• 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 (112 ratings)

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The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year  By  cover art

The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year

By: Sue Townsend
Narrated by: Caroline Quentin
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Publisher's summary

The day her children leave home, Eva climbs into bed and stays there. She's had enough - of her kids' carelessness, her husband's thoughtlessness and of the world's general indifference. Brian can't believe his wife is doing this. Who is going to make dinner? But Eva won't budge; and soon she realises to her horror that everyone has been taking her for granted - including herself.

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

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)

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

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Hard to follow

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No I wouldn't, I haven't finished it because I got fed up

Would you listen to another book narrated by Caroline Quentin?

Yes, she is fine to listen to

Any additional comments?

I found the story quite funny in parts, but after about 4 hours I got fed up with the story. I noticed that I was zoning out when listening to the book because it wasn't holding my interest. I will try and finish it because I want to know what happens when she finally gets out of bed.

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

I would return this one

I’ll admit, I couldn’t get past chapter 2. The narration was so shrill. Couldn’t listen to her. I actually had to turn the volume down.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • S
  • 09-09-12

Unbearable

What would have made The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year better?

The narrator is beyond annoying. Her voice is shrill most of the time.

What was most disappointing about Sue Townsend???s story?

I couldn't concentrate on the story at all. The voice was distracting.

How could the performance have been better?

I can only imagine another narrator would have improved the telling. It's hard to know where to start in fixing this.

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

Anger, frustration and annoyance. I had to turn it off.

Any additional comments?

It's a shame that the constant yelling in this book and the narration has taken away from what I think might have been a good story, but I'll never know because I can't get past the terrible job.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Adult content

I loved Sue Townsend's Public Confessions of a Middle Aged Woman so I bought this book thinking it would be good too. Perhaps I am a prude but I just don't enjoy vulgar (see you can tell my age) language, particularly when it is injected just for the shock value. Th narrator was fine I just could not finish this book , did not suit my taste at all.

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