Whitethorn Woods (Vintage) by Maeve Binchy
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Book Reviews of Whitethorn Woods (Vintage)
Book Review: A Very Good Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I have taken note of all the good reviews that "Whitethorn Woods" has received here and elsewhere and this is actually the first book by Maeve Binchy that I have read.
The story of a small town called Rossmore and the allegedly holy well together with the new bypass road threatening to destroy the well while potentially transforming the place form the background to the extraordinary way many people's interdependent lives and hopes are displayed. The author superbly addresses questions and themes like religiosity, trust, family, immigration, progress and much more, and does this brilliantly through characters you come across everyday and may even relate yourself.
I am of the opinion that therein lies the greatest strength of the book to have an appeal for a long time to come. This is a solid 5-star book I recommend to the avid reader without any reservations.
Book Review: A Fun Trip to Ireland
Summary: 5 Stars
Maeve Binchy is priceless, and this book reveals why. Her characters are displayed in at least four dimensions, and some in five. She playfully challenges the reader's memory for names and qualities. She nudges the reader toward disquieting topics with soothing style and poetic justice. She let's you stay in your place, while paradoxically transporting you to her Ireland.
I agree that this book might not be, technically speaking, a novel, but it won't matter to the reader; because, with St. Ann and Whitethorn Woods as purposeful characters, the plot doesn't need to be extant.
Here's (Hoist a pint of Murphy`s or Guinness, your preference) to Maeve Binchy, the Happy Existentialist, and a modern bard without living peer.
Book Review: traditions change, too
Summary: 5 Stars
Binchy's characters are so intensely real, it take a while to realize each person also represents a social layer and each person's choice also implies a political truth. The vivid personalities capture you as they gather into a community of individuals doing their work or committing their crime in the best way they know how. They tell their stories as oral histories, and when you are included in someone else's story, later on you get to have your own say. That's how it would have been in front of the Druid, in the old way. But now that everything from haircuts to wealth is turning modern, these stories show how hard it can be to decide whether the old ways still apply.Book Review: Fascinating!
Summary: 5 Stars
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, however each was presented in his/her own vignette, so it read like a collection of short stories, with the cool twist that each story/character was intertwined with the others. Maeve Binchy has a special talent for weaving a tale this way. There were characters I couldn't help but love, others that I sympathized with, and others that I loved to hate. There were a few stories (like the stolen baby one) that I would have liked to end differently, but all-in-all, this book provided highly interesting and enjoyable reading!!!
Book Review: Short Stories Form an Engrossing Tale
Summary: 5 Stars
I chose this book for my book club to read, and we all really enjoyed it. As with all of her books, it's an engrossing read, since she makes you care about the characters and there's always an interesting twist. This book is great since it's organized as intertwining short stories, so it's easy to read a little bit at a time.