Light A Penny Candle: Maeve Binchy

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Maeve Binchy was born on 28 May 1940 in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland, the eldest child of four. Her parents were very positive and provided her with a happy childhood. Although she described herself as an overweight child, her parents' attitude gave her the confidence to accept herself for who she was. London was a dangerous place to live during World War II, and many children were evacuated to Ireland or the United States. Elizabeth White, an only child, is sent to live with her mother's childhood friend and her large and bustling family, the O'Connors, in Ireland. Although the mothers were childhood friends, their relationship has become one-sided with Elizabeth's mother, Violet, rarely corresponding and Aisling's mother, Eileen, remembering their closeness with detailed letters. Violet believes even though Ireland is not as refined as London, it is a safe place for her daughter. Beloved author Maeve Binchy’s first published novel, an engrossingcoming of age tale about the incredible bond of friendship.

Elizabeth and Aisling are entirely different people who face many of the same challenges and life experiences. I love their bond and how easily Elizabeth is accepted into the O'Connor family. After their time together during the war, she is one of them. The female friendship here survives strain and separation without the aid of modern technology to bring them closer. It's an excellent model for accepting people for who they are and supporting them for it. I loved both of their personalities. Elizabeth can see the bright side of anything and is always willing to work hard and pursue her goals - even if others are trying to dissuade her. Aisling is brave and outspoken, but she's also incredibly kind and loyal. Their friendship could have dissolved or crumbled at any time, but their dedication to one another is evident.

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Unlike the O'Connors and Elizabeth, there were some characters who were hard to like, all of them effectively portrayed. I hope Maeve Binchy was married to a kind man who wasn't an alcoholic because her portrayal of one character's struggle was harrowing and tragic. Binchy was a keen observer of human nature, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Although the characters, Aisling and Elizabeth, are very very different from each other, they complement each other well and support one another in the most perfect and beautiful way. For character portrayal, I would give this book five stars. But this long family saga seemed like an endless soap opera that presented one bleak dilemma after another. It was exhausting. Galway Bay" - the mystery man who wrote the classic song". Irish Examiner. 27 July 2018 . Retrieved 26 June 2019.

Ten-year-old Elizabeth White, shy and fearful, is sent from war-torn London to stay with the O’Connor family in Ireland and there she begins a life-long friendship with Aisling. There’s a glorious cast of characters, and a rich and absorbing narrative. If you haven’t read it there’s a treat in store. And if you have read it already, I promise you, it’s just as good the second time around. And the third. And the fourth… 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… My only disappointment in this book was the last part because I felt that it spiraled a bit out of control. The characters were not true to what the entire story had described them as, and I felt that it was too fast-paced. I can appreciate the way it ended, but it didn't feel natural. Through twenty years of friendship Aisling O’Connor and Elizabeth White’s paths will cross and re-cross. As they face their loves, their marriages and their disappointments, they come to realise that not all problems will be solved, nor all wishes granted by lighting a penny candle. The Review My Overall Thoughts What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine

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I'm guessing a penny candle wouldn't have lasted very long so to say that one is lighting a penny candle for something or someone is to say that he isn't really very concerned at all.