RIP Maeve Binchy

I do like Cathy Kelly too. She is another good story teller.

I grew up three miles away from Maeve, we went to the same school, although she was a few years older than me. When I left school I also worked at the Irish Times. I will really miss her and her wonderful stories. To read her books was escapism, they took you to the setting. The characters were so real. Where am I going to go now? I found her books engrossing and just couldn't put them down until i had finished, then I always felt disappointed, thinking, what am I going to read next? Nothing, nobody can compare to Maeve and her writings. Sadly missed, may she rest in peace.

I felt sad when I read that Maeve Binchy had died - and so young - by what seems to be the norm these days. Every book of hers I read I finished feeling replete. A bit like eating a good casserole when only that will do the appetite and the season. RIP Maeve.

I have read all her books and never been disappointed. Saddened to hear of her passing and will so miss her wonderful stories. My thoughts are with her adored husband.

I haven't read all of her books,but those I have read I loved ..the last one was Minding Frankie.....RIP maeve...her books are a lovely comfort read,just the sort I like....I like the thrill you get when you see a new book out by an author you like,then you take the book home and I have to sniff the pages of a new book,and savour the moment when I sink into comfort and shut out the world definitely another of my 'friends' gone...Dick Francis had been 'friend' for over 30 years,although his son Felix is good.....sorry waffling again..

Her characters were so real I have enjoyed all her books. I am so sad to hear of her passing.

gosh have got some of her books couple not read, she was not very old had she been ill long while?? what a shame.

That is a shame, she wasn't very old. I have some of her books, Light a Penny Candle is one of them. RIP Maeve

So sad - I enjoyed listening to her in interviews - her enthusiasm and humour bubbling through her words - and her books were full of the Dublin and Ireland I remember. They are all still on my shelves! RIP Maeve

I do feel very sad to hear this - there was a time in my life when the children were small when her lovely light reads hit the spot. She came across as a warm person and it is sad that she is gone.

That was not meant to sound damning - I loved her characters and her storylines.

A warm bath or a cup of hot chocolate - her books were not great literature but so often just what you needed! Middle DD used to refer to her as Mauve Bunchy (I suspect she was borderline dyslexic) but on seeing a pic of her in Radio Times shortly after, quite close!!RIP

And they were good stories too, just what you need sometimes!

She was 72 - suddenly, that seems very young. I am sure she would have continued to give us all pleasure in her books.

I loved all her books and was sad to hear she has died. As wisewoman said, her books were soothing and relaxing.

My DD and I shared a love of her books. She will be sadly missed.

She was a lovely warm person and the warmth came through in all her work.

I enjoyed all her books and I found it easy to relate to the girls in convent schools in the 1950s. I shall miss waiting for her latest books to come out.

Her books were like a warm bath - soothing and relaxing - and the characters were always interesting. There are times when we need fluff with no brainwork involved and she (and Rosamund Pilcher) provide this beautifully. She will be missed.

Thanks for highlighting this; I think I've read all of her books with pleasure at her passing for the pleasure given

So enjoyed her books.

its a long time since I have read any of her books, she was a great favourite of my Mum, the only one's that come to mind are something about copper birch tree and a another about a group of friends and a bus, if my memory serves me well which it doesn't always.

Me too mamie
so sad, she was a beautiful writer. RIP Maeve