Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a complete newbie when it comes to the work of Maeve Binchy, you might want to get your hands on some of her books as soon as you can. Why? Well since she sadly passed away on Monday, her novels are flying off the shelves.
The Irish Independent reports that Maeve Binchy may be gone, but if the past few days have proved anything, it is that the writer will never be forgotten by the Irish people. In fact, bookshops and libraries across the nation are struggling to keep her novels in stock, as we all scramble to re-read her classics or see what all the fuss is about by cracking up one of her novels for the very first time.
According to Dublin City Council, all of its Maeve Binchy material is out on loan, while bookshop Hodges Figgis has said that it too has experience a major increase in demand for Maeve’s books.
Liam Donnelly, the deputy manager of Hodges Figgis told the Irish Independent that the shop had to boost its supplies in order to meet the demand for Maeve’s books.
“Normally we would have one or two of each of her books in store,” he said.
At present, the Dublin branch of Hodges Figgis has limited supplies left.
Yesterday, a brief statement about Maeve Binchy’s death was posted onto her website and it described the much-loved author as “a weaver of magic whose stories touched the hearts of millions.”
“She died far too soon; she had many more stories to tell. She will be sorely missed by her family, her friends, her publishers and her readers throughout the world,” said the statement.
And the tributes to Maeve keep on pouring in. The latest Irish celebrity to pay tribute to Maeve was Gay Byrne, who interviewed her several times for The Late Late Show and for his other programme The Meaning of Life in 2009.
Gay described her as being “an amazingly generous person.”
“She was always terrific value and terrific fun. And very funny and people loved her. The audience in the studio loved her and the people all over the country, as we now fully realise, absolutely adored her,” he said.
Maeve’s funeral will take place tomorrow, and if you’d like to pay your respects, the Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council is opening a book of condolences for the author in Dalkey following her funeral.
There’s no denying that Maeve will be desperately missed and here in the Her.ie offices, we’re all planning on re-reading some of her books. Are you planning on picking up one of her novels again?
