Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not my favorite Binchy
Review: Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite authors. To me, her writing is like a mini-vacation from home, and Ireland is definitely a place I'd like to visit. In addition to seeing the sights of her towns and villages, we meet the people, too. And in Binchy's stories, there is all sorts of action: adventure, love, deception, children, marriage, murder and more. In The Copper Beech, Binchy has given us tastes of the lives of the villagers in Shancarrig, Ireland. Four schoolchildren and the people around them tell their stories, each with their own chapter. There were some chapters I loved, some I drudged through and for that, I would say this isn't my favorite Binchy. But it's still a delight to read and savor!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not her best
Review: Maeve Binchy really draws you in. I liked this one OK, but, unlinke other books of hers I've read, I won't remember these characters for months later. If you were a little disappointed, give Maeve another chance - try Circle of Friends or the Glass Lake.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful, intricate picture of Irish village life.
Review: Maeve Binchy, as usual, is a brilliant observer of small-town
Irish life. The Copper Beech is actually more intricately
wrought than her previous books which, while excellent, tend to stray into the genre of airport-purchased romance.
Her humor and spot-on descriptions of characters saves those
books, and it elevates this book.
Rating:
Summary: A beautfiul novel of love, friendship and community
Review: My exposure to Maeve Binchy has been recent. Last year with the publication of "Evening Class" and this year with "Tara Road" - Ms. Binchy writes with authority and wisdom leaving me to ponder: "Where have I been all these years?" Her novels - revolving around life in Ireland - detail the universal emotion of life, love and loss no matter what country we may dwell in or what language we may speak. Therefore, I have decided to take a step backwards and read Ms. Binchy's previous works and, in this case, her 1992 novel, "The Copper Beech." This is a novel to be read and re-read for its sheer beauty. "The Copper Beech" tells the story of a town called Shancarrig - meaning old rock for the massive structure which centers the town. In particular, the novel focuses on Shancarrig school and its inhabitants. The beauty of this novel is derived by the symbolic construction in which the story unfolds. Each section is devoted to either one of the schoolchildren, teachers or members of the community. It is as if each character represents a branch of the copper beech and as each life unfolds and comes together with each other, they form the tree. And just as a tree needs tending to grow - sun, water and soil - so does the town of Shancarrig. Each member of this community brings together the love, nuturing and devotion which makes their community grow and prosper. What a marvelous piece of imagery Maeve Binchy has created. This novel is filled with eloquent prose and dialogue with an ending that will tug at your heart. We are fortunate to have Ms. Binchy and I will be waiting with breathless energy to read not only all of her previous works but of the many more which are sure to follow.
Rating: 
Summary: Warm and cozy, just add a cup of tea.
Review: That is what a Binchy novel is like to me. Hers are books I enjoy for the places she idyllically paints and the characters she puts forth to become a part of her homespun landscapes. Set in Ireland, the copper beech is a formidable an aging tree in front of the Shancarrig schoolhouse. Carved into it's bark are the hopes and dreams, stories and well wishes of many a heart, heavy as well as happy, that has passed beneath it's massive branches. The book is written in a way so as to introduce each character and his personal view of Shancarrig and the people in it. This technique allows the lives of the characters to mesh unequivocally making this story so enjoyable. You will meet them all. The scoundrels as well as the lovelorn, those searching for passion, and those who have taken a bite from the apple of life only to be dealt a blow that redirects them to an unprecedented ending. I enjoyed the style of this book as much as the characters and the storylines. Once you read a Binchy novel you can count on craving another, and there is no doubt that each one is it's own singular pleasure. Kelsana 7/24/01
Rating:
Summary: Life and Love in Shancarrig
