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Description edit
Wealthy David Power and huckster's daughter Clare O'Brien are divided by class in the small, gossipy Irish town of Castlebay, but the love they have for one another knows no boundaries, reuniting them after many years apart and forcing them to fight for their love once again. Reprint. ... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Angela O'Hara: Energetic, beloved spinster Teacher. She is the reliable one of her family- unlike Sean who left the village to pursue the priesthood. Lives in a lovely old cottage with her aging, arthritic Mam.
- Clare O'Brien: Brainy daughter of village shopkeeper. She goes from a quiet (but determined) 11 year old to a calm married woman during the years of the book. One of the most endearing heroines Binchy- or any modern writer- has ever created!
- David Power: Smart, handsome son of village doctor who attracts nearly every girl his age. Yet Claire is not interested in him until they surprisingly meet in Dublin, where they really get to know one another. Claire and David are both from the village- yet from social circles as far apart as the North and South Poles!
- Gerry Doyle: Who is he? Though he is from the same Irish seaside community as almost everyone else in the story, he has a fey quality that sets him apart. He inherits his dad's photography business, but, alas, not his common sense.
- Chrissie: Sister to the main female character, Claire.
- Sean: wimp
- Caroline Nolan: Her brother is a school chum of David, and she eventually summers in the village.
- Mary Catherine: an American. Her father is a postman. He sends her to University in Ireland.
- Valerie: Add a description of this character.
- Tommy
- Father Flynn
- James Nolan: At the start of the story, knows David from boarding school. Unlike sweet David, he is a Dubliner. He spends a summer at David's in the tiny village, later bringing his parents and glamorous sister, Caroline.
- Fiona: Sister to Gerry Doyle. He adores her and her love for him blinds her to his dark side- perhaps this is why she is one of the book's most sympathetic characters.
- Emer
- Josie Dillon
- Dick Dillon
- Kevin
- Molly
- Mother Immaculata
- Agnes
- Tom O'brien
- Mrs Conway
- Nellie
- Shuya: Sean's lover whom he meets in Japan. They eventually marry and have 2 children.
- Kath
- Denis
- Jim
- Hilary
- O'dwyer
- Mam
- Olivia: She is not there until 2/3 the way through the story. David and Claire's charming baby daughter.
- Paddy
First Sentence edit
It was sometimes called Brigid's Cave, the echo cave, and if you shouted your question loud enough in the right direction you got an answer instead of an echo.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Maeve Binchy (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: Add the publication date.
ISBN: 0670809381
Page Count: 477
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: Add the publication date.
ISBN: 0670809381
Page Count: 477
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.914
Notes for Parents edit
Reading Level: Young AdultsBoth the boy and girl main characters are ones you'll wish your kids could be like- yet, maybe some of their behavior near the end is not to be desired. Adult themes: premarital sex, marital infidelity, class differences.
Subjects edit
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