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Scarlet Feather
by
Maeve Binchy
They met in cooking school--and became fast friends with a common dream. Now, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather hope to take Dublin by storm with their newly formed catering company, aptly dubbed "Scarlet Feather." Not everyone, however, shares their optimism. Cathy's mother-in-law disapproves of both Cathy and her new "hobby," while Cathy's husband Neil pays no mind to anythi...more
ebook, 560 pages
Published
March 1st 2002
by Signet Book
(first published January 1st 2000)
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This is probably the 3rd or 4th book by Maeve Binchy that I've read... I read her books when I was in college and I have really loved her writing... She writes these intricate stories that involve a lot of characters and several story lines... they usually end up intertwined at the end in surprizing ways... Often main characters of one book will end up as supporting characters in another... That being said... I didn't LOVE this book the way I loved the others... The beginning of the book was slo...more
This is the story of two people who start a catering business called Scarlet Feather and all of the goings on of the people in their life and how that affects their business. I just love this author because she just tells a story about people's lives and their thoughts and I find myself ingulged in their world the whole time I'm reading the book. It also made me think about the situation for children in foster homes and how we sometimes miss what is going on right in front of us because we're of...more
There are a couple of writers that I read anything they write, and Maeve Binchy is one of those readers. When you pick up Scarlet Feather, you notice 2 things. 1, that this work is part of a larger story and 2, that it is good enough to stand alone.
Maeve's characters are always FULLY developed and you will occasionally find yourself shaking your head as some of the characters are just like people you may know in your personal life, warts and all. When I read her books, my mind can seriously "se...more
Maeve's characters are always FULLY developed and you will occasionally find yourself shaking your head as some of the characters are just like people you may know in your personal life, warts and all. When I read her books, my mind can seriously "se...more
Das Buch hat ja eben über 730 Seiten und ließ sich sehr gut lesen. Also ein angenehme leichte Lektüre, die man aber auch nicht aus der Hand legen kann.
Die Hauptfiguren sind Cathy Scarlet und Tom Feather. Die beiden wollen sich einen Catering-Service aufbauen. Tom entdeckt in einer Silvesternacht das alte Gebäude einer ehem. Druckerei. Sie bekommen die Möglichkeit dieses Gebäude zu kaufen und bekommen gleichzeitig durch James, der das Gebäude im Auftrag verkauen soll, gleichzeitig einen Buchhalt...more
Die Hauptfiguren sind Cathy Scarlet und Tom Feather. Die beiden wollen sich einen Catering-Service aufbauen. Tom entdeckt in einer Silvesternacht das alte Gebäude einer ehem. Druckerei. Sie bekommen die Möglichkeit dieses Gebäude zu kaufen und bekommen gleichzeitig durch James, der das Gebäude im Auftrag verkauen soll, gleichzeitig einen Buchhalt...more
This book promises that I will be "laughing and crying with Cathy, Tom and all their friends". Well, I was bored to tears if that counts?
Cathy and Tom, the main characters are clueless, stupid and completely lack the ability to stand up for themselves. You see, they are simple Irish folk who just want to make good food, have a solid marriage and make lots of Irish babies.
There are several other characters as well, but they are equally forgettable and annoying. Especially the coupple of mistreat...more
Cathy and Tom, the main characters are clueless, stupid and completely lack the ability to stand up for themselves. You see, they are simple Irish folk who just want to make good food, have a solid marriage and make lots of Irish babies.
There are several other characters as well, but they are equally forgettable and annoying. Especially the coupple of mistreat...more
Maeve Binchy is a storyteller par excellence. She has real characters with real problems and real reactions. Sitting down with one of her books is settling into my favorite armchair on a stormy afternoon with a cup of tea and a nice fire. Scarlet Feather is no exception.
