• 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 (109 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)

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

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Quite Wonderful!

I have never laughed so much during any book - ever. At times, I hit rewind just so that I could re-listen and laugh out loud again.

I listened while I was driving, I listened while I was cooking, I listened at every possible opportunity I could because I just couldn’t get enough of this intriguingly hilarious story.

Not to mention how absolutely perfect Caroline Quentin is as a narrator!

A true WINNER, if I could rate this book 7 out of 5, I would.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Very entertaining

Very, very true about, just how much women do, every day of our lives. If we had to write it all down it would be exhausting.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Great book

I think this book is very clever, deep, powerful and relatable about getting to an age where you could quite easily go to bed for a year (or walk out the door and not come back). I loved that it sent a message to her husband and children that, no, she wasn’t going to give in and fix their problems, because her going to bed for a year was an inconvenience to them and others around.

I really enjoyed this book and I would love to hear about Eva’s next chapter in her life.

I love Caroline Quentin narrating this book; she gets every character spot on!

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2 people found this helpful

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

Soooo good!

This book was better than anticipated. The story telling is amazing. And while I wanted to know more about some of the other characters endings the book ended well. I’ll think about Eva from time to time I’m sure.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Annoying and self-indulgent characters

This book came highly recommended and was so disappointing. The main character, Eva, is selfish, ridiculous and truly annoying. She is surrounded by a cast of characters that range from funny to beastly. The audio performance is very good- makes up in a small way for the tedium and lazy plotting of the book

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1 person found this helpful

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

Enjoyable listen, excellent narration!

Where does The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

No. 1 but have only listened to 3 so far!

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Ending was too abrupt and unresolved for me

What about Caroline Quentin’s performance did you like?

Loved it, voices were clear and inflections were excellent

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

Both!

Any additional comments?

Thoroughly enjoyable listen although the ending spoiled it a little for me. Would definitely recommend it regardless :)

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1 person found this helpful

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

I would return this book if I could

I really had high expectations of this book.
Not one redeeming character. It just went on and on and on, rambling around.
I found myself unsure if I should be offended by the racial stereotypes, the subtle little "slurs" (I can't figure out if that's the right word or not) the very terrible accents. The strange little side stories, who is Poppy and what purpose did she play in this story?
This book couldn't seem to figure out who or what it was supposed to be about.

I was so disappointed, and unfulfilled. I was definitely NOT entertained.

I really wanted to like it. I really did.

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

Sad, relatable, and funny.

I really wish I had the financial cushion to remain in bed for a year, even if people think I am crazy. Meh. Water under the bridge. I felt sorry for Eva, although the way in which she conducted herself throughout most of the book was hilarious! "I'm not crazy! I just need a break!" AMEN, sister! But no one would believe her. I think so many of us are right there with her, myself included. The demands of life and family in this day and time are overwhelming for a lot of people, myself included. When I think about what I have to do in the week ahead, I sigh and get a sickening feeling. Although I always get through it, I almost never get everything done that needed to be or that I had planned. That hasn't happened in at least a year. I do not have much zest for life but living alone for four years has a way of doing that to a person, although I've been alone in my mind for much longer. I think that's where Eva is and was throughout her infidelity-filled marriage. I was married once myself and like Eva, I too was alone even then. We didn't have much in common, failed to understand each other, and frankly, neither of us cared enough about the other to even try. That is where Eva and Brian were, I think, especially since Eva was willing to move in his mistress without a second thought, as long as she could have their room. This is another reminder of how money can't buy happiness, the ideal family can be miserable, and getting some on the side is the rule and not the exception these days, only to learn that side piece(s) are far from perfect themselves. What are we really trying to find?

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

I really enjoyed the book but…

I did not like being left hanging as to what happened to Eva. That is definitely not a good way to end the book is there a sequel? To figure out what happened to Eva and her INSANE twins?? And her sweet mother? I really don’t care what happened to the husband but not a good ending!!

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