Whitethorn Woods (Vintage)
by Maeve Binchy
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Book Summary Information
Author: Maeve BinchyEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-01-29
ISBN: 0307278417
Number of pages: 464
Publisher: Anchor
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780307278418
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Whitethorn Woods (Vintage)
Book Review: Into the Woods
Summary: 5 Stars
I have long been a fan of Maeve Binchy's novels. She is a gifted storyteller who can make a wide range of characters and places come to life, and a remarkable observer of human nature. Yet I was disappointed with her last novel, "Nights of Rain and Stars", which read as if she was relying too heavily on the old standard charm to get her through. So, I was hesitant to read "Whitethorn Woods" but need not have been. Binchy is back in top form with this sprawling series of vignettes which is reminiscent of some of her best work.
The town of Rossmore is in an uproar about a proposed highway bypass that will cut through Whitethorn Woods, the location of the mysterious St. Ann's Well, a religious shrine where people go to pray for miracles. Some residents are for the road, as it will bring them money and improved transportation, while others are furious that a religious shrine would be ruined. Instead of offering a straightforward novel about the townspeople and their reactions to the proposed road, Binchy offers a wide variety of short stories really, with a wide cast of characters, all of whom have some connection to the town of Rossmore and the well of St. Ann. Tying all of these stories together are those of a few characters, namely Father Brian Flynn, a priest who must decide where he stands on the issue of what the well means, and Neddy Nolan, a simple-minded man who wants nothing more than to save the well which was responsible for a miraculous cure for his sick mother.
What makes "Whitethorn Woods" such a tour de force is that all of Binchy's characters are memorable and vastly different from one another. The chapters, if you can call them that, are usually two interconnected characters who tell two sides of a story or parts of a story, offering more insight and a wrap-up to the new storyline just begun. Some standout tales include that of Becca King, whose jilting stirs up some murderous intentions and that of Helen Harris, a woman who wanted a baby so desperately that she was willing to lie to her husband about being pregnant. Or "Fabian", the male hairstylist who everyone assumes is gay and he cannot convince them otherwise, or the story of the unusual friendship between Malka and Rivka. All of these tales are interwoven because of their connection to the town or the well. There are some laugh-out-loud moments and some rather poignant ones; Binchy's characters get their just desserts and then some.
"Whitethorn Woods" is a fast-paced read, a history of sorts of small town Ireland and its unique inhabitants who are universal in appeal. Binchy fully displays her mastery of telling stories that are heartfelt, funny, and always entertaining. I am glad to know that she has returned to peak form and hope her other new works are just as good as the old.
Summary of Whitethorn Woods (Vintage)
When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann?s Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction. People have been coming to St. Ann?s for generations to share their dreams and fears, and speak their prayers. Some believe it to be a place of true spiritual power, demanding protection; others think it?s a mere magnet for superstitions, easily sacrificed.Father Flynn listens to all those caught up in the conflict, as the men and women of Whitethorn Woods must decide between the traditions of the past and the promises of the future.
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