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Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy
(2010, Orion Publishing Group)

I always find a disconnect between  a photo of Maeve Binchy and her books.  She seems to be a mothering-type who is happily married, and yet she can really capture the singleton’s often frustrating romantic journey.

In Minding Frankie, a spunky, single older American comes to visit her Irish family that’s down on its luck.  I won’t tell you who Frankie is, but she’s not the protagonist.  The American and her much younger male cousin are the lead characters in this book about the possibility of changing your life to what you want it to be.  It won’t be easy, Binchy throws in many twists and turns, but it’s possible if you want it.  And, of course, life has its tragedies, so Minding Frankie doesn’t present an Ireland void of sadness.  But that doesn’t mean Minding Frankie will leave you depressed, either.

While Minding Frankie is obviously not a self-help book, I felt more ambitious and optimistic after I read it.   That’s a feeling I’ve had other books by the author.

Another quality I adore about Binchy’s books (I am working my way through them, I’ve read about half) is that she brings characters from other books back.  It’s wonderful and I often feel further chicklit delight when one of her characters returns or scenes are set in the famous Quentins restaurant.

This is another Binchy classic.