Scarlet Feather

Written by Maeve Binchy

Narrated by Caroline Winterson and Barbara Caruso

Two friends struggle to balance their personal and professional lives in this charming novel from acclaimed author Maeve Binchy.

They met in cooking school and became fast friends with a common dream. Now Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather hope to take Dublin by storm with their newly formed catering company, aptly dubbed “Scarlet Feather.” Not everyone, however, shares their optimism. Cathy’s mother-in-law disapproves of both Cathy and her new “hobby,” while Cathy’s husband, Neil, pays no mind to anything—except his work as a civil rights lawyer. And then there’s Tom’s family, who expect him to follow in his father’s footsteps, and an ambitious girlfriend who’s struggling with career dreams of her own. Between friends and families, ups and downs, heartaches and joys, Cathy and Tom are about to embark on the most maddening—and exhilarating—year of their lives …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781461809395

Reviews for Scarlet Feather

[Farai Mutusva · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As always Maeve will keep you completely obsessed with the characters and story. Loved it

[Veslemøy Fluge Berg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Charming! Maeve binchy is such a great story teller !

[maryzee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good story, way too many words to tell it

[rosalita_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The problem with putting books away after you've read them is then you spot other books on the same shelf and think, "Oh, I haven't read that one in a while" and before you know it you're re-reading a book you never planned on re-reading. Sigh. Anyway, this is a fine, humor-filled example of Binchy's more modern Irish stories, which focus on Dublin and weave together the lives and POVs of a multitude of characters.

[nancynova · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Bookbox - ABC VBB; Nice story with a lot of characters; focus is on Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlet who met in a cooking class and now are opening a catering business in Dublin. I saw some breakups and get togethers in the stars, but some were a surprise. Overall, good reading.

[maggieflo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Likely my one and only Maeve Binchy book. The story of Cathy Scarlet and her cooking school buddy Tom Feather who open a catering business in Dublin. Lots of family squabbles, business decisions and diasaters and some romance.

[cubsfan3410 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the way Ms. Binchy weaves her characters together through the different storylines. This was a very engrossing book!

[evelynbernard · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I joined the book club at my library. This was January's selection. I must be one of the few people alive who have never read Maeve Binchy. Tom Feather and Cathy Scarlet, friends from culinary school open a catering company called Scarlet Feather. The book follows 'a year in the life' - their jobs, their relationships, their families. Unfortunately, I found both main characters to be completely unlikeable - uncommunicative, judgemental, childish. Luckily, Binchy does a pretty good job of creating supporting characters who are interesting - a pair of nine-year-old twins; Cathy's parents (working class, hard working, kind and fair) - but not really enough to sustain an almost 500 page novel.So, why did I give this book a decent review rating? The average age at the book club appears to be about 75. Each and every one of them loved this book. They thought the characters had fine moral fibre. They wanted the catering company to do well. They commiserated over the relationship problems. They rooted for the possible romantic ending. They chose another Binchy book for February. Any book that will bring seniors together, provide entertainment, companionship and purpose is all right by me. (I, however, won't be going in February)

[sandyamcpherson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've kept only 3 of Binchy's novels, the ones I would read again because they're typically narratives of people and personalities. SF is like several of her other novels and a relaxing read. She doesn't have the philosophical depth that Penelope Lively evokes, but she does create a plausible community of interesting people.

[librarycin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 starsCathy Scarlet and Tom Feather are friends and are trying to start a catering business in Dublin. Cathy’s husband, Neil, has young cousins who show up at his rich parents’ place, needing a place to stay, but they rub his parents the wrong way, so Cathy and Neil end up taking them in. Tom’s wife, Marcella, wants desperately to be a model. There is plenty going on, as this novel follows their lives for one year. There are many characters, and the perspective goes back and forth amongst many of them, but somehow, they are pretty easy to keep straight. I quite like that Binchy often has characters in multiple novels. I enjoyed the book, but problems can be seen coming from a bit of a distance. That is, I don’t think there are really any surprises in the book.

[icewineanne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Maeve Binchy is such a wonderful storyteller. If you enjoy books by Catherine Cookson, you will love Scarlet Feather, all about relationships. Her books lift your spirits. I read this book years ago but I still wanted to give it a rating on Goodreads. Unfortunately she passed away a few years ago. I met her in person many times and she was such a beautiful person, having the wit and charm that she displayed in her stories. Five Stars Maeve, we'll miss you!

