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Whitethorn Woods
When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, it will also destroy St. Ann’s well, where people have been coming for generations to share their dreams and speak their prayers. Some believe the well to be a place of true spiritual power, demanding protection; others think it’s a mere magnet for superstitions, easily sacrificed.
Maeve Binchy creates a rich spectrum of men and women, all with passionate opinions, who are drawn into this timely conflict between the traditions of the past and the promises of the future.
Maeve Binchy creates a rich spectrum of men and women, all with passionate opinions, who are drawn into this timely conflict between the traditions of the past and the promises of the future.
343 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
1201 people are currently reading
4110 people want to read
About the author
Maeve Binchy
258 books5,007 followersAnne Maeve Binchy Snell was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, columnist, and speaker. Her novels were characterised by a sympathetic and often humorous portrayal of small-town life in Ireland, and surprise endings. Her novels, which were translated into 37 languages, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Her death at age 73, announced by Vincent Browne on Irish television late on 30 July 2012, was mourned as the death of one of Ireland's best-loved and most recognisable writers.
She appeared in the US market, featuring on The New York Times Best Seller list and in Oprah's Book Club. Recognised for her "total absence of malice" and generosity to other writers, she finished third in a 2000 poll for World Book Day, ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.
She appeared in the US market, featuring on The New York Times Best Seller list and in Oprah's Book Club. Recognised for her "total absence of malice" and generosity to other writers, she finished third in a 2000 poll for World Book Day, ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,590 reviews
April 5, 2007
I don't know why i feel a loyalty to Binchy. Whenever a new book comes out I usually buy it even though I haven't enjoyed one of her books in years. She's switched from straight novels to collections of short stories, all related to another in some way. In this, her latest, the connections are a stretch, and the stories are so short it is hard to feel connected to a character or even interested in their plight. Plus, when she writes of modern ireland, which she has for a while now, it lacks the charm of her novels set in the fifties or sixties.
I will always love the Glass Lake and Circle of Friends, even though the later was butchered when it was made into a movie. I think I'll give up on Bincy's new books though, and just reread these old favorites.
I will always love the Glass Lake and Circle of Friends, even though the later was butchered when it was made into a movie. I think I'll give up on Bincy's new books though, and just reread these old favorites.
May 19, 2008
Starts with short stories. You don't know whether you should keep track of all of the characters because they all might join up together. Eventually there are so many, and the stories are so short, I stopped caring what happened to any of them. Then they do meet up, but not all of them. I would think of one from the the first half (or I hoped it was the same book, I couldn't keep track of the names!) or a situation would sound familiar and I would realize it's picking up that story. A couple of stories I really wanted resolved were never heard of again. :( exasperating.
May 9, 2020
Sept 17 ~~ Review asap. Really.
Sept 18 ~~ This is the book that my Mom has in paperback with print so tiny I ran screaming into the night instead of reading it. When I saw it on the Binchy shelf at the library I grabbed it, so here we are. (By the way, the last time I noticed, there were shelves and shelves of Binchy at my library. Now that I want to re-read many of them there are only a few titles. Rotten timing!)
There are a lot of people here, and they all have one thing in common: St.Ann's Well in the Whitethorn Woods near Rossmore Ireland. We start off meeting Father Brian Flynn, and at the end of his chapter he wonders about all the people who believe in and visit the well. This is our segue into other chapters, each about a different person and what the well means to them.
It has been a long time since I read Binchy's novels. Did she write them all in this 'connected story' type of fashion? I liked the style in Evening Class, and it still works okay here, but by the final couple of chapters, where the people are all being tied together and we find out the resolution of the Big Issue in the book (will a new road destroy the woods and the well?!) I had forgotten who many of the names were. Except Neddy Nolan. He was a sweetheart. The world needs more like him!
Lovely book, even if it was hard to keep track of everyone. I had fun trying to guess the connections in each story before Binchy revealed them. Sometimes I could, other times I was quite surprised, as in the chapter about Bruiser.
I have two other Binchy titles in house now (thank you Thriftbooks!!). One is a collection of her Irish Times newspaper columns, and the other has to do with Binchy having taught a college level writing course. Both should be fascinating, and I imagine their Someday will come along soon.
