Light a Penny Candle + The Lilac Bus – Maeve Binchy

Description

This special edition brings together two of Maeve Binchy’s most beloved novels—Light a Penny Candle and The Lilac Bus—offering readers a heartfelt and deeply moving journey through friendship, love, and the complexities of life.

Light a Penny Candle

Spanning decades and two countries, Light a Penny Candle is a sweeping tale of friendship set against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath. The novel follows Elizabeth White, a quiet and reserved English girl who is sent to Ireland for safety during the war. She finds herself in the boisterous, loving household of the O’Connors, where she forms a lifelong bond with the fiery and passionate Aisling O’Connor.

As the years pass, Elizabeth and Aisling navigate their way through love, heartbreak, and personal struggles—Elizabeth in the restrictive, upper-class world of England, and Aisling in the ever-changing landscape of Ireland. Through letters and visits, their friendship endures, proving to be a source of strength through marriages, careers, and the disappointments that life brings. Light a Penny Candle is a rich, emotional novel that explores the power of friendship and the sacrifices we make for those we love.

The Lilac Bus

In The Lilac Bus, Maeve Binchy weaves together the lives of eight very different people who travel home from Dublin to the small town of Rathdoon every weekend in the lilac-coloured minibus driven by Tom Fitzgerald. Each passenger carries their own secrets, dreams, and troubles, yet they remain strangers to one another—until their stories unfold, revealing the heartache, joys, and conflicts that shape their lives.

From a woman hiding a painful past to a man struggling with unspoken love, each character’s journey is beautifully explored with Binchy’s signature warmth and keen understanding of human nature. The novel captures the charm of small-town Ireland and the unspoken bonds that connect people in unexpected ways.

Together, Light a Penny Candle and The Lilac Bus showcase Maeve Binchy’s unparalleled storytelling, her gift for crafting unforgettable characters, and her deep insight into the intricacies of relationships. This combined edition is perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike, offering a heartwarming and poignant reading experience.