Chestnut Street

Don’t we all want to live on a street where the neighbors are incredibly good and kind, from the window washer Bucket Maguire, to the pretend psychic, to the taken-for-granted older Mom who finds a new life right next door? This is an enchanting and wonderful world and a very fun and humorous look at the most delightful neighborhood ever. It is heartening after reading so many cynical takes on modern life to find light and pleasant reading which is guaranteed to make the reader feel better. Some of the stories, however, are quite poignant about lonely people attempting to make a connection from their sheltered lives on Chestnut Street. There are stories of self-sacrificing individuals whose dreams are shattered, but they persevere through strength of character. Her stories are about the lives of ordinary people in ordinary situations who somehow manage to hold on. The stories are quite well written.

The author, Maeve Binchy, was unknown to me although she was quite celebrated for her many books, plays and stories. She died in 2012. Apparently, she had written these stories over a period of time and had always intended to publish them as a set.