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Light a Penny Candle
- Narrated by: Kate Binchy
- Length: 19 hrs and 54 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
Non-member price: $29.65
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Baby Frankie is born into an unusual family. Her mother is desperate to find someone to take care of her child and she doesn't have much time. Noel doesn't seem to be the most promising of fathers but despite everything, he could well be Frankie's best hope. As for Lisa, she is prepared to give up everything for the man she loves; surely he's going to love her back? And Moira is having none of it. She knows what's right, and has the power to change the course of Frankie's life....
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In a Greek tavern, high over the small village of Aghia Anna, four people meet for the first time: Fiona, an Irish nurse; Thomas, a Californian academic; Elsa, a German television presenter; and David, a shy English boy. Along with Andreas, the old man who runs the taverna, they become close to each other after witnessing a tragedy when a pleasure steamer catches fire in the harbour.<
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Every Friday night, the same seven Dublin workers meet to travel home in Tom Fitzgerald's lilac-coloured minibus. Each of them needs to return regularly to Rathdoon: Nancy Morris, a real "Miss Mouse", is known for her meanness and has to escape her flatmate's carping; Dee Burke is engrossed in her affair; Kev Kennedy has a side to his character hidden even from his family; Celis Ryan has to face her mother making a drunken exhibition of herself; and Tom has his reasons.
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Maeve Binchy's best-selling novels not only tell wonderful stories, they also give an insight into how Ireland has changed over the decades but how people remain the same: they still fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they still have hopes and dreams; they have deep, long-standing friendships, and some that fall apart. From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve's work has included wonderfully nostalgic pieces and also sharp, often witty writing which is insightful and topical.
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Great stories.
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Whitethorn Woods
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When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann's Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction.
Publisher's Summary
As a child, Elizabeth was sent from her war-torn, rather loveless home in London to stay with a big, boisterous family in a small town in Ireland. There she meets Aisling, and begins what becomes a long-lasting friendship.
Over the next 20 years, Aisling and Elizabeth's paths will cross and re-cross. As they face their loves, their marriages, and their disappointments, they realise that not all problems will be solved, nor all wishes granted by lighting a penny candle.
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What listeners say about Light a Penny Candle
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Trish
- 17-07-2016
incredibly frustrating
All good until chapter 19 when the recording wasn't in correct sequence. Terrible purchase.
1 person found this helpful
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- Sharon
- 11-04-2016
Good but confusing
I enjoyed the book although it took a couple of chapters to get into it. The presenter was pleasant to listen to and her characters where we'll read.
Not sure why but a chapter or two were skipped in the middle and where then read out of context before the last chapter. The last chapter finished very abruptly and you were left hanging, I am not sure if it was the authors intent or another glitch, so this left me disappointed and wondering where Elizabeth and Ainsling lives ended up.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 30-09-2020
I love Maeve Binchy but..
Usually her books leave you wondering in a harmless way but I didn’t like how this one ended really. All really nice but a bit frustrating!
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- Heather
- 19-02-2020
Very good read
I found the whole story very absorbing with very well developed characters. The story really took me into another world and I thoroughly enjoyed it until we got to the end. It was very abrupt and we don’t know what happened to the main characters that we were following all the way through the story.
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- Carol Anne Harvey
- 09-02-2020
Engaging story
I enjoyed listening to this book but felt that after Chapter 19 there was a rush to finish the story and tie up loose ends, which was a pity. Kate Binchy is a wonderful narrator.
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- Marianne Rossato
- 21-03-2019
Loved it but ....
I really loved all the characters but what an abrupt ending ... whatever happened to Aisling and Elizabeth?
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- Anonymous User
- 01-07-2018
One of Maeve's most touching stories
Light a Penny Candle is one of my favourite Maeve Binchy novels -- the story of the English Elizabeth who's sent to live with the Irish Connor family during the Blitz. Although it's set during the period 1941 - 1956, it speaks to my own experience of living in Ireland as a foreigner, and all the cultural miscommunications that ensue. It's a warm and engaging story, full of relatable and memorable characters, but it's also tragic and deeply sad -- just like real life! Aisling and Elizabeth are great characters, believable both in their totally different personalities and in the strength of their friendship. This is a particularly affecting novel for anyone who's ever tried to sustain a relationship in writing; Maeve treats with great accuracy the difficulties of describing the realities of day-to-day life to someone whom you used to be able to talk to in person every day. The gradual distancing of friendships as people grow up and move away is one of the central themes of the novel; anyone who's ever made or lost a friend will find something to relate to here. It's an old recording, but solid to listen to. Enjoy!
