A review by wildflowerfieldsforever
Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
5.0
It’s incredible to me how writers like Maeve Binchy can create such an absorbent world in which a reader can sink.
Her characters are so rich and full of depth. She introduces us to many people and yet it’s never confusing. She never lets us sit too long in one place or one conversation, yet we learn so much about every character. I can perfectly picture Knockglen and the streets and shops, the convent, Eve’s cottage.
I believe I read the book years ago, before the movie adaptation came out, but I really cannot recall for sure. I did watch the movie in the 90s. So, either way, I knew which characters to distrust. Yet, in a credit to the writing, I still found myself second guessing “oh, maybe it doesn’t really end like that… is she really going to do that?”
I also don’t recall how the movie ended; I’m just hoping Hollywood didn’t change it from Maeve’s intentions. Because, in the end, it’s exactly how it should be.
Benny is such a wonderful, strong character and she learns that about herself, in the course of the events in the book. And, while Benny is the focus so much of the time, so many other characters are given their fair representation and most of them are just as lovable. And, the ones to distrust and dislike are given solid reasons and solid mannerisms to back up the reader’s gut feeling.
Maeve Binchy’s writing, characters, and settings are at the top of my comfort reads list.
Her characters are so rich and full of depth. She introduces us to many people and yet it’s never confusing. She never lets us sit too long in one place or one conversation, yet we learn so much about every character. I can perfectly picture Knockglen and the streets and shops, the convent, Eve’s cottage.
I believe I read the book years ago, before the movie adaptation came out, but I really cannot recall for sure. I did watch the movie in the 90s. So, either way, I knew which characters to distrust. Yet, in a credit to the writing, I still found myself second guessing “oh, maybe it doesn’t really end like that… is she really going to do that?”
I also don’t recall how the movie ended; I’m just hoping Hollywood didn’t change it from Maeve’s intentions. Because, in the end, it’s exactly how it should be.
Benny is such a wonderful, strong character and she learns that about herself, in the course of the events in the book. And, while Benny is the focus so much of the time, so many other characters are given their fair representation and most of them are just as lovable. And, the ones to distrust and dislike are given solid reasons and solid mannerisms to back up the reader’s gut feeling.
Maeve Binchy’s writing, characters, and settings are at the top of my comfort reads list.