• The Diary of a Hounslow Girl

  • An Audible Original
  • By: Ambreen Razia
  • Narrated by: Ambreen Razia
  • Length: 1 hr and 36 mins
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars (3,978 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Diary of a Hounslow Girl  By  cover art

The Diary of a Hounslow Girl

By: Ambreen Razia
Narrated by: Ambreen Razia
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $7.95

Buy for $7.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In a deeply moving and warm performance, Ambreen Razia delivers her bold and provocative one-woman play that confronts—and dismantles—stereotypes surrounding Muslim women.

Growing up in downscale urban London wearing hoop earrings and a hijab, Shaheeda, the British Muslim teen at the center of The Diary of a Hounslow Girl, balances the expectations of her family and the temptations of city life. Between the joys of traditional Pakistani weddings and fights on the night bus, this comic and raw coming-of-age story highlights her struggle with deep-rooted Pakistani values, and the modern aspirations—and frustrations—of youth.

Note: Portions of this audio drama contain mature language and themes. Listener discretion is advised

©2018 Ambreen Razia (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

Go Behind the Scenes of The Diary of a Hounslow Girl

0:00

Publisher's summary

In a deeply moving and warm performance, Ambreen Razia delivers her bold and provocative one-woman play that confronts—and dismantles—stereotypes surrounding Muslim women.

Growing up in downscale urban London wearing hoop earrings and a hijab, Shaheeda, the British Muslim teen at the center of The Diary of a Hounslow Girl, balances the expectations of her family and the temptations of city life. Between the joys of traditional Pakistani weddings and fights on the night bus, this comic and raw coming-of-age story highlights her struggle with deep-rooted Pakistani values, and the modern aspirations—and frustrations—of youth.

Note: Portions of this audio drama contain mature language and themes. Listener discretion is advised

©2018 Ambreen Razia (P)2018 Audible, Ltd
.

Our favorite moments from The Diary of a Hounslow Girl

It’s always been my dream to start fresh
-0.00
By this age I should be able to cook at least one Indian dish…
-0.00
We ain’t actually built for more than one heartbreak
-0.00
We’re definitely supposed to be free
-0.00
  • The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
  • It’s always been my dream to start fresh
  • The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
  • By this age I should be able to cook at least one Indian dish…
  • The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
  • We ain’t actually built for more than one heartbreak
  • The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
  • We’re definitely supposed to be free

About the Author and Performer

Ambreen Razia is an actress and writer from South London. Her critically acclaimed debut play, The Diary of a Hounslow Girl, toured nationally with Black Theatre Live and House Theatre, was featured at Alchemy Festival, Southbank and has been commissioned as a TV pilot, Hounslow Diaries, for BBC Three. Razia won Best Newcomer at the Asian Media Awards in 2016 and Eastern Eye’s Emerging Artist Award in 2017. Additional acting credits include: On the Middle Day; Words and Women; Mind the Gap; No Guts, No Heart, No Glory; Random Acts; Murdered by My Father; Finding Fatimah; Ladies Day; Ilford Lane; Killed by My Debt; and The Harry Hill Sitcom. Ambreen has performed and worked in women’s prisons across the UK and continues to facilitate workshops with young women, undertaking and discussing issues such as radicalization, body image, domestic violence, girls in gangs, and consent.

Photo by Shaheen Razaqq

What listeners say about The Diary of a Hounslow Girl

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,326
  • 4 Stars
    890
  • 3 Stars
    821
  • 2 Stars
    398
  • 1 Stars
    543
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,694
  • 4 Stars
    660
  • 3 Stars
    479
  • 2 Stars
    305
  • 1 Stars
    443
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,194
  • 4 Stars
    812
  • 3 Stars
    728
  • 2 Stars
    359
  • 1 Stars
    469

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great performance

Very relatable and sincere. I couldn't stop listening. I truly wish there was more. Great selection.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Intriguing

When this audible first started I was confused. Quickly, I realized it was a dramatization and not a book. Though the story started from the end and jumped back and forth a bit, I was not completely lost. I empathize with the main character. She was young, naive and a relatable troubled teen. I appreciated the themes, but was left wanting for some resolve in the story. The performance was great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

One of the best

I have been enjoying the originals but dairy of a Hounslow Girl is so well read. The story pulls you in. It is so real. Listen you won’t be sorry!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

excellent story

really funny and moving narrative. the performance makes everything in the story come to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Interesting story, messy audio

This was adapted from a stage play (one woman I think) and in the adaptation they use a lot of sound effects that make for difficult listening outside of a theater. Walking? Riding the bus? At the gym? There will be chunks of dialogue/monologue that are difficult to hear. As someone who does not listen to podcasts and audio books while sitting quietly in a silent room, I found this frustrating. That being said, I enjoyed both the story and the interview with the author/performer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Marvelous performance!

Ambreen performed every seen marvelously. The performance and the sound effects gave the piece an enormous realistic touch. The description and details made the story come alive in an almost magical way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Volume is inconsistent

Great story but the recording is difficult to make out at lots of times. I’d have loved to see this on stage.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Stick with it for the ending!

Transformation from grumpy, rebellious teen to a wise young woman. Won me over! Touching story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Loved it.

Narrator/Writer is amazing. I felt like I was sitting watching an actual play. The way the character describes her feelings made me remember how it was to be a teen. Pretty relatable character.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Surprisingly interesting.

I was pleasantly surprised. This was a short but fascinating character study that intrigued me more than I expected. Not perfect, but interesting nontheless. You can get it for free, you can finish it in an evening. I mean, why not check it out?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!