Chestnut Street by Maeve Binchy

3.5 Stars

On the whole this was rather disappointing and I am not sure that the Editor here has done anything to further Ms Binchy's posthumous reputation.  Many of the stories read like character studies or trial runs for a chapter in a long form novel which means that they don't actually work as a stand alone story.  The ones that do work are probably those that were being worked on with a view to a more complete story about Chestnut Street and it's residents.

I ranked each story as I read it and whilst none are terrible it is all a bit hit and miss:

Dolly's Mother - 3 Stars
It's Only A Day - 3.5 Stars
Fay's New uncle - 3 Stars
A Problem Of My Own - 2.5 Stars
All That Matters - 3 Stars
Joyce And The Blind Date - 2 Stars
Liberty Green - 2.5 Stars
The Cure For Sleeplessness - 4 Stars
Miss Ranger's Reward - 3.5 Stars
Decision In Dublin - 4 Stars
The Wrong Caption - 4.5 Stars
Star Sullivan - 2 Stars
Taxi Men Are Invisible - 2.5 Stars
A Card For Father's Day - 2 Stars
The Gift Of Dignity - 3 Stars
The Investment - 3.5 Stars
The Leap Of faith - 2 Stars
Lilian's Hair - 4 Stars
Flowers From Grace - 3 Stars
The Builders - 3.5 Stars
Bucket Maguire - 3 Stars
The Older Man - 3 Stars
Philip And The Flower Arrangers - 3 Stars
Reasonable Access - 4 Stars
By The Time We Get To Clifden - 2 Stars
The Women Who Righted Wrongs - 4 Stars
The Sighting - 3 Stars
The Lottery Of The Birds - 3.5 Stars
Madame Magic - 3 Stars
Say Nothing - 2.5 Stars
Eager To Please - 2 Stars
Seeing Things Clearly - 4 Stars
Fair Exchange - 3 Stars
The Window Box - 2.5 Stars
Finn's Future - 3.5 Stars
One Night A Year - 4 Stars
Tara's Horse - 3 Stars