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.

The Yellow House a read a long... Part One

Carrie over at Books and Movies is our hostess for The Yellow House  read-along by Patricia Falvey. If you’re following our schedule, you should have read the first two sections of the book: “Glenlea, County Armagh, 1905″ and “Queensbrook Linen Mill, 1913.” 

Spoiler alert: We will be discussing the book in detail, so if you haven’t read those sections and don’t want to read any spoilers, you should skip this post.

What do you think of the writing?

I'm thoroughly enjoying the writing of this portion of the book. I find it easy to read and hard to put down.  I've not yet mastered the art of reading more than one book at a time so I'll be having a difficult time this week waiting for the next post.  I love the vivid descriptions of the landscape, and I do believe that parents told their children long drawn out tales of the geographical and historical aspects of their existence .  My mother could have easily been one of these people, we use to get some really action packed stories about the who's who and where and why for.  Were they the real thing? don't know, but like Carrie I agree that a young girl with a father who seemingly was not all that learned could know the correct terminology.  this didn't seem to bother me all that much, I just thought it was an author's creative license.  Non the less I've enjoyed the book to this point..

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What do you think of Eileen’s parents?

 I'm saddened by this whole relationship.  I mean I knew that there had to be some drama, but how unfortunate.  I was half expecting this Irish family to be on the dole ( not sure of the spelling) and the father being a drunk and abusive, so it was a nice change that this Da actually loved his wife and children, and was just not very capable at providing for them.  The whole thing is just sad.

It seems that the book is heading in a romantic direction when it comes to Eileen and Owen Sheridan. What do you think of this potential romance?

This is a romance with true troubles ahead!  I may actually have to sit down and map out the relationship according to my professors guidelines.  I hope they have the good sense to move to another part of the world like the U.S. to be together if that's where the author leads them, but if not it will be an unrequited love. Reminds me a little of the movie An Officer and a Gentleman.   If they decided to fight society and remain in their homes it may be history repeating itself.

Of coarse for me after having just finished reading Water for Elephants, I want everyone to run away and join the circus.

As we closed the second section, the world is on the brink of the First World War, and Ireland is being torn apart by the fight for Home Rule. Have you learned anything about Ireland or the world at this time period that was new to you?

 I'm not very knowledgeable about Irish history, so I am glad that the author is giving us glimpses of what was happening, again I feel like I need to do a little more research into this matter, but Yes, I am learning a fair bit about the historical aspect of Ireland in relation to their involvement in the war.

These are all the questions  Carrie came up with  for this section. Check out what the rest of the group have to say at Books and Movies  and if you haven't joined us, there is still time. 

Photo of book I own.