Rating: 
Summary: Great Ugly Duckling Story...Not A Cliche
Review: This is one of Binchy's best books, in my opinion. She takes a chcarcter who is very insecure, Benny, and puts her in situations that are new and different for her. Instead of making the standard decisions that every other writer has characters choose, Benny takes a stand in her sheltered life, and ultimately the best decision.This book is about an overweight girl, who goes to college, thinking that the world is not available to her, since she lives with protective parents who want her to marry Sean, her father's assistant in the family menswear shop. She meets Jack, a handsome boy who could have any girl, and who chooses Benny, although is not completely faithful to her. Benny deals with her insecurities about her relationship and life. While Jack is charming and funny, she does not realize that Jack really isn't the boy for her. Her relationships with friends Eve, who is an orphan raised by the nuns of Knockglen, Nan, a Dublin girl, and many other townspeople are intriguing. If you love an underdog/ugly duckling story, this is the one for you. I also think the movie is great, although I typically do not like movie adaptions.
Rating:
Summary: A Simple Story, A Great Read
Review: Wow! I was pleasantly surprised when I began to read this book. Even though this is a simple story - not action packed, or a thriller - I was hooked from the very beginning! It's the story of Benny and Eve, two girls who become friends when they are ten and become inseperable. The story mainly centers around the girls when they are 18 and head off to college as they meet new people and go through the process of growing up. This is a coming of age story that is so beautifully written, I just couldn't put it down. This is my first Maeve Binchy book, and I plan to read more very soon! I would highly recommend this book!
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