Echoes - Maeve Binchy

...numerous sub plots and in Echoes this is no different.

GERRY DOYLE – a loveable rascal, who was always extremely popular with the ladies, and yet the men could find nothing bad to say about him. Gerry was an easy going boy and man; he could be trusted with a secret and relied upon in a crisis. Yet Gerry’s world is not all as it seems.

ANGELA O”HARA – another Castlebay prodigy. Angela the town ...
...goes on.

Echoes is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite Binchy novel – and l have read them all! It was the first Binchy novel l read and it will always hold a dear place in my heart. I really can put myself into characters (not simply the main characters) and l love the Dublin scenes when familiar landmarks are named as l can picture the back drop. I hope l have convinced you to read the novel for your self – it really ... more

Published in 1985 by Arrow Books Limited, Echoes, by Maeve Binchy, to me is a powerful story of love, jealously, intrigue and secrets. It is set a small Irish coastal town, of fictional Castlebay. Although Binchy never tells us where exactly in Ireland Castlebay may be found, l got the distinct impression it was on the West Coast.

The story begins in the 1950s with the two lead characters Clare O’Brien and David Power to be found on the beach at the caves. In particular they were at Echo cave, where superstition and local folk lore states that if you shout you desires in the right direction, and did it loud enough instead of an echo you would get an answer.

Clare O’Brien is the youngest daughter of Agnes and Tom O’Brien. They are poor shop keepers who just about break even from trade during the summer season to keep themselves going during the harsh, winter months. Clare and her brothers and sisters are expected to help in the shop during the summer months. Clare though is unlike her contemporaries and siblings. Clare is intense and extremely intelligent. Her nose is always stuck in a book and she is constantly questioning. She knows that she is destine for bigger and better things than the rural backwater of Castlebay can offer.

David Power, is the only son of Dr Paddy and Molly Power. Dr Power is the beloved doctor of Castlebay, sometimes outspoken but has a genuine love of the town and its people. Molly his wife was from Dublin, who gave up the bright lights of the city to move to this quiet town, she still feels she is above Castlebay and longs for some excitement. David is destined to follow in his father’s footsteps – in becoming a doctor, although unbeknown to Dr Power David does not want to become a country GP (at least not before experiencing life and what it has to offer)

The story leads us to Dublin, Clare having studied extremely hard has won scholarships and is attending UCD doing a BA in History, whilst David is finishing his medical studies. As all good love stories go David and Clare fall in love – but it is not a love which will be readily accepted in Castlebay – the poor shopkeepers daughter and the well to do doctors son.

Im not going to give away the rest of the story of David and Clare – needless to say you will have to read the book to find out what happens to the pair.

Binchy is a storyteller of the highest level – in her books she intertwines numerous sub plots and in Echoes this is no different.

GERRY DOYLE – a loveable rascal, who was always extremely popular with the ladies, and yet the men could find nothing bad to say about him. Gerry was an easy going boy and man; he could be trusted with a secret and relied upon in a crisis. Yet Gerry’s world is not all as it seems.

ANGELA O”HARA – another Castlebay prodigy. Angela the town drunk’s daughter, was able to pull her self from this mire and go on to win scholarships prior to Clare O’Brien. She became a teacher in the convent school in Castlebay. Angela became a mentor to Clare O’Brien and encouraged her all along the way, but Angela too knows misery. Misery that the small minded, Catholic town of Castlebay would never accept.

There are numerous other characters in the book – Christy – Clare’s tarty older sister, Josie Dillon – Clare’s best friend in Castlebay, Valerie and Mary Catherine – Clare’s friend from University, James and Caroline Nolan – friend’s of the Powers from Dublin – the list goes on.

Echoes is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite Binchy novel – and l have read them all! It was the first Binchy novel l read and it will always hold a dear place in my heart. I really can put myself into characters (not simply the main characters) and l love the Dublin scenes when familiar landmarks are named as l can picture the back drop. I hope l have convinced you to read the novel for your self – it really is a treat for those of you who have not read it and for those who have read it again – l have just finished reading if for what seems to be the 15th time – but it never looses any of its sparkle!

As for the price l could not tell you what it is now – although on the book itself it quotes five pounds ninety nine but this was when first published. I would suggest second hand bookshops for picking it up at a fraction of its sale price. The ISBN number is 0-09-948531-1.

Happy Reading

Heather
 

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