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readingspells 's review for:

The Lilac Bus by Maeve Binchy
4.0
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I super enjoyed this short little book. I had not read a Maeve Binchey in years but this reminded me just what a brilliant story teller of everyday people's lives she is and I think I might go back and read some of her other stuff. I remember loving Circle of Friends. I wonder if I would love it as much now?

But back to the Lilac Bus. Officially a collection of short stories but they are interwoven as all the people live in the little town of Rathdoon. 

My favourite story may have been Rupert. Yay for some LQBTQ+ rep. It was beautifully done and felt exactly right for the time it was set in. However I enjoyed all the stories. They are brilliantly observed portraits of a individuals but also a small town. 

I listened to the audio which I would happily give a 5-star for. Its read by Kate Binchey and her accent and different voices was absolutely perfect. 

If you are looking for a short brilliantly narrated book then I can't recommend this one enough