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Walsh Family #5.5
Mammy Walsh's A-Z of the Walsh Family
It does exactly what it says on the tin but here’s a brief word from its author, Mammy Walsh herself:
‘There’s this woman I know from bridge, Mona Hopkins, a lovely woman she is, even if I must admit I’m not that keen on her myself, and she said a great thing the other day. I was expecting her to say “Two no trumps,” but instead she comes out with a saying about her children. She says, “Boys wreck your house and girls wreck your head.” Isn’t that a marvellous bit of wisdom – “Boys wreck your house and girls wreck your head!” And God knows it’s the truest thing I’ve heard in a long time. I should know. I have five girls. Five daughters. And let me tell you, my head is wrecked from them.
Although, now that I think of it, so is my house . . .’
It’s the perfect re-introduction to the Walsh family, featured in Marian’s bestselling novels about the Walsh sisters, Watermelon, Rachel’s Holiday, Angels, Anybody Out There and The Mystery of Mercy Close.
‘There’s this woman I know from bridge, Mona Hopkins, a lovely woman she is, even if I must admit I’m not that keen on her myself, and she said a great thing the other day. I was expecting her to say “Two no trumps,” but instead she comes out with a saying about her children. She says, “Boys wreck your house and girls wreck your head.” Isn’t that a marvellous bit of wisdom – “Boys wreck your house and girls wreck your head!” And God knows it’s the truest thing I’ve heard in a long time. I should know. I have five girls. Five daughters. And let me tell you, my head is wrecked from them.
Although, now that I think of it, so is my house . . .’
It’s the perfect re-introduction to the Walsh family, featured in Marian’s bestselling novels about the Walsh sisters, Watermelon, Rachel’s Holiday, Angels, Anybody Out There and The Mystery of Mercy Close.
66 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2012
388 people are currently reading
5120 people want to read
About the author
Marian Keyes
89 books11.8k followersMarian Keyes (born 10 September 1963) is an Irish novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for her work in women's literature. She is an Irish Book Awards winner. Over 22 million copies of her novels have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 32 languages. She became known worldwide for Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, and This Charming Man, with themes including domestic violence and alcoholism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
May 30, 2013
I purchased this for 2.99 on the Kindle in anticipation of reading Marian Keyes' newest book, which involved the Walsh family. All of her books stand on their own, but I thought this would be a good refresher. I should have just read the past Walsh book plot summaries on amazon. This was horrible. It was told from the mom's point of view and her "voice" gets terribly annoying. The book was rambling and mostly nonsense. I'll still read the novel of hers I was planning to read, but this story was just not worth the time (45 minutes maybe?), let alone the money.
November 26, 2018
I’m not really sure what the point of this was.
August 28, 2012
Originally reviewed at: http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/...
As a huge fan of both the Walsh family and Marian herself, Mammy Walsh’s A-Z of the Walsh Family was a definite must-read for me. With The Mystery of Mercy Close‘s release day only a fortnight away, Mammy Walsh’s book is perfect for those who – just like myself – are anxiously waiting for Helen’s story.
With only 67 pages, the book is not a long read – it’s short enough for you to read in one sitting (curled up in bed, with a cup of tea in hand) after a long and exhausting day at work. It’s exactly what the synopsis says – it’s basically an A-Z list of things that are somehow relevant to the Walsh clan, including the five daughters’ relationship with alcohol, Mammy Walsh’s take on fake tan, cooking, eejit sticks (oh, how I wish they were real!), Helen’s shovel list, G-strings, real men and false goodbyes. Mammy Walsh -who, along with Mr Walsh, is one of my favourites from the previous Walsh family books – is such an entertaining character and I’m glad she finally has her own book.
It’s quite difficult to talk about it without giving too much away but trust me when I say it’s utterly hilarious. Mammy Walsh’s A-Z of the Walsh Family had me roaring with laughter and reminded me of why I fell in love with Marian’s stories and all the craziness that goes on in the Walsh household all those years ago. Fans of women’s fiction, brace yourselves. Marian is back!
As a huge fan of both the Walsh family and Marian herself, Mammy Walsh’s A-Z of the Walsh Family was a definite must-read for me. With The Mystery of Mercy Close‘s release day only a fortnight away, Mammy Walsh’s book is perfect for those who – just like myself – are anxiously waiting for Helen’s story.
With only 67 pages, the book is not a long read – it’s short enough for you to read in one sitting (curled up in bed, with a cup of tea in hand) after a long and exhausting day at work. It’s exactly what the synopsis says – it’s basically an A-Z list of things that are somehow relevant to the Walsh clan, including the five daughters’ relationship with alcohol, Mammy Walsh’s take on fake tan, cooking, eejit sticks (oh, how I wish they were real!), Helen’s shovel list, G-strings, real men and false goodbyes. Mammy Walsh -who, along with Mr Walsh, is one of my favourites from the previous Walsh family books – is such an entertaining character and I’m glad she finally has her own book.