Sept 18 ~~ This is the book that my Mom has in paperback with print so tiny I ran screaming into the night instead of reading it. When I saw it on the Binchy shelf at the library I grabbed it, so here we are. (By the way, the last time I noticed, there were shelves and shelves of Binchy at my library. Now that I want to re-read many of them there are only a few titles. Rotten timing!)
There are a lot of people here, and they all have one thing in common: St.Ann's Well in the Whitethorn Woods near Rossmore Ireland. We start off meeting Father Brian Flynn, and at the end of his chapter he wonders about all the people who believe in and visit the well. This is our segue into other chapters, each about a different person and what the well means to them.
It has been a long time since I read Binchy's novels. Did she write them all in this 'connected story' type of fashion? I liked the style in Evening Class, and it still works okay here, but by the final couple of chapters, where the people are all being tied together and we find out the resolution of the Big Issue in the book (will a new road destroy the woods and the well?!) I had forgotten who many of the names were. Except Neddy Nolan. He was a sweetheart. The world needs more like him!
Lovely book, even if it was hard to keep track of everyone. I had fun trying to guess the connections in each story before Binchy revealed them. Sometimes I could, other times I was quite surprised, as in the chapter about Bruiser.
I have two other Binchy titles in house now (thank you Thriftbooks!!). One is a collection of her Irish Times newspaper columns, and the other has to do with Binchy having taught a college level writing course. Both should be fascinating, and I imagine their Someday will come along soon.
November 11, 2008
From the time she began writing her novels some 30 years ago, Maeve
Binchy has chronicled the changes in Ireland and the life and loves of its people. The once heavily Catholic and superstitious land has become more affluent, has embraced multiculturalism, and is slowly turning its' back on "the old ways". Whitethorn Woods is the next chapter in the narrative of this ever-evolving land and takes us on a wonderful journey into the lives of the citizens and visitors to the towns of Rossmore and Doon.
Binchy's initial premise: The consequences of building a new highway through Whitethorn Woods, bypassing the town of Rossmore, and destroying St. Ann's Well, a place thought to possess spiritual power by many of the locals.
As with many of her previous works, Binchy has managed to weave the many tiny threads of compelling individual allegories into the beautiful tapestry of a novel. Wonderfully plotted and populated with appealing and engaging characters, the reader is invited into the lives of Father Flynn, amiable Neddy Nolan (a pretty sharp dull knife), Dr. Dermot,(a wily old fox who shows us that jealousy is a dangerous and ugly thing), Lilly Ryan (whose first child was abducted 22 years earlier) and Helen and Becca (a couple of women with dangerous plans). These are only a few of the souls in Rossmore who have a tale to tell and a lesson to teach.
Once again, Maeve Binchy has produces an enchanting story that bewitches us with its discerning logic and genuine cast of characters.
If your not already a member of the Binchy fan club, this book will have you sending off for your enrollment forms!!
Binchy has chronicled the changes in Ireland and the life and loves of its people. The once heavily Catholic and superstitious land has become more affluent, has embraced multiculturalism, and is slowly turning its' back on "the old ways". Whitethorn Woods is the next chapter in the narrative of this ever-evolving land and takes us on a wonderful journey into the lives of the citizens and visitors to the towns of Rossmore and Doon.
Binchy's initial premise: The consequences of building a new highway through Whitethorn Woods, bypassing the town of Rossmore, and destroying St. Ann's Well, a place thought to possess spiritual power by many of the locals.
As with many of her previous works, Binchy has managed to weave the many tiny threads of compelling individual allegories into the beautiful tapestry of a novel. Wonderfully plotted and populated with appealing and engaging characters, the reader is invited into the lives of Father Flynn, amiable Neddy Nolan (a pretty sharp dull knife), Dr. Dermot,(a wily old fox who shows us that jealousy is a dangerous and ugly thing), Lilly Ryan (whose first child was abducted 22 years earlier) and Helen and Becca (a couple of women with dangerous plans). These are only a few of the souls in Rossmore who have a tale to tell and a lesson to teach.
Once again, Maeve Binchy has produces an enchanting story that bewitches us with its discerning logic and genuine cast of characters.
If your not already a member of the Binchy fan club, this book will have you sending off for your enrollment forms!!
