Rating: 
Summary: Maeve Binchy Weaves Another Tapestry of Human Emotions
Review: Although Scarlet Feather doesn't rank at the top of the list of the many wonderful Binchy novels, it's still a thoroughly enjoyable, engrossing story. As with all her other novels, the story is woven around the sometimes mundane, ordinary lives of real people just trying to get along. Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather have been friends since culinary school and have decided to launch a catering business in Dublin. They have found several financial backers and, quite by accident, have managed to locate the ideal premises. After a whirlwind of remodeling and planning they are open for business. The referrals are slow at first, but they are gradually building a reputation as fine caterers.Unfortunately, Cathy's husband Neil, a man passionate about his political and humanitarian causes, isn't particularly passionate about Cathy or her business. But she is so immersed with getting the business established that she hasn't noticed how they are drifting apart. Cathy is shunned by Neil's family because she comes from the "wrong side of the tracks"; Cathy's mother has been cleaning house for Neil's mother for years. Tom's relationship with the beautiful vapid would-be model Marcella is also less than ideal, as she feels anything that furthers her career, no matter how sordid or unethical should be okay with Tom. Neil's neglected 9-year old twin cousins, Maud and Simon, also add to the confusion as Cathy is often expected to take care of them. They have been abandoned by their mentally ill mother, wandering father and useless older brother, Walter. Cathy brings the children to her mother and father, who are poor in assets but rich in every way that counts. The waif-like children and their relationships with the other characters in the book are the most endearing aspect of the book. This cast of characters is enough to build a very entertaining novel, but the author brings in many more characters, some of whom are not well developed and play only a tertiary role in the plot development. After finishing the novel several days ago, I have tried to analyze why it isn't as thoroughly engrossing as some of Binchy's prime novels, including "Circle of Friends", "Tara Road" and "Evening Class". My conclusion is that there are just too many characters. In the beginning of the book, sorting out all these characters is confusing and deflects your focus from the primary plot. The most rewarding aspect of immersing yourself in a Binchy novel is that you can totally fall in love with her characters; but in this case there were just too many of them. Other reviewers have indicated their disappointment with this final novel from Maeve Binchy. I'm not as disappointed in this novel as I am devastated by the fact that she will write no more. I guess I'll have to start dusting off my copies of all her previous novels and rereading them so I can dwell once again in the fictional lives created by this master novelist.
Rating: 
Summary: Engaging, Fast-Paced, And Intriguing!
Review: The Scarlet feather by gifted retiring storyteller Maeve Bincy is a real page turner-- her last novel so it is definately a keeper! The Scarlet Feather is an engaging fast-paced and intriguing story (one of her finest efforts to date) a novel you will not want to miss out on!
Rating:
Summary: SCARLET FEATHER
Review: THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT BOOK AND KEPT ME ENGROSSED THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH
Rating:
Summary: Hated To Put It Down
Review: This is my first Maeve Binchy book, but it most certainly won't be my last! I went out to buy the book after seeing Maeve Binchy on a talk show. She was a delightful person, with a good sense of humour. Her personality appealed to me, so I figured her book would as well---and I was right. Scarlet Feather is a wonderfully written story that just keeps you turning the pages. The characters begin to feel like old friends, and you feel as though you are living their lives right along with them. I was disappointed to find I had reached the end of the book, but am eager to dive into the next one---I am sure Maeve Binchy won't let me down.
Rating:
Summary: Last but not Least
Review: I heard that this is Maeve Binchy's last book, if so I will miss her colorful characters that touch my heart, and make me smile. This book is no different. It has been a week since I've finished and stepped out of the world created by Binchy with Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather and I miss them already. Cathy and Tom have started a Primo catering business in Dublin, and things are not always as smooth as one would like. As they find themselves up against theft, and one disaster after another it looks like they might have to close by the end of the year. Throw in the antics of young Maude and Simon who have somehow been thrust upon Cathy's household and you have the perfect lighthearted balance that makes this author one of my favorites. I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the unabridged book on tape and the readers accent only added to the story. It captured my attention from the minute I started to listen. I will certainly miss this author's works. Hopefully she will come back with just one more book. Kelsana 10/17/01
Rating: 
Summary: Pleasant, but not her best
Review: I generally enjoy Maeve Binchy's books, but this was not her best. It was interesting to read about a more updated Ireland than we usually encounter in her novels, but the characters and the relationships among them were shallower than usual. Placing all the action within the course of about a year was an interesting change of pace as well, but perhaps Binchy is more effective when she allows her characters to grow and develop over many years.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointing .....
