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14th out of 156 books
—
123 voters
Firefly Summer
by
Maeve Binchy
Kate and John Ryan have four children, of whom the eldest are Michael and Dara. Their small town is peaceful and friendly, an unchanging background for a golden childhood. In long, hot summers Michael and Dara and their friends fish and swim or play in the ivy-clad ruins of Fernscourt, the great house burned down during the Troubles...
No one in Mountfern has the slightest...more
No one in Mountfern has the slightest...more
Paperback, 928 pages
Published
August 3rd 2006
by Arrow
(first published 1987)
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I always enjoy reading Ms. Binchey's books. It's like sitting down with some new friends I've yet to meet and learning all about their lives. You can almost hear the voices and anticipate how the characters will react to different situations.
I did not enjoy this book as much as say Circle of Friends. The storyline meandered a bit and the ending was very unsatisfactory. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but let's just say that this is a LONG book and I was rather annoyed when I got to the end....more
I did not enjoy this book as much as say Circle of Friends. The storyline meandered a bit and the ending was very unsatisfactory. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but let's just say that this is a LONG book and I was rather annoyed when I got to the end....more
I wanted to read a Maeve Binchy book and picked this one off the library shelf because it had the neatest title. : ) I almost quit reading after the first chapter because Binchy's punctuation is random at best, but I kept reading and ended up enjoying the book pretty well. Binchy creates a huge cast of amazingly real and quirky characters who populate a small Irish town and then shows all the effects that ripple through their lives and relationships when a rich American comes to build a hotel th...more
This is a riveting story about a family who owns a pub on the outskirts of town. Right next door to this pub is a manor home, which has been abandoned for so long, the pub children play in it's remains. However, a descendant of the manor's long-gone owners has arrived in the sleepy town and is declaring he will build a hotel utilizing the manor. Unfortunately, he will take custom away from the next door pub with his flashy touristy bar he is installing.
Tragedy hits when the wife of the pub owner...more
Tragedy hits when the wife of the pub owner...more
I’ve ready about 10 of Binchy’s 15 novels and this is among my favorites (along with “Scarlet Feather,” “Light a Penny Candle” and “Circle of Friends”). Most of her novels, including this one, are set in Ireland in the mid-20th century and have a slew of well developed characters.
“Firefly Summer” spans four years in the 1960s and focuses on what happens to a small town when an American millionaire (with his two teen children and former mistress in tow) comes in to build a huge hotel. It culminat...more
“Firefly Summer” spans four years in the 1960s and focuses on what happens to a small town when an American millionaire (with his two teen children and former mistress in tow) comes in to build a huge hotel. It culminat...more
Firefly Summer tells the story of the sleepy town of Mountfern, as an American, Patrick O'Brian, comes home to find his roots and build a huge hotel on the ruined location of the old house. It explores the changing relationships of the townsfolk as a tragic accident divides Mountfern. There is not masses of plot in the book; rather, it builds a picture of Irish village life in the 1950s as we spend a few years with the family of Ryans who own the public house.
Maeve Binchy's books are incredibly...more
Maeve Binchy's books are incredibly...more
Set in an Irish village in the 1960s, "Firefly Summer" is a story about people, especially those connected to one another by traditions, love of family, and their hopes and dreams.
So when a very wealthy American comes to town, determined to build a hotel in the place where beautiful ruins now stand, the reactions of the townsfolk are mixed. Some see his plans as a way to bring new life into the village, while others focus on what they might lose. How the character of the village will change, and...more
So when a very wealthy American comes to town, determined to build a hotel in the place where beautiful ruins now stand, the reactions of the townsfolk are mixed. Some see his plans as a way to bring new life into the village, while others focus on what they might lose. How the character of the village will change, and...more
It saddens me to know that we as readers have lost a truly fantastic storyteller when Maeve Binchy died this year. So many hours of my life have been spent truly swept up into the characters and stories she has written.
Firefly Summer was one of her earlier works that I had nt ben able to locate an audio version until recently. This 788 pg bok is Maeve Binchy at her best with multi-faceted characters and a saga of a story you don't want to end. Reading Firefly Summer was like being so held capti...more
Firefly Summer was one of her earlier works that I had nt ben able to locate an audio version until recently. This 788 pg bok is Maeve Binchy at her best with multi-faceted characters and a saga of a story you don't want to end. Reading Firefly Summer was like being so held capti...more
Classic Binchy and a great slice of Irish small town life.
Reading a Maeve Binchy book is like sitting down with an old friend over a cup of tea and I was saddened to hear of her recent passing. Although I had read this book previously, it was long enough ago that I forgot most of it.
Like the best of her books, this one is thick and yet goes down as easily as pie, the length is what makes it good, and you never want it to end. The UK version is over 900 pages and I've seen reviews saying it need...more
Reading a Maeve Binchy book is like sitting down with an old friend over a cup of tea and I was saddened to hear of her recent passing. Although I had read this book previously, it was long enough ago that I forgot most of it.
