Title: Scarlet Feather
Author: Maeve Binchy
Release Date: 2001
Two friends start a catering business in Dublin. Throughout the course of a year, their lives change in ways they never expected.
Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather, friends from cooking school, decide to open a catering business together named Scarlet Feather. The novel follows Scarlet Feather for a full calendar year, beginning in January when Cathy and Tom find the perfect premises for their business, to December when their lives are vastly different. A quirky cast of characters filters in and out of their lives: Cathy’s husband - workaholic lawyer Neil; Tom’s fiance - model Marcella; Cathy’s mother-in-law - snooty Hannah; Cathy’s mother Lizzie - former maid for snooty Hannah; hilarious 9-year-old twins Simon and Maud - cousins to Neil; along with Cathy’s large extended family. Cathy and Tom’s catering business has ups (stellar recipes, catering huge weddings) and downs (a break-in to their premises, possibly needing to file for bankruptcy) over the year. Cathy and Tom experience personal ups and downs as well - Cathy deals with pregnancy and miscarriage, and Tom deals with Marcella deciding her modeling career is more important than their relationship. Throughout it all, Tom and Cathy resolutely cook, plan, and dream of their business making it. Twins Maud and Simon, abandoned by their parents, move in with Cathy’s parents and show everyone that families can be created wherever there is love. The novel has similar characteristics to Maeve Binchy’s many other books - set in modern-day Ireland, heartwarming cast of characters, real life struggles, honest portrayals of relationships with family and friends, and characters’ side stories connecting to create the larger story. Foodies will enjoy the many descriptive passages about Scarlet Feather’s menus.
Recipe for success? Combine a feel-good story, likeable characters, and an engaging writing style. Maeve Binchy cooks up another winner!
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your review, especially the last paragraph, a very fitting appraisal! I think you gave plenty of description and appeal factors for readers to know what to expect. I like a book with a large cast of characters and this one sounds charming.
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI love the "Recipe for success?" line! It ties well into what I assume the book is about based on your description (I have never personally read it, but for some reason I have been drawn to book set in Ireland... especially if it has an audiobook with an Irish accented narrator). Will this book make me hungry though? I will need to prepare myself ahead of time and make sure there are plenty of snacks within arms reach before I snuggle into this one.
Thank you for the review!
Hi Leah,
DeleteIf you like books set in Ireland, definitely check out Maeve Binchy. She's one of my favorite authors, and her books always make me want to take a trip to the small Irish communities she writes about. Snacks are always a plus :)
Thank you so much for the recommendation! I read 500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan and Normal People by Sally Rooney... there are a few other ones in there as well that I'm not thinking of, but I found them so nice to listen to!
DeleteI too love the "recipe for success" - sometimes Kirkus reviews are punny. The closing line is perfect. Full points!
ReplyDelete