Light A Penny Candle

by Maeve Binchy

1984

Status

Available

Publication

Dell (1984), Edition: Reissue

Description

Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:Beloved author Maeve Binchy's first published novel, an engrossing coming of age tale about the incredible bond of friendship.To escape the chaos of London during World War II, young Elizabeth White is sent to live a safer life in the small Irish town of Kilgarret. It is there, in the crowded, chaotic O’Connor household, that she meet Aisling—a girl who soon becomes her very best friend, sharing her pet kitten and secretly teaching her the intricacies of Catholicism. Aisling’s boldness brings Elizabeth out of her proper shell; later, her support carries Elizabeth through the painful end of her parents’ chilly marriage. In return, Elizabeth’s friendship helps Aisling endure her own unsatisfying marriage to a raging alcoholic. Through the years, they come to believe they can overcome any conflict, conquer any hardship—as long as they have each other. Now they’re about to find out if they're right... “A sumptuous saga.”—Harper’s “Wonderful…a novel that could be mistaken for life.”—New York Daily News.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member bibliophile26
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member maureenmkelly
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
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very much as a question, in the readers mind.
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LibraryThing member LibrarysCat
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member Lucylocket
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.
LibraryThing member mazda502001
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
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Aisling O'Connor which will survive twenty turbulent years.
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LibraryThing member jayne_charles
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
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polished than this, but it's still a decent read.
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LibraryThing member moonshineandrosefire
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
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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+!
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LibraryThing member AprilBrown
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.
LibraryThing member thesmellofbooks
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.
LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member nx74defiant
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member CatQuilt
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,
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you're supposed to follow the rules), I don't think I'll bother. Oh well...
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LibraryThing member kslade
Pretty good novel.
LibraryThing member zmagic69
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member witchyrichy
This was Binchy's debut novel and tells the story of a lifelong friendship between an English and Irish woman, forged during World War II when the English woman was sent to Ireland during the Blitz.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1982-09-16

Physical description

4.5 inches

ISBN

0440147956 / 9780440147954

Barcode

1602190
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