have been to Ireland 14 times in 30 years and her language and descriptions are spot on. Having read thirteen Maeve Binchy novels, only two disappointed. "Silver wedding" just couldn't catch my attention. "Tara Road", her latest, was good but I felt the second half was much more interesting than the first. More pages, in my humble opinion, should have been dedicated to the main characters AFTER they swapped homes. Still, I love Maeve Binchy books. Ninety percent of the novels I read are by British female authors and, for pure enjoyment and "feel good" reads, it is a tie between Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher. With Pilcher's retirement from writing (although son Robin's first novel was very good!), long live, and write, Maeve!
Rating: 
Summary: A good read, but not perfect.
Review: Overall, I really enjoyed the book; however, I felt that Binchy introduced too many characters. After about the 5th character introduction, I found myself thinking, "Oh no, not another." In addition, I felt the author spent too much time setting up the story and very little time on the wrap-up. Consequently, there were several loose ends that I would have like addressed. For example, I would have enjoyed knowing what Lou did (or didn't do) to end his relationship with Robin. Regardless, I would recommend the story to a friend.
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Summary: The work of a genius!
Review: This is a normal story about normal people, but somehow Maeve Binchy turned into a totally intriguing scene of people's lives intertwining. The characters became like friends and I HAD to know what was going to happen to them. The more characters I got to know the more interesting the story got and while I was reading the last hundred pages, I literally could not sit still I was so excited to find out what would happen next. This a fun and totally enthralling read!
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Summary: IT was as if she was writing about OUR evening class!!!
Review: I read Maeve Binchy's book Evening Class well before I actually went to an evening class, where I too learnt Italian. It was bizarre that the book could be so close to real life! Our Italian class brought together people of such different backgrounds yet by the end we had formed such a great group. Maeve Binchy, for me, is the consumate author - she writes beautifully and tells a story, taking you on the journey. And yes, my Italian teacher had read the book but no, she didn't take us to Italy on a holiday!
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Summary: mysterious beginning, normal ending
Review: Maeve Binchy demonstrated the different perspective of a personality in Nora's character. Like most of her books, this one raised my suspicion to it's highest peek, but the end was normal. Still..a great book and highly recommended.
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Summary: A great book
Review: I loved this most recent Binchy book, and I was sad to see it end. As I read the last few scenes I began to hope there would be a sequel. I wanted to know how so many of the characters faired later. Perhaps Ms. Binchy will continue this story, so many of my questions were left unanswered. Overall, it was a great book!
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Summary: Excellent Storytelling by Maeve Binchy!
Review: Evening Class by Maeve Binchy is a wonderful story that details the lives of several people in Dublin, and shows how their lives eventually intertwine. The novel revolves around an Italian evening class at a local college in Dublin. There is Aidan, a burned out, discouraged teacher who starts the class to spark his dull life, and Signora, a mysterious gypsy-like woman with a passionate past, who wants to start a new life, and inspires the class in every aspect of their own lives. Some of the students include Connie, the wealthy and sophisticated woman who seems to have scandal follow her; Kathy, a shy and innocent schoolgirl who finds out a secret that changes her whole perspective; Lou, a clever, glowering man who wants to get out of his life of crime so he can marry his exuberant girlfriend; Fiona, a quirky, petite girl longing to be beautiful and confident; and Bill, a levelheaded banker who wants to impress his naive girlfriend, Lizzie. Each character has a specific motive for attending the evening class, and as the story continues, their simple wishes and goals nudge them on to discover things about themselves. The entire class has a goal of taking a viaggo to Italy at the end of the year, and by the time it comes, they all have formed a strong bond with each other. Binchy includes several lengthy sections in the novel that are the individual stories of the characters and, in the end, each part fits together. The characters and the hidden stories of their lives are presented in a remarkable way. From the very first page the reader is captivated and is drawn in until the very last page. Every character is so real and honest, and it is hard when the book ends because the reader grows attached to every person. The details Binchy gives to the reader are fantastic. "Gabriella looked matronly now... her face heavier and rounder, her eyes much more beady than when they had flashed with jealousy across the piazza." Some of her descriptions were subtle and some were straightforward. "She saw up close the ravages the past months had worked on Siobhan Casey. Her blouse was stained, her shirt ill-fitting, her fingernails bitten and dirty." The locations of Dublin and Italy shape this novel. The mood reflects the sentiment and magic of Italy and the everyday hustles of city life in Ireland. "From outside the window came the sounds of chatter and people calling to each other, the distant sound of traffic and the cutlery clinking in a nearby restaurant." Throughout the book, various Italian phrases are included. Most of these are helpful in deepening the level of understanding. "He kissed her on both cheeks, 'E un miracolo,' he whispered." Some of them, however, seem unnecessary and flowery. The entire novel was extremely captivating and well-written. The last part of the story just wrapped up without a huge climax, but leaves the reader hanging, wanting more. Maeve Binchy has written other books which are similar to Evening Class, such as The Lilac Bus, but this 1998 novel seems to best reflect Binchy's art of storytelling.
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Summary: This book is pure delight!!
Review: How wonderful that my first experience with Maeve Binchy was Evening Class. Like some of the other reviewers, I too found myself in tears (on public transportation on the way to a business appointment!!) Her characters are richly drawn, of all ages and classes, and truly believable because they are so human. This book is a good reminder that life must be lived and things will turn out as they will.
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