Whitethorn Woods

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy. Whitethorn Woods is a complex series of interlocking vignettes, each of which takes on the voice of a narrator, and all of which revolve around a small town in Ireland, the nearby woods, and the Well of St. Ann, which resides in the woods and is thought by the superstitious to grant prayers. Some of the characters are recurring, and many appear in others' stories. It's a rather brilliant and moving bit of storytelling, and it all comes to a satisfactory conclusion that leaves the reader feeling content. It's a unique form of writing, one that Binchy is famous for. She entertained readers from 1982 until this year, when she died. It was only on the occasion of her death that I heard of her, and I'm glad I did. Grade: B+