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serafina_pekkala's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
moominmama_11's review against another edition
4.0
An English girl is evacuated to Ireland to her mothers friend and a lifelong friendship is born - men, work, family are all brought to life through the friendship of Aisling and Elizabeth and with it the changing attitudes of post-war Ireland and England. Maeve Binchy’s great strength is in how believable and real her characters are. This one suffered a bit with the ending tho which was a little too melodramatic.
Would recommend for pure comfort reading - read it when you’re sick or have the house to yourself on a cold winters day
Would recommend for pure comfort reading - read it when you’re sick or have the house to yourself on a cold winters day
decoachwife's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
rachel45's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
gwalt118's review against another edition
4.0
When I discovered - and loved - Rosamunde Pilcher last year, multiple people told me to read Maeve Binchy. I finally did it, and I have to say that you all were right. Binchy gives me serious Pilcher vibes, and I can't get enough of those.
I started with Light a Penny Candle because it is Binchy's first novel - there are SO many! - and I loved it. Aisling and Elizabeth, the two young female protagonists thrown together in the midst of war, will stay with me for a long time. This is a coming-of-age story about them as they become friends and confidants throughout the early part of their lives, encountering death, marriage, grief, and other trials and glories of life together.
The novel is about so much: mothers and daughters, female friendship, religion and faith, sex and sexuality, marriage, disease, divorce, death and grief, alcoholism, war, collective and individual independence, and probably much more that I'm forgetting. It is full of themes and characters that are well-developed and have stood the test of time.
The ending felt a bit odd to me, like maybe Binchy wasn't quite sure how to end the novel. If you've read it, I'd love to chat about it with you.
Binchy's writing is wonderful. There are letters interspersed throughout the novel, but they aren't distracting - a nod to her craft and structure. She writes dialogue very well. I disappeared into this novel for hours at a time. I am excited to read more of her work and absolutely thrilled that she wrote so much for me to read!
If you like Rosamunde Pilcher (especially the novel Coming Home) or Call the Midwife, I think you'd really enjoy this book.
I started with Light a Penny Candle because it is Binchy's first novel - there are SO many! - and I loved it. Aisling and Elizabeth, the two young female protagonists thrown together in the midst of war, will stay with me for a long time. This is a coming-of-age story about them as they become friends and confidants throughout the early part of their lives, encountering death, marriage, grief, and other trials and glories of life together.
The novel is about so much: mothers and daughters, female friendship, religion and faith, sex and sexuality, marriage, disease, divorce, death and grief, alcoholism, war, collective and individual independence, and probably much more that I'm forgetting. It is full of themes and characters that are well-developed and have stood the test of time.
The ending felt a bit odd to me, like maybe Binchy wasn't quite sure how to end the novel. If you've read it, I'd love to chat about it with you.
Binchy's writing is wonderful. There are letters interspersed throughout the novel, but they aren't distracting - a nod to her craft and structure. She writes dialogue very well. I disappeared into this novel for hours at a time. I am excited to read more of her work and absolutely thrilled that she wrote so much for me to read!
If you like Rosamunde Pilcher (especially the novel Coming Home) or Call the Midwife, I think you'd really enjoy this book.
emilydommer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
hepalmer's review against another edition
4.0
I must have read this sometime mid-80s at home, then recently bought a version for Kindle. Didn't remember story at all, but a great re-read, Binchy at her best
dianef's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
clemthecat's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lyddiele's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful! I laughed, I cried, and I was so sad when it ended! An amazing story of two friends who become as sisters and the lives they lead.