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Tara Road: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 33,391 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Ria lived on Tara Road in Dublin with her dashing husband, Danny, and their two children. She fully believed she was happily married, right up until the day Danny told her he was leaving her to be with his young, pregnant girlfriend. By a chance phone call, Ria meets Marilyn, a woman from New England unable to come to terms with her only son's death and now separated from her husband. The two women exchange houses for the summer with extraordinary consequences, each learning that the other has a deep secret that can never be revealed. Drawn into lifestyles vastly differing from their own, at first each resents the news of how well the other is getting on. Ria seems to have become quite a hostess, entertaining half the neighborhood, which at first irritates the reserved and withdrawn Marilyn, a woman who has always guarded her privacy. Marilyn seems to have become bosom friends with Ria's children, as well as with Colm, a handsome restaurateur, whom Ria has begun to miss terribly. At the end of the summer, the women at last meet face-to-face. Having learned a great deal, about themselves and about each other, they find that they have become, firmly and forever, good friends. A moving story rendered with the deft touch of a master artisan, Tara Road is Maeve Binchy at her very best—utterly beautiful, hauntingly unforgettable, entirely original, and wholly enjoyable.
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"I liked this book when I read it but it definitely has a 'written for movie' feel about it. It is a running away to find yourself novel about trading lives. The characters are damaged by their circumstances and get thrown into other chaotic worlds where secrets and lies can't be avoided. I liked the characters and the idea but it probably isn't the best example of Binchy's work. This is a consumable story to be eaten quickly. Don't expect sustenance."
— Sasha (4 out of 5 stars)
Tara Road Listener Reviews
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" A reread. Maeve Binchy is my go-to author for comfort reading and I hadn't read this book in years. It was exactly what I needed. "
— Debb24601, 2/16/2014 -
" Mandy - you were so right. The book drags like a dead leg and then all of the sudden you are getting completely stressed out because the story is moving too quickly and you realize there are only 20 pages left to read! "
— Diana, 2/15/2014 -
" I love every word Maeve Bincy ever wrote and this book is no exception. Picking up one of her books is like going on a vacation. "
— Eve, 2/10/2014 -
" It's like mums home cooked meal - lovely and comforting "
— Kaire, 2/9/2014 -
" I must admit, I almost quit reading this book halfway through. I thought it was taking forever building up to the story that was described in the summary. I pressed on and I'm glad I did. It ended up really grabbing me at the end. What a good story of 'Life goes on'. "
— Heather, 2/7/2014 -
" Nice light, fun book to read. I always love her characters. Such a wonderful sense of community in all her books "
— Joanne, 1/17/2014 -
" My favorite Maeve Binchy book ever ... could not put it down and read it into the wee hours of the morning. I love how she develops characters and then brings them all together at the end. "
— Cindy, 1/12/2014 -
" Still my favorite book by Maeve Binchy. It was still excellent even knowing the surprises this time around. "
— Marian, 1/12/2014 -
" I love this book. I have read it many times and I always find a new little nugget. I am gearing up for Maeve Binchy's last book by reading a few of my favorites. Next on my list is Scarlet Feather. "
— Alison, 1/5/2014 -
" I really like all her books. "
— Nadia, 12/18/2013 -
" Loved this book...I have had it for years and I brought it to Poland because it was long and I thought I would need some distraction during the adoption! I got involved, it is a perfect summer read! "
— Jessi, 11/26/2013 -
" I read this book about 5 years ago and what a great read. "
— Shelley, 11/10/2013 -
" One of my favourite Binchys. "
— Kelly, 11/7/2013 -
" Wonderful book! Jenifer - I can see why it's one of your favorites. "
— Laura, 10/20/2013 -
" I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. This is a terrific novel to just curl up with for days. I really didn't expect to like this so much, and I am going to miss these people now that it's over! "
— Amy, 10/10/2013 -
" Again a great book! You almost feel like you are there with the charcters "
— Kwirebaugh, 8/13/2013 -
" I loved this book. I felt like the characters really grew throughout the book. The only thing I didn't like was it felt like the ending was pretty rushed. I wanted to see what became of the characters and we didn't get that chance. "
— Heather, 7/31/2013 -
" enjoyed it - look forward to listening to more Binchy novels "
— Gail, 5/29/2013 -
" Really reminded me of the movie The Holiday "
— Erin, 5/20/2013 -
" This is an easy beach or summer read for when you don't have time for the really heavy stuff. "
