What are the motifs in Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy?

Life's ups and downs is a recurring idea. Ms. Binchy utilizes various plot twists to symbolize the good and bad times of life. She compares the joyful times to stars and clear skies, and the cheerless times to rain. She demonstrates that the journey of life will always be filled with trials, and even though we may make wrong decisions, we can learn to be content with patience, love, friends, and family. In the end, a soft rain may not be all that disturbing.