Review: I LOVE Maeve Binchy, but this book was not as charming as her others. It is her last book before retirement and she seems to have gotten tired and just wanted to finish this book in a hurry. The characters of Shona and Amanda and Marcella are brought up and then neatly dismissed so we can focus on Tom and Cathy, catering school friends who set up business on New Years Day. The book goes month by month through the rest of the year. Cathy is the protagonist but she is not very likable. She is married to Neil who has different worldly goals from hers. Neil seems to try at some points to keep their marriage but it seems Cathy does not give him a chance. Again, neat and simple, end of that plot. Cathy starts off fighting (for years apparently) with her mother in law, Hannah, for whom her own mother was a maid. Then it no longer matters and you don't see Hannah for about 5 months of the book. The only good developed plot is seeing Cathy's self-involved gambling father, Muttie, take to being a foster parent for Simon and Maud, the abandoned 9-year-old twin cousins of Neil. Binchy takes the reader from seeing them as little monsters to confused, basically good-at-heart children being shunted from home to home. Another annoying thing about this book is the simplistic "Rich people bad, poor people good" theme. Until the poor people finally win at gambling. Then they are rich and good. Why are they good when that's the only money they ever earned in life, and not even by working? How did they survive for 30 years or so and raise 5 kids with welfare money and a housekeeper's salary in Dublin? More "throw it away, it's Irish if I say so" plot tied up for you. It was too unsatisfying. The only thing I liked is she didn't tie up completely what happen with Tom and Cathy in the end, so you can rewrite your ending as you see fit. This was probably a mistake in the haste to get it published, but one of the few good things about the book!
Rating: 
Summary: Yawn!
Review: I was so excited when I saw that Maeve Binchy had a new book out. I've read other books by her and loved them. This book was very long and the plot was predictable, the characters shallow. And so many characters! To hear the same story told by the point of view of 20 different people!
Rating:
Summary: The Scarlet Feather
Review: In the warm-hearted novel, Scarlet Feather, Maeve Binchy allows the reader to see the lives of a small clan of Dublin, Ireland natives. Still in the beginning stages, Scarlet Feather is a small catering company that has been formed by Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather, hence the name Scarlet Feather. Two classmates from cooking school, Cathy and Tom have always had the dream to have their own catering company and serve high-class food to Dublin's finest during special occasions. Though Cathy has a lawyer husband passionate about his civil rights issues, she learns that she is willing to sacrifice her personal life to create this company. Tom also has a significant other in his life by the name of Marcella, a beautiful girl pursuing modeling. Marcella goes on to make some choices that turn Tom away from her and that's about as complicated as their love story goes. Cathy however, has a marriage arrangement that's much more in depth.
The author does a good job of giving each character his or her own attributes and personalities that lead the reader to believe they know them personally. The characters are consistently realistic, all showing signs that an everyday person would have. They range from the evil mother-in-law to the pushy sister who wants her wedding to be perfect. Though the story doesn't follow a specific plot, it does go through hard times and eventually has a happy ending. Binchy obviously wants to relay the message that family is one of the most important things in the world, and the only thing that a person will be able to lean on in times of struggle. The general theme of the story revolves around the belief that one will do anything to follow their dream and get what they want. Though they might have to give up on things such as their marriage or their social lives, Cathy and Tom decide this is what they want, and they will do whatever it takes to achieve it. Cathy works herself so hard that she ends up losing a child, while Tom goes into a deep depression that is ultimately the effect of overworking. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I found myself wanting to read in every moment of spare time, which I rarely do. It kept me interested in the lives of these catering company personnel and allowed me to follow the dream of the characters. Though it essentially took a happy note, it did have its times of sadness just to the point that you knew it was reality. I recommend this book to those who just want a book for enjoyment. It's not about intrigue, mystery, or strict romance but it does keep you wondering what's going to happen next and lets you escape troubles you might be having to see how Dublin's best catering company will handle theirs.
Rating:
Summary: Just when I thought she was retired I saw this new book out
Review: I was so happy to see a NEW Maeve Binchy novel at the bookstore. I had read she had retired from writing and wasn't expecting this wonderful surprise.
I have read all of her books and this one was equally entertaining. I could see myself in the Scarlet Feather and just got caught up in the fantasy.
Again, her books not only keep me interested because of the writing, but the quaintness and charm of her settings and characters are just what I look for to get lost in a book.
| 
