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  • Circle of Friends

  • By: Maeve Binchy
  • Narrated by: Kate Binchy
  • Length: 16 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (92 ratings)

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Circle of Friends cover art

Circle of Friends

By: Maeve Binchy
Narrated by: Kate Binchy
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Publisher's Summary

In the small Irish town of Knockglen, best friends Bernadette ('Benny') and Eve are inseparable. Benny is an adored only child, and Eve, a poor, birdlike orphan brought up by nuns.

On their first day at University College, Dublin, a fatal road accident brings the pair together with fellow students Nan Mahon and Jack Foley, and new friendships are quickly struck. Jack and Nan introduce Eve and Benny to a life of excitement and sophistication. But beneath their carefree existence trouble is brewing for the circle of friends.

Warmth and laughter are interwoven with sadness in this compassionate and absorbing tale of friends whose lives, over a period of ten years, become entwined.

©1990 Maeve Binchy (P)1991 Audible Ltd

What listeners say about Circle of Friends

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A heart-warming tale for everyone

I love Maeve Binchy, but Circle of Friends is one of her loveliest novels. It harks back to the lost Ireland of the 1950s, where it's an amazing thing for a country girl to go to university and Dublin is regarded as the danger zone for moral purity! The cast of characters is varied, vivid and always interesting, from the quick-tempered orphan Eve to the self-doubting only child Benny, from Benny's loving but suffocating parents to the wise Mother Francis who is determined to get Eve the future she deserves. It's a story about self-acceptance as much as it is about friendship and love -- Benny struggles to find her place as both dutiful daughter and independent educated woman; Eve has to lay her unhappy past to rest in order to build herself a life. As with all Maeve's novels, there is tragedy and sorrow as well as laughter and fun. This is a great listen; please enjoy.

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1 person found this helpful

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Circle of Friends

Many years since I have read a Maeve Binchy book. As I was unwell an audio book was perfect for me. The style of the book was also perfect and I enjoyed it very much. I will certainly choose another title very soon. The story was convincing and the people in it also.

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another masterpiecr

dad, warm and funny with usual broliant
barationadv by Kate. that's what a friends for

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful Story

Such a classic story. Beautifully written and covers friendship, family relationships, self confidence and first loves. One of my favourites. Always leaves me smiling.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Heart breaking but lovely

A lovely holiday read with characters you wished the best for. Heartbreaking at moments but things ended where they needed to be.

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oziepossum

Great book enjoyed tremendously would recommend to all ages….so natural are the friendships some very close and others on the fringe just as they are. 😊

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Will Treasure This Story Always

Never compare the movie to the real story. The movie was a bastardisation of such a brilliant story...extremely bad scriptwriting. I read this book as a teen and loved it then. This time, I have delved deeper into each character and found treasure. And Maeve Binchy knew how to write a strong story on so many levels and express the complexities of the human heart from her own backyard. Brilliant

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Oldie but goodie

Loved the book, the film now the audible. This has been a favourite of mine for years. Excellent reading with distinquishable characters.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A CLASSIC

Read the book, watched the movie & the audible is no exception.

Love the narration

Loved it

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good read/listen

I enjoyed the characters. although I found the transitions back and forth between them a bit irritating. I felt the story did go on a little long and could probably have finished a third earlier. The narrator was perfect, very easy to listen to and told the story well. This is my first Maeve Binchy book and probably won't be my last.

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