March 25, 2008
I am a Maeve Binchy fan, and enjoyed this one. Set in Ireland (of course), each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, and the chapters are paired so that you get one side of the story, and then the other person's side. All the characters have a connection to Rossmore, where a road is going to go through the woods and take out a well and a statue of St Ann, who has reportedly answered many prayers for her petitioners. All the character's stories weave this well into their lives.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because some of the characters are horribly dysfunctional and could have probably been left out of the book without me missing them. But, I'm giving it 4 stars b/c I like the author and I'm always impressed when an author can take on the voice and perspective of multiple characters.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because some of the characters are horribly dysfunctional and could have probably been left out of the book without me missing them. But, I'm giving it 4 stars b/c I like the author and I'm always impressed when an author can take on the voice and perspective of multiple characters.
April 14, 2008
I am usually a big fan of Maeve Binchy, but I just could not get into this book. It was not really a full novel, but a collection of short stories. It is just not the type of writing I am in to. I like when I can watch a character grow and develop. This book was lacking that quality.
February 4, 2012
This book was an exercise in frustration for me. I was relieved to finish it. I don't think that's the emotion you should feel when you finish a book. It wasn't a novel, really. It was a bunch of little stories, with the characters all having some connection to a place in Ireland- Whitethorn Woods. Some of the stories and characters intertwine, but it's very hard to keep track of everyone. Though Binchy is good at characterization, I kept forgetting them before they came up again, so I felt like I was always needing to go back and try to find them. I do like some of Binchy's earlier books, but just wasn't crazy about this one.
January 13, 2025
as usual, I enjoyed the characterisations and description of place and it's people. and the often humorous way these were told. the novel mostly centres on Irish village/parish life, tho it also stretches out to life in larger towns, the city of Dublin, and travelling further afield with those who move to London and England, and even to the USA, bringing in different/wider threads around family, relationships, opportunity, class, culture and identity.
the chapters move from person to person, often one continuing where another left off. each telling part of an interlinked tale. each giving a slightly different perspective and/or giving detail that shapes the whole.
there's a structure to it, and groupings of characters and chapters, but I lost track after a while. but that might work better on paper.
while the apparent central story is of St Ann's Well (and the many who visit it, and the wishes granted it's visitors), in the Whitethorn woods on the edge of the village of Rossmore. the book is also very much a story of people, relationships and community.
the other central story point is the new road that threatens, and is perceived/believed will inevitably destroy the woods and the well. awa the visits to and significance of the well for many, how people respond to the proposed bypass and talk about it is a common thread of conversation weaving thru the novel. I guess the bypass works also as a kinda metaphor/commentary in ways too - modernisation, fragmentation of communities, destruction of nature, potential destruction of a way of life.
in places the stories, events and characters are a little fanciful and fantastical, the connections and coincidences a little stretched. but only a little, and always in a kinda tongue in cheek way. the story/stories don't stray too far from believable, and I think the slightly fanciful approach helps the reader more easily and accessibly engage with some of the events and experiences that hold some distress and/or tension.
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
3.5 rounded up, i think.
accessed as an RNIB audiobook, read by Caroline Lennon and Steven Armstrong.
the chapters move from person to person, often one continuing where another left off. each telling part of an interlinked tale. each giving a slightly different perspective and/or giving detail that shapes the whole.
there's a structure to it, and groupings of characters and chapters, but I lost track after a while. but that might work better on paper.
while the apparent central story is of St Ann's Well (and the many who visit it, and the wishes granted it's visitors), in the Whitethorn woods on the edge of the village of Rossmore. the book is also very much a story of people, relationships and community.
the other central story point is the new road that threatens, and is perceived/believed will inevitably destroy the woods and the well. awa the visits to and significance of the well for many, how people respond to the proposed bypass and talk about it is a common thread of conversation weaving thru the novel. I guess the bypass works also as a kinda metaphor/commentary in ways too - modernisation, fragmentation of communities, destruction of nature, potential destruction of a way of life.
in places the stories, events and characters are a little fanciful and fantastical, the connections and coincidences a little stretched. but only a little, and always in a kinda tongue in cheek way. the story/stories don't stray too far from believable, and I think the slightly fanciful approach helps the reader more easily and accessibly engage with some of the events and experiences that hold some distress and/or tension.
