Rating: 
Summary: Nearly impossible to put down
Review: I thought for certain I would go blind reading this book - every night I would read until my eyes just couldn't process any more of the print. Although it covers many, many years of the two women's lives it never once got boring. I kept turning the page wondering who would live or die, who would sleep with whom, who would marry whom, etc. Very compelling!
Rating: 
Summary: couldn't put it down
Review: I love Maeve Binchy. Although Tara Road and Glass Lake are my favorites, Light a Penny Candle stands right up there. The characters become part of you and you can't wait to see what they will do next.
Rating:
Summary: Irish pride
Review: When I finished this book, I gasped. I thought, how could everything turn out so horribly? But, after a couple of days, I realized things did turn out for this best. All Elizabeth and Aisling wanted was to be independent post-war women. Aisling married Tony becaus he loved her, and because she was under influence by her Irish-Catholic Tradition. Elizabeth loved Johnny, but he was a worthless ..., so she found a man who could give her what she needed. When she realized that Henry was destined to become a boring bridge player like her father, it was too late. Maeve Binchy shows us what she thought of these two men-she kills them both. Every author must have a relationship with his/her characters, and by killing off the two people who stifled these girls, Binchy says, I love these girls. They don't need men to tie them down! Hail, hail, to Maeve Binchy, queen of the Irish feminist novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Binchy's talents not fully realized in debut novel
Review: As a long-time Binchy reader, I wanted to read her entire body of work. The final title uncovered turns out to have been her debut novel. Although the book offers the author's hallmark intriguing characters in believable situations, Binchy definitely did not hit her stride until after this initial effort. I am sincerely glad the publisher ascertained her potential for greater writing and gave the book a green light since every successive story has been utterly compelling. And that includes her latest, and purportedly final novel, Scarlet Feather.
Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorites!
Review: I first read Light A Penny Candle when I was about twelve and have loved it ever since. I've since read the rest of Maeve Binchy's works, but keep coming back to this one. I don't often re-read books since it's inherently anti-climactic, but this is one of the few exceptions. The true pleasure here is in the journey, not the destination.
Rating: 
Summary: Unanswered questions
Review: I found that this book was absolutely a page turner. You could not help but wonder how events would evolve. Unfortunately the endng does not really feel like an ending. I'm not someone who requires a happy ending, but this ending felt as though there was a chapter missing.It was still a good read with interesting characters. Just be warned that the ending may be a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: Every character in this book was constantly unhappy and never seemed to find true happiness at all. (Sure,that could be part of the story) But overall, I found it slightly depressing and unrealistic. Some parts were dry and uneventful and near the end Maeve Binchy seems to have wanted to end it way too quickly. I know that writers shouldn't hang onto the ending for too long, but it was at the climax and then stopped within a few paragraphs.
Rating: 
Summary: *Not* a story of friendship
Review: This book was disappointing in that the two characters had very few admirable features. Elizabeth's "romantic" relationship as a young woman was dismal and depressing, and her marriage wasn't much better; Aisling turned to the same type of dismal, loveless relationship as an "older" woman. This book is promoted as a story about friendship, but what kind of friends enable each other to stay in such hideous relationships without ever encouraging each other to get out and move on to better things? Also, the sudden change in Aisling's husband after they got married was puzzling and unrealistic. I didn't think this book was worth the time or money.
Rating:
Summary: Another masterpeice by Binchy
Review: From the first page I found myself utterly attached to the wonderful characters. They were real people surrounded by both aweful problems and wonderful influences. I learned a lot about myself and friendship from this book. It doesn't sugarcoat real world issues. The characters are forced to deal and move on. The ending was a suprise and even though it was a downer it was good. The book offers so much to a young person like myself and I think everyone who likes cute but deep books should read it.
Rating:
Summary: my review
Review: This is the story of two girls from different backgrounds, characters, cultures and looks, who become friends and remain the same even after they suffer different life shattering events. No husbands, or family members or work are able to separate them. This is a great book of friendship. Very well written and the characters are very well defines and presented.
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