Dublin 4

I first became aware of Maeve Binchy through her short stories so picking this book up was a return to that first introduction. I blow hot and cold with short fiction but I don't think any of Binchy's stories have ever disappointed me. The story that sticks out from this collection for me is the first one, in which a woman decides to throw a dinner party with a rising artist as the guest of honour. The woman doesn't consult her husband before sending out the dinner invitations and when he finds out from a friend about the party he is concerned. The reason for his concern is that the rising artist is his mistress but it doesn't seem that his wife knows about this affair. Or does she? Binchy keeps you guessing until the last.

Four short stories that left me wondering if I enjoyed them or not:
Dinner in Donnybrook - felt annoyed with the wife, who plays at being a naive martyr who sets about creating a ruse to keep her cheating husband.
Flat in Ringsend - again disappointed with this short tale, which tells of a naive girl who goes flatting for the first time and wants to grow up quickly, thus making a few mistakes along the way.
Decision in Belfield - I enjoyed this as it had substance. Pat, younger than Cathy and more outgoing, tries to find out what happened to Cathy, her pregnant, unmarried sister who fled to London, as did many girls in her situation. The truth turns out to be quite unexpected, and not just for Cathy but also Pat.
Murmurs in Montrose - a show more story of loneiness and the heartbreak of the effects that this disease has on everyone it touches. It's about Emma, her recovering alcoholic husband Gerry, their families and their friends. Gerry's mother denies that there is a problem and dismisses that there be any scandal in her life. She talks to Father Vincent, the well-meaning local priest, who himself is a recovering alcoholic but still allows himself the odd tipple. Des, Gerry's unreformed friend, and Jack, Gerry's brother, are no help to Emma. Emma struggles to keep the family together, by making excuses for all Gerry's faults, as she subtly manages his access to alcohol, car keys and money. She jollies, him along, bears his complaints and criticisms, his blame games and justification all the time while knowing, deep-down, what everyone thinks of him. show less

Oh if only someone had warned me that the last story wasn't heartwarming like the others. Honestly, it was a comfort read until then, probably four stars. But no.

Rather hit and miss, I thought. I liked Victoria Line Central Line, but with perhaps the exception of the first story, I found these a little hard to get into, and lacking Maeve Binchy's usual warmth and characterisation.

Every Friday, a small group of people from Dublin board a lilac painted mini-bus for the trip to the small town of Rathdoon. Over the course of the novella, we learn their stories and their secrets. My copy of the book included the four stories in Dublin/4, which was just as the title suggests, four short stories set in Dublin.

This is not one of her best but still quite readable.

Back Cover Blurb:
A novel, bringing together the life stories of ordinary people, including a student facing the dilemma of unwanted pregnancy and a country girl savouring the delights of the city.

4 excellent short stories: Dinner in Donnybrook, Flat in Ringsend, Decision in Belfield, Murmurs in Montrose.