Scarlet Feather

Rating:
Summary: Food for your literary tastebuds
Review: Cathy Scarlet and her friend Tom Feather share a dream -- becoming Dublin's best caterer. As with most dreams, reality proves to be by far harsher than expected. Yet Cathy and Tom are determined to overcome all obstacles, trying to find a balance between work and private life with family and friends.

Irish author Maeve Binchy leads the reader through the most important year of her two main protagonists' lives -- a year during which Cathy and Tom learn more about themselves and what is really important for them. The reader is easily drawn into their world, getting to know Cathy's husband Neil, an ambitious lawyer, Tom's girlfriend Marcella, who wants to pursue a career as model, and many other family members and friends. Slowly but surely the different storylines entwine until the novel ends at Christmas.

Some dialogues seem unnatural and more like lines in a play, especially those of Neil's little cousins, the twins Maud and Simon. Binchy chose to divide the novel into 13 chapters -- New Year's Eve and the following 12 months. Each chapter has a lot of paragraphs, thus sometimes disturbing the story's flow. However, "Scarlet Feather" is an enjoyable read with believable characters and a satisfying ending.

Rating:
Summary: A nice story, again
Review: Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather met in catering school and, apart from being good friends, share a dream: owning their own catering business. On one New Year's Eve, Tom happens on the perfect location. And so begins their first year as entrepreneurs.

Binchy, renown for her character development, presents her readers with a full serving of interesting people, some new and some you will remember from previous novels. What I do find about her books, however, is that they are all very similar. The cast is interesting and you do get attached to them, the pace is good, but they read like a good soap opera that has very low-level drama. I for one would like to see Binchy try something different.

If you are a devoted Binchy fan, or are looking for a nice, well-written story, then pick up this book, curl up in your favourite chair with a cup of tea, and enjoy. If you are ambivalent about her previous works, then you should pass on this one, as it is a continuation of her last novels.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely Entertaining
Review: I don't know why I gravitate towards books that occur in the British Isles; any story that takes place in England, Scotland or Ireland finds it's way to me! SCARLET FEATHER, another novel by the renowned Irish author Maeve Binchy, takes place on the Emerald Isle, of course! Each character in this novel is so believable and has so much personality that the reader is actually transported into each little vignette. The main characters, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather realize their dream of owning their own catering company. Every person who comes into their lives, whether it's Cathy's husband Neil, or Tom's girlfriend, Marcella, Simon and Maude, (nine year-olds who transform from evil twins into adorable little cherubs) or Muttie and his wife Lizzie all make this the most scrumptious novel. Even though starting their own business is definitely not smooth sailing and the young couple must prevail over money problems, relationship dramas, vandalism and theft, this book is still a tremendously fun read.

Rating:
Summary: Comforting And Warm
Review: It is with regret that Maeve Binchy is saying farewell to us at this time.....her poor beloved readers. I've read most of her books and especially loved Circle of Friends and Tara Road prior to Scarlet Feather.
Scarlet Feather is a wonderful tale which starts from one New Year's Eve to the following New Year's Eve. Centering around the catering company of Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlet we are placed into contact with the entire world of these two, as well as their families. Some are eccentric...some lovable, but all in all the characters fill you with a total warmness and the storyline maintains a sense of regained hope almost like light at the end of the tunnel.
You will meet Cathy Scarlet's husband Neil, an activist lawyer who works consistently for the underdog; Marcella who is Tom's beautiful girlfriend, a model; Maud and Simon, Neil's two neglected cousins and others from Cathy's side of the family.
This book is an ideal gift for any ocasion and should be devoured by all of Ms.Binchy's fans....and we know that they are all over the globe. Highly reccommened!!

Nutface
February 4th, 2002

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.