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
3.5 rounded up, i think.
accessed as an RNIB audiobook, read by Caroline Lennon and Steven Armstrong.
February 27, 2022
This is a collection of several dozen character sketches presented in pairs, all connected to the same Irish town. I suspect that the reader who is a “people person”, someone who easily engages in conversation with the stranger in the waiting room or airplane, will enjoy meeting all these characters. But I am the person who always has the earbuds handy, who avoids eye contact so that no one talks to me. After the first dozen or so characters, I could not see the point of meeting any more of them. 2.5 stars
June 13, 2011
One of the best things about Maeve Binchy's books is her ability to incorporate richly detailed and sometimes quirky characters into gorgeous settings—usually in Ireland.
In "WHITETHORN WOODS," by Maeve Binchy, the setting is Rossmoor, a small Irish village centered around a "wishing well" type sanctuary; there we meet a variety of characters whose lives have been impacted in one way or another by the presence of the well.
Each character is introduced in a series of vignettes told from that individual's first person perspective. Some of the characters' lives intersect throughout the book, but often there is no attempt to show how the characters are connected to one another. The primary connection is the St. Ann's well and its fate, since there is an issue of whether or not a road should traverse the town and "cut off" the well.
Except, of course, for some recurring characters, like Father Brian Flynn, Neddy Nolan (described as "not the sharpest knife in the drawer"), and a few characters connected to them, these series of individuals could be passersby in the drama of this village and its events.
While I enjoyed the usual Binchy-style characterizations and the lovely settings, the cast of characters felt too large and disconnected, and the point of the book seemed lost along the way. Therefore, while enjoyable, I would grant this story 3.5 stars and recommend it to those seeking lively vignettes that one might find in a short story collection. Those expecting the usual Binchy drama will probably be disappointed.
In "WHITETHORN WOODS," by Maeve Binchy, the setting is Rossmoor, a small Irish village centered around a "wishing well" type sanctuary; there we meet a variety of characters whose lives have been impacted in one way or another by the presence of the well.
Each character is introduced in a series of vignettes told from that individual's first person perspective. Some of the characters' lives intersect throughout the book, but often there is no attempt to show how the characters are connected to one another. The primary connection is the St. Ann's well and its fate, since there is an issue of whether or not a road should traverse the town and "cut off" the well.
Except, of course, for some recurring characters, like Father Brian Flynn, Neddy Nolan (described as "not the sharpest knife in the drawer"), and a few characters connected to them, these series of individuals could be passersby in the drama of this village and its events.
While I enjoyed the usual Binchy-style characterizations and the lovely settings, the cast of characters felt too large and disconnected, and the point of the book seemed lost along the way. Therefore, while enjoyable, I would grant this story 3.5 stars and recommend it to those seeking lively vignettes that one might find in a short story collection. Those expecting the usual Binchy drama will probably be disappointed.
April 20, 2008
Binchy's books tend to fall into two categories: novels and collections of stories. This one is the latter. She writes stories about a bunch of loosely connected individuals. If you're not into that, this would be frustrating. But her writing is entertaining and generally pleasant. Some books are more upbeat and "happy endings" than others. But mostly, she makes for fun, relaxing reading that's fairly easy. Fun character studies.
August 30, 2018
In Whitethorn Woods, Maeve Binchy strings together a series of short stories centered around the small but expanding rural town of Rossmore that depict the tension between traditionalism and modernization in Ireland. Reminiscent of her earlier novel Copper Beech, the overall narrative of the story gets bogged down by the number of characters and perspectives included in the book. While Copper Beech does switch between different narrators frequently, these smaller stories overlap frequently enough to keep all the characters fresh in the readers mind. In Whitethorn Woods, however, the twenty plus different narrators make up thirteen distinct storylines that rarely (if ever) converge until the final chapter of the novel. While it is a fairly satisfying payoff, most readers may be confused or forgetful towards the end of the book when trying to recollect information about characters introduced twenty narrators before in the book. There are some standout stories within the book, however. “The Sharpest Knife in the Drawer” was a personal favorite, and “The Plan” is a particularly dark and surprising story unique compared to her other stories. While I have yet to read a Binchy novel I have not enjoyed, Whitethorn Woods was at times frustrating. I kept waiting for an overriding connection or plot to materialize, and when it finally does in the last tenth of the book it is too little too late. An entertaining read, nonetheless, but not her best.