I loved this book partly because a fine catering business is fascinating to me -- having been told I could make a living that way! -- but also because these people just draw you into their world. I feel as if I would know these f...more
I loved this book partly because a fine catering business is fascinating to me -- having been told I could make a living that way! -- but also because these people just draw you into their world. I feel as if I would know these f...more
Set over a period of one year, Scarlet Feather is a novel featuring Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather, who open a catering company together. As they deal with the joys and heartbreak of owning a business their relationship with each other changes as does their relationship with the other's around them,notably Cathy's husband, Neil, who is a lawyer who wants to save the world and Tom's beautiful girlfriend, Marcella, who will do just about anything to make it as a model. Also involved are Cathy's par...more
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I have read three Maeve Binchy books so far - Tara Road, Quentin's, and Scarlet Feather. Scarlet Feather catering company and Tom and Cathy, and Simon and Maud are in 'Quentin's', so I was really excited to read this book and find out how it all began. I was not disappointed at all, in fact this is my favourite Binchy book so far.
Some people might have found all the stories about Tom and Cathy's catering jobs boring, but I really enjoyed reading about them, seeing how their company had successes...more
Some people might have found all the stories about Tom and Cathy's catering jobs boring, but I really enjoyed reading about them, seeing how their company had successes...more
Maeve Binchy is a favorite author of mine. This particular one gave me a number of good chuckles as she describes the actions of the children characters. I could envision exactly what was taking place. I always enjoy the depth of the character that I feel she creates. Most popular authors are pretty superficial. Maeve gives a more rounded picture. I also like the interaction of her characters. They are loveable and fleshed out into a "reality" feeling. She just writes a good story.
This story is...more
This story is...more
A charming tale of Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlet, friends and business partners trying to get their fledgling catering business Scarlet feather off the ground.
Things are not as easy as they at first hoped when they try to juggle their private lives alongside their business lives.
Both have complicated family issues and personal issues to resolve.
Tom and his girlfriend Marcella are struggling to keep their relationship alive as they move in different circles, Tom with his catering and her with her...more
Things are not as easy as they at first hoped when they try to juggle their private lives alongside their business lives.
Both have complicated family issues and personal issues to resolve.
Tom and his girlfriend Marcella are struggling to keep their relationship alive as they move in different circles, Tom with his catering and her with her...more
i found several of Binchy's books accidentally at the Uni book fair,intrigue because of the unique cover (not this one tho'),i also took Cooper Beech,Tara Road,and Quentins. these books are awesome!one of the reviews about the Binchy's works is that once we start to read it we'll find ourselves unable to stop.so true!there were sleepless nights on these.Binchy takes us the streets in Dublin and into the characters' life.Recommended.
I've never read Binchy before (although it seems she has a following) so didn't expect the rather slow pace of this somewhat obvious story. by obvious i mean how it turns out; who ends up where and so on. by slow, i mean the sheer amount of description that goes into everything from our characters & all their family & all their friends & all their clients to the place, the linen, the dishes, and even the racetrack and betting office! since i listened to the story, at first i was impa...more
This book is about the catering business starting by Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather, called (quite naturally), "Scarlet Feather".
Read on a business trip, and enjoyed it for the most part. I didn't really like Cathy's relationship with her husband much -- I guess I didn't like the premise that the two main characters were in doomed relationships from the get-go -- but other than that, it was a really enjoyable book (and fortunately, didn't dwell on that too much).
I found Simon and Maud absolutely...more
Read on a business trip, and enjoyed it for the most part. I didn't really like Cathy's relationship with her husband much -- I guess I didn't like the premise that the two main characters were in doomed relationships from the get-go -- but other than that, it was a really enjoyable book (and fortunately, didn't dwell on that too much).
