In a Greek taverna, high over the small village of Aghia Anna, four people meet for the first time: Fiona, an Irish nurse, Thomas, a Californian academic; Elsa, a German television presenter; and David a shy English boy. Along with Andreas, the old man who runs the taverna, they become close to each other after witnessing a tragedy when a pleasure steamer catches fire in the harbour. Nights of Rain and Stars is the story of one summer when Fiona, Thomas, Elsa and David all have to face the particular life crisis which first made them leave their homes and end up in Greece. With the help of Vonni, a middle-aged Irishwoman who lives in the village and is now a near-native, they each find a solution - although not necessarily the one they anticipated...
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.
Nights of Rain and Stars
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Four strangers cross paths in a tiny Greek seaside village in this thin but engaging new novel by bestselling Binchy (Quentins; Circle of Friends). When tragedy strikes the smalltown of Aghia Anna in the form of a devastating fire on a tourist pleasure boat—24 people are killed—elderly barkeeper Andreas and craft-shop owner Vonni find themselves host to a random assortment of travelers who watch the conflagration from Andreas's taverna. There is Elsa, the German beauty who is trying to flee from love; David, the quiet young Englishman whose demanding father wants him to go into the family business; Thomas, the American professor who struggles to share his son with his ex-wife's new husband; and Fiona, the Irish nurse who follows her abusive boyfriend despite the warnings of her friends and family. As these strangers become friends, the mysterious Vonni, an Irish woman whose Greek is fluent and whose respected position in town is unquestioned, explores her own memories of heartache, as does Andreas. Unwilling to see their new friends repeat their mistakes, Andreas and Vonni set out to influence the hearts of this motley bunch of foreigners before they leave the village. The setup is flimsy, and the bonds the characters develop are too slender to provide much emotional texture, but Binchy's fans will enjoy this summery page-turner.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
In perennially popular Binchy's latest, four strangers on holiday in Greece band together after witnessing a tragic boating accident to become friends, and lovers, in an enchanting story that explores the mercurial nature of friendships and the elusive meaning of family. Residents of different countries, the four vacationers discover a commonality: a desire to escape contentious family situations back home. A newly divorced father, Thomas has taken a year's sabbatical to give his young son time to acclimate to his new stepfather. David, a timid Englishman, knows he's disappointing his successful father by not taking over the family business. Elsa, a glamorous German TV reporter, has walked out on a tumultuous love affair, while Fiona is defying family and friends in Ireland by running off with her rebellious boyfriend. Serendipitously, two locals, Andreas and Vonni, befriend the travelers and help them gain perspectives that will put their unsettled lives in order. A beloved storyteller, Binchy excels in the art of the character-driven plot. Although her characters are not necessarily complex, the stories she weaves around them are tales as compelling for their surprises as they are comforting in their sympathetic warmth. Redolent of the life-affirming enthusiasm that is Greek village life, Binchy's newest is a rich homage to meaningful relationships. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Cee Ess
Format:Paperback
I liked the way the book's beginning pulled the reader into the little world of a Greek island. It switches storylines between four vacationers and a few of the islanders, all with different but intertwining plights. Binchy drew on various backgrounds for this tale, but it struggled in its consistency. The stories are interesting on their own, but somewhat contrived when pieced together to make them fit. As a whole, the book has a bright quality in sunny Greece, but tries too hard to weave pieces into one fabric. I didn't find the characters as real as in "The Scarlet Feather" and therefore I didn't have a vested interest in what happened to them.
Also, the title could have been better - there was some rain in the book, but not enough for it to be in the title. When I think of Greece, I don't associate with rain. The book wasn't a waste of time though, I generally enjoyed reading it.
Also, the title could have been better - there was some rain in the book, but not enough for it to be in the title. When I think of Greece, I don't associate with rain. The book wasn't a waste of time though, I generally enjoyed reading it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Maria Lake
Format:Paperback
Binchy has done it again! I love a tightly written novel, and she can write them. NIGHTS OF RAIN AND STARS is about four people as disparate as the seasons and from all points on the compass, yet what is wondrous about this book is how Binchy exposes, in subtle ways, with pitch-perfect detail, their overwhelmingly similar humanity. This is a glorious yet easy yet very intelligent read. Highly recommended!
I also recommend, for the same reasons, the great book club novel A SECRET WORD, by Jennifer Paddock.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I really like Maeve Binchy and this is not her best work, so it was dissapointing. I would probaly have liked this book more if I had not been expecting so much.
In her other books she really draws us into the characters so we care about them and want to know how their story unfolds. In this book the characters all seemed paper dolls - one dimensional and unreal - so it was hard to get involved.
Dissapointing, but a must-read for any Binchy fan. Hope the next book takes us back to Ireland and more familiar ground/characters.
After reading this I have pulled my old Binchy books off the shelf and am re-reading them! Love Evening Class, Tara Road, Quentins, Scarlet Feather especially!
In her other books she really draws us into the characters so we care about them and want to know how their story unfolds. In this book the characters all seemed paper dolls - one dimensional and unreal - so it was hard to get involved.
Dissapointing, but a must-read for any Binchy fan. Hope the next book takes us back to Ireland and more familiar ground/characters.
After reading this I have pulled my old Binchy books off the shelf and am re-reading them! Love Evening Class, Tara Road, Quentins, Scarlet Feather especially!
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 123 reviews
3.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Multinational Twists on The Bridge of San Luis Rey
If you are looking for a classic Maeve Binchy novel about modern times and problems in Dublin, Nights of Rain and Stars will be a disappointment. Read more
Published on Aug 28 2006 by Donald Mitchell
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Bunny Book
What do I mean by a bunny book, full of fluff, cute and adorable. I had to read this for my bookclub, so also was sadly committed to finishing it. Read more
Published on Jun 16 2006 by D. Clark
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really Enjoyed It....
Great novel, great group of characters... most of her stories take place in dublin, so it was a very nice change and refreshing to read about characters who were from different... Read more
Published on Jun 7 2005
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
Long time fan of Maeve Binchy books but this was not her best work. Read to see for yourself but if you've enjoyed her other books as much as most people then expect to be... Read more
Published on May 2 2005
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
