Maeve Binchy, 72, Author of "Circle of Friends" and "Light a Penny Candle"

[Rex]

After a brief illness.

I loved Light a Penny Candle...I know some critics dismissed her as "chick lit" or soap opera, but I liked her writing. RIP.

[CDANN1013]

I loved her books.

Carol

[Cachoo]

RIP Maeve.

[Garden Kitty]

I've only read a few of her books, but I know my Mom loved her books. RIP

[Tesla]

Oh no. RIP Maeve. I have several of her books.

[Habs]

This makes me so sad. I loved Light a Penny Candle and Evening Class.

RIP Maeve.

[taf2002]

I loved Circle of Friends & Firefly Summer. RIP

[allezfred]

It's fairly big news here naturally enough. A lot of the tributes are describing her as "a national treasure". RIP.

Fittingly she was featured in an article in the Irish Times this month before she passed, the newspaper where she got her big break.

I don't have any regrets about any roads I didn't take....

There are lots of things I wish I had done more of – studied harder, read more and been nicer and all those things – but I don’t have any regrets about any roads I didn’t take. Everything went well and I think that’s been a help because I can look back, and I do get great pleasure out of looking back.

I get just as much of a laugh out of thinking of funny things from the old days as if they were last week.

I’ve been very lucky and I have a happy old age with good family and friends still around.

[SCG888]

Very sad to hear! I've been a fan of her books for many years and just finished reading the latest paperback on vacation. Complicated, interwoven storylines with vivid characterizations...and characters would pop-up in another book years later, making her work feel like one big family story.

RIP Maeve, your writing will be missed!

[Buzz]

R.I.P.

[cholla]

[skatesindreams]

Her books opened a wider world; and brought me pleasure for many years.
RIP, dear lady.

[Erin]

RIP to one of my favourite authors. I loved many of the books that have already been mentioned here (particularly Circle of Friends and Light a Penny Candle) and two of my favourites that haven't been mentioned yet are Echoes and The Glass Lake. Her early work had far too much depth to be considered chick lit or soap opera and inspired my desire to see Ireland - I may have to go back and re-read a few of the classics in the next few weeks.

[succubus]

I loved her writing and this news makes me a bit desolate. Her books were very comforting to me. Loved Firefly Summer.

[euterpe]

I loved all her books. I will miss her.

[Sassafras]

I've read or listened to the audio of all her works and always look forward her next one.

[dbell1]

Scarlet Feather, and Quintin's Pub were favorites of mine. Firefly Summer, of course. Loved her writing, it was like visiting friends. Never forced or artificial.

[Bev Johnston]

Oh, no! I've been on a real Maeve Binchy kick this summer. It started with Circle of Friends and continued with Tara Road, Scarlet Feather, Heart and Soul, and Quentens. I'm currently reading Evening Class. So bummed. I like the way she intertwined characters from previous books into new novels. That way you got a chance to find out how your old favorites were doing. RIP

[Alixana]

Evening Class .. still one of my faves. RIP