- Audio CD
- Publisher: Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ); Abridged edition edition (Aug 22 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 075285612X
- ISBN-13: 978-0752856124
- Product Dimensions: 14.1 x 1.4 x 13.7 cm
- Shipping Weight: 222 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #385,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Maeve Binchy delivers a timely and topical tale on the fickle nature of docu-soaps in Quentins. In an age where everyday people are becoming overnight celebrities via the medium of television, Ella Brady is a documentary filmmaker who wants to bring the tale of the eponymous Dublin restaurant to the screen. Quentin's has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years and has become the meeting point for a lot of characters, including some familiar faces from previous Binchy novels. As Ella makes more and more headway with her documentary, the secrets, betrayals and stories of love that emerge make her question whether or not she wants to bring the tale of Quentin's to the screen after all; especially as she is also forced to confront a devastating dilemma from her own past.
Regarded by many as the true queen of the romantic Irish drama, Binchy has once again produced another fine page-turner that will please her army of loyal fans and hopefully win her many more. She has a real eye for character and exploring the often painful choices people are forced to make in their everyday lives. This is a tale of normal people, ordinary folk and the heartaches that have made them who they are. Fans will welcome the return of some familiar Binchy characters and Ella is a strong, likeable heroine, a woman who, in exploring the lives of these people, is forced to consider some choices she has made in her own life. So make a reservation at Quentin's, sit back and relax--you'll be in very good company. --Jane Warren --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of the bestselling Binchy will be grateful that the basic formula is still intact-decent people pulling through hard times-and that some favorite characters from previous novels reappear: Cathy Scarlet from Scarlet Feather, Nora from Evening Class, Ria from Tara Road and others. When Dubliner Ella Brady's affair with a married financial consultant turns sour-he bilks his clients of their hard-earned money and then hightails it to Spain-she decides to throw herself into something productive: she agrees to help with a documentary about Quentins, a once-modest Dublin restaurant whose increasing success and sophistication over the past 30 years mirrors the changing fortunes of the city itself. Ella collects stories of customers who recall celebrating life's milestones at Quentins. These vignettes (about a man who learns he's to be a grandfather, a girl who finishes school with honors, and other regular folks) are meant to fill out the too-thin tale, but most of them end a little too neatly to be satisfying. Binchy doesn't exactly trade in suspense (can there ever be any doubt that a Binchy heroine will do the right thing? Or that goodness will ultimately be rewarded?), but this novel is more tepid than other works in her oeuvre. Still, readers who love hardworking, honest-living characters with strong values can get their fix here.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was a good, shallow beach read,
By A Customer
This review is from: Quentins (Mass Market Paperback)
Award-winning literature. No.A good,light,fun beach read. yes! I found it hard to put the book down, even thought I was thoroughly irritated with Ella. I couldn't wait to see what other stupid ideas she'd come up with...... I am fan of Binchy now. This was the first book of hers I had read... I'm on to Tara Road next... http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
2.0 out of 5 stars
A far cry from Binchy's best,
By A Customer
This review is from: Quentins (Mass Market Paperback)
Maeve Binchy is capable of much better work. Quentins' plot is formulaic at best. The characters are shallow and poorly developed. I have read all of Binchy's books, and have been dismayed to see the downhill progression in the quality of her recent output. Both Quentins and Scarlet Feather have been entirely disappointing. Fans of her earlier novels such as Circle of Friends and The Glass Lake should not expect too much of Quentins. Buck up, Ms. Binchy, you can do better than this!
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not a bad read, but could've been better,
By A Customer
This review is from: Quentins (Mass Market Paperback)
"Quentin" is written as several short stories embedded in the main story (of Ella). The short stories are warm, and quite sweet. Some people might think them a bit sappy, but I found them quite touching actually. However, the main plot is weak and has less substance than the short stories: Ella had everythinhg going her way until she met the wrong men and lost everything. I felt bad for her at first, but the longer she lingered on his memories holding onto his computer, the less I liked her. The ending felt rushed and irrational. I think "Quentin" would have been better as a collection of short stories about the people of the restaurant Quentin.
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