Since I came to Ireland I read several Maeve Binchy stories and though they all have the same style, the same kind of stories... I always enjoyed reading them.Silver weeding must be the one I enjoyed least for the moment.It has been written typical Maeve Binchy way, but there wasn't enough story style in it. Maybe the story was jsut a bit too short and adding another 50-100 pages linking the several chapters a little bit more, miht have helped.The several chapters describe a character each and tell the story. Typical Binchy this way but this time it didn't make a complete stoy well enough.The main characters are brought together for the silver wedding of their parents or friends Desmond and Deirdre. Originally they are from Ireland, Deirdre from Dublin and Desmond from West Ireland. Two different worlds. They fall in love during summer in London when they are young and never leave. The sun lives in Ireland, their youngest daughter is a nun and the oldest daughter has a blooming career.From the outside their family looks like any other well doing family but most is about proving or having others think that they are a well doing family without problems. From the inside the story is different.... and teh silver wedding is bringing everybody back to one place.
This was an OK Binchy book. It wasn't as good as Scarlet Feather, Quentin's, Circle of Friends, The Copper Beech, or Night Class! Not nearly. However it was better than Firefly Summer (my most loathed of Binchy's books), or Light A Penny Candle. Obviously not a favorite, but it's alright. This is one of her more depressing books, although I thought it ended happily on the whole, and for what this author is capable of. Though bits are quite sad, there are some good life lessons to be learned. As always the author does a lovely job of portraying her characters, endearing them to her readers and making them real and relatable. Each chapter, each story told from a different voice is unique yet entwined with all the others; classic, trademark Mauve Binchy. It was a fast and easy read. It might make a good travel book if one was looking for something of length to hold ones interest without being overly taxing. I'd recommend it with reservations. There are far superior novels by this author!
What do You think about Silver Wedding (2006)?
I'm pretty disappointed by this book. Usually Maeve Binchy is a safe bet. I've read all if her books. This would be my least favorite. The characters were really strange, especially Deirdre and Helen. Like WEIRDO strange. Then, I'm just reading away and all of a sudden things weren't making sense for a page or two and then the book ended. I flipped back to see if I somehow skipped a chapter in my ereader, but no. Like, what was up with Anna on the phone? Love? Who? Whaaat??? And then it was over. Period. Weirdest, most incomplete ending ever. Dislike dislike dislike!!! I'd never rate a Maeve Binchy novel a one because I (usually) love her writing but this one I was teetering.
—Seana
Although an interesting story and it kept me going to the end, I did not enjoy this book as some of the author's other offerings. It was just too depressing. The story revolves around a couple who will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and, besides their children, they have invited all those who were present at the wedding. Each chapter profiles one of these people. I had to wonder whether this couple knew any normal, happy, well-adjusted people. It just got to be a bit too much for me.
—Michele
I was surprised to find a Maeve Binchy book that I had not read. I've enjoyed all her books and was sorry when she died.Now having read Silver Wedding, written in 1988, I can understand why it was never promoted as the others have been. As always she engages the reader in her characters, in their successes and their shortcomings. These characters seemed to have more "shortcomings" than most. That part was really depressing.The theme of the book was how each character (and each of us) is living lies - each of us is hiding those bad experiences and bad choices behind a solid facade.It was lacking in the humor which she brought in subsequent novels. It was a real downer. All the characters came together in the end, but none of the problems were really resolved. None of the questions were answered. And ... I suppose that's a lot like real life, but it was depressing. I suggest that you skip this one and enjoy all of her others.
—Nan Williams
