Victoria Line, Central Line

by Maeve Binchy

Every day, millions of people travel on London’s Underground, yet everyday life is not nearly as mundane as we think. At Notting Hill, the secretary, harbouring her secrets travels to work; at Highbury and Islington, Adam has a sudden change of heart; at Holborn, a disastrous reunion is about to take place. With her characteristic mix of humour and biting realism, Maeve Binchy enters the lives of ordinary people.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Chick Lit, Romance, Irish Literature, Ireland, Contemporary

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Anne Maeve Binchy Snell was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, columnist, and speaker. Her novels were characterised by a sympathetic and often humorous portrayal of small-town life in Ireland, and surprise endings. Her novels, which were translated into 37 languages, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Her death at age 73, announced by Vincent Browne on Irish television late on 30 July 2012, was mourned as the death of one of Ireland's best-loved and most recognisable writers.
She appeared in the US market, featuring on The New York Times Best Seller list and in Oprah's Book Club. Recognised for her "total absence of malice" and generosity to other writers, she finished third in a 2000 poll for World Book Day, ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially began to write down a few lines on each story, but there are 22 in total I think so I shall not attempt to talk about each one!

What I will say though, is that I adore MB. I love her stories and cannot believe I keep stumbling across those which I still not have had the pleasure of reading! I saw this on BorrowBox via my public library (need I say more) and snapped it up; and there are more!

This author has the most natural way of understanding the human condition - weaknesses, strengths, empathy, kindness, esteem, understanding, and then of course the opposite. Lots of delusion, grandiosity, big noting and perceived do gooders doing no good at all.

Her stories have the knack of rolling along and right the very minute, flipping, and the sense of 'oh yes, that makes sense'. The stories have no sense of grandiosity as so many of her characters have, but that of the opposite, lessons being learned and sneaking up on you as if you did not realise it at all, and the sense of it being there all along, just out of one's grasp.

I can't leave this review without speaking of a favourite. It's hard to tell. Possibly the story of 3 old friends from Nanny school. One become well known, financially very well off compared to the other two. One was a vicar's wife and the other a housewife with no exciting story to tell. The well known woman asked the other two for a slightly odd favour which appeared to be unsavoury, with the other two explaining away all the unpleasantries associated with this most inappropriate 'favour'. It was deceitful, unproper. As most of the stories ended, the one liner at the end provided these two women their comeuppance, leaving another heavy lesson learned.

Kate Binchy, the author's niece is outstanding as always, I forgot I was listening to one narrator and was carried away as if I was experiencing an ensemble crew, just like a radio play. And that to me, is perfection.

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved the great Irish authoress, Maeve Binchy since first reading her words and wish she were here to colour our world with many more. I easily gave five stars to her 1980 short story collection, “Victoria Line”, in 2018. I could not believe the poignant quality of its offerings. It is in a duology with “Central Line”. I waited three years to savour the second batch, even though they are from 1978. Is it two years that made a difference, or was Maeve in a bleaker mood? In 1980 she was empowering, inspiring, optimistic, witty, and astoundingly original.

I separate story collections in my reading records and only review the last compilation under my particular omnibus. Thus, it is “Central Line” that I am grading with two stars. The drop clearly shows that the tone in which we close is more impactful than how we open. Also, we are tolerant where the good outweighs the bad. How uncanny for Maeve’s best to be paired with her worst output. I think this second batch furnished two stories I did not despise, instead of yielding a few I found unappealing. The word I need to use to the contrary, is appalling. They were all depressing, grim, and dirty with protagonists who were stupid and antagonists who were hateful, in hopeless scenarios. Even worse, every story pertained to topics that are highly against my beliefs.

Naturally, safeguarding medical options for women, does not mean choosing abortion for ourselves. That was extremely uncomfortable to read about. The subject of the rest of the 1978 short stories disgusted me. Knowing that cheating occurs, is different from churning out story after story, suggesting that this betrayal is normal or okay! I will sell this duology and look for the “Victoria Line” compilation by itself.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my last read for 2018....