It’s quite difficult to talk about it without giving too much away but trust me when I say it’s utterly hilarious. Mammy Walsh’s A-Z of the Walsh Family had me roaring with laughter and reminded me of why I fell in love with Marian’s stories and all the craziness that goes on in the Walsh household all those years ago. Fans of women’s fiction, brace yourselves. Marian is back!
October 19, 2012
You'd Be An Eejit Not to Read This Gobshite!
Kidding about the heading, it's the only Irish I know. Though I am diligently working the phrase, `taking agin' into my daily speech. (I'm taking agin my family who keeps telling me to knock it off.)
Mammy had me when talking about her next-door neighbors, the Kilfeathers: "Lovely people. We are terrific pals, of course. And yet, I find that I very much hate Mrs. Kilfeather." Which makes me love Mammy that much more.
"They say the Eskimos have a hundred words for snow, but we Irish seem to have at least a hundred for the state of being intoxicated." Mammy is hilaire, as Helen would say, and is a woman after my own heart in the kitchen, in C is for Cooking.
From tales of the Jolly Boys and those hideous Feathery Strokers, (public enemy number one), Mammy and her girls feel like part of the family. From A-Z, we get highlights of all five Walsh girls and their exploits, and Mammy even shares sweet stories about her grandchildren, and by sweet I mean nightmare. (Her word, not mine!)
Mammy Walsh is such a superstar. (Does Amazon sell the Eeejit Stick yet?) I applaud her infatuation with Slicers! and the women who wear them. Though I had to Google Padre Pio and Cornetto (stupid American), I laughed aloud at the V is for Vajazzling scene, especially when Mammy can't resist reminding Helen: "When you think about it," I said, happy as you please, "I must have done it at least five times!'" Brilliant! Marian Keyes does the best dialogue on the planet!
Thank you, Marian Keyes,
I fangirl double-heart xoxo you!
Kidding about the heading, it's the only Irish I know. Though I am diligently working the phrase, `taking agin' into my daily speech. (I'm taking agin my family who keeps telling me to knock it off.)
Mammy had me when talking about her next-door neighbors, the Kilfeathers: "Lovely people. We are terrific pals, of course. And yet, I find that I very much hate Mrs. Kilfeather." Which makes me love Mammy that much more.
"They say the Eskimos have a hundred words for snow, but we Irish seem to have at least a hundred for the state of being intoxicated." Mammy is hilaire, as Helen would say, and is a woman after my own heart in the kitchen, in C is for Cooking.
From tales of the Jolly Boys and those hideous Feathery Strokers, (public enemy number one), Mammy and her girls feel like part of the family. From A-Z, we get highlights of all five Walsh girls and their exploits, and Mammy even shares sweet stories about her grandchildren, and by sweet I mean nightmare. (Her word, not mine!)
Mammy Walsh is such a superstar. (Does Amazon sell the Eeejit Stick yet?) I applaud her infatuation with Slicers! and the women who wear them. Though I had to Google Padre Pio and Cornetto (stupid American), I laughed aloud at the V is for Vajazzling scene, especially when Mammy can't resist reminding Helen: "When you think about it," I said, happy as you please, "I must have done it at least five times!'" Brilliant! Marian Keyes does the best dialogue on the planet!
Thank you, Marian Keyes,
I fangirl double-heart xoxo you!
August 28, 2012
Gobbled up in one sitting - funny, poignant at times and irreverent at others. (Am still laughing at "mammy's" take on erectile dysfunction).
This is Marian back on the very top of her game - funny, witty and able to dig deep without you ever realising it until the tears are rolling down your face.
And she mentions Luke Costello in it - the sexiest hero in a book EVER.
Find myself having to remind myself these characters are not actually real!
Roll on the Mystery of Mercy Close.
This is Marian back on the very top of her game - funny, witty and able to dig deep without you ever realising it until the tears are rolling down your face.
And she mentions Luke Costello in it - the sexiest hero in a book EVER.
Find myself having to remind myself these characters are not actually real!
Roll on the Mystery of Mercy Close.
June 9, 2015
So I might be a bit biased based on the fact that I once read a Marian Keyes book in one go and now the woman can do no wrong but this was one of the cutest tie-in books ever. I've read Watermelon about a million times and all the other books about the Walsh girls and this is the perfect way to tie everything together if you've not worked it out... I wish it was longer!
September 11, 2020
Quick little refresher in prep for starting back up on Marian Keyes again. I Am 2 or 3 behind. Very funny and cute. It reminds us on Mammy Walsh's daughters' characters without spoilers for the books.
