Light a Penny Candle

By: Maeve Binchy

Narrated by: Kate Binchy

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 which will endure through 20 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.

©1982 Maeve Binchy (P)1994 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“An Irish Thorn Birds...complete and rewarding.” (Newsday)

Didn’t like the ending But

Bitchy is so good at writing. This book was so nice Unhappy young girl being forced to go to Ireland because of London , under bombs from WW2. Wonderful family in Ireland , lifelong bonds made there. Great short story

Amazing Maeve

It's not my favorite Maeve Binchy novel; however, it is still excels in storytelling as only she could do. Light a Penny Candle keeps readers enthralled with perfect characterization and unexpected plot lines. It is a bit cynical and ends much darker than typical Binchy novels, but it entertains as only Maeve Binchy can do.

Good Adaptation, poor sound quality

A good, sweet adaption of a wonderful book. It's read by the author's daughter, mean the Irish names and words are all correct. However, the sound quality of the recording is somewhat lacking. It sounds like it was recorded from a tape.

Maeve is always great entertainment

I didn't appreciate the abridged version! Maeve's stories should always be told in full length!

the story is not bad. the reader is very good!

I felt like the story was a bit light and directionless. maybe I was comparing it too much to "Circle of Friends " which is full and robust novel. but I think I would have been more satisfied if the ending was more complete, instead of this abrupt attempt at cleverness.

Good but lots of death

I disliked the amount of death but there were interesting twists that made the story enjoyable. I would recommend this book to people who have lost their faith in finding good men to love.

Unfortunately it is an abridged version

Unfortunately this is not the full novel. It is abridged and the ending is different. The story isn't really changed, but the sense of where things are is different. It did teach me to pay attention to if a book is abridged or not.

too abridged!

would have enjoyed more if not abridged. characters not developed enough if one has not previously read the book...

Upsetting

I am extremely disappointed with this abridged version. First of all, I am angry that it wasn't clear when I used my monthly credit about this book being abridged. Secondly, the download kept failing and it was impossible to get back to the place I'd been when the fail occurred. This book is my #1 favorite book from about 40 years ago and I was so excited to be able to hear it, now at age 71.

Abridgment Ruins It

As someone said previously, I didn’t know it was abridged and I spent a whole credit on it. It also was not as good as Maeve Bunche usually is. Won’t read any more like this!