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  • The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year

  • By: Sue Townsend
  • Narrated by: Caroline Quentin
  • Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (482 ratings)

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The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year

By: Sue Townsend
Narrated by: Caroline Quentin
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Summary

Winner of the Audiobook of the Year – Specsavers National Book Awards

What happens when a duvet day turns into a duvet year?

The day her twins leave home, Eva climbs into bed and stays there. For 17 years she's wanted to yell at the world, 'Stop! I want to get off'. Finally, this is her chance. Her husband Brian, an astronomer having an unsatisfactory affair, is upset. Who will cook his dinner? Eva, he complains, is attention seeking. But word of Eva's defiance spreads. Legions of fans, believing she is protesting, gather in the street. While Alexander the white van man brings tea, toast and sympathy. And from this odd but comforting place Eva begins to see both herself and the world very, very differently....

©2012 Lily Broadway Productions Ltd (P)2012 W F Howes Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Hilarious and totally Townsend. There were parts where I laughed until I cried." (Daily Mail)

"Laugh-out-loud...a teeming world of characters whose foibles and misunderstandings provide glorious amusement. Something deeper and darker than comedy." (Sunday Times)

"Full of colour and glows with life." (Independent)

What listeners say about The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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    169
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Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    83
  • 3 Stars
    78
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    37

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

Disappointing End

Love Sue Townsend, the story was good but I was left disappointed by the ending.

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

Sue Townsend never fails

If you could sum up The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year in three words, what would they be?

Brilliant Original Dynamic

What did you like best about this story?

She stays in Bed

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I can't pick one scene too many funny ones the narrator did it absolute justice

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Had me laughing on the train a couple of times and my laugh is far from modest!

Any additional comments?

Just Buy It, Listen to it, and enjoy it.

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

Different.

I've not read a book like this before so I didn't know what to expect. It had some unexpected twists and overall I did enjoy it. The narration was good but I got confused with the characters on a couple of occasions and when this happened I had to rewind and listen again. I would recommend this book because I did enjoy it. I laughed out loud at times and for me that's the sign of a good book.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Great story, poor ending

Fabulous narration by the wonderful Caroline Quentin. Brought the book alive.

Too abrupt an ending, though

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

comic in places

not really very good, series of scenes but no point to the story. quite disappointing overall

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

Funny and relatable

I really liked this book. I was expecting more of an ending but I really liked the funny and relatable issues in it. Especially when listing all the things Eva was doing for Christmas. I know the book is good because I felt sad when it ended because I wanted to keep listening. The voice actors were great too they weren't monotone which added so much depth to the characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

So Funny!

I laughed my way through piles of Ironing! This is one of the funniest Books I've heard for years.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable and easy to listen to.

I found this book very easy to listen to and enjoyed the voices selected as they seemed to suit the characters very well. The story line too was very interesting and quite original and I found myself empathizing with this woman who decides to take to her bed and run it from there.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Good narration

Reasonable story but left a bit in the air - would have liked the ends to be tied up. Enjoyed narration.

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

Loved this! Very well written! Humorous!

Not my usual genre, it popped up on Facebook and heard a sample and thought it sounded good, I was gripped! I found it very funny and it made me burst out laughing in places, the tragedy is concealed by the humour, a brilliant story! I loved the narrating by Caroline Quentin. Will there be a part 2 I wonder - I bloody hope so!!

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