Rating: 
Summary: Does this take place in 2001 or the 1950s???
Review: This book is classic Maeve Binchy... warm and cozy... but the ideas and mentalities of the characters are sooooo 1950s rather than this century. The romantic relationships between the young people are not believable at all... everyone, but Marcella, knows she'll never make a model, and she can't understand why Tom won't accept her doing whatever it takes to get a contract, Cathy keeps her pregnancy a secret for weeks and weeks (BUT continues to drink wine??), Hannah is a bad charicature of the evil mother-in-law, and Simon and Maude are just too cute and too naive. It might have all been believable in the 50s... it reminds me of Circle of Friends... but it's not working at all in 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Maeve Binchy Hit
Review: Like all of her books, Scarlet Feather is wonderful. I recommend it to any Binchy fan. As in Tara Road, she intertwines the stories of many characters to produce a engrossing and heartwarming read. I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable good old book
Review: Just the right amount of reality, chattiness, women's lib, business savvy, drama, friendship, catastrophe...All around a thoroughly absorbing, enjoyable way to slip away from reality for the literary equivalent of a great bubble bath. Binchy always makes me feel like I've spent the time sitting at the kitchen table with her over a cup of coffee while she tells me a story. If only she could write books even faster!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read.
Review: After reading some of the reviews of Scarlet Feather, I confess I was a little worried. There was, however, no justification for this: as ever, Maeve Binchy has created a heartfelt exploration of the many facets of human nature. This book was a wonderful read. I couldn't put it down--just read and read and then I was so sorry when I finished because there was no more to read! Have no fear Maeve Binchy fans--Scarlet Feather is another winner.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Book By M. Binchy
Review: I have read most of Maeve Binchy's works. It is fun to put myself in Ireland and follow Maeve's characters through their daily lives. While her mysterys are not real "Cloak and Dagger", they are easily imagined as being part of everyday people's lives. Scarlet Feather was another book I did not want to put down and now I can't wait for the next edition to come out.
Rating:
Summary: A Thoroughly Delightful Book
Review: This is my first book by this author. Although I've noticed her books in the library, I'd never checked one out. This is a delightful story of a family in Dublin doing ordinary things described so well by the author. There are enough crazy relatives to please everyone. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something that is satisfying and entertaining. An insider's look at the catering business. Be prepared to be hungry at all of the descriptions of food!
Rating:
Summary: Saying Goodbye in Style
Review: Maeve Binchy has always had the rare and enviable gift of drawing a reader quickly and completely into any story she cares to tell. "Scarlet Feather" is no exception, and it is a fitting tribute to a writer who has given so many people such honest pleasure. Here is the story of two very endearing characters: Cathy Scarlet, from a lower-class but loving family, and Joe Feather, from a similar background but without the strong love. The two have met at cooking school, and when the book opens, shortly before the New Years Eve festivities, they are embarking on an exciting endeavor: creating their own catering service, aptly named Scarlet Feather. They already have the (very disreputable) van and logo, and sundry cooking items, and are loaded with plans--but they have no premises in which to open their business. And so starts the story, which spans a year's time in Dublin, Ireland. As the two struggle hard to create and maintain their business, the reader, who cannot help but root for them all along the way, meets all the various people in their lives. There is Neil Mitchell, Cathy's handsome lawyer husband, who is the ultimate champion of the underdog, but who fails to see or understand those who are nearest and dearest in his own life. He is the son of the horrid Hannah, who detests Cathy because she is the daughter of Hannah's former maidservant, Lizzie. Lizzie and Muttie, Cathy's feckless but loveable dad, spread love to all and sundry, despite their modest circumstances--and the fact that Muttie spends every cent he gets on "the ponies." Even though Lizzie cleans houses for a living and Muttie considers betting his life's work, the two are very happy, and have raised several successful children, most of whom have emigrated to America. The gorgeous would-be model Marcella, vacuous but good-hearted, is the live-in love of sweet and good-natured Tom Feather, who is besotted with her. Marcella has dreams of becoming a super model, much to the dismay of long-suffering Tom. These are only some of the rich cast of characters, ranging from a sticky-fingered nasty young man to Cousin Geraldine, a hit with all the men, to quiet and sorrowful James, who hides a sad secret. The best characters in the book, in my opinion, are Simon and Maud, enigmatic and highly unusual 9-year-old twins, and cousins of Neil. The tale of how they come to be part of Cathy and Tom's extended family of friends, and how their very existence changes the lives of all around them, is the epitome of what Binchy does best. There is simply nothing to criticize about this book. It is a perfect ending to the career of a master storyteller. I hope that Binchy changes her mind and decides to give us "just one more"--but if she does not, all I can do is give her a standing ovation and a "brava" for a job well done. Thank you Maeve, for all you have given me and everyone who has ever read one of your books. And thank you for giving us this last masterpiece. It will be treasured.