3.5 but since it is Maeve Binchy she gets the 4 stars.... Lol..

Cute short stories about ppl that move or go visit London from the outer UK towns or villages. Each story is about women (the main characters), karma, insecurities, loser men in their lives, family or just dumb choices they make. I felt like I wanted to know more about the characters by the end but in all fairness these are characters that have so much emotional baggage that it was just enough drama to keep the reader hooked and say goodbye without the stress.... The only reason I didn't give it a fiver was bc the stories got repetitive. Not a boring read though, good for a lazy day or holiday week....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Hope 2019 starts out calm and happy for everyone involved... And if not, things have to get better so hang in there and hold on to the good....

[Janice Shellenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

By far my least favorite Binchy book. Don't get me wrong: Each short story is brilliant. My complaint? Liked the characters way too much to say goodbye to them so quickly.

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Maeve Binchy. I honestly really did cry when I head that she had passed away. I have been reading her novels and short stories for so many years I was just used to her books. No matter what she was always an automatic buy for me. I have not had a chance to read all of her books so decided to go back and read the ones I have not up until now.

I really did enjoy London Transports. I do think that she was a very fine teller of short stories and wish that more authors out there would do short story collections these days.

All of the stories take place in London and each story had what I would consider a realistic ending. For those that have read Maeve Binchy before she has stories that deal with adultery, betrayal, abortion, love, unrequited love, race relations. I think my favorite stories in this collection were actually:

"Holland Park" when a woman comes to a realization about who she really loves and owes it all to two people she really can't stand.
"Lancaster Gate" when a woman comes to the end of a relationship.
"Marble Arch" when a woman who has sacrificed for her boyfriend realizes that not everything is as it seems.
"Holborn" a married woman meets up with her ex and his new wife and is shocked by how changed he is.

And my hand's down favorite story "King's Cross" where a woman comes along and helps her female boss in becoming noticed and promoted at her job.

I definitely recommend to long-time and new readers of Maeve Binchy's work.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Stories

This is a very unique book of short stories from one ofy favorite authors. All were from Binchy's homeland of Ireland.

A good collection.

[Kirsten McKenzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not read this book.
Outdated, depressing, racially insensitive, gender insensitive, it has not aged well.
I only found two of the stories marginally uplifting, the rest were depressing.
I've almost never rated a book one star in my life, I can always find something good to say about it. But here I can't. I'm sorry.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maeve Binchy is a master at creating believable and sympathetic characters that readers can readily identify with. This early collection of short stories/character profiles is a good study for any writer trying to develop more realistic 3D characters and is a delight for any reader.

[Catullus2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable vignettes of London life.

[Colleen Chi-Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite female Irish writers, at least she was during the 1970's through 1990's.

I have Irish and Scottish blood on both sides of my US family, and have always felt a stronger connection to my Irish roots than that of the German or French. And I love novels set in Ireland and Scotland, and even England.

There's something about the amazing history, the struggles, and the no-nonsense approach. And if you listen on audio, you usually end up transported to their countries. Although it will always be painful to know how much England damaged the Irish and Scots and their countries.

The compilation of short stories are all set in London, and cover all gamuts of personalities and issues from romance, to family, to making bad/better choices, and learning from your mistakes and, thankfully, those around you.

MB's novels have generally happy-endings and although that can be overly done, I found that in this book, it was also a nice break from the struggles of life.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the lovely things about Maeve Binchy's short stories is that they read almost like a novel. There is a singular thread running through them that links the very different stories together. In this book, which is actually two shorter books combined, we tour neighborhoods in London via the public transport system, we meet a wide variety of women, but each and every one has a place in our hearts, and each and every one of them remind us of situations that we, ourselves, have been in or have seen our friends go through. Maeve Binchy has a genius for recounting the mysteries of a woman's heart. She is sorely missed.

[Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun charming read, I will say I think the stories in the Victoria Line were a little stronger than those in the Central line. Overall its good though, most stories were interesting and well written and the characters were all very different. Its a fun contemporary read (Although I think its older so im not sure if it still counts as contemporary) but nothing mind blowing either you know?

