Customer Reviews

Echoes

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've read everything Maeve Binchy has written, and in my opinion this is by far the best of her many novels. It's about a group of friends growing up together in a small seaside town in 1950s Ireland. As they get older they discover there are differences of status between their families, and Claire and David, who are beginning to fall in love as teenagers, discover his family is not receptive to their relationship.

The story moves on, through their college years and beyond, and along the way Binchy shows the passage of time by subtly blending social and political changes in with the characters' lives. Binchy has fantastic story-telling skills, and these are best exhibited in her earlier books, such as this and Light a Penny Candle; I did find some of her later books a little disappointing.

I have never, repeat never, read a book as touching and involving as this one. I have no clue why this was my first introduction to such a superior storyteller as Maeve Binchy. I'm only saddened that I've waited so long to read one of her books. I can't wait to get another. This lady has a gift. This book is enthralling. Definitely not a story you will soon forget if ever. The characters are amazingly real, you grow so attached to them faults and all. You will be happy for them at times and your heart will absolutely break for them at other times. Simply fabulous. Although a little slow in the beginning you won't be able to put it down when things start happening. Although I didn't like the way the ending left me hanging, I couldn't dare think it wasn't worth it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story! However this one isn't good, it's wonderful!

I started reading this book about 6:00 one night, and ended up staying awake until about 4:00 to finish it. I loved it, the beginning anyway. The characters were very real and the story was very good. I got very caught up it in, and couldn't put it down. Then came the last fifty or maybe a hundred pages. Maeve Binchy set up an amazing plot, a little depressing maybe, but still good, but the ending was no where near my expectations based on the rest of the book. It seemed like she spent months building up the story, then realized "Oh no! I only have two days to my deadline!" then hastily wrapped up the book in a very unsatisfying way that was untrue to the characters and very disappointing. Read it anyway, it's still a very good book, just don't take the ending as personnally as I did. I spent the next day very sad and very tired.

ECHOES by Maeve Binchy

Here's a book I read earlier this summer - ECHOES by Maeve Binchy. It's the story of two people, David Powers and Clare O'Brien, and how their lives seem to be destined to come together, despite what social status dictates. They grow up in the same small town of Castlebay in Ireland, travelling in different circles, since David's family is well to do, while Clare's is part of the working class. But they eventually find their lives intertwined as they approach adulthood.

Clare's desire as she's growing up is to leave this small town, where she knows she would be trapped forever, expected to live out a life as traditionally as women have in the past - get married, have babies. Clare wants more for herself, and with the help of her teacher Angela O'Hara, who had remained single so far into her adult life, she tries to meet her goal.

David's calling is to be a doctor as his father before him. For him, his parents prefer something better than being stuck forever with a lower class girl like Clare. It is their hopes that he marries into a prominent Irish family and continues the family practice.

But fate has something different in mind. The story of David and Clare had me glued to this book, and as always Maeve Binchy tells a great story, filled with wonderful personalities that surround the main characters. I highly recommend ECHOES as one of Binchys' best books to date. Don't be put off by the length. It's worth the read!

This was my third Maeve Binchy experience and by far my favorite. Better than CIRCLE OF FRIENDS or TARA ROAD. A rich story, and wonderfully developed characters. The town of Castlebay is described beautifully, and Clare's experience at the university in Dublin adds a nice variety to the setting. I agree with other reviewers that the ending was not completely satisfying because it left me hanging, but I really did enjoy ECHOES. Pour a cup of tea, curl up with this book and be transported to your own Irish cottage in Castlebay.

Maeve Binchy has an uncanny ability to create characters which the reader grows to know and enjoy and hates to let go at the end of the book. In this novel, Binchy details the lives of a group of young people in the town of Castlebay, Ireland, from 1950-1962. There are the usual class distinctions which are far more important to the adults than they are to their children. One young woman, Clare O'Brien, renounces the usual life of her working class parents by working hard enough to get scholarships to school. She studies under the tutelage of Angela O'Hara who was also academically gifted, but whom circumstances have trapped in a dead-end teaching job in her hometown. Clare works hard for her degree, thus separating herself from her family. However, her academic successes have not put her on an even level with some of the young people who come from more prominent families. She and a wealthier young man fall in love and they must battle a variety of negative outside influences. This is an engrossing tale which causes the reader to really care about the characters and what becomes of them.

This is a great story of life in a small Irish village. The characters are wonderfully real to life. Maeve really captures Irish village life mentality. Once you get in to the book it is hard to put down. I couldn't wait to pick it up and read when ever I had the time, it leaves you wondering what is going to happen next? I loved the story but not the ending. I wish we had known how things were going to turn out for David & Clare.

In looking through books on tape at the library, I ran across ECHOES, and decided to give it a try. I had never heard of it before, but have found most of Maeve Binchy's stories to be more than good. What at great treat! This is a terrific story about a small seaside village in Ireland called Castlebay. I was immediately hooked on the story.

Clare O'Brien is the daughter of a poor shopkeeper and meant to stay in her place in this village where your birth status decides your life. The assumption is rather amazing since the story takes place in the 1950's and early 1960's. Clare is very bright and stands out in a family where her siblings are certainly not overachievers. She's helped and motivated by a young teacher who sees herself in Clare and wants to give her a chance at a better life. Clare works hard and wins several scholarships, which enable her to go on to the university in Dublin. This story is filled with a cast of characters who seemed very genuine to me. The unfolding events explain how Clare changes and how the village people, both rich and poor, view the young woman. Clare's own family, seem to be at odds with the fact that she wants to improve her lot in life, and her choice of a husband is not well received by anyone.

The author's daughter, Kate Binchy, read my audio book. She was such an excellent reader, that I will now look for her name on other audio books. She was able, with different Irish accents, to keep each character totally unique.

This is the only Maeve Binchy book that I had not read. Once again, I was not disapointed. It took a while to get into, but once I did, I found it impossible to put down. The charecters and their problems are extremely well devleoped, and I loved Claire's spirit and determination. By the end of this book, all of the charecheters had learned something very valuable, and they all had the courage and grace to continue with their lives. This book reminded me of "Light a Penny Candle" in many small ways, and also a little of "Circle of Friends" in places. I highly recomend "Echoes", but give it time to develop throughout the pages.

Started off slow and then was involving. Binchy's characters are very well-drawn and their personal dramas have a very realistic tinge. She has the fabled Irish gift for storytelling that is lyrical and lovely and that draws one deeply into a tale. However, I found the ending very unsatisfying.