Heart and Soul

This was slow going for me. I got confused by the vast army of characters and plotlines.

It's been a few years since I read a book by Maeve Binchy. I love the way she brings all the characters together as if they are part of one large family. This one was just as good, if not better than previous books.

I feel the main character in this story was Ania, the young Polish girl. We first meet Ania as she is trying to find a way to earn money, while she speaks mostly Polish, and is new to Dublin. Along the way, we get to know more about Ania's history and while doing so, we meet many other characters. Another main character, and probably my favorite is Clara. Clara is a divorced mother of two girls, and she has some attitude. I felt I could relate to her character and events throughout the story.

The fun thing about Maeve Binchy books is if you have read any previous books, you will read again about many previous characters. However, you don't have to have read the previous books to understand where they fit, since she blends them in so perfectly.

Maeve Binchy is one of several authors I love and one of a few by whom I keep all the books I've read. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story.

There is just something comforting about Maeve Binchy's books, like curling up on a chilly night with a warm blanket and hot cup of cocoa and revisiting old friends. Miz Binchy is an expert at creating wonderful and quirky characters and intermingling their lives from book to book and her latest did not disappoint in the least!