Review: THE COPPER BEECH by Maeve Binchy THE COPPER BEECH by Maeve Binchy is a series of stories centering on the townspeople of Shancarrig, Ireland. The reference to the copper beech is to a large tree that stands near the school grounds where the town's children grew up. Many initials had been etched into this tree, representing many memories of those that had passed through this town and through the school. While Binchy's latest book QUENTIN'S had a similar approach, I felt it failed as a novel in comparison to THE COPPER BEECH. QUENTIN'S used a main story line, with short stories interspersed around the main plot. It was choppy and forced. With THE COPPER BEECH, Binchy succeeded in creating a feel for this small Irish town and for the people that comprised it. As the reader reads each story, they become more immersed in the lives of the towns people. References are made to previous characters, so by the end of the book, one feels that this was a satisfactory journey through the town of Shancarrig, and may want to visit it again. Some of my favorite stories were about Miss Ross and Father Barry, and their "secret" friendship; the story of Dr Jims and his only son Declan who had to face the world without a mother and with a father that was emotionally distant from him; and Richard Hayes, the wayward nephew of Bill Hayes, and his illicit relationship with married Gloria Darcy, and the hard lessons he learned from her. All the stories I found interesting, and it was one of those books that I didn't want to see end. As with all Binchy books, I think most fans will agree that she writes the type of novel that "feels" like home. Her characters are usually well rounded and full of depth. Her style of writing, which to me resembles friends chatting, is very comfortable to me. Some readers have complained about her books, saying they seem far too long. But I personally enjoy this type of writing, and do recommend THE COPPER BEECH. For those not familiar with her works, I suggest starting with TARA ROAD, which was an Oprah book selection a few years ago.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, to be Irish!
Review: The Copper Beech isn't a book for those looking for alot of fast paced action. Instead it's the kind of book that is slow paced and one you don't want to have end. Maeve Binchy has once again written a book that takes the reader to Ireland and introduces you to a town called Shancarrig, and the huge copper beech tree which watches over the town's school. Each character is explored, many from the time they were born, until they reach adulthood. The children at the school are often poor, such as Maura, who has grown up with an alcoholic father, but manages to make a good life for herself and her son, Michael, who is born with Down's Syndrome. And Maddie Ross, the school teacher, who has a secret love with the town's young priest. I listened to this on Recorded Books audio and the narrator had a beautiful Irish accent which just enhanced the story. I enjoyed every minute of it, as I have all of Maeve Binchy's other stories. A must for anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Bad, But Not Her Most Uplifting Work, Either
Review: The other Binchy works I have read, Tara Road, The Glass Lake, Circle of Friends, even the Return Journey (a book of short stories) seem more balanced than this. Those seemed to address both the ups and downs of life. The Copper Beech seems more focused on the despairs. It is not poorly written, just a bit of a downer. Definitely not something to read if you are pregnant, as I am at the moment.
Rating:
Summary: One small world through everyone's eyes.
Review: The story is about a place and time and how several people's lives unfold over a period of about 30 years. The copper beech is a landmark by the local school in a small town in Ireland. It is marked by the local school children upon graduation and provides a point of reference for many as they grow up. This book chronicles the lives of several of the local people through their own eyes. You see the priest, the young school mistress and several other local town's people recount major events and how they touch each of their lives. What I found particularly interesting is how each event is perceived differently and how each imagine each other's lives. It kind of makes you think for a moment as you look around at the people you know. Makes you realize that you color what you imagine their lives to be, with your own palette and with only partial knowledge. Yet, you often take this as fact rather than your own opinion and are shocked to find out otherwise. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book and leaves you feeling that things aren't always what they seem.
Rating:
Summary: One small world through everyone's eyes.
Review: The story is about a place and time and how several people's lives unfold over a period of about 30 years. The copper beech is a landmark by the local school in a small town in Ireland. It is marked by the local school children upon graduation and provides a point of reference for many as they grow up. This book chronicles the lives of several of the local people through their own eyes. You see the priest, the young school mistress and several other local town's people recount major events and how they touch each of their lives. What I found particularly interesting is how each event is perceived differently and how each imagine each other's lives. It kind of makes you think for a moment as you look around at the people you know. Makes you realize that you color what you imagine their lives to be, with your own palette and with only partial knowledge. Yet, you often take this as fact rather than your own opinion and are shocked to find out otherwise. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book and leaves you feeling that things aren't always what they seem.
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