Whitethorn Woods

I've been a fan of Binchy's work since high school. Her stories of Irish communities have always touched me and made for great comfort reading. I always feel good when I read a Binchy book, and it is such a pleasure to visit the kinder and fairer world that Binchy creates for us. Her last book before this one, The Night of Rain and Stars, didn't touch me as much as her previous books did, which is why I am so thrilled to report that Maeve Binchy's work on Whitethorn Woods is back to its previous high standards! I loved every bit of this charming audio book, and wished there was more. But wait, there was supposed to be! The reviews and synopsis that I have read included all kinds of characters and adventures that didn't show up in my abridged CD version of this book. Usually when something is abridged, I expect that I lost a bit of dialogue or description here or there, but whole chapters, many of them, were left out of this one! There are characters that I never met and whole storylines chopped out of this book. At the end, not knowing how much had been lost, I did still feel that there was more to be resolved, and lo and behold, there was. I listen to 2-10 audiobooks a month, some of which are abridged and some of which are not, and it is rare to find an audiobook abridged so thoroughly - I really feel as though I missed half the book! So 5 stars and a huge rave for this book - I just loved all the characters and storylines, and the writing quality was excellent. But a grouchy 2 stars for the abridgement of this audiobook. Please publishers, next time don't abridge it, or if you do, don't cut out whole chapters, please.

No one can make characters come alive in a few short paragraphs better than Maeve Binchy. She brings the most interesting characters to Whitehorn Woods, a satsifying page turner set in a small Irish town. Based on a proposed highway that would destroy St. Ann's well, which is thought to bring miracles to many, we meet diverse characters who are somehow connected to the shrine. Ms. Binchy is a genius when it comes to creating a conventional person who has more depth and layers than we would expect. All of the characters have challenges and they learn how to use their talents to better their lives and others. I would have liked to have some of the stories resolved, particularly the tragic tale of the stolen baby. It probably was more realistic that the long-suffering mother never knew what happened to her daughter, but I did want the child robber punished and the child to know her background. I could come to terms with the other characters' fate, but this story was the most heartbreaking. There is a "Hollywood" ending in regards to the proposed highway which tied up the many pieces of the plot. And, of course, the hero was the character who was not considered the brightest or most ambitious. A good read.

Great

Like reading a series of short stories with a loose thread running through them. All the loose threads are woven together by Binchy in the end with the plan of a simple, good and loving man.

I love Whitethorn Woods. I was not a reader until a friend wrote to me and read me chapters and I so being Irish loved the casual but wonderful chapters and was compelled to take it on my Kindle with me on a trip. It was so interesting and I was totally amused by the joy and giggles it brought to me in my spare time on my Holliday. She writes of people that are warm and some times feel like I know them when I have finished the book. Nothing is more entertaining than to have a day of reading in a special place thinking of nothing else but the places she takes me in Ireland and other places. She was truly a wonderful lady and her talent for writing was wonderful. I too would love to write of the things in my life or thoughts and I am blessed to have been introduced to her many books by my friend who is far away but introduced me to her . I smile when I think og the characters and the people are so real. Brilliant , Blessed and Connot put them down when you start them.

At first, I was a bit confused by the way Maeve Binchy wrote this novel. Each chapter introduced a short story about a member of the Rossmore community. Then I realised it was a clever way to introduce people of a small community connected by the woods, a religious well and the development of a new highway going through some of the property. the varied views of how the new road would cut through the woods and destroy the holy well brought together the lives of the characters. Fun read.

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.

I have not read Maeve Binchy's books in quite some time. Actually I have not read anyone's books in some time. My husband retired. If your husband is retired you have almost no time for yourself -- unless he is a golfer. Mine is not a golfer. I finally got smart and started a reading hour every afternoon -- each to his own book. The third book I read was Whitethorn Woods. I could not put it down. I couldn't wait for reading time the next day. I was in heaven. I loved every character in the book. Even the bad ones. I wanted so badly to live there, have life experiences there, that I shed tears at the end of a few of the "stories". I think that EVERYONE should read this book. As a dear friend used to say to me when I was down, trying to get me to go out to cheer myself up, "It'll do you good". This book will do just that. Read it.

As per usual Maeve has an outstanding understanding of the human psyche. Well worth a read, I couldn’t put it down!

lovely story lovely read

This should be the title of this wonderfully uplifting book. The author has taken many different tales of diverse characters and tied them all together with the skill and craft of a gifted author. Loved reading every minute of it and now I have a new favorite writer!

Ich bin der absolute Maeve Binchy Fan und lese alle ihre Bücher auf Englisch. Super, dass man die bei Amazon so problemlos und günstig bekommt.

An old and used copy was sent instead of new one.