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The Copper Beech (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 9,685 listener ratings
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “The Copper Beech is as soothing as a cup of tea.”—People In the little Irish town of Shancarrig, the young people carve their initials—and those of their loves—into the copper beech tree in front of the schoolhouse. But not even Father Gunn, the parish priest, who knows most of what goes on behind Shancarrig’s closed doors, or Dr. Jims, the village doctor, who knows all the rest, realize that not everything in the placid village is what it seems. Unexpected passions and fears are bringing together many lives, such as the sensitive new priest and Miss Ross, the slight, beautiful schoolteacher . . . Leonora, the privileged daughter of the town’s richest family, and Foxy Dunne, whose father did time in jail . . . and Nessa Ryan, whose parents run Ryan’s Hotel, and two very different young men. For now the secrets in Shancarrig’s shadows are starting to be revealed, from innocent vanities and hidden loves to crimes of the heart . . . and even to murder. Praise for The Copper Beech “A book with a difference . . . You’ll take it home to lend to your best friend.”—The New York Times Book Review “Binchy makes you laugh, cry, and care. Her warmth and sympathy render the daily struggles of ordinary people heroic and turn storytelling into art.”—San Francisco Chronicle “The Copper Beech finds author Maeve Binchy at her Irish storytelling best!”—Cleveland Plain Dealer
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"This is a lovely book. I really like how she develops the characters. At first I was confused because I couldn't establish who the main character was supposed to be. However, that is the point it is a story about many different characters and how they make the whole of the community. "
— Tannya (5 out of 5 stars)
The Copper Beech Listener Reviews
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" Moving. The stories form Shancarrig touch me every time. "
— Zrinka, 2/18/2014 -
" this book was ok it described the people of the town but i was left waiting for it to all come together. "
— Alaina, 2/17/2014 -
" I'd read Maeve Binchy years ago, then read one by her that I didn't like. I got this one at a yard sale, so for 50 cents, thought I'd give her another chance. A fun, easy read. She's back on my list of authors again! "
— Ann, 2/12/2014 -
" This was a typical Maeve Binchy novel set in Ireland. Each chapter is a different character's point of view. Very easy light reading that was great poolside. It is about a little town in Ireland and the students lives after they all go to school together. "
— Rebecca, 2/8/2014 -
" Not as good as her others, but as the rest impressed me, i will let it pass. Not for Maeve Binchy beginners, a little boring. "
— Julie, 2/4/2014 -
" I always enjoy Binchy's way of interweaving character's stories. This book tells tales of life in a small Irish village in the 1940's and 50's. Some are sad and some happy but they all feel true especially how hidden people's lives can be even in a small community. "
— Donna, 1/27/2014 -
" pleasant, some lives happy, some sad, nice end "
— Michelle, 1/13/2014 -
" Good, solid, easy read with interesting story and characters. "
— Barbara, 1/3/2014 -
" Typical Maeve Binchy. "
— Louise, 12/23/2013 -
" Enjoyed this very much, everything came together right at the end "
— Susan, 12/18/2013 -
" Loved this one. I so want to have a Copper Beech tree planted in my yard. Even though I am allergic to beech trees! LOL! "
— Nancy, 12/18/2013 -
" Nothing special, too provincial story "
— Meda, 12/7/2013 -
" I do enjoy Maeve Binchy's characters; it's fun to get to know them. "
— Lynn, 11/29/2013 -
" School days in a Catholic school can be frightening but many things happen in the lives of the students under the copper beech tree in the school yard. "
— Jill, 11/25/2013 -
" read tis a long time ago but enjoyed the story and the way she wrote of the Irish. "
— Sue, 11/22/2013 -
" Binchy's books are always interesting reading; however, again I had trouble keeping the characters straight. Lots of action in this book about the "normal" lives of citizens of a small town in Ireland. "
— Lola, 5/25/2013 -
" This is a very comfortable book. The story centers around the school which has a large copper beech tree. You meet the students, and community members. The view of the small town is shown from each person's perspective. "
— Diane, 4/25/2013 -
" An easy read that kept my attention. Not quite as good as some of her other books. "
— Stacy, 3/8/2013 -
" Needed a light book after 1000 Splendid Suns and this hit the spot. She is my favorite consistent writer. No surprises, no bloodshed, no horror. Just a feel good sense of life after I'm done reading. "
— Caroline, 10/25/2012 -
" Great characters make this story move along although it's not my favorite of the author. "
— Patty, 10/2/2012 -
" Great writing, compelling characters. The book is like a quilt. Don't expect a climatic ending, just enjoy the journey. "
— Regina, 7/26/2012 -
" Just read her! All of her characters will become people you think about after you leave the pages! "
— Jeanne, 2/1/2012 -
" I'm a big Binchy fan! have read every one of her books. "
— Janet, 10/29/2011 -
" Good story, well told, about a little town in Ireland. Maeve Binchy hardly ever disappoints. "
— Marysue, 10/16/2011 -
" I always enjoy her books although I will admit, they do develop a bit of "sameness." This Irish novel focuses on a group of students in a small town as they grow into adults. The characters are all very differnt from each other. "
— Aldafan, 7/15/2011 -
" After finishing this, I want to go dig all of my Maeve Binchy books from under the bed and reread them. She is such an engrossing writer; one of the few that really takes you to another time and place effortlessly. "
— Kelly, 3/14/2011 -
" I read about 100 pages in this book before I realized I have already read it, probably in the early 90's when it first came out. That was a few years ago, you know, and I'm not getting any younger - the memory is going! "
— Wendy, 12/12/2010 -
" Started to read this book but got bored which is a shame as normally enjoy Binchys books. "
— Janet, 12/3/2010 -
" This was the first Maeve Binchy book read many years ago now. I remember liking it a lot and it set me on the course to read all the other books by the late and beloved Maeve Binchy. "
— Cherop, 11/16/2010 -
" This is a perfect book to take on a trip: likable characters, good plotting and an upbeat message. "
— Carla, 9/18/2010
About Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy (1940–2012) was the author of numerous bestselling books, including Minding Frankie, Heart and Soul, Whitethorn Woods, and Circle of Friends, as well as Tara Road, which was an Oprah’s Book Club selection. She contributed to Gourmet; O, The Oprah Magazine; Modern Maturity; and Good Housekeeping, among other publications. Married to Gordon Snell, she lived in Dalkey, Ireland, until her death in July 2012 at the age of seventy-two, shortly after finishing A Week in Winter.
About Fionnula Flanagan
Fionnula Flanagan was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. From an early age she grew up speaking both English and Irish on a daily basis. Her parents weren’t native Irish speakers but wanted Fionnula and her four siblings to learn the language. Her mother used to say, “A nation without a language is a nation without a soul”. Fionnula has said she will be forever grateful to them for that. She was educated at the Abbey Theatre School in Dublin and in Switzerland. She moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and lives with her husband, psychiatrist Dr. Garrett O’Connor, in Beverly Hills. Of her enormous body of work, including stage, television and film, she might be most well-known for James Joyce’s Women, in which she plays six different women who had a profound influence on James Joyce‘s life. Besides giving an award-winning performance, she also wrote, adapted and produced the piece for the stage, and subsequently as a feature film. She believes Joyce is the most important writer in the English language, most notably for Ulysses, Finnegan’s Wake and The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man.