Like the best of her books, this one is thick and yet goes down as easily as pie, the length is what makes it good, and you never want it to end. The UK version is over 900 pages and I've seen reviews saying it need...more
These are 3 passages that have given me insight and mean so much to me, but there are so many turns and understandings and insights in EVERY paragraph! of this book. Maeve Binchy is a very perceptive woman who can look from & feel into a multitude million side of angles! like A DIAMOND
*Chapter 15, p362:
"Dara had become so grown up, (Kate) she was able to talk to her much more freely than before. (...) Before the accident Dara had been a tomboy, dying to get away from the house, to escape an...more
*Chapter 15, p362:
"Dara had become so grown up, (Kate) she was able to talk to her much more freely than before. (...) Before the accident Dara had been a tomboy, dying to get away from the house, to escape an...more
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book but I surprised myself and did enjoy it.
From back cover:
"Kate and John Ryan have four children, of which the eldest are Michael and Dara. Their small town is peaceful and friendly, an unchanging background for a golden childhood. In long, hot summers Dara and Michael and their friends fish and swim or play in the ivy-clad ruins of Fernscourt, the great house burned down during the Troubles...
No one in Mountfern has the slightest inkling of what it wi...more
From back cover:
"Kate and John Ryan have four children, of which the eldest are Michael and Dara. Their small town is peaceful and friendly, an unchanging background for a golden childhood. In long, hot summers Dara and Michael and their friends fish and swim or play in the ivy-clad ruins of Fernscourt, the great house burned down during the Troubles...
No one in Mountfern has the slightest inkling of what it wi...more
This is a very well written book based around a family and their community of friends in Ireland. A rich American comes to their little community...to rebuild on property (of his ancestors) that has been left in disrepair for decades. The rich American grew up in America, but always wanted to go back to his "roots." His arrival, with his two children, and the building of a huge "American" type (w/Irish ambience) hotel on his property, is causing all sorts of delight, concern, discontent, jealous...more
I really liked it. It was all about Ireland, and Old Irish ways. A story about Kate, and her poem writer, pub tending husband, John, and
their family, mainly their 12 yr. old twins. Kate pretty much manages everything, and everyone, until she gets into an accident.
A millionaire American came back to his roots, with the idea of building
up the place. Patrick O"Neill was his name, he brought with him his two
children, Kerry, spoiled, always is trouble & Grace, sweet gal everyone
loved.
The twins (D...more
their family, mainly their 12 yr. old twins. Kate pretty much manages everything, and everyone, until she gets into an accident.
A millionaire American came back to his roots, with the idea of building
up the place. Patrick O"Neill was his name, he brought with him his two
children, Kerry, spoiled, always is trouble & Grace, sweet gal everyone
loved.
The twins (D...more
So good! I love how Maeve Binchy creates these characters that feel so real and whose lives you get so wrapped up in! Nothing really happens plot wise for like the first 200 pages, and yet I couldn't stop reading and was so involved in these people's lives! The ending was very abrupt, but I blame the publisher because there was an excerpt of another novel at the end and so I thought I had another 30 pages or so of wrapping-up. Nope. Also, this story was nice compared to some of her others becaus...more
My favorite of all her books. She is a great story-teller of the Irish country side. Once you pick up her books, you can't put them down!
This was not my favourite Maeve Binchy book, but I still found it a good summer read with characters that are fleshed out and given backgrounds as all good Binchy novels seem to have. There is a real "everday" with her books. All characters are not good nor bad. Children and youths are given equal importance and balance. A reader never can choose a side because Binchy writes about life and there are no sides when you take all sides into account. I like to read her stories when I want to feel a p...more
Typical Maeve Binchy book; lots of characters set is a small Irish town in the 1950s. It takes about 200 pages to finally get into all the major characters, but once I got there I was hooked.
Its the story about how an American (Patrick O'Reilly), his two children, and his Jewish mistress come to a small town and buy an old mansion that has long since burned to the ground and has been a staple for the town. Once there he tears down the ruins and starts building a luxury hotel where American touri...more
Its the story about how an American (Patrick O'Reilly), his two children, and his Jewish mistress come to a small town and buy an old mansion that has long since burned to the ground and has been a staple for the town. Once there he tears down the ruins and starts building a luxury hotel where American touri...more
This is Maeve Binchy's third novel and in this one I see what will be the trademark of her future novels. So many characters with so many back-stories, each one of them in each other's lives for good or evil no matter if they live in a small Irish village or in a posh area in Dublin. The relationships between the characters makes her novels such a story telling jewel.
