Whitethorn Woods (Vintage) by Maeve Binchy
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Book Reviews of Whitethorn Woods (Vintage)
Book Review: Echoes of my Irish parents
Summary: 4 Stars
I loved the stories and the lilt of the language ... I could hear the characters speaking.Book Review: Interesting, but not up to her usual storytelling
Summary: 3 Stars
Maeve Binchy is a great storyteller, but the problem here is that she hardly develops any of the character sketches in this book into a real story. Essentially, this is a collection of very short pieces (many published in other places) tied together with a very loose frame tale. None are developed to the point where you could call them a true story. This is unfortunate, since there is some great potential in many of these characters.
Consider the ostensibly unfiying scenario: a small town's cherished "holy" St Ann shrine is about to be torn down to make room for a new highway. The village preist, who is expected to defend the site, actually hates it, being logical enough to realize that there is no way that the mother of the Virgin Mary traveled from Palestine to Ireland and blessed this well. To him, it is paganism, but the townspeople love it. This could have made a great story, and certainly Father Brian Flynn - a modern preist who is expected to follow tradition - is one of Binchy's most interesting characters. Yet the cursory nature of his story feels more like it was tacked on to unite a bunch of character studies to rush this book into publication.
The bulk of the book is a series of two part narratives, very short in length. It was somewhat clever for the first few. She tells a the narrative from one character's perspective, then a second, and so on for each set. But after a few of these, it was clear they all stand on their own and are only loosely associated with the town of Rossmore and its shrine. In a few of the previously published ones, it really seems like a line about the shrine was just stuck into the narrative.
The rave reviews from major newspapers on the book's cover are a mystery. I really don't see how this is her "best book in a decade."
Book Review: Many Characters Make Light Work
Summary: 3 Stars
Not long ago my writer's group was discussing whether or not a novel needs a plot. It was rather accidental that I had just picked up "Whitethorn Woods" by Maeve Binchy. To me this book is strictly character driven. It is a series of very short vignettes about a variety of people. There is a central theme but it didn't seem to have a real plot per se.
In the first chapter, we are introduced to an Irish priest, Brian Flynn, in whose parish is a grotto and a well dedicated to the Catholic saint, Ann; said to be the grandmother of Jesus. The grotto and well is located behind the church in Whitehall Woods. There is talk in the village that a by-pass is to be built that will go directly through the woods destroying the grotto and the well.
Each of the very short character sketches that follow, involves people who have some connection with the village, and particularly with the well. They have all either heard about it or actually been there to make a request. But often their appearance doesn't give enough reason for the author to bring them into the story line.
It's well written with a dry sense of humour, and some of the characters are an absolute delight. And it does end the way one would want it to.
However, had there been less characters, more fully developed around the theme, it would have seemed more like a plot and less like a coincidence.
Book Review: Not her best...
Summary: 3 Stars
I love Maeve Binchy's books, but this one did not compare to the likes of Tara Road. I usually cannot put down her books, reading them faster than I want, and then always ending up disappointed that they are over. It is because you get so involved with the characters and their lives, that you feel like they are old friends. This book I gave 3 stars to because I love Binchy's writings, but not because the story held my attention. I agree with some others, I almost had to force myself to read it, was never that interested, and when it was over I said to myself "That's it?". A bit of a disappointment, but I still think she is a great author.Book Review: Readable
Summary: 3 Stars
I love Maeve Binchy, and I was greatly looking forward to reading this book. I enjoyed it and found it quite readable. Problem is, it's all these short stories with great character development. Just when you really get interested in a person off they go and are never heard of again. I was really hoping for some satisfaction at the end, but alas it doesn't end it just dies.