August 28, 2012
Short and sweet, bloody hilaire.
January 18, 2015
DNF
Quite boring and it brings nothing to the series.
Quite boring and it brings nothing to the series.
December 19, 2025
Book 5.5 in the Walsh family series kept me company on a long drive today, and I listened to it in one sitting as it is a brief reminder/teaser of the rest of the series!
Mammy Walsh is quite a character, and this little A-Z really delves into her wonderful world!
I loved her take on some incidents, words and phrases we have heard much of in the main books, like 'feathery strokers' and the 'jolly boys', but there are some other classics, off on a tangent things like her thoughts on 'vajazzling', that had me laughing out loud as I drove. I am sure other drivers may have thought I was slightly loopy as a result!
Her total non-PC persona was hilarious and refreshing, too, as it humorously reflects her generation and age.
Mammy Walsh is quite a character, and this little A-Z really delves into her wonderful world!
I loved her take on some incidents, words and phrases we have heard much of in the main books, like 'feathery strokers' and the 'jolly boys', but there are some other classics, off on a tangent things like her thoughts on 'vajazzling', that had me laughing out loud as I drove. I am sure other drivers may have thought I was slightly loopy as a result!
Her total non-PC persona was hilarious and refreshing, too, as it humorously reflects her generation and age.
January 6, 2016
I started reading Marian Keyes about 10 years ago. The first novel that I ever read by her was was Watermelon. That novel introduces you to the family Walsh and the eldest daughter Claire. I completely fell in love with Clarie, her nutty family, and felt for her dealing with having a baby to care for and her husband deciding that he is in love with someone else.
In subsequent novels Marian Keyes has updated her readers on the Walsh family in Rachel's Holiday, Angels, and Anybody Out There?. All of these novels have focused on one of the Walsh daughters and updates you on the other members of the family. I know that Marian Keyes last Walsh family novel is coming out in a few months so she put together this short novella that provides more in depth details into the Walsh family told by the Walsh girl's mother.
I really loved this novella since it updates long-time readers on all of the girls (Claire, Rachel, Margaret, Anna, and Helen) though in Anna's case her update is deliberately left vague. For readers of "Anybody Out There" you know why and I guess in The Mystery of Mercy Close we may finally figure out who Anna is with.
However, we are also provided new information that I was happy to read about. I do love all of the A to Z's that she goes into and I cracked up on certain sections such as A is for Alcohol and F is for Feathery Stroker.
The novella also allows readers into a sneak peek at "The Mystery of Mercy Close" novel.
In subsequent novels Marian Keyes has updated her readers on the Walsh family in Rachel's Holiday, Angels, and Anybody Out There?. All of these novels have focused on one of the Walsh daughters and updates you on the other members of the family. I know that Marian Keyes last Walsh family novel is coming out in a few months so she put together this short novella that provides more in depth details into the Walsh family told by the Walsh girl's mother.
I really loved this novella since it updates long-time readers on all of the girls (Claire, Rachel, Margaret, Anna, and Helen) though in Anna's case her update is deliberately left vague. For readers of "Anybody Out There" you know why and I guess in The Mystery of Mercy Close we may finally figure out who Anna is with.
However, we are also provided new information that I was happy to read about. I do love all of the A to Z's that she goes into and I cracked up on certain sections such as A is for Alcohol and F is for Feathery Stroker.
The novella also allows readers into a sneak peek at "The Mystery of Mercy Close" novel.
November 24, 2018
Very funny.
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September 28, 2016
I'm sorry I can't write a good review to this book, because I have read the Walsh Family books in just barely ten days and I have really enjoyed the rest. However, I think this could be left over.
It doesn't add information about neither Mammy Walsh nor any other character, not even tells the reader what happened after the fifth book. I could accept this if "Mammy Walsh" was a funny book, or especially entertaining but in my opinion it's not. The reader can get to know the mother Walsh much better through the books about her doughters, because this is only a bunch of "letters" that unknown people write to Mammy Walsh but her answers are empty.
If someone really loves the rest and has two hours free to spend, but there is nothing else that you would love to watch or to read, this book is "ok". At least it's very short.
It doesn't add information about neither Mammy Walsh nor any other character, not even tells the reader what happened after the fifth book. I could accept this if "Mammy Walsh" was a funny book, or especially entertaining but in my opinion it's not. The reader can get to know the mother Walsh much better through the books about her doughters, because this is only a bunch of "letters" that unknown people write to Mammy Walsh but her answers are empty.
If someone really loves the rest and has two hours free to spend, but there is nothing else that you would love to watch or to read, this book is "ok". At least it's very short.
