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Circle of Friends  By  cover art

Circle of Friends

By: Maeve Binchy
Narrated by: Fionnula Flanagan
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Publisher's summary

It began with Benny Hogan and Eve Malone, 2 inseparable young Irish women, growing up in the village of Knockglen. Benny, an only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents and Eve, an orphan, abandoned to be raised by nuns, seemed an unlikely pair. Together, Eve and Benny knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own.

The pair becomes a circle when Benny and Eve leave for university in Dublin, and meet beautiful Nan Mahon and Jack Foley, a doctor's handsome son. But heartbreak and betrayal would bring the worlds of Knockglen and Dublin into explosive collision. Long-hidden lies would emerge to test the meaning of love and the strength of ties held within the fragile gold bands of a...Circle Of Friends.

©1991 Maeve Binchy (P)1991 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“[An] irresistible invitation to share the lives of people who believe in enduring values.” (Detroit Free Press)

“A rare pleasure... at terrific tale, told by a master storyteller.” (Susan Isaacs, The New York Times Book Review)

Circle of Friends welcomes you in.” (The Washington Post)

What listeners say about Circle of Friends

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    93
  • 4 Stars
    42
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    23
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    35
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    87
  • 4 Stars
    42
  • 3 Stars
    23
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    15
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    21
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    94
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    17

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

don't waste your time

The recording of this book is so poorly done. It's scratchy with horrible music drowning out the narrator half the time.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

An excellent book, but ...

This is one of my favorite books, and I couldn't find the audio version anywhere but here. The audio would be perfect but the sound quality is the lowest possible. This audio tape only came out in 1999 - I wonder why they weren't able to clean it up any more than that?
I still bought and enjoyed it, though - just be aware it's got really poor quality audio.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrible Sound Quality

What disappointed you about Circle of Friends?

I have read this story in book form several times and I love it. The audio version? Terrible. The sound quality is a disaster. I stopped it after five minutes. I had to strain to hear it.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

dreadful recording

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I adore the story, but the book was largely inaudible.

What didn’t you like about Fionnula Flanagan’s performance?

I couldn't hear her properly due to the poor quality of the recording. Absolutely shocking

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Book - TERRIBLE audio!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I cannot wait to ask Audible to give me my credit back. This recording is truly horrible! Read the book, watch the film or better yet...RERECORD the audio. Plus, the abridged version of the story lack serious continuity. What a shame.

What did you like best about this story?

Ireland

How could the performance have been better?

record it in this century!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

really?

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Terrible audio

The story is wonderful, but the quality of the audio is terrible. It's hard to hear, muffled and staticky at times.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sound Tech Screws up!

I love Maeve Binchy Stories but the music background and the recording of voices made it almost impossible to understand! I'm thankful I had read the story previously! That has NOT been the case w/other Maeve Binchy Books on Audible.
R in SA

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

TERRIBLE NARATION - OMG I'm gonna fall asleep!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Better Narrator - Less monotone, more voices. No Music. Clearer recording.

Would you recommend Circle of Friends to your friends? Why or why not?

I would not recommend the audio version, but I think it is a great story to read with your eyes.

Would you be willing to try another one of Fionnula Flanagan’s performances?

Absolutely NOT!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It is a good story.

Any additional comments?

This audio recording sounds awful! The voice is muffled, they used really distracting terrible music in the background, but it is so loud in places that you can't understand the narrator. If you are looking for a book that will lull you to sleep at night, then look no farther! While this is a great book (I have read it before) the narration & soundtrack absolutely destroy it!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Abridged version disjointed

I’ve read this book and it was delightful. Unfortunately this audio version was very disappointing. It is an abridged version of the original and very disjointed with abrupt transitions. So much detail is left out it felt lifeless and forced. I can’t recommend this audio version.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Come on Audible!!

This lovely author is gone. I have read her books....before Audible. The richness of each character and words she used to let us see her wonderful locations, every word should be read. I want to buy more of her stories, but the ABRIDGED versions I have bought just do not make the grade!

Fionnula Flanagan is wonderful!

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2 people found this helpful