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- Amazon Customer
- 18-10-2017
Took me through every emotion
I loved this story. Maeve Binchy is an amazing writer. I found myself so attached to the main characters and so invested in their story. The narrator was fantastic, she seemed to effortlessly stay in character and her accents where on point. I will miss Elizabeth and Aisling like they were my own friends! It’s like you just want to know what they’re doing now.
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- Denise
- 22-08-2010
Light a penny Candle
Wonderfully read with Kate Binchy bring the story to life. At times you feel like you are in the changing world of Elizabeth and Ashlenna. Elizabeth and Ashlenna friendship helps them through the trails of love, hate, saddness, happiness, marriage and breaks ups.
The story shows how two young girls who are brought together because of the war grow into strong women, cope with the beliefs and expectations of their parents, and learn how to live their lives in a world that is changing.
13 people found this helpful
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- CantVal
- 07-04-2013
A wonderful heartwarming, life affirming book
This was, I believe the first of Maeve Binchy's books I read it many years ago and decided, on a whim, to download it as an audible book. I am so glad that I did so, Kate Binchy's gentle and loving narration does great justice to the book and is a joy to have spoken in your ears.
The story is about an enduring friendship between two women but it is also about life with its love, joys and disappointments and moments of real anguish. Maeve Binchy had the art and craft of the storyteller and her deceptively simple prose will carry you into the boisterous and loving arms of the O'Connor and then away again to the stifling constraints of life with Elizabeth's Father. It made me laugh and cry and want it not to end and I cannot think that there are many people who would not find their life enriched with an encounter with Maeve Binchy's folk and this is a good place to start. Although it is easy to 'read' it is not an easy read - a book with no depth, it deals with real issues but in a loving non judgemental way, perhaps it is not too much to say that it makes you feel a better person to have spent time with the characters in the book.
10 people found this helpful
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- Tara Mcgrath
- 10-07-2013
Great Start...Disappointing Ending
What did you like best about Light a Penny Candle? What did you like least?
Narration was top of class, great character development. Rushed and out of character for the characters ending.
If you’ve listened to books by Maeve Binchy before, how does this one compare?
I've listened to Firefly Summer & Circle of Friends both had more rounded characters and a more believable plot/ ending.
What does Kate Binchy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
She really does understand the characters, every book she narrates she takes me to Ireland and back, her accents and interpretations of the characters are spot on.
If this book were a film would you go see it?
Possibly but they'd need to change the ending!
Any additional comments?
If you haven't read Binchey before I wouldn't necessarily start with this one, Circle of Friends is a better starting point. To be honest I think 3 stars is a bit mean- if I could I would have given 3.5 but 4 stars is just a step too far.
2 people found this helpful
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- Mr
- 23-12-2012
light a penny candle
This is a well written book which was brilliantly brought to life by the narrator. The intertwined lives of the characters superbly developed and it kept me gripped to the end. Being narrated meant a companion on dog walks, whatever the weather.
Looking forward to listening to more from the same author.
2 people found this helpful
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- Ja Boucher
- 20-11-2012
So sad but absolutely gripping.
I have become totally addicted to listening to my Maeve Binchy audiobooks.They are amazing and bring hours of total enjoyment.Really wonderful reading as well.By the end of this book the characters had come to life and I was feeling all their joy and sadness as if they were friends.What a gifted author she was.
2 people found this helpful
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- Jeanette x
- 23-12-2012
Very good but not her best
I love Maeve Binchy. She is a fabulous writer. I enjoyed this book but it is not her best work. It is a very long book with lots of detailed information about all the characters as usual but it ends too quickly for me with many questions unanswered !! If there are other Maeve books you haven't read, read those first and come to this one last. If you a new reader then definately don't listen to this one first !! I still enjoyed it though but please bear my comments in mind. Merry Christmas !! x
1 person found this helpful
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- Janet
- 12-12-2012
Awesome!
Have listened to many audiobooks and have listened to several by Maeve Binchy, find her books so well written and her ability to make her character come alive is second to none! However this book is something else, the relationship between the two main characters was so cleverly intertwined and I found myself looking forward for the next opportunity I had to listen to just a little bit more of the story. I listen to my audio books in the car and one evening found myself sat in the driveway as I didn't want to get out of the car until I found out just what happened next! Fantastic book! x
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-01-2021
excellent
This is a wonderful story, beautifully told and performed. I would definitely recommend this book.
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- Silverstar
- 25-10-2020
Needs a Different Narrator
Lovely story marred by the narration. Her male voices were oddly harsh and, in some places, downright creepy. I stuck with it because I loved the characters but the narration made it hard going.
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- Dawn
- 17-09-2020
Lovely story
I read this book many years ago and I’m so glad I’ve revisited it by listening to this audio version. I love Maeve Binchy’s books, great storytelling and great narration!
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