A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy (2012)

I have seen Mave Binchy's books on the shelves, and finally decided to try one. This Week in Winter just happens to be on the current shelf of my audio book shop, so I am starting with this. Turns out this was her last book and that Binchy died days after finishing it. Turns out she is one of Ireland's most popular authors of all times.

 We have Stone House on the shores of the Atlantic in western Ireland. It is owned by three unmarried sisters and eventually all the characters described in the book become a part of Stone House, either working there or visiting the cozy hotel Chicky Starr creates out of the old house. I was especially drawn in by the first two stories of Chicky and Rigger. They each have a difficult past that they need to forget and create a future for themselves. 

Each character or couple gets their own section of the book, going back as far as necessary to get to the past that has landed in the current dissatisfaction with life. Rigger gets in trouble as a kid and keeps hanging out with the wrong crowd, Winnie has found a great man, but with a horrible mother, American John misses a flight and ends up at Stone House, a Swedish accountant loves Irish music, two doctors are deeply affected by patients that commit suicide, etc.  As they arrive in Stone House, their story furthers the general story, and at times their lives are intertwined. Chicky has created the warm setting, but the atmosphere is created by all of them, heals almost all those who come. I enjoyed all the stories of people's lives. I could only complain of the fact that it was a bit contrived to have almost all of them come out with major changes in their lives and futures to look forward to.

I may turn to Maeve Binchy when I need a feel-good about humanity type book.