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The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year
What happens when a duvet day turns into a duvet year?
Sue Townsend, the bestselling author of the Adrian Mole series, returns with The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year, a funny and touching novel about what happens when someone stops being the person everyone wants them to be.
The day her twins leave home, Eva climbs into bed and stays there. For seventeen 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. . .
Bestselling author Sue Townsend has been Britain's favourite comic writer for over three decades, The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year is her hilarious new novel.
Sue Townsend, the bestselling author of the Adrian Mole series, returns with The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year, a funny and touching novel about what happens when someone stops being the person everyone wants them to be.
The day her twins leave home, Eva climbs into bed and stays there. For seventeen 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. . .
Bestselling author Sue Townsend has been Britain's favourite comic writer for over three decades, The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year is her hilarious new novel.
437 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
547 people are currently reading
6282 people want to read
About the author
Sue Townsend
114 books948 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Susan Lillian "Sue" Townsend was a British novelist, best known as the author of the Adrian Mole series of books. Her writing tended to combine comedy with social commentary, though she has written purely dramatic works as well. She suffered from diabetes for many years, as a result of which she was registered blind in 2001, and had woven this theme into her work.
Susan Lillian "Sue" Townsend was a British novelist, best known as the author of the Adrian Mole series of books. Her writing tended to combine comedy with social commentary, though she has written purely dramatic works as well. She suffered from diabetes for many years, as a result of which she was registered blind in 2001, and had woven this theme into her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,172 reviews
July 21, 2014
Sometimes I forget that I don't have to read everything that comes into my bookstore.
November 14, 2017
Oh gosh. I hate to disparage an author's hard work. I hate to be negative when I consider how much time, effort and soul has gone into writing it. I've enjoyed Townsend's other work, Adrian Mole was hilarious. However, if I can save you from wasting your time reading this book then perhaps it is the fairest thing I can do.
This is a horrible book about horrible people who live horrible lives and do horrible things to each other. The characters are (with one exception) selfish, narcissist, feckless idiots with no regard for anyone else. The 'story' makes fun of mental health, racism, ageism and every other issue under the sun, but it doesn't work. It simply isn't funny.
Please spare yourselves and look at Townsend's large catalogue of work that isn't this novel. There's enough bad going on in the world lately without reading a novel that dresses it up in fairy lights, pokes fun at it and excuses it. A comic novel is a fantastic antidote to a dark time, but this isn't comic.
Reading this has left me feeling like I've trekked to Mordor and back, then realised I've forgotten to throw the ring into the fire and it's still in my pocket. Utter despair.
This is a horrible book about horrible people who live horrible lives and do horrible things to each other. The characters are (with one exception) selfish, narcissist, feckless idiots with no regard for anyone else. The 'story' makes fun of mental health, racism, ageism and every other issue under the sun, but it doesn't work. It simply isn't funny.
Please spare yourselves and look at Townsend's large catalogue of work that isn't this novel. There's enough bad going on in the world lately without reading a novel that dresses it up in fairy lights, pokes fun at it and excuses it. A comic novel is a fantastic antidote to a dark time, but this isn't comic.
Reading this has left me feeling like I've trekked to Mordor and back, then realised I've forgotten to throw the ring into the fire and it's still in my pocket. Utter despair.
September 17, 2018
Eva's family are really selfish and poor Eva seems to do everything with no one to lend a hand.
When Eva's twins finally leave home she gets into bed and stays there for a year. She doesn't eat or drink unless someone brings it to her bed and she has to devise a plan just to go to the loo as Eva's feet can't touch the floor.
Soon Eva attracts the unwanted attention of the neighbors, media and strangers. This is much to the consternation of Eva's husband who is busy sowing his wild oats in the garden shed.
If you love the humour of Sue Townsend then you will certainly love this book. I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I loved every minute that I spent listening.
When Eva's twins finally leave home she gets into bed and stays there for a year. She doesn't eat or drink unless someone brings it to her bed and she has to devise a plan just to go to the loo as Eva's feet can't touch the floor.
Soon Eva attracts the unwanted attention of the neighbors, media and strangers. This is much to the consternation of Eva's husband who is busy sowing his wild oats in the garden shed.
If you love the humour of Sue Townsend then you will certainly love this book. I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I loved every minute that I spent listening.
February 27, 2021
Disgusting and very distasteful.
No. Just hell no.
I really wanted to like this book considering its title and the main character but this book is not even funny when all the one liner reviews rave about it as being hilarious. No, no it's not.
This book represents all kinds of insensitive, the most unlikable characters all at once. The way it deals with family responsibilities and family members as burdens is so damn frustrating. Everytime a character talks or thinks, it's about something mean or disgusting thoughts about another person. Each and every character is totally a prick.
