It began with Benny Hogan and Eve Malone, growing  up, inseparable, in the village of Knockglen.  Benny--the only child, yearning to break free from  her adoring parents...Eve--the orphaned offspring  of a convent handyman and a rebellious blueblood,  abandoned by her mother's wealthy family to be  raised by nuns. Eve and Benny--they knew the sins  and secrets behind every villager's lace  curtains...except their own. It widened at Dublin,  at the university where Benny and Eve met  beautiful Nan Mahlon 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 . YA-- Binchy transports readers to the village of Knockglen in Ireland to meet Benny, the only child of doting parents; Eve Malone, an orphan raised by nuns; and a host of local characters. The girls form a lasting friendship that continues when they go on to college in Dublin. There they meet beautiful Nan, who tries to hide her poor background and drunken father; Jack Foley, a doctor's son; and all their university friends. Provincial Knockglen and fast-paced Dublin become intertwined as the girls try to exist in both worlds. A wonderful, readable story of successes and disappointments, intrigues and loyalty, families and friendships, this novel demonstrates that testing values, maintaining relationships, and coming of age are universal struggles. - Katherine Fitch, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. Best friends since childhood in a small Irish village, first-year college students Benny and Eve are thrilled by the excitement of university life in Dublin. Befriended by Nan, a beautiful classmate with secret ambitions, the three form the nucleus of an ever-widening circle of friends that provides them with a happy sense of belonging and introduces them to a world of carefree activity. However, this light-hearted existence is brought to an abrupt halt when Nan's selfish, callous plans backfire, victimizing Benny and creating within Eve an obsessive desire to avenge Benny. Binchy is a wonderful storyteller, drawing the reader into the hearts of her characters. This engrossing examination of friendship's vicissitudes moves forward effortlessly at a marvelous pace, carrying the reader along on tense, mounting waves of loyalty and deceit. Highly recommended for all popular fiction collections. BOMC alternate. - Sis ter M. Anna Falbo, Villa Maria Coll. Lib., Buffalo, N.Y. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. "[An] irresistible  invitation to share the lives of people who  believe in enduring values." -- Detroit  Free Press h Benny Hogan and Eve Malone, growing up, inseparable, in the village of Knockglen. Benny--the only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents...Eve--the orphaned offspring of a convent handyman and a rebellious blueblood, abandoned by her mother's wealthy family to be raised by nuns. Eve and Benny--they knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own. It widened at Dublin, at the university where Benny and Eve met beautiful Nan Mahlon 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 . The kitchen was full of the smells of baking. Benny put down her school bag and went on a tour of inspection. "The cake hasn't been iced yet," Patsy explained. "The mistress will do that herself." "What are you going to put on it?" Benny was eager. "I suppose Happy Birthday Benny." Patsy was surprised. "Maybe she'll put Benny Hogan, Ten." "I never saw that on a cake." "I think it is, when it's a big birthday like being ten." "Maybe." Patsy was doubtful. "And are the jellies made?" "They're in the pantry. Don't go in poking at them, you'll leave the mark of your finger and we'll all be killed." "I can't believe I'm going to be ten," Benny said, delighted with herself. "Ah, it's a big day all right." Patsy spoke absently as she greased the trays for the queen cakes with a scrap of butter paper. "What did you do when you were ten?" "Don't you know with me every day was the same," Patsy said cheerfully. "There was no day different in the orphanage until I came out of it and came here." Benny loved to hear stories of the orphanage. She thought it was better than anything they read in books. There was the room with the twelve iron beds in it, the nice girls, the terrible girls, the time they all got nits in their hair and had their heads shaved. "They must have had birthdays," Benny insisted. "I don't remember them." Patsy sighed. "There was a nice nun who sai