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love every single thing Maeve Binchy wrote. This was no exception. This is a series of short (*very* short) stories and I was amazed how quickly I was absorbed into each story. I miss Maeve Binchy, as if I knew her in person. I'm so glad she left us all of these wonderful books.

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn't enjoy this book. Lots of short stories which most were a bit meaningless.

[Aqsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of stories that take place in a very ordinary setting, but are so intriguing. The author can make you empathise with these characters even though the stories are not very long, though it’s true that because of this some of the endings feel abrupt, mostly because I want to find out more!

On the other hand, the characters are not very diverse, which I have to note because I feel like multiculturalism is the heart and soul of London. And despite the name and synopsis, I can’t say London has much to do with the stories. Each begins with the name of a place there, but it has little effect on the events, which could have happened anywhere.

As for the narrator of the audiobook, she has a distinctly “posh” accent which I didn’t much like at first. But after a while I realised it was one of the best readings I’ve heard, because I could really believe in the different personalities she portrayed.

[Kara Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was one of Binchy’s earlier works, first published in 1978. I was not aware of this book title until I came across it at a community book exchange. Reading it reminded me why I have loved and enjoyed books by Maeve Binchy. I’ve said in a previous review that I was finding her later books not as entertaining and at times too predictable or far-fetched.
London Transports> is a book of short stories- twenty two of them. All around the twenty page mark, they were easy to read within a shorter time frame. Each story was titled with a different area of London. My favourites were: Lancaster Gate, Oxford Circus, and Victoria. The stories ran from sweet, sad, funny, quirky, and odd. They all captured the essence of someone’s life and current predicament. In true Binchy fashion, she lures the reader right into the lives of the characters- whether you like them or not!
Definitely recommend!

[Theresa Leone Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of 22 short stories by Maeve Binchy. I love Binchy's novels, and while there were a couple of short stories here that I was less than thrilled with, overall, it was quite a good collection. Stories like Seven Sisters, concerning a married couple about to embark on a wife-swapping odyssey, were not only very funny but heartwarming. Others, like Finsbury Park, about a woman who physically escapes poverty but psychologically cannot get over its devastating consequences, were really good but very sad, and a couple of stories, like Queensway, were creepy. I would definitely recommend!

[Tashinka Roz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of short stories. I feel like some of them could have been made into books. I wanted to enjoy some of the characters a little longer. Overall it was a good read.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of single chapter stories. Each chapter is about an individual living in different locations in London. I was amazed at how the author could put so much detail into each character and keep it so short. Great book. Also I find it amazing that Maeve Binchy was so progressive. I've always loved her stories. If you've never read book by this author, this one would be a good starter.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will never read this one again. It is a series of small stories told by various characters who ride the train lines to and from work, or shopping or visiting friends etc. It was just a bore and absolute waste of my time. None of the characters are developed

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need to go back & re-read old friends. I probably know this lot off by heart but I still go back to meet these wonderful characters again

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is as good as ever with Maeve Binchy (I am a huge fan), but the 3 stars is because I found the themes repetitious and heavy. The majority of the stories have something to do with one person taking great advantage of another (or a person allowing someone to do this to them) or about people being greatly obtuse to their own motives and intents, such as a young women allowing herself to be okay with the crumbs of a life her married boyfriend throws her, or of a feckless boyfriend mooching off his hardworking girlfriend. Most every tale deals with the shortsightedness of human understanding of themselves and of their relationships with others, and while this is certainly a universal theme that Binchy does deal with repeatedly in all of her work, she usually does so in a mostly optimistic way. Here I found it to be depressing, since, due to the short length of each entry, there is rarely much if any true character growth and resolution to be found. Binchy is known for her exploration of the complexities and foibles of relationships and the human heart, particularly of women, but I find in her novels that she shows more compassion for her characters and most of the time the main character sees personal growth, an epiphany, or the like, that is mostly satisfying to the reader and shows Binchy's faith in the human spirit.