April 18, 2022
As far as Binchy books go,
Whitethorn Woods
was fairly average.
I'm writing this review after some time has passed, and overall, it was pretty forgettable. There's a well that people pray to, a priest who is uncomfortable with whether this is okay or slightly sacrilegious, and a road maybe being built through the woods containing the well. I think that's it?
Most of these characters are kind, gentle humans who only want the best for their fellow man. Sure, there's small-town gossip, a few small-minded people, and some heartbreaking choices, but generally, this is an unassuming group of people just living life. I finished Whitethorn Woods with no serious concerns, but not a lot of interest either.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
I'm writing this review after some time has passed, and overall, it was pretty forgettable. There's a well that people pray to, a priest who is uncomfortable with whether this is okay or slightly sacrilegious, and a road maybe being built through the woods containing the well. I think that's it?
Most of these characters are kind, gentle humans who only want the best for their fellow man. Sure, there's small-town gossip, a few small-minded people, and some heartbreaking choices, but generally, this is an unassuming group of people just living life. I finished Whitethorn Woods with no serious concerns, but not a lot of interest either.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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January 10, 2019
I had loved 'Scarlet Feather' so much that I was absurdly excited for this one. But though this book isn't bad, it isn't great either.
It seems like a collection of short stories set in the same place and very loosely connected to each other. By the time you get to the end, thanks to the number of characters, you just forget what is going on in which track.
I wish I liked it better but you know what they say. Not everything works out the way you want it to. 🤷♀️
It seems like a collection of short stories set in the same place and very loosely connected to each other. By the time you get to the end, thanks to the number of characters, you just forget what is going on in which track.
I wish I liked it better but you know what they say. Not everything works out the way you want it to. 🤷♀️
July 6, 2025
Shout out to Cassie for this book because WOW! I loved it so much! It’s so unique, heartwarming and just fun to read. Probably my favorite book of the year!
July 9, 2007
Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite writers, though recently she has been letting me down. My last favorite of hers was Scarlett Feather--I cried at the end of that book, and I am not really a book cryer. Not because it was so sad, but because I didnt want the book to end! I felt like the characters were my best friends! In Whitehorn Woods, Binchy continues her quaint Irish story-telling, but for me, I dont love Binchy's books that dedicate each chapter to a new character-she does this alot. Each chapter deals with a new character in this town, where the big to do is that a road is going to be made through to make life easier, meanwhile destroying this well and shrine of the local church that people come and pray to. The story is a little lame and while some of the stories were cute, the Irish charm that I love in the other books was missing. If you want Maeve Binchy at her best pick up Tara Road, Light a Penny Candle, The Glass Lake or Scarlett Feather.
August 8, 2019
I read Maeve Binchy for the first time in 2013, a novel called Tara Road it was a good book I enjoyed it very much, I like her style: simple phrases with warmth, emotion and compassion, a beginner an understand her novels easily. So I decided to add her name to my list to read every year. I read the copper beech in 2015, evening class in 2016, Quentins 2017, Heart and soul in 2018. For this year I have chosen Whitehorn Woods, Rossmore is a quiet town in Ireland. It's a pretty sleepy place to be honest, it's small enough to have a sense of community it suits all religions a ceremony and superstitions. It's a famous landmark Whitehorne Woods, it's a small church built in a place dedicated to St Ann, People came from across Ireland and the United Kingdom begging for the saint's help, nowadays they visit the Church if they need to be married, buried or Baptised.
June 17, 2014
Didn't finish this one, as I really didn't care about the characters or the story. She introduces SO many characters and the story line that connects them is thin and uninteresting. She gives me little reason to care about whether this road goes through their town or not. When I'm past the halfway point and I begin forcing myself to pick up and read and I'm hoping every time that NOW I'll get lost in the story, but then don't, it's time to pick a new book. As both a student and teacher, my discretionary reading time is too rare and precious.