I found Simon and Maud absolutely...more
A satisfying domestic comedy set in current-day Dublin, concerning the adventures of Cathy and Tom, a man and woman in their late 20s who begin a catering business. Binchy's depiction of the swift currents of family life, work life, class struggles, personal struggles, and romantic struggles plunges you into the lives of these people like you belong to the family. Colorful, well-drawn characters abound--a goodhearted father who spends all his time and money on horses, a black sheep nephew with i...more
This is the second book by Maeve Binchy, and I was reluctant to borrow it from the library because I cannot even remember the first of her books I read. It just didn't strike my fancy. Having said that, I totally enjoyed this book with it quirky characters centered around two friends (Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlet)launching a catering business. The stories, lives, struggles, and successes of them and their friends and family are woven together well, and Binchy leaves just enough mystery in each...more
I'm a fan of Maeve Binchy, have been since I first encountered her books in our local library. She writes about Ireland, her home, with great affection, and much of what she writes reminds me of my upbringing in Scotland.
Scarlet Feather is not the first or last of her books that I read, nor is it really her best. But there's something about it that just drew me in and made me want to read it again. I think it's the twins, Simon and Maude, and the way they interact with the other characters to b...more
Scarlet Feather is not the first or last of her books that I read, nor is it really her best. But there's something about it that just drew me in and made me want to read it again. I think it's the twins, Simon and Maude, and the way they interact with the other characters to b...more
They met in cooking school—and became fast friends with a common dream. Now, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather hope to take Dublin by storm with their newly formed catering company, aptly dubbed “Scarlet Feather.” Not everyone, however, shares their optimism. Cathy’s mother-in-law disapproves of both Cathy and her new “hobby,” while Cathy’s husband Neil pays no mind to anything—except his work as a civil rights lawyer. And then there’s Tom’s family, who expect him to follow in his father’s footsteps...more
I have never read any of Maeve Binchy books but thought I would try one. If they are as boring as this one was I would NEVER read another one. This one promised me I would laugh and when I looked up I would feel I was actually with these people.
I got to page 200 and then quit reading. NOTHING happened in this book. Nothing was FUNNY! None of the characters made me feel they were real. I felt like someone just wrote a story about a "normal" life. It was as trivial as this " Joe came in for dinne...more
I got to page 200 and then quit reading. NOTHING happened in this book. Nothing was FUNNY! None of the characters made me feel they were real. I felt like someone just wrote a story about a "normal" life. It was as trivial as this " Joe came in for dinne...more
We are first introduced to Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather as they have newly formed there catering company, "Scarlet Feather." Cathy's mother-in-law disapproves of both Cathy and her new "hobby" and her husband Neil doesn't notice as he is only concerned about his job as a civil rights lawyer. Tom is happy with his new enterprise but his family expects him to follow in his father's footsteps. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Marcella has dreams of her own.
Essentially this book is so great because I fin...more
Essentially this book is so great because I fin...more
I just finished up this book... and have to say I was unimpressed. While the storyline was OK, it was a very slow read.
There were a couple quirks with the book I couldn't get past. First of all, I thought the author had way too many characters that were not essential to the main plot and storyline. Secondly, my biggest pet peeve of the book was the fact the author named every character's house. While it would be nice to call my home something like, "The Manor"... it is difficult to remember the...more
There were a couple quirks with the book I couldn't get past. First of all, I thought the author had way too many characters that were not essential to the main plot and storyline. Secondly, my biggest pet peeve of the book was the fact the author named every character's house. While it would be nice to call my home something like, "The Manor"... it is difficult to remember the...more
Bubblebathbooks.net (aka Bubby and Sissy) invites you to sit down in a comfy chair with a warm cup of chamomile and become involved in the world of Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy. You’ll meet Tom and Cathy and their spouses, families, and friends, and you’ll follow their stories, good and bad; happy and sad. In the end you’ll feel like you’ve known them all your life. Bubby waxes philosophic on the hard choices these characters have to make, and Sissy is just glad that everything works out well...more
Many people have pointed out that the characters are well-developed, but there isn't any one real plot. There are lots of interwoven stories, and you get to know a whole range of decidely human characters (you try to judge one, but then kind of see their side of things). A few years ago I would have argued that Cathy Scarlet as the main character, has a bit too much drama happen around her in a one-year span, but now that I am wise and mature (a-hem), I can totally see all of this happening.
