to "tone down" Sister Madeleine's goodness after reading the first draft and finding the character "too soppy" and "too sentimental". However, "she remains the most wholly admirable person in the story". Reception The Detroit Free Press notes that The Glass Lake differs from previous Binchy titles in being plot-driven rather than character-based. This review, which gave the book 2½ out of 4 stars, called the overlay of "mystery and tragedy swirling around the main character" unsettling, and accused Binchy of "in some cases neglect[ing] the credibility of her characters" in favor of the plot. The Star Tribune, in contrast, felt the major characters were credible but reflected a strong gender bias: Binchy's women, once again, tend to be the "good guys." They are capable and loving, ambitious and intelligent. They are disappointed in their relationships with men. Male characters, the "bad guys", lack motivation, discipline and commitment. They are, more often than not, the source of the women's problems. This review suggests that the gender bias could be traced to Binchy's upbringing in Ireland's male-dominated society, and her coming-of-age during the women's liberation movement. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel praised Binchy for writing "strong and realistic female characters" who possess an inner fortitude to survive the ups and downs of daily life. The Quad-City Times also lauded Binchy's eye and ear for describing the people, conversations, and settings of Ireland of the 1950s. As of 1998, The Glass Lake was Ireland's best-selling book of all time. Adaptations The Glass Lake was produced on an abridged audiobook with a running time of six hours. References 1994 Irish novels Fiction set in the 1950s Novels by Maeve Binchy Novels set in Ireland Novels set in London