Rating:
Summary: Saying Goodbye in Style
Review: Maeve Binchy has always had the rare and enviable gift of drawing a reader quickly and completely into any story she cares to tell. "Scarlet Feather" is no exception, and it is a fitting tribute to a writer who has given so many people such honest pleasure. Here is the story of two very endearing characters: Cathy Scarlet, from a lower-class but loving family, and Joe Feather, from a similar background but without the strong love. The two have met at cooking school, and when the book opens, shortly before the New Years Eve festivities, they are embarking on an exciting endeavor: creating their own catering service, aptly named Scarlet Feather. They already have the (very disreputable) van and logo, and sundry cooking items, and are loaded with plans--but they have no premises in which to open their business. And so starts the story, which spans a year's time in Dublin, Ireland. As the two struggle hard to create and maintain their business, the reader, who cannot help but root for them all along the way, meets all the various people in their lives. There is Neil Mitchell, Cathy's handsome lawyer husband, who is the ultimate champion of the underdog, but who fails to see or understand those who are nearest and dearest in his own life. He is the son of the horrid Hannah, who detests Cathy because she is the daughter of Hannah's former maidservant, Lizzie. Lizzie and Muttie, Cathy's feckless but loveable dad, spread love to all and sundry, despite their modest circumstances--and the fact that Muttie spends every cent he gets on "the ponies." Even though Lizzie cleans houses for a living and Muttie considers betting his life's work, the two are very happy, and have raised several successful children, most of whom have emigrated to America. The gorgeous would-be model Marcella, vacuous but good-hearted, is the live-in love of sweet and good-natured Tom Feather, who is besotted with her. Marcella has dreams of becoming a super model, much to the dismay of long-suffering Tom. The best characters in the book, in my opinion, Simon and Maud, enigmatic and highly unusual 9-year-old twins, and cousins of Neil. The tale of how they come to be part of Cathy and Tom's extended family of friends, and how their very existence changes the lives of all around them, is the epitome of what Binchy does best. There is simply nothing to criticize about this book. It is a perfect ending to the career of a master storyteller. I hope that Binchy changes her mind and decides to give us "just one more"--but if she does not, all I can do is give her a standing ovation and a "brava" for a job well done. Thank you Maeve, for all you have given me and everyone who has ever read one of your books. And thank you for giving us this last masterpiece. It will be treasured.
Rating:
Summary: Above average
Review: This is the first Maeve Bincy book and it's alright for me. Starting off with a difficut situation, Cathy Scarlet still found her way out of troubles and finally start the catering business with a friend at college, Tom Feather, after the New Year's Eve. But the relationship with her husband and also Tom's relation with his beautiful fiancee Marcella had gone bad.Having Neil's cousins Maud and Simon pumped into the life of Cathy, it added humour for the book. The complicated story ended up sadly after describing all the events in the twelve months. Despite most of the readers' comment, I found this book relaxing and easy to get myself concentrated on it. However, I don't think it's full of suspense and particullarly exciting but surely a enjoyable book to spend in leisure.
Rating: 
Summary: Scarlet feather: not MY personal favorite...
Review: Do the main characters in Maeve Binchy books always get divorced? After Tara Road, I was told this was her best... I'm sorry to say that if this is her best, it's my last! Personally, I don't like reading through a long book to find an unhappy ending... I like to see characters building positive, happy lives for themselves...
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