Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
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Book Reviews of Circle of Friends
Book Review: Good with a sometimes-slow plot
Summary: 4 Stars
Like many others, I read this book because I've seen the 1995 film and it's one of my favorite movies. When I first started the book, I was immediately drawn in by Binchy's detailed writing style and the way she paints a portrait of the town of Knockglen. But as the story moved forward, it felt like a lot of the most interesting plot points and characters (namely Benny and Jack) were overshadowed by other, less interesting things.
On top of that, Binchy has a tendency to remove the reader from the most emotional parts of the story--when Benny's father dies, we hear about it in a sort of glossed-over, past-tense way; when Jack tells Benny that he loves her, it's also past-tense in Benny's memory (and only one sentence, at that); and, most important, when Jack confesses everything about his infidelity with Nan--we don't even see that! All we get are bits and pieces of Benny thinking back on it.
All in all, I feel as if the plot point with the most pull--Benny and Jack's relationship--fell a little flat; and, quite honestly, Jack was such a jerk for 70 percent of the book that I just simply didn't like him. Also, we barely get any perspective on his actions; he just comes across as this selfish little playboy which, at the onset of the novel, didn't seem like the case at all. And with Nan, too, by the end when she showed no remorse for her actions, I was very disappointed; I know some people really ARE just selfish that way, but it doesn't say much for Benny's judgement of character if her boyfriend and close friend were such awful people.
Given, by the end, I could see where Binchy was going with the story--Benny, the small-town girl who spent her life being over-protected by her parents, had to go out into the world and experience the fact that sometimes life simply sucks. Okay, great--but all of the other filler that went in between her story (Clodagh/Fonsie, Mother Francis/Kit Hegarty, etc) just started to get irritating by the end of the book.
I love stories like this, though--the coming of age type deal, but I, as I've said, the Benny/Jack thing just felt very under-developed and I was more interested in the relationship between Eve and Aidan. Sure, sure, maybe that was Binchy's way of making it clear that Jack wasn't the guy for Benny, while Eve and Aidan really are meant to be, but still...I think she could've done a better job of making Jack a bit more of a likeable character earlier on so that, when everything comes out later, we feel Benny's heartbreak as much as she does. Really, though, all I could think at that point was, "Good riddance to him!"
Anyway, still an entertaining book despite its meandering plot; well worth the read--even if it means skipping the fill-story near the end.
Book Review: Early Binchy at the top of her form
Summary: 4 Stars
Making friends doesn't come easy to everyone, and Maeve Binchy, knowing in the ways of the human heart, shows how it can be done from ages ten to sixty. Binchy's strength is her detailed portraits of everyday Ireland, particularly well done in Circle of Friends, set in the 1950s. First we get to know the small town of Knockglen, a one-hour's bus ride from Dublin, where we peer into the lives of the doctor, the nun, and the various shopkeepers. Then the action shifts to University Dublin, both the lives of the students and their parents from various socioeconomic strata. Binchy conveys the Irish dialect deftly and without a lot of fuss, including in the narration.
Eve and Benny (Bernadette) became friends as ten year olds. Neither have other friends at school. Though very different, they complement and support one another. At University (the Catholic University, since it's a sin to attend the Protestant Trinity College), they witness a fatal traffic accident on the first day of classes. They form an instant bond with the other first-year students who witnessed the tragedy. The normal drama of student life is a counterpoint to the changes that are taking place in Benny and Eve's hometown as the twentieth century catches up with Knockglen. Contrary to Benny and Eve's expectations, their Knockglen and Dublin lives become intertwined. Their bond crystallizes other friendships, with them and because of them.
If you haven't read any Maeve Binchy, I envy you because you have some great reads ahead of you. Circle of Friends is as good a place to start as any. You don't have to be a fan of things Irish to appreciate her writing and her insights.
Book Review: Like A Warm Blanket On A Cold Day
Summary: 4 Stars
When best friends Benny and Eve leave the small town of Knockglen in country Ireland, they embark on a journey self-discovery. Both girls have lived relatively sheltered lives and their move to Dublin, to study at university, gives them an opportunity to play at being grown-ups. Together, they develop new friendships and find love, but this exciting adult world presents them with all kinds of grown-up problems. Issues such as sex and alcohol, which were considered highly controversial in old, staunchly Catholic Ireland, are addressed by the author with humour and sympathy. Benny, who struggles with her weight and low self-esteem, plays the more central character of the two, and you can't help but love her sweet determination.
For those of you who have seen the movie Circle of Friends, but never read the book, please take the time to do so (the ending is different!).
Maeve Binchy's gentle style of writing reminds me of a cosy fire and a warm blanket. So find a comfy spot to read, grab yourself a hot chocolate, and settle in with Circle of Friends - this is escapism at its best.
Zara Stevens (Author - Boy Meets Girl: A Pocketful of Wedding Stories)Boy Meets Girl: A Pocketful of Wedding Stories
Book Review: Slightly predictable at the end of the novel
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very good book about friendship and chosing your friends wisely. I found the first 100 pages to be a tiny bit slow, however, the novel picks up speed as the story progresses. I found that some parts of the novel seemed unnecessary and could have been editing out. Still, the story is a good story which I think teaches the lesson of choosing friends carefully, and choosing friends for how much they care about you rather than how much they care about themselves. Good book with a slightly predictable ending and a great lesson in what is important in a friendship.
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