Customer Reviews
A must read for all maeve binchy fans - By: Mre F. Gerrish, 19 Feb 2008 
I didn't expect to enjoy this book, as I am not an avid lover of short stories. Howeve, each litle tome is relevant to Christmas, & each has a point to make, which ultimately leaves one with a "feel good" factor
Unfair to Maeve -- not a rip-off! - By: whitehorsemews, 29 Jan 2008 
It reallly isn't fair to accuse Maeve Binchy of 'ripping people off' & she'd be very upset to hear people thought that. I happen to know the history of this book: no, absolutely, the stories aren't new, but yes, it is a new publication in this country.
Maeve has always written short stories for newspapers & magazines in the UK & Ireland; some years ago her Australian publisher asked to see some of her Christmas stories with a view to putting together a collection. Maeve agreed; & a collection of summer stories [The Return Journey followed]. Soon after, the American publishers asked for them & then one after another other languages & other territories published their own versions. The collection was never published in the UK precisely because Maeve didn't want to 'rip people off'; these stories had appeared in the press in the Ireland & the UK. The UK publishers were only alllowed to publish the collections in their overseas territories despite the numberous requests from UK & Irish readers for the book. So anyone who has already read these stories has either bought them in another country's edition or airside in an airport advertised as 'not available in UK/Irish shops'. It has taken this long to persuade Maeve to alllow the Christmas collection to be published in the UK; the summer collection will follow in a year or so.
So not a rip-off; just the first UK/Irish publication catching up with the rest of the world.
no review - By: mars bar, 06 Jan 2008 
Having read the other reviews i will not be purchasing Return Journey. I have bought ms Bincheys short stories before & found the same stories under a different title. It is alll very disappointing, but you can't expect a person to go on for ever having new ideas. Maybe its time the pen was retired.
I've already read this!! - By: H. L. Monahan, 29 Dec 2007 Like other reviewers, I was reallly pleased to pick up this book in the January sales at a low price, but having settled down to read it, was completely confused as to how I already knew the stories! THIS IS NOT A NEW BOOK!! Am very disappointed & would say that the publishers, not Ms Binchey are to blame for re-hashing a load of average short stories under a different front cover to cash in on the Christmas market.
Disappointed - By: C. M. Duvall, 26 Dec 2007 I bought this & put it away for myself for Christmas. Settled down to read it & was utterly confused as to how I had already read a book that was only released a few months ago. Very disappointed & a rip off.