August 30, 2021
This was a fun book, because there were so many different stories I didn’t get bored despite it being a light meaningless read. It was funny at times and some of the stories were kind of unbelievable but told in a way that made it seem as though it might just have happened. Well done Marj x
August 17, 2019
Maeve Binchey was a popular Irish novelist who died a few years ago. Her stories are warm and rather gentle. But her characters have real problems. Often they are about small-town Irish people confronted with a changing world.
In Whitethorn Woods, a town is divided over whether to sell property to allow a highway to come through it, particularly because its woods holds a shrine to Saint Ann, the mother of the Virgin Mary, that people believe provides miraculous help. The local priest, Father Flynn, is a good man who believes the miraculous properties are nonsense, but tries not to offend the sensibilities of those who believe in them.
Most of the characters are good people trying to figure out how to live their lives. If, like me, you find Ireland interesting, but are no fans of the hard-boiled look at it in recent mysteries, you probably will enjoy this book as I did.
In Whitethorn Woods, a town is divided over whether to sell property to allow a highway to come through it, particularly because its woods holds a shrine to Saint Ann, the mother of the Virgin Mary, that people believe provides miraculous help. The local priest, Father Flynn, is a good man who believes the miraculous properties are nonsense, but tries not to offend the sensibilities of those who believe in them.
Most of the characters are good people trying to figure out how to live their lives. If, like me, you find Ireland interesting, but are no fans of the hard-boiled look at it in recent mysteries, you probably will enjoy this book as I did.
June 7, 2017
A variety of characters -- some likable, many not, and a few truly endearing -- live and mingle and affect each other in a contemporary Irish town.
August 18, 2017
I absolutely loved reading this novel from start to finish. Ms. Binchy did a masterful job of telling a story through the eyes of so many people affected by the happenings in Whitehorn Woods. The ending was extremely satisfying. I would put this book in the category of great vacation and beach reads.
May 4, 2019
3.5\5
March 19, 2023
Very different, but interesting.
March 27, 2024
Ich finde dieses Buch schwer zu bewerten. Auf der einen Seite fehlt ein wenig der rote Faden und man verliert schnell den Überblick bei den ganzen Charakteren, die zum Teil nur einmal kurz vorkommen. Auf der anderen Seite sind auch gerade diesen ganzen kleinen Geschichten, die immer aus der Sichtweise von verschiedenen Charakteren geschrieben sind, extrem interessant. Ich mag es wie man sich in jeden gut hineinversetzen und die jeweilige Sichtweise nachvollziehen kann, egal ob eine Person die nicht sehr intelligent ist, ein Mörder oder ein Geistlicher. Alles in allem habe ich dieses Buch gerne gelesen, war gut unterhalten, bin zum Nachdenken angeregt und einige Teile werden mir vermutlich noch länger im Gedächtnis bleiben.
April 30, 2018
Book #5 for the March 2018 Irish Readathon which I participated in and found through Aoife's youtube channel - for the prompt "read a book by a female Irish author" and "read a book with green on the cover" :)
My very first encounter with Maeve Binchy's works and I finished reading with very mixed feelings. The first few stories were good but I found myself losing interest as I kept on reading. I enjoy short stories collections and this one had a very intriguing set-up, because all stories were told from two points of view (sometime very different) and they all revolved around one thing - St. Anne's Well in Whitethorn Woods. I really enjoyed different perspectives but having so many characters introduced made it a little hard to warm up to any of them, and lots of stories just didn't grab me. There was one particular story that actually left a bad taste in my mouth, but luckily the rest wasn't as bad.
Overall, I'm glad that I didn't give up on it, because the stories at the end piqued my interest again, but I cannot rate it higher than 3 stars.
My very first encounter with Maeve Binchy's works and I finished reading with very mixed feelings. The first few stories were good but I found myself losing interest as I kept on reading. I enjoy short stories collections and this one had a very intriguing set-up, because all stories were told from two points of view (sometime very different) and they all revolved around one thing - St. Anne's Well in Whitethorn Woods. I really enjoyed different perspectives but having so many characters introduced made it a little hard to warm up to any of them, and lots of stories just didn't grab me. There was one particular story that actually left a bad taste in my mouth, but luckily the rest wasn't as bad.
