Maeve Binchy, bestselling Irish writer, dies aged 72

Source: Guardian (UK)

Maeve Binchy, one of Ireland's best-loved writers, has died after a short illness, aged 72.

The books of Binchy, a former journalist, sold 40 million copies and were translated into 30 languages. Her novels included Circle of Friends, which was adapted into a 1995 film starring Chris O'Donnell and Minnie Driver.

Her novels and short stories focused on the details of Irish life and the friction between tradition and modernity.

She spoke last month at the Dalkey Book Festival in the suburb of Dublin, where she lived with her husband, Gordon Snell. She read from her most recent short story, which she told the audience would probably be her last.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jul/31/maeve-binchy-irish-writer-dies

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8 replies	Author	Time	Post
Maeve Binchy, bestselling Irish writer, dies aged 72 (Original post)	corksean	Jul 2012	OP
No!	Rhiannon12866	Jul 2012	#1
So sad. One of my favorite authors. n/t	patricia92243	Jul 2012	#2
One of my favorites	JustAnotherGen	Jul 2012	#3
Her books were somehow calming	proReality	Jul 2012	#4
I loved "Angela's Ashes"	AngryAmish	Jul 2012	#5
That was a memoir written by Irish-American Frank McCourt	obamanut2012	Jul 2012	#6
I meant the film based on her book "The Field"	AngryAmish	Jul 2012	#7
Oh how very sad. She was a warm, wonderful author. Godspeed, Maeve.	nolabear	Jul 2012	#8

Response to corksean (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 04:07 AM

Rhiannon12866 (54,970 posts)

1. No!

She was my mother's favorite author and I loved her books, too. We have an Irish friend who turned my mother on to her books, since she was our friend's teacher and they remained close. I believe she was wheelchair bound. Her stories were about the WWII generation, growing up in Ireland, memorable characters and a real feel for the times and the place. She'll certainly be missed. Godspeed, Ms. Binchy...

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Response to corksean (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 05:46 AM

patricia92243 (7,551 posts)

2. So sad. One of my favorite authors. n/t

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Response to corksean (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 06:11 AM

JustAnotherGen (5,600 posts)

3. One of my favorites

And Circle of Friends could have been written about a group of female friends anywhere in the 20th century. I related to it as college student in the early 1990's in the US. Much better ending in the book than in the movie.

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Response to corksean (Original post)

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 07:17 AM

proReality (1,288 posts)