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    Light a Penny Candle
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    Light a Penny Candle
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    Light a Penny Candle
    Audiobook (abridged)2 hours

    Light a Penny Candle

    Written by Maeve Binchy

    Narrated by Kate Binchy

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Evacuated from Blitz-battered London, shy and genteel Elizabeth White is sent to stay with the boisterous O'Connors in Kilgarret, Ireland. It is the beginning of an unshakeable bond between Elizabeth and Aisling O'Connor, a friendship that will endure through twenty turbulent years of change and chaos, joy and sorrow, soaring dreams and searing betrayals.

    Writing with warmth, wit and great compassion, Maeve Binchy tells a magnificent story of the lives and loves of two women, bound together in a friendship that nothing could tear asunder -- not even the man who threatened to come between them forever.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJul 4, 2000
    ISBN9780553754346
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for Light a Penny Candle

    3.5/5

    400 ratings16 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Maeve Binchey's debut novel and a real winner. Loved the characters of Elizabeth and Aisling. Elizabeth from England goes to Ireland during World War II snd stays with O'Connor family. Elizabeth and Aisling become best friends. Together they endure years of writing back and forth with letters filled with joy, sorrow and dreams. Read this book to find out more about both their lives.
    • 3/5
      I had wondered if I had read this before - I had. I knew Elizabeth would get an abortion.When I got to the part:"Do you remember that Doctor Lynch years ago? I honestly do remember people said the it was his wife's fault because she was a sour-puss and she didn't give him a good home. She'd dead now but I'd like to go to the churchyard and dig her up and apologize to her for ever having thought that."I knew I had read it before.I didn't remember the ending & still enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      A very good first novel. I stayed interested throughout and liked the partial-omniscient viewpoint, which gave a more rounded view of the world here encountered. Was not thrilled with the ending but it doesn't change my good opinion of this thoughtful and well written piece.
    • 3/5
      Good story idea. Some point of view changes are abrupt. After a short summary, the reader awaits the actual scene. The story then jumps instead a few days, or weeks later, to a different point of view character.
    • 5/5
      This is probably the most favorite Maeve Binchy book, maybe because it feels the most Irish, for some reason. I hadn't read it for several years and didn't recall that the Irish portions took place in Wicklow, a place I had the privilege to visit in 2001. That helped to bring it to life for me even more. The novel revolves around an Irish girl, Aisling, and an English girl, Elizabeth. They meet each other when Elizabeth is sent to Ireland to escape the London bombings in WWII, and they become lifelong friends. We follow each of them from 1940 to 1960, twenty years of friendship across the two countries.
    • 5/5
      I have enjoyed every book I have read from this author. This was her first book and it is amazing.
      The depth of the characters and the consistency throughout the story was outstanding.
      For many today it would be hard to fathom that back only 70 years the level of silence and the amount of unpleasantness women were expected to endure in a marriage, and be blamed for is horrific. The Irish have definitely struggled to exit the 17century in regards to the power the church held over all aspects of there life.
      Great book.
    • 3/5
      Pretty good novel.
    • 1/5
      I wanted some 'light' reading to balance some of the heavier books I've been reading. I *thought* this book would have some 'sensus catholicus' about it. Nope, not at all. If this is what the rest of her books are like, mindless dumb-downed Catholicism (follow the rules because, I don't know, you're supposed to follow the rules), I don't think I'll bother. Oh well...
    • 5/5
      As a child, Elizabeth White was sent from her war-torn home in England to the Irish countryside and the town of Kilgarret. There she met the charming Aisling O'Connor and Aisling's bustling and rather large family. The two girls struck up a firm and fast friendship - one which carried them each through the darkest times of their lives.Elizabeth had to deal with the breakup of her parents chilly marriage and Elizabeth was there for Aisling all through her marriage to a raging alcoholic. They always believe that they can overcome anything as long as their friendship lasts. They are about to test that theory.I really enjoyed this book and it is not only a 5 but a 5,000! I give it an A+!
    • 4/5
      The first Maeve Binchy I ever read, and I think it was also the first one she wrote. Follows the relationship between two girls who first meet during the war when one is sent to stay at the home of the other, and their changing fortunes as the years go by. The author's later novels are more polished than this, but it's still a decent read.
    • 3/5
      I adore this author's books and have read many of them. I enjoyed this one just as much as her others.Back Cover Blurb:Evacuated from Blitz-battered London, genteel Elizabeth White is sent to stay with the boisterous Irish O'Connors. It is the beginning of an unshakeable bond between Elizabeth and Aisling O'Connor which will survive twenty turbulent years.
    • 4/5
      Very good. I found this story of Elizabeth White to be a very intriguing one. Elizabeth is send away from war-torn London (WWII) to a safer Ireland to live with a friend of her mother's. There she meets Aisling O'Connor who becomes her lifelong friend. Once returned to London, Elizabeth must find her own way struggling with her parents' divorce and becoming the woman she wants to be; and Aisling struggles to overcome what is expected of her as a young Irish woman.
    • 3/5
      This is by far the best of Binchy's novels. It tells the story of an english girl who is sent to live with aboisterous irish family in1940 and the enduring friendships she makes.
    • 4/5
      I do not remember the first time I read this book or one of the other's written by Ms. Binchy and dealing with people in Ireland. I was engrossed by the stories, but more by the picture of the culture. I was very disappointed in the first of her books to take place elsewhere, as I think the cultural aspects of the novels are what drive the stories. Still I have read them time and again and always look at her new works to see the subjects. I almost always give them a try and am rarely disappointed by the books where she talks about what she knows.
    • 4/5
      Meave an Irish writer, with a compassion and insight into the Irish way of life. The prelude, leaves the reader with an inquisitive mind regarding where the story is going, as it traverses 20 years of 2 girls lives…..It ends with the reader wanting to write or to read the sequel….which is left very much as a question, in the readers mind.
    • 3/5
      One of those books that I've had on my shelves FOREVER that I wanted to read and get rid of. Binchy is Irish and most of her books are set (at least partially) in Ireland. It is the story of two girls, Aisling and Elizabeth who meet as little girls when Elizabeth is sent from her home in England to Ireland to live with Aisling's family because of WWII. The book covers about twenty years and focuses on the two women's careers, marriages, children, etc. It has a shocking ending. Pretty good story, but way, way too long and quite a snoozer at times.