Overall, I'm glad that I didn't give up on it, because the stories at the end piqued my interest again, but I cannot rate it higher than 3 stars.
September 26, 2021
This book had some lovely moments, and the highlight was the slow witted but morally upright Neddy. I also liked the woman who was left out of an office party, so threw together a very eclectic mix of acquaintances, and her elderly bristly aunt, for a dinner party instead.
I stopped reading midway though. I could sense that the baby snatcher was not going to be brought to justice, and that bothered me. But I found I couldn't keep reading because it was just so boring.
I couldn't keep who was who straight in my mind. Every time a new chapter started, I felt tireder and tireder at having to either figure out who they were, or incorporate a new character into the already overflowing list.
And all the narratives felt the same. They were written from first person view, so it began to feel like the same person inhabiting many different bodies. And all the stories involved infidelity or divorce...it became so predictable.
Was that the intent? Were we meant to feel as weary of all the people and their various tragedies as the priest?
Anyway, I flipped through to the end and read the last couple of pages just to get some closure on the book. But no, I couldn't finish it.
I stopped reading midway though. I could sense that the baby snatcher was not going to be brought to justice, and that bothered me. But I found I couldn't keep reading because it was just so boring.
I couldn't keep who was who straight in my mind. Every time a new chapter started, I felt tireder and tireder at having to either figure out who they were, or incorporate a new character into the already overflowing list.
And all the narratives felt the same. They were written from first person view, so it began to feel like the same person inhabiting many different bodies. And all the stories involved infidelity or divorce...it became so predictable.
Was that the intent? Were we meant to feel as weary of all the people and their various tragedies as the priest?
Anyway, I flipped through to the end and read the last couple of pages just to get some closure on the book. But no, I couldn't finish it.
January 23, 2022
To rate this book a one star is overestimating my feelings for it. It was poorly written, immature, pointless and lacked cohesiveness. I've never read a Maeve Binchy before, but know her to have been an acclaimed and prolific author. I was sorely disappointed.
The odd series of short stories and characters connected by a town and shrine was disjointed and frankly left me wondering why Binchy wrote it. I stuck with it, but sadly it didn't improve. There was no twist or plot or depth to it and way too many characters to keep control of and many who had nothing to do with anything. It could be said that the style of writing is lighthearted, but I found it to be juvenile; like a child was writing a class essay about a day out with the family...and not in an endearing way.
The odd series of short stories and characters connected by a town and shrine was disjointed and frankly left me wondering why Binchy wrote it. I stuck with it, but sadly it didn't improve. There was no twist or plot or depth to it and way too many characters to keep control of and many who had nothing to do with anything. It could be said that the style of writing is lighthearted, but I found it to be juvenile; like a child was writing a class essay about a day out with the family...and not in an endearing way.
April 29, 2010
Oh Maeve Binchy, I had such high hopes.
I've read several of Maeve's books and I've liked all of them. Up to this point. I know that she generally introduces a boatload of characters, then about 3/4 of the way through the book, she'll start intertwining them so you understand how they all relate.
Unless you're reading this book. She introduces like 30 characters and by the end it feels like she's intertwined 4 of them. I was left feeling lost, lacking the robust ending I typically expect from her. Not only that, she introduced so many characters that I felt like I didn't really get to know any of them in-depth.
I've read several of Maeve's books and I've liked all of them. Up to this point. I know that she generally introduces a boatload of characters, then about 3/4 of the way through the book, she'll start intertwining them so you understand how they all relate.
Unless you're reading this book. She introduces like 30 characters and by the end it feels like she's intertwined 4 of them. I was left feeling lost, lacking the robust ending I typically expect from her. Not only that, she introduced so many characters that I felt like I didn't really get to know any of them in-depth.
March 6, 2022
I bet a lot of people don't care for this, it is fantastically successful on a personal day-to-day relationship way of showing how good people succeed, and bad people ruin themselves. I wish daily life was more like this! But maybe only in Whitethorn Woods, by the Well of St Ann's..... magical.
I had misplaced the book at my sister's for 6 months... funny.
Cheered me up so much to finish it, Yes!
I had misplaced the book at my sister's for 6 months... funny.
Cheered me up so much to finish it, Yes!
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