On this novel an Irish-American comes back to the homeland with wealth and big dreams which he tries to make a reality no matter h...more
On this novel an Irish-American comes back to the homeland with wealth and big dreams which he tries to make a reality no matter h...more
This is a story set in an Irish village/town in the 1960's. Readers meet many of its interesting residents, & village life seems so quaint & serene. But, of course, human relationships among both adults & teenagers is were the complications lie. A rich American interloper with family long past family ties steps in & brings all kinds of interesting developments. Every night when I read a few pages of this before going to sleep, I felt like I was walking in the woods, swimming in t...more
Perhaps my favourite of Maeve Binchy’s novels. Written with the trademark warmth that has earned her such a special place in the hearts of so many readers, this book takes you on an emotional journey that will have you laughing and crying in turn.
In the sleepy Irish town where this story is set, it is easy to forget the outside world and to imagine life will stay the same forever. Kate and John Ryan will continue to run the local pub, while their children enjoy an idyllic childhood having their...more
In the sleepy Irish town where this story is set, it is easy to forget the outside world and to imagine life will stay the same forever. Kate and John Ryan will continue to run the local pub, while their children enjoy an idyllic childhood having their...more
I bought this book at an impuls at the grocery store, as I liked what was written in the back cover....
"Kate and John Ryan have four children, of which the eldest are Michael and Dara. Their small town is peaceful and friendly, an unchanging background for a golden childhood. In long, hot summers Dara and Michael and their friends fish and swim or play in the ivy-clad ruins of Fernscourt, the great house burned down during the Troubles...
No one in Mountfern has the slightest inkling of what it w...more
"Kate and John Ryan have four children, of which the eldest are Michael and Dara. Their small town is peaceful and friendly, an unchanging background for a golden childhood. In long, hot summers Dara and Michael and their friends fish and swim or play in the ivy-clad ruins of Fernscourt, the great house burned down during the Troubles...
No one in Mountfern has the slightest inkling of what it w...more
As always, I enjoyed Ms. Binchy's characters, the Irish setting, the lovely voices. In this novel, an American of Irish descent comes back to a small town to build a hotel . . . and the story follows the impact his hotel and his family have on the town. While I enjoyed the reading of the book as a whole, I felt let down by the ending. Nothing major . . . just wasn't satisfying. Still, I enjoy Maeve Binchy's writing so much, I do not regret the reading.
I won't have time to review all of Maeve Binchy's masterpieces, but just wanted to rave that she is my favorite contemporary author! I melted into Firefly Summer and became so attached to the drama, the scandals and the unique expertly detailed characters that I couldn't read enough book for at least a month - I knew it couldn't hold a "penny candle" to this novel. While all of Binchy's books are wonderful reads, this one was particularly catchy.
I missed this one when it came out, and only realized recently. This was Binchy in top form, with beautiful depictions of life in a small Irish town before and after a rich American comes to build a hotel. Her characters are wonderfully vivid, but I did get a bit confused over some of the townspeople. Major historical events are referenced in passing, but the large and small disasters of the core characters are the real stars of the book.
This is a good Maeve Binchy book. I would have given it 3.5 stars if we had that option. As always, there are many well-developed characters and you become attached to them. The main story is emotional and moving as are several events that take place. Usually I can predict the ending of a Binchy book, but I was totally wrong on this one! Or, may not. I'll just think that in the future my prediction will come true!
An American businessman arrives in a small Irish village and opens a hotel, impacting financially and otherwise on the other residents. I followed Kate Ryan's story - this was excellent, but the author lost me with some of the sub-plots. Otherwise, a decent read. I liked the way the American characters were not simply portrayed as bad-guys, the inter-relationship between them and the locals was depicted well.
I found this book to be slightly distrubing. I think this is mostly due to the fact that I listened to a dramatized radio version. Nevertheless I am not interested in reading the entire work. The story has potential and many of the characters were compelling but nothing about it was sufficiently gripping. So the highest recommendation I can give is don't listen to the dramatized radio version.
Maeve Binchy is a talented writer. Some of her books I just adore, and others I find barely okay. This one didn't present characters I could warm up to. I thought the story moved very slowly too, which sometimes works, but here that slow pace started to really dull my senses and make me pull away from the story, unfortunately.
Although it's a tough choice, I think this is my favorite Binchy book, and I've read most of them. Her unique gift to juggle many points of view in a novel is particularly impressive in this book. Date I finished this book is impossible to say, as I've read it so many times. (I've never read a Binchy book just once.)
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I love the stories Maeve Binchy weaves, and this one had, for me, a very unexpected but satisfactory ending. However, as with most of her books, I found the list of characters quite long and often hard to keep straight and this story seemed to drag a bit. And just as an aside, I didn't think the title quite fit.
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Maeve Binchy was born in Dalkey, County Dublin and came to fame first as London Correspondent for the Irish Times. Her first novel, Light a Penny Candle, made her famous in the UK and USA. She passed away on July 30, 2012, at the age of 72.
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