I re...more
I re...more
Scarlet Feather is a fun read about a catering company run by Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlett. There are many unfoldings of subplots in this story, including twins who are parented by a gambler and a drunk; a shrill dowager mother-in-law; Cathy and her husband Neil's increasing distance in their marriage; the arrival of the tree-hugger social worker for the twins, who has unhidden affection for Neil; Tom Feather and his girlfriend's struggles in their relationship; and the quest to find and maint...more
I really enjoyed this book. Although there are many characters and interwoven story lines it is still pretty light read, perfect for summer beach reading. I am a foodie so I was really interested in the detailed descriptions of the ins and outs of the catering business, although some may find that part a bit boring. I also loved the bratty niece and nephew. They provide some heartbreaking moments as well as a lot of comic relief. The romantic relationships and attempt at a surprising twist endin...more
This is actually a very good book. The characters are very real and believable, and some of them are quite likable. The story is pretty compelling. I really didn't want to put the book down for the last quarter or so - really wanted to see what happened to these people, but...
it's not a very happy book. For the most-part, it seemed to be a lesson in Murphy's Law: whatever can go wrong, will. So while it was "good", I'm not sure it was "enjoyable". There were moments, but in general, I think I p...more
it's not a very happy book. For the most-part, it seemed to be a lesson in Murphy's Law: whatever can go wrong, will. So while it was "good", I'm not sure it was "enjoyable". There were moments, but in general, I think I p...more
This is one of many Maeve Binchy books that I have read. Ms Binchy has a knack for building characters that fit into each other's stories. If you read Quentin's you know exactly what I mean. You find the main caharacter in one book as a minor character in another. Ms Binchy builds what feels like whole communities and makes you want to know each and every character in every book. Scarlet Feather is the story of a couple start a catering business, and before they have found a building for their b...more
I don't know why I keep reading her. Her characters are soooo well developed (sometimes too much), but it's like nothing ever happens. It reminds me of a 30 min sitcom but like watching an entire series at once. My summary of her novels: problem then predictable solution on the next page...and repeat.
And, has anyone else noticed her repetitive lang??? She ALWAYS uses the same style sentences. All her dialogs end with "she said thoughtfully" or something similar. Perhaps she needs to lay off the...more
And, has anyone else noticed her repetitive lang??? She ALWAYS uses the same style sentences. All her dialogs end with "she said thoughtfully" or something similar. Perhaps she needs to lay off the...more
I hate to be harsh with books, but this book for the length of it was one of the most boring books I've read (listened to) in a long time. I kept waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. It's like reading about someone's day getting ready for work, then going to work, then coming home. There were conversations between characters that I didn't care at all about. The relationships between Tom Feather, his girlfriend, and Kathy Scarlet and her husband were so droll. Kathy annoyed me so muc...more
I have read many Maeve Binchy books, and I have to say I haven't met one I didn't like. I decided to just pick one, because this one had characters that were repeated in other novels. Quentins, Nights of Rain and Stars, Heart and Soul, Evening Class, Minding Frankie. I love seeing the characters reappear, not as primary, but as secondary in other stories. Ms. Binchy's characters are her real strength, because they always feels like friends. And of course, the setting in Ireland (also Italy, Gree...more
Well this book was in my Christmas stocking, and I started reading it after Christmas, but then left it in the States, and finally had it brought back to me..so just finished it - so finally got to find out what happens to Tom and Cathy!
Well...it basically a fairly predictable sappy story about life and love and food...but I'm a sucker for this sort of thing!
And Binchy is a good storyteller and really makes you want to keep reading about the characters.
Quite fun..also couldn't put this down in...more
Well...it basically a fairly predictable sappy story about life and love and food...but I'm a sucker for this sort of thing!
And Binchy is a good storyteller and really makes you want to keep reading about the characters.
Quite fun..also couldn't put this down in...more
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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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I still want to read Tara Road sometime.
Oct 08, 2008 07:11am
Feb 08, 2009 08:25am
Sep 29, 2009 01:28pm