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thisandthatwithkaren's review against another edition
5.0
I read this when it first came out as part of my book club subscription, I had a collection of about 10 books on my shelves and they were all well read over the years.
Childhood friends Benny and Eve, grew up together in the Irish village of Knockglen where the pace of life is slow and opportunities for romance slim., and when they start University in the big city the girls make new friends, and enjoy romance and freedom that Universary life offers. While city life has its excitement they must return to the Village at the weekends. Benny the only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents while Eve the orphaned offspring of a convent handyman and a rebellious blueblood, abandoned by her mother's wealthy family to be raised by nuns. Eve and Benny they knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own
I really enjoyed the novel, it has wonderful characters and a great plot. I love being transported to Ireland and diving into the lives of these friends. An easy read and entertaining I highly recommend this book to all my friends
Childhood friends Benny and Eve, grew up together in the Irish village of Knockglen where the pace of life is slow and opportunities for romance slim., and when they start University in the big city the girls make new friends, and enjoy romance and freedom that Universary life offers. While city life has its excitement they must return to the Village at the weekends. Benny the only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents while Eve the orphaned offspring of a convent handyman and a rebellious blueblood, abandoned by her mother's wealthy family to be raised by nuns. Eve and Benny they knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own
I really enjoyed the novel, it has wonderful characters and a great plot. I love being transported to Ireland and diving into the lives of these friends. An easy read and entertaining I highly recommend this book to all my friends
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely wonderful, I loved every bit of it.
serenalawless's review against another edition
5.0
How did I get to my age without having ever treated myself to something as comforting as a Maeve Binchy book? This book feels like the reader is one of the circle, that the characters are well-loved friends. It's just gorgeous. I feel somehow healed from having read it - healed from what, I'm not sure. But it's a tonic for what ails ya.
latetotheparty's review against another edition
4.0
Read for the first time in 1995 when the movie came out and re-read over the weekend just because. Loved it then and still like it now.
pixie_hallows's review against another edition
5.0
At about the half-way point in this book I knew it was one I was going to want to start all over again once I finished it. The characters were well-rounded and each so unique, but the real craft was exposed by the way all the stories were circled and wound together. The nature of the emotions and actions of the characters made this seem completely believable and realistic. The relationships were so lovely, and I wanted to be BFFs with all the characters - well, most of them. The detestable ones were detestable. I could go on and on, but don’t want to spoil anything about this amazing book. Go read it for yourself! It’s like sitting down with a warm cup of tea for a chat with a good friend!
melindamoor's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the ultimate comfort read for me. A heart-warming, emotionally gratifying & rewarding experience. The one where, after finishing, you just sit & stare out of your head happy & content that again the world has been put to rights.
"Circle of Friends" is to me what "The Baronetage" is to Sir Walter Elliot in [b:Persuasion|11758566|Persuasion|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1502779501l/11758566._SY75_.jpg|2534720]. :)
"...there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one; there his faculties were aroused into admiration and respect, ... there any unwelcome sensations ... changed into pity and contempt."
This book is about friendship, love, betrayal, growing up, learning to fight for what is important & learning to let go.
The story takes us to 1957 when Benny (Mary Bernadette) Hogan & Eve Malone are to leave (or are they?) the safe, but limited boundaries of their small Irish hometown of Knockglen -where everyone knows everyone- for the "big, dangerous" city of Dublin.
Benny, an awkward (because she is big and tall), but infinitely kind and funny girl is an only daughter to well-meaning, but elderly parents, who don't seem to realise that she is growing up into a woman. Although they are willing to pay for a university education (strictly Catholic, of course) for Benny, their own plan includes her returning to Knockglen afterwards & marrying her father's assistant (they have a struggling gentlemen's outfit shop), the unappealing, slimy & calculating Sean Walsh.
Eve is an orphan, brought up by the nuns of the Knockglen Catholic Convent (lead by the wonderful, practical Mother Francis), after her late mother's upper-class (Anglo-Irish) family rejects her because she married a low-class, Catholic handyman. She has no funds for university, unless she learns to overcome her pride & ask the Westwards to pay her tuition fee.
In Dublin they meet handsome, popular Jack Foley, cinnamon roll of the University & beautiful, cool Nan Mahon, who is playing a dangerous & ruthless game to get away from her aggressive, drunken father's house both geographically and socially & to land a rich and upper class husband.
The scene is also enriched by a set of very well drawn supporting characters both from the big city & the small town and you cannot help to laugh, cheer, curse or cry as the story unfolds.
wildflowerfieldsforever's review against another edition
5.0
It’s incredible to me how writers like Maeve Binchy can create such an absorbent world in which a reader can sink.
Her characters are so rich and full of depth. She introduces us to many people and yet it’s never confusing. She never lets us sit too long in one place or one conversation, yet we learn so much about every character. I can perfectly picture Knockglen and the streets and shops, the convent, Eve’s cottage.
I believe I read the book years ago, before the movie adaptation came out, but I really cannot recall for sure. I did watch the movie in the 90s. So, either way, I knew which characters to distrust. Yet, in a credit to the writing, I still found myself second guessing “oh, maybe it doesn’t really end like that… is she really going to do that?”
I also don’t recall how the movie ended; I’m just hoping Hollywood didn’t change it from Maeve’s intentions. Because, in the end, it’s exactly how it should be.
Benny is such a wonderful, strong character and she learns that about herself, in the course of the events in the book. And, while Benny is the focus so much of the time, so many other characters are given their fair representation and most of them are just as lovable. And, the ones to distrust and dislike are given solid reasons and solid mannerisms to back up the reader’s gut feeling.
Maeve Binchy’s writing, characters, and settings are at the top of my comfort reads list.
Her characters are so rich and full of depth. She introduces us to many people and yet it’s never confusing. She never lets us sit too long in one place or one conversation, yet we learn so much about every character. I can perfectly picture Knockglen and the streets and shops, the convent, Eve’s cottage.
I believe I read the book years ago, before the movie adaptation came out, but I really cannot recall for sure. I did watch the movie in the 90s. So, either way, I knew which characters to distrust. Yet, in a credit to the writing, I still found myself second guessing “oh, maybe it doesn’t really end like that… is she really going to do that?”
I also don’t recall how the movie ended; I’m just hoping Hollywood didn’t change it from Maeve’s intentions. Because, in the end, it’s exactly how it should be.
Benny is such a wonderful, strong character and she learns that about herself, in the course of the events in the book. And, while Benny is the focus so much of the time, so many other characters are given their fair representation and most of them are just as lovable. And, the ones to distrust and dislike are given solid reasons and solid mannerisms to back up the reader’s gut feeling.
Maeve Binchy’s writing, characters, and settings are at the top of my comfort reads list.