November 9, 2015
Een grappig boekje over de familie Walsh, vanuit het perspectief of Mammy Walsh. Een leuk boek voor tussendoor. Wel kun je het beste de andere delen gelezen hebben, omdat je dan beter weet hoe de familie functioneert en bepaalde dingen beter snapt. In dit boek wordt namelijk veel verwezen naar de andere delen. Ik vind het jammer dat ik dit boek destijds in het Nederlands heb gekocht en niet in het Engels, zoals de rest. Het boek is opgedeeld volgens het alfabet en niet alle woorden zijn in het Nederlands hetzelfde als in het Engels, dus nu ik het gelezen heb, ben ik wel benieuwd naar het origineel. Misschien dat ik 'm nog wel een keer in het Engels koop als die ergens voor weinig te krijgen is. Nu deel zes lezen. Een van de delen die ik nog niet eerder heb gelezen.
September 5, 2012
My favourite author is back and I'm ecstatic. To say I've missed the Walsh family would be an understatement. This is just an extremely funny taster (in preparation for the new book, Mercy Close, which is out on 13 September), and it is literally laugh out loud for most of the book. I just loved it and am so glad Marian is feeling well enough to write her hugely hilarious books. Normal service has been resumed and I for one am over the moon. Brilliant stuff.
August 9, 2018
Leí este libro porque quería empezar a leer Keyes ya que había visto muy buenas recomendaciones. Comencé con el primero de esta serie, pero no está mi momento, lo dejé recién empezado, quería otra cosita, y luego me recomendaron este que es más cortito para ir conociendo más, pero creo que o no es mi momento aún o definitivamente no es lo mío, como aún no lo puedo descartar esperaré un poco más y probaré con otro libro a ver qué tal. Así que no se guíen mucho por mi experiencia jejejej
March 6, 2018
A fun, short read for any Walsh family fan! $2.99 for the kindle version seems a bit expensive to me for something that can be read in an hour but I'm a big fan and was happy to have one last bit of the Walsh family.
March 16, 2024
i listened to the audio book.
i really enjoyed listening to this book. it gave me a lot of laughs.
it's great that mammy walsh recapped the lives of her daughters. now i can go on with 'again rachel'. what a great series.
i really enjoyed listening to this book. it gave me a lot of laughs.
it's great that mammy walsh recapped the lives of her daughters. now i can go on with 'again rachel'. what a great series.
March 10, 2014
Made me laugh:-)
September 7, 2013
Short, sweet, and funny!
February 9, 2016
Short and not very funny
October 16, 2016
Livro pequenino, mas muito engraçado, que recupera as histórias da família Walsh do ponto de vista da Mãe, em jeito de dicionário. Dá pistas sobre todos os livros da série (e alguns «spoilers»).
May 10, 2020
Read in a hour. I would only recommend if you have read the other Marian Keyes books about the Walsh family.
February 25, 2025
A very funny book set in what I can only presume is an alternative universe for the Walsh Family. And I shall dub this ‘verse the “Moses-verse”.
March 3, 2025
10 for 2025
This is a super little infill book where you get Mammy Walsh describing her five daughters from youth into adulthood
It literally is an A-Z
starting with
A=alcohol and who this impacts in her house.
F= Feathery stroker. This is the term used in many of the Welsh girls stories and you find out how it came about.
A little gem of a book you could read in a day
Mammy Walsh’s views are quite cynical and often quite hilarious.
I’ve added a little YouTube link if you fancy seeing Marian Keyes insight as to what each of the Walsh females have in their handbags.
https://youtu.be/o0GJDoBn7S8?si=YFjrj...
This is a super little infill book where you get Mammy Walsh describing her five daughters from youth into adulthood
It literally is an A-Z
starting with
A=alcohol and who this impacts in her house.
F= Feathery stroker. This is the term used in many of the Welsh girls stories and you find out how it came about.
A little gem of a book you could read in a day
Mammy Walsh’s views are quite cynical and often quite hilarious.
I’ve added a little YouTube link if you fancy seeing Marian Keyes insight as to what each of the Walsh females have in their handbags.
https://youtu.be/o0GJDoBn7S8?si=YFjrj...
March 10, 2025
Very sweet, very silly. I couldn't skip it considering I'm going through the whole Walsh series. Reads a bit like a recap of all the stories and strangely has one spoiler in it, not sure that it belongs in 5.5 order. Nice to hear a bit of background to Mammy Walsh but not enough about her sadly, too much about her daughters who we've already met! Still it emphasises her character and devotion to them!
March 18, 2025
I like the Walsh family books and found this enjoyable to listen to, though it didn’t have me hooked in the same way Watermelon or the Rachel books did - felt more like a fun podcast (I listened on audio).
Read
October 7, 2024Funny
November 9, 2024
Hilarious
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews