The Copper Beech

by Maeve Binchy
The Copper Beech cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Contemporary Fiction
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 9224
  • Added: 2025-12-23
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9781409106142
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2009-12-23
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In the charming town of Shancarrig, an old copper beech tree stands sentinel over the local school, witnessing the hopes and dreams of the children who pass through its gates. The school mistress keeps a watchful eye on her pupils, each with their own unique aspirations and stories. As the years pass, these children grow into adults, their lives becoming intricately woven together in a tapestry of love, loss, and nostalgia. Maeve Binchy, a master storyteller, crafts a heartwarming and evocative novel that captures the essence of community and the enduring power of memories. The Copper Beech is a testament to Binchy's ability to create vivid, relatable characters and settings. The tree itself becomes a symbol of the passage of time and the connections that bind people together. Through the lens of this single, iconic tree, Binchy explores the universal themes of family, friendship, and the inexorable march of time. This novel is a celebration of life's simple pleasures and the profound impact they can have on our lives.

Reviews
Sue's Book Reviews · 2024-08-20
excellent 4.50

The book is praised for its unique structure, with each chapter offering a different perspective. The style is reminiscent of Maeve Binchy's signature storytelling.

This reviewer loved how the book is structured, with each chapter offering a different perspective on the town and its inhabitants. They felt that this approach really brought the characters to life and made the story more engaging. The reviewer also appreciated the way Binchy's writing style shines through, making it a truly enjoyable read. They mentioned that the book is a great example of Binchy's ability to capture the essence of small-town life and the relationships within it.

Quick quotes

    It's written in a style that Maeve Binchy did extremely well: that of each long chapter being written from a different viewpoint.

    It's a lovely story, beautifully read and it lived up to my expectations.

    Maeve Binchy has a way of making her characters come alive.

Facebook - Book Lovers Group · 2024-08-15
fantastic 5.00

The story is layered with empathy and each character is vividly portrayed. The structure of the book is particularly praised for its unique storytelling approach.

This reviewer absolutely loved the book, highlighting the layered structure that peels back each character's story with sensitivity and empathy. They felt that every character was etched so sharply that they could easily imagine them. The reviewer also appreciated the unique storytelling approach, which told the story of a town from one person's perspective at a time. They found it to be a truly engaging and memorable read.

Quick quotes

    The story is wrapped in layers, and Maeve Binchy peels each one sensitively and with empathy.

    Every character is etched so sharply, I now know them.

    I LOVE THIS BOOK! The structure was so interesting, telling the story of a town from one person's perspective at a time.

The New York Times · Anonymous · 1992-12-20
good 4.00

The book is described as an enjoyable read with a unique difference. It's noted for its pleasure and the fact that it's not easily forgotten.

This reviewer found the book to be an enjoyable read, describing it as an airport book with a difference. They felt that it was a book you read for pleasure and that you probably wouldn't leave it in your seat. The reviewer appreciated the unique aspects of the book that made it stand out and be memorable. They also noted that the book is a great example of Binchy's ability to capture the essence of small-town life and the relationships within it.

Quick quotes

    "The Copper Beech" is, I suppose, an airport book with a difference: you read it for pleasure, but you probably will not leave it in your seat.

    It's a briskly written soap with down-to-earth types, mostly without the lachrymose contrivances of Hannah's previous titles.

    This tree is the gateway to Maeve Binchy's marvellous portrait of a small Irish town whose untroubled surface conceals the passions, rivalries, friendships.

Appears in Lists