The Copper Beech...

For some of my leisure reading I thought I'd write my review as the Show me 5 that was previously the Show Me 5 Saturday formula, even though it's Sunday and I believe the meme is no longer...

1. The Book I read was The Copper Beech, Maeve Binchy

2 Words that describe the book: Irish Fiction

3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:  The book is set in Shancarrig, Ireland a smallish rural town not far from Dublin.
The characters include the Parish Priest, Father Gunn, and then the new priest Father Barry, An Attorney and his family (mostly his son) The doctor,  The Hotel owner and one of the daughters, The school teachers, The wealthy family on the hill, and a couple of school mates from the poorer part of town.

4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:  There is little I disliked about the book, I really enjoy how Binchy weaves the town together, their relationships with each other, to tell only the story of the Beech Tree in front of the school.  The storyline leads us to really get involved with each character and come to either like or dislike them.  We feel their pain and happiness all while learning of the way of life in their small town.  This particular book takes us through the lives of the characters from an early part to adult and even old age.  There is always a secret, and always a body, and more unplanned pregnancies that you can shake a stick at.  I always like to see the underdog come out strong and morally responsible. Yeah Maeve.!

5 Stars or less for your rating?
 I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars, because it kept me entertained, didn't upset me, or make me wild, was not politically correct all the time, was just enjoyable.

 One of my favorite lines from early in the books is: Thinking of Mrs. Kennedy standing there hatted and gloved and sorrowfully disapproving he asked God to let the thing be done right, to inspire young Jim and Nora Kelly, the teachers, to set it up properly. And to keep that mob of young savages that they taught in some kind of control.

I read this book for my Ireland Challenge, TBR Challenge, I decided I wanted to read Maeve's books in the order in which she wrote them, and just for fun.

Photo of book I own.