Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy

Nestled outside the Irish village of Rossmore in Whitethorn Woods is the shrine of St. Ann's Well, which attracts many of the faithful and hopeful of Rossmore and many from well outside the borders of Rossmore, bringing visitors to this otherwise sleepy little town. Developers bring forward a controversial proposal to construct a bypass highway that would divert ever-increasing commuter traffic right through the Woods, thus destroying the sacred well. Worried that the shrine's days are numbered, villagers flock to the well, where they plead for everything from the restoration of a faltering love affair to a new baby to a mother’s health.

Instead of a straightforward narrative in which the outcome would be rather predictable (will the shrine be saved? duh!), Binchy creates a collection short stories, each focusing on a character in the town embroiled in various romantic and domestic crises. These vignettes are delicately and masterfully woven together, in a way that becomes more and more clear as the reader makes her way through the book. I was amazed by the voices of the characters in each story, from the diabolical machinations of a mother whose daughter has committed murder to the sad serenity of another whose child was kidnapped decades earlier. Amazing writing! This is a beautifully written tale of a traditional land and people threatened and challenged by the forces of change.