[lukerik-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

By page 20 I had my head in my hands, cursing myself for starting it. I kept flicking through to the end and was just in despair at the length of the thing.However, the sound of Binchy's voice is just so nice that I found myself being seduced by it. I'll not make insupportable claims about the literary worth of the book (she never rises above soap opera quality) but by the end I was thoroughly enjoying myself.

[eesti23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book, but it felt like the book could have been condensed, especially in the beginning. Some elements were quite predictable - the breakdown of Cathy's marriage, for example - and others a little less predictable. Would have liked less content in the beginning and one or two more chapters at the end.

[deckla_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A satisfying domestic comedy set in current-day Dublin, concerning the adventures of Cathy and Tom, a man and woman in their late 20s who begin a catering business. Binchy's depiction of the swift currents of family life, work life, class struggles, personal struggles, and romantic struggles plunges you into the lives of these people like you belong to the family. Colorful, well-drawn characters abound--a goodhearted father who spends all his time and money on horses, a black sheep nephew with itchy fingers, an haughty, lonely mother-in-law habituated to the privileges and peculiarities of high society, a well-born lawyer on an obsessive quest for social justice, and two neglected children who ask too many questions. This is the first Binchy novel I've read, and I will definitely read more.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5***

Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather met in culinary school and became fast friends. Now they’ve joined forces to start a catering company – Scarlet Feather. They’re young, energetic, and talented and have made some good connections. They’ve found the prefect premises to make their new business the best in Dublin. They know it will be hard work but they are ready to pursue their dream, and with the support of friends and family they feel sure they will succeed.

Binchy excels at writing ensemble pieces that show ordinary people in some extraordinary circumstances. This novel covers a year in the lives of Cathy, Tom, their life partners, parents, employees, friends and family. They make mistakes, have emotional melt downs, overcome obstacles, find reserves of love and compassion, smile through adversity, and never stop working to achieve their dream.

One thing I like about Binchy’s novels is that her characters are so real. They may be brilliant chefs but Tom and Cathy also have character flaws. They’re both far too reticent when it comes to expressing their feelings, preferring to put off to tomorrow what should be faced today. But over the course of the novel, they do grow and mature. The rest of the ensemble cast is unevenly drawn … Cathy’s parents have a fairly significant role and are pretty complete, but Tom’s parents are rarely seen and his mother, in particular, is somewhat of a caricature. Neil’s father also was very simply drawn, though maybe his general absence from the story is indicative of his absence as a true father.

The book is written in a style that supports the ensemble cast. Each chapter covers a month in the year, but is divided into short vignettes jumping from character to character and scene to scene. The result is that the reader gets a more complete picture than any of the characters does.

[ladyofthelodge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another detailed and colorful book by Maeve Binchy. The characters are described in detail, and the reader feels as if they are friends by the end of the book. Good sense of place and plot. The twins are a riot! I listened to the abridged audio book version while driving. I also read parts of it in the print version. The print version had a lot more details and descriptions, not essential to the story but added to the interest of the book. The only objection I had is the rather abrupt ending to the book--"Is that it?" I wanted to know more about what happened, but felt as if I was left hanging.

[mojacobs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very romantic Binchy, very predictable but still a nice read, perfect brain candy for times when you need some instant gratification.

[witchyrichy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was prepared to not really like this but it was on the shelf and I wanted something light and easy. It turned out to be much better than I expected although a bit predictable.

[corajoanburgett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Maeve Binchy's work. She bring Ireland and the Irish people alive. "Scarlet Feather" is populated with the families of Cathy Scarlet and Joe Feather, who open their own catering service Scarlet Feather. It is touching in many ways and the two main characters are fine people. Their friendship endures through many traumas -- and you get caught up in the lives of the characters. In the end, their friendship prevails.

[jayne_charles_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favourite by Maeve Binchy. It has the usual ingredients - set in Ireland, lots of gossipy goings-on, an engaging and readable style. Hard to pick a 'best', but I thought the storyline of this was superb, with the right mixture of light and dark, and a good ending. It also had the most 'modern' feel of her books to date.

