I discovered Maeve Binchy's novels, thought they looked delightful, and gathered quite a few. For years I’ve heard glorious remarks about her and look forward to fitting her tales into my queue. An Irish reading circle via my blog has pushed her ahead. Trust me to start with anything but titles that turned authors into stars. Rather than try Maeve's fiction straight away, it has been an immense treat to take a personal ride with her. I have felt warmth and a good nature from the portraits in her best-selling novels. I was unsurprised her memoir-style "Aches & Pains" had me liking Maeve very much indeed. I connect more deeply with a story if I respect the author and can't wait to wade into her mainstream work! If there are prequels to what I have on hand, I'm happy to sort them out and follow this special person.This short, hilarious handbook is worthwhile threefold: fans learn a personal side of the successful Irish storyteller, it gives information about ailments and experiences Maeve experienced firsthand, and truly teaches a way to laugh about unpleasant things like hospitals and convalescence. The cheekiness on delicate matters is unrivalled. I’m sharing this jewel with my mother. Every page makes me laugh but her foray into a nudist colony is the funniest part of all!After dealing with excessive weight, smoking, drinking, and hip replacement surgery; Maeve and her illustrator friend Wendy Shea felt it would be marvellously helpful to share the dos & don’ts of sickness and hospital stays with the world. Should I one day need those services, I hope I set my shoulders to the task as graciously and good-humouredly as they did.