— Evelyn, 4/30/2013 -
" Enjoyed the story, might have to read more by this author... "
— Beth, 10/25/2012 -
" A VERY long book, but a really great sweeping novel which was recommended by a roommate years ago. A trip to Ireland was motivation to dig into this and thoroughly enjoyed this book - great Summer read! "
— Lisa, 9/23/2012 -
" Loved this book. Couldn't put it down. "
— Chrystel, 9/6/2012 -
" This was rather a long but undemanding read. If you don't want to be too taxed and you enjoy a good chic lit, then this is for you. Even better if you are an Irish American. "
— Elodie, 7/18/2012 -
" This book is way too long without much activity. There were several times when I thought about not finishing it, but I did manage to keep going. It took about half way through the 650 page book to finally get somewhat interesting. "
— Anne, 6/30/2012 -
" Just ok. I expected a much better story from Maeve Binchy. "
— Susie, 1/16/2012 -
" Good book, really got into it. "
— Maureen, 9/26/2011 -
" surprisingly good book, not even boring and there was no murdering. "
— Angel, 8/15/2011 -
" Loved it, but then I love Maeve Binchy. "
— Betty, 5/26/2011 -
" I love Maeve Binchy! This is my favorite of her books. She tells a story like no other. You are really there. You get to know characters and one by one they all blend into the story. Great Irish story teller. Nothing bad in this book, a lovely read. "
— Tina, 5/19/2011 -
" Amazing, delightful story, as usual. I think this is one of Maeve's best ones I've read yet. I can't wait to read the next book I have...Copper Beech. I'm sure it will be just as good, maybe even better. "
— Sheero, 4/27/2011 -
" It was pretty Good.But I don't think i would read it again.like most of maeve binchy's books there can be a few iffy parts in it. "
— Anylie, 4/25/2011 -
" After reading MINDING FRANKIE by Maeve Binchy, which was absolutely charming, this book left me cold. I do like Binchy's style of writing and I will try another of her novels at another time. At least I'm up to date on my reading challenge (for now). "
— Trudy, 4/21/2011 -
" Still my favorite book by Maeve Binchy. It was still excellent even knowing the surprises this time around. "
— Marian, 4/20/2011 -
" Simple pleasures. You can read Maeve Binchy with a cup of tea on a cozy winter afternoon and come to no harm. Her characters face up to truth, sometimes sadly, and face themselves and are stronger for it. And it all comes out well. "
— Kani, 4/19/2011 -
" Really great book. A woman in Ireland (who just found out her husband is leaving her) and a woman in New England (whose son has just died)exchange houses for the summer. So it is a very private person vs. and woman who has many people in her house regularly. Great book. "
— Vikki, 4/7/2011 -
" This was my first intro to Maeve Binchy's writing, and I loved it!! She makes the characters come to life and seamlessly weaves many lives and stories together without losing any of them. I'm looking forward to reading more by her. "
— Nicci, 3/31/2011 -
" Always enjoy Maeve Binchy's novels. My mom turned me on to them years ago. "
— Kassie, 3/28/2011 -
" I tried to read this. God through 200 of 600 + and gave up. I just could not go on! Stupid and boring. Krista didn't get as far as I did. Years later monica commented on how binchy uses too many words! "
— Cindy, 3/27/2011 -
" Have always loved Maeve Binchy books..... "
— Srilata, 3/25/2011
About Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy (1940–2012) was the author of numerous bestselling books, including Minding Frankie, Heart and Soul, Whitethorn Woods, and Circle of Friends, as well as Tara Road, which was an Oprah’s Book Club selection. She contributed to Gourmet; O, The Oprah Magazine; Modern Maturity; and Good Housekeeping, among other publications. Married to Gordon Snell, she lived in Dalkey, Ireland, until her death in July 2012 at the age of seventy-two, shortly after finishing A Week in Winter.
About Fionnula Flanagan
Fionnula Flanagan was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. From an early age she grew up speaking both English and Irish on a daily basis. Her parents weren’t native Irish speakers but wanted Fionnula and her four siblings to learn the language. Her mother used to say, “A nation without a language is a nation without a soul”. Fionnula has said she will be forever grateful to them for that. She was educated at the Abbey Theatre School in Dublin and in Switzerland. She moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and lives with her husband, psychiatrist Dr. Garrett O’Connor, in Beverly Hills. Of her enormous body of work, including stage, television and film, she might be most well-known for James Joyce’s Women, in which she plays six different women who had a profound influence on James Joyce‘s life. Besides giving an award-winning performance, she also wrote, adapted and produced the piece for the stage, and subsequently as a feature film. She believes Joyce is the most important writer in the English language, most notably for Ulysses, Finnegan’s Wake and The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man.