[dianaleez · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

predictable but relaxing read

[marialondon_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After finishing "Tara Road", I started "Scarlet Feather"--& both these books I read a couple of years after reading earlier (much better, as I see it) Maeve Binchy books- such as "Circle of friends", "Glass lake", "Evening class" etc. The difference between earlier & later Binchy books is enormous. I believe the earlier books started out much more naturally, & the "formula" that everyone talks about, Binchy's usual multiple-character-formula probably was an original, creative device then. Later on, with "Tara Road" & now (even more) with "Scarlet Feather", Binchy's formula seems much more like an old & tired plot device, more like a gimmick than anything else.The Binchy formula is ever present here: Lots of characters. 2 central characters (Cathy & Tom) who are trying to set up their own catering business in Dublin. A huge (TOO huge) cast of supporting characters. A couple of people who are the obvious villains in the story (but they're so predictably...villainous that it all gets very boring very soon). Hints at side-stories that, at some point, get explained. I could go on & on, since lately Binchy's novels seem to be a mixing up of the same elements, again & again.What I didn't like, specifically, isa) the predictability of the storyb) the fact that several lose ends were left there, hanging open. For example, the Amanda-story, the Shona story, the actual early relationship between Cathy & Neil, the relationship between Cathy & her mother-in-law etc etc. There are too many to mention. Interesting little pieces of stories that never get developed, & we're left with questions.c) the holier-than-thou attitude of Cathy. She's TOO perfect for my own taste, a little humourless & she's got a chip on her shoulder all the time.What I did like were the delicious descriptions of food that the catering company produces! MMMMMMmm....Read "Scarlet feather" with low expectations, just as a book-to-read-by-the-beach, & mostly for the great food!

[drebbles · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set over a period of one year, Scarlet Feather is a novel featuring Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather, who open a catering company together. As they deal with the joys and heartbreak of owning a business their relationship with each other changes as does their relationship with the other's around them,notably Cathy's husband, Neil, who is a lawyer who wants to save the world and Tom's beautiful girlfriend, Marcella, who will do just about anything to make it as a model. Also involved are Cathy's parents, Muttie, who knows that the next bet he places will be the winner, and "his wife Lizzie", who used to clean for Neil's mother. Neil's family also plays an important part in the novel, especially his cousin Walter, and Maud and Simon, Walter's neglected 8-year-old brother and sister. Other characters include Cathy's family in America, her Aunt Geraldine, and their accountant James Byrne. By the end of the year, each character's life had changed, many in ways they never would have imagined. Maeve Binchy is a talented writer who can create many characters and make you care about each one, bad or good. Muttie, Maud and Simon are the characters that stood out the most to me. I wish Neil and Cathy's earlier relationship had been developed more, it's hard to understand what brought the two of them together. I do like the way the novel is set over the period of a year, it's amazing how much life can change in a year. I like Maeve Binchy's books, but there is something a bit melancholy about them, that, while I enjoy reading them, after I've finished it's a long time before I read another one.

[readingrat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of a tumultuous year in the lives of Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather as they try to start a catering business in Dublin. This is my third Binchy book. I enjoyed it but it didn't ignite my wanderlust like the other two did. However I did enjoy the characters enough to want to check out Quentins and see who shows up there.

[rosemarion · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an interesting read for those that enjoy the spectacular story-telling of Maeve Binchy. Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather open a catering business named Scarlet Feather in Dublin, Ireland one January. They are friends from their culinary student days and have always dreamed of opening their own business. Thus, when Scarlet Feather starts to take off, they feel all their dreams are going to come true. Of course nobody's life is a fairy-tale and interesting trials and triumphs follow Tom and Cathy as they embark upon their careers. Relationship troubles, family issues, and two adorable abandoned children enrich this tale of food, love, joy, and sorrow.Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy is very human and relatable. Maeve Binchy is extremely gifted in the art of story-telling because she knows how to weave many unique characters and their storylines succinctly together. It's a "yummy" treat!

[cindyloumn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVED this book. But didnt like the ending!! Did tom and cathy end up together?? Never says. But otherwise very good. Lots of characters!

[eargent_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. MB is one of my favourite authors.

[bookmarque · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Most of the characters were well drawn except for Cathy. On the one hand she’s portrayed as short tempered and rude. The next minute she’s shrinking inside herself in front of her mother-in-law and doing everything she can to attend to the twins that have been dumped on her. It was like two characters instead of one.