Standouts pieces were "King's Cross", in which a gifted secretary fights workplace sexism by coaching one talented-but-undervalued woman executive at a time, and "Queensway," a creepy taking-advantage set-up involving a flatmate situation.

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read "Marble Arch," but there wasn't really an option to review a single short story so I guess I have to settle for the compilation it's from.

The story was decent: well-realized characters and a straightforward narrative which gradually fleshed out their lives (with pointed sympathy toward the protagonist). Her martyrdom was a bit annoying, though. I presumed that it was some sort of feminist critique of working women as being trapped rather than liberated by the supposed freedom to love/nurture/work as they please rather than as dictated in the old-fashioned role of housewife and mother. But reading about a long-suffering, self-sacrificing woman smilingly being alienated from the contented life she has created was kind of a downer. Or rather, it didn't communicate anything other than the fact that the character's life was kind of pathetic. Even though she was compared to some sort of deity.

I liked the details of the story, though. Like the mentions of specific London things. Particularly as I read the story within a month of having walked through Marble Arch and down Oxford Street and all over London, really. It was pretty nifty to read a story set in a place I'd just visited...

[Graceann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maeve Binchy is great at relationships - how people interact with one another, whether they've been together for a day or many years, is something she writes about with great flair. I admired the concept of Victoria Line/Central Line, and the first story about a woman stuck on the Tube and dreading the meeting that is to come when she is "freed," fed into my expectation that the stories would dwell on the people we see on public transport, and our secret wonderings about them. This wasn't always the case with the stories in this volume, but I suppose it would be a difficult thread to maintain.

Some of the stories are only identifiable as being related to London neighborhoods/suburbs because they are titled as such. There are a few that could have been set just about anywhere without a changing a single word of text.

I had a few favorites: the one I mention above, which pulled me into the book initially, for instance. The final story is a corker, too. Now that I've finished the book, I realize that I should have limited myself to just one or two stories at a time, because when read all at once, they do begin to run together.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummm...did you know I was an anglophile? :) Do I need say more?

This book is a collection of short stories by this gal, Maeve Binchy, who I believe is from Dublin. So all the characters use phrases like ‘rubbish’ and ‘bloody.’ And they call the television the ‘telly’. What is this bloody rubbish on the telly?? :)

It’s such a good book! There’s about 17 little snippets from the lives of different English women at particular moments. It’s like a Sex and the City where the women refer to their boyfriends as 'blokes' and take the 'underground' to get places. But themes are all universal anyways, so it’s completely relatable and loveable. Ranging from the common female vs. her anxiety to abortion and lesbianism, this book is such a nice, welcome treat from the novel-type.

It's humourous, and thought-provoking. How many of us have stared at strangers and made up exciting imaginary lives for them?

I highly recommend and am looking forward to reading Tara Road!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing I liked best about this book was that the short stories had different styles to them. Some were in typical Maeve Binchy fashion, but some had a different sort of flavor to them. For instance, there was one that you would find in a horror anthology not because of any guts or gore but because of the general creepiness of it. It gave a good glimpse into another side of Maeve Binchy.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really didn't like this book. Lots of short stories, very few I found interesting. It was a hard slog, the first time I've really disliked a Maeve Binchy book. Good thing she has written so many other good books.

[Jenny from Ukraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was young I was into short stories. All of them were written by men, Chekhov being my first love. I didn't know at the time that I'd be one day fascinated by stories that would be much closer to my life experience, my dreams, my sorrows and joys - written by a female.

[Eileen · Rating 1 out of 5]

A collection of short stories that I've started at least twice before, always putting it aside after only 1-2 stories.........& this third time was NOT the charm. Maybe I just don't like short stories?? These (the first 2 in the book) were boring, non-involving, shallow, unappealing.

[Thea Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, every chapters characters could have been made into a full length story in their own right. Not read short stories for ages and didn't realise that was, what I was getting when I started this, but really enjoyed it.