Nights of Rain and Stars - book review

There couldn't be a better title to review on this rainy night in California. However, Nights of Rain and Stars by Maive Binchy is not about rain and stars as much as it is a careful study of personalities, families, and the interaction of individuals with their family and friends. A group of five foreigners visiting the tiny Greek village of Aghia Anna happen to be dining at a taverna at the same time and witness a tragic fire just outside the town's port. Too far away to help or even give immediate solace to the victims or their families, they nevertheless manage to convey their sympathy. The group consists of a young man from England, a young American man, a beautiful, talented German woman, and a young couple from Ireland.

Rather than continue with their vacation plans, the group begin to bond and to explore each other's life situation with the help (or meddling) of Vonnie, another displaced foreigner who has lived in Aghia Anna for years. Each person can see solutions to others' problems but cannot see the similar solution to their own similar situation. Not everything works out but enough things do so that the book is both an upper and realistic.

Here are some pictures of the island of Aigha Anna which are entirely consistent with the word pictures painted by Maive Binchy. Makes you want to spend weeks not just days there.

I listened to the book on CD and marveled at the reader Terry Donnelly's command of the English language in 6 dialects and different characters' voices in each of those dialects. There was never any question about who was speaking because each voice had a different dialect or p itch or inflection. The book would be a delight if only to listen to those accents. Highly recommended.