Light a Penny Candle

Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic and disappointing
Review: My first Binchy novel was Evening Class -- what a treat -- her characters were fascinating and their idiosyncracies were endearing.

My second Binchy novel was Light a Penny Candle, and boy was I disappointed. I agree with the other reviews that this book did not properly develop the two main characters (especially in the childhood years) and the ending was absolutely puzzling. A botched, rushed, and worst of all, inconsistent ending.

I'm hoping that someone out there can recommend a Binchy novel that is of comparable caliber to Evening Class. I don't think I could take another frustrating read like Light A Penny Candle.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing end (don't worry, I won't tell)
Review: As a big fan of Maeve Binchy's cozy, inviting stories that never stint on human emotion and yet always manage to keep their "homey" quality, I found LIGHT A PENNY CANDLE to be another good example of her work. It deals with choices, compromises, torn relationships, and family strife, but it's also a story about the incredible power of friendship. Right up until the end, it was a good read. The end itself, though, is disappointing. I won't give anything away, but don't expect Binchy's signature "I want more" ending. She usually leaves her characters without total closure, but THIS ending is something else. I had to knock the book down a star for it.

Rating:
Summary: A cozy read
Review: This is perfect reading for those of you snowed in during the horrible snowstorms lately in the US. It's long and moves at a faster-paced than some of Binchy's other novels and satisfies your curiousity of characters that you want to know everything about!

Elizabeth is sent to Ireland during WWII to keep safe during the Blitz in London. She spends five years there with Aisling O'Connor's family ~~ and returns back to London with a life-long best friend. This is their story of their friendship and all they've endured. Both have fallen in love and gotten married at different times of their lives, watch their mothers die and other growing-up situations that shape everyone's lives.

It is a great story of friendship and touches somewhat on mother-daughter relationships as well ~~ and it's fast-paced so it's great to read during those long winter evenings. It is not my favorite Binchy but it's one of the best ones I've read.

1-27-04

Rating:
Summary: This book was excellent!
Review: I've read only one other book of Binchy's (Evening Class),but I plan on reading many, many more! Binchy is wonderful at story-telling, and at developing her characters. I could envision every little detail. I honestly could not put it down, and I never wanted it to end, but as they say, "all good things must come to an end."

Rating:
Summary: A dissappointing read...
Review: I have read several of Binchy's books and have enjoyed them all but I found Light a Penny candle dissapointing and a frustrating read. It started off well and I enjoyed the descriptions of the lively irish family, the O'Conners, but I felt that around mid-way the plot began to deteriorate. The basic storyline involves one tragic event after another and I thought it was a bit depressing. The ending was dissatisfying and I felt that it the whole book had been ended in a rush. Overall, not a satisfying read but I would recommend reading other Binchy books such as Circle of Friends and Tara Road.

Rating:
Summary: One of her best
Review: This is the first book that I read by Maeve Binchy (thus turning me into a devoted fan) and I consider this one of her finest works.

The tale of the friendship of two girls who then become two women is inspiring and uplifting, and though the character's lives become a little complex towards the end, the story carries it all very well. The settings of England both during and after the war are well painted and realistic, and all in all the story really pulls you in and makes you care for the characters.

This is a lovely book to curl up with on a cold winter's night. Reading Binchy books are like catching up with old friends!

Rating:
Summary: Binchy is a brilliant Writer
Review: While I am not a seasoned reader of Binchy's books, there are a few things I just have to say. I first read this book when I was 13, it's been 10 years, and I can still completely immerse myself in it. I grew up in non-western environment and I can honestly say I could relate completely to the small Irish town mentality portrayed in this book as well as the responses of the main character to her cloistering social set up- the initial desire to run away from it all, the eventual compromise that threatens to destroy her, and the guilt that comes after she finally asserts herself as an individual. The characters were so real, and Binchy's style was so captivating that I literally had to stay up for 2 nights straight so I finish reading it. In fact my only complaint regarding this book is there doesn't seem to be any sequel. This is tragic. This should be remedied immediately. Aside from being a fascinating account of two very different girls from two very different family set ups in wartime Ireland and postwar England, this book can be said to be the definitive statement of what friendship is supposed to be all abou

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing end (don't worry, I won't tell)
Review: As a big fan of Maeve Binchy's cozy, inviting stories that never stint on human emotion and yet always manage to keep their "homey" quality, I found LIGHT A PENNY CANDLE to be another good example of her work. It deals with choices, compromises, torn relationships, and family strife, but it's also a story about the incredible power of friendship. Right up until the end, it was a good read. The end itself, though, is disappointing. I won't give anything away, but don't expect Binchy's signature "I want more" ending. She usually leaves her characters without total closure, but THIS ending is something else. I had to knock the book down a star for it.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful! Enthralling!
Review: Oh, I didn't want it to end! I was almost waiting for an epilogue. This was the first story I read by Maeve Binchy, and I must say: boy, have I been missing out! Some plot lines were a bit weak, and I would have liked a more elaborately told ending, but everything else in between was pure magic. The lives of the two girls (and eventually women) were so richly entertwined, and I loved every minute. I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a book that you can curl up next to the fire on a chilly night and wrap yourself in.

Rating:
Summary: Not my favorite Binchy
Review: I would agree with previous reviews that this is not my favorite Binchy. It was compelling and interesting for the better part of the book, but seemingly fell apart at the end. I was disappointed in the depressing end. I would really recommend Scarlett Feather, Evening Class and Quentin's for a reader just starting to read Binchy. They are compelling and filled with interesting characters.