Into a few pages into this book, you will come across a woman who is like she doesn't care about anything and be on her bed the whole day neglecting even her health. She would not care for her husband, she would not care what he does or what he thinks anymore. And yes, she would not care about anyone else: her kids, her husband, even herself. If she has stopped caring about anyone else, then why does she become so judgemental about everyone else? It's not funny when she becomes a hypocrite when it comes to her friend's family; it's not funny when she talks insensitively about the 14 year old disabled kid of someone else (even this father talks really insensitively about his kid). The kids of this women are nerds but that doesn't mean that they are extra special and considered superior to everyone else. But then there's this they are never good enough thing going on that I really don't know if these kids would ever grow up normal.
The characters are developed real bad and represented rather poorly. So many sensitive issues about marriage, child rearing, pregnancy, lgbt/gay, family, disability issues are dealt with very insensitively.
I appreciate the easy writing style but then it makes the book a very monotous read and yes, it is rather long unnecessarily.
You can give this one a miss without a doubt. I will keep reading a few more chapters. And yes, will DNF it if things doesn't get better. I am pissed off actually just into 46 pages of the book.
*I did try to finish up the book. It's so damn annoying. Nothing much happens and it's just plain BS. Really disappointing. The ending was no good either. So underwhelming and for what was this book written for? To play blamegames with everyone you know or come across? It's so negative and sadistic. Please don't read this book.
No. Just hell no.
I really wanted to like this book considering its title and the main character but this book is not even funny when all the one liner reviews rave about it as being hilarious. No, no it's not.
This book represents all kinds of insensitive, the most unlikable characters all at once. The way it deals with family responsibilities and family members as burdens is so damn frustrating. Everytime a character talks or thinks, it's about something mean or disgusting thoughts about another person. Each and every character is totally a prick.
Into a few pages into this book, you will come across a woman who is like she doesn't care about anything and be on her bed the whole day neglecting even her health. She would not care for her husband, she would not care what he does or what he thinks anymore. And yes, she would not care about anyone else: her kids, her husband, even herself. If she has stopped caring about anyone else, then why does she become so judgemental about everyone else? It's not funny when she becomes a hypocrite when it comes to her friend's family; it's not funny when she talks insensitively about the 14 year old disabled kid of someone else (even this father talks really insensitively about his kid). The kids of this women are nerds but that doesn't mean that they are extra special and considered superior to everyone else. But then there's this they are never good enough thing going on that I really don't know if these kids would ever grow up normal.
The characters are developed real bad and represented rather poorly. So many sensitive issues about marriage, child rearing, pregnancy, lgbt/gay, family, disability issues are dealt with very insensitively.
I appreciate the easy writing style but then it makes the book a very monotous read and yes, it is rather long unnecessarily.
You can give this one a miss without a doubt. I will keep reading a few more chapters. And yes, will DNF it if things doesn't get better. I am pissed off actually just into 46 pages of the book.
*I did try to finish up the book. It's so damn annoying. Nothing much happens and it's just plain BS. Really disappointing. The ending was no good either. So underwhelming and for what was this book written for? To play blamegames with everyone you know or come across? It's so negative and sadistic. Please don't read this book.
February 11, 2013
I was really looking forward to reading this book when I spotted it on amazon. A walk down memory lane as Adrian Mole was a fav during my teenage years.
Didn't quite know what to make of it.
I assumed it would be a parody of life. A woman who, having had a difficult life full of hardships finally giving up and retreating to bed. I kind of had in mind "The woman who walked into doors" or a "Rachael's holiday" - a story to unfold.....What I got was the story about a relatively well off , beautiful though slightly over weight woman, whose life though mediocre and not so perfect was certainly no big hardship. When her twins go off to uni she selfishly retreats to bed for the year. Where relinquishing all responsibility she basically has everyone running around after her and does nothing constructive for the entire time. Yes it's a dream we've all had - that "life is just too hard...if only..." But do we? Well perhaps for the day but then reality and let's face it boredom crashes in and we get on with it.
I had no sympathy for the woman, just pure frustration and anger, in fact it actually left me feeling sorry for her bullish and chauvinistic husband, at least he tried to rise to the challenge of housekeeper, nurse and carer.
There were no other interesting , heroic, funny or endearing characters to save the story and certainly no one to identify with.
I did continue with the read in the hope that that story would finally make some sense, that there would be a point to it all, an aesops fable, but alas no the ending was just that - it ended.
Sorry Sue - very disappointing.
Didn't quite know what to make of it.
I assumed it would be a parody of life. A woman who, having had a difficult life full of hardships finally giving up and retreating to bed. I kind of had in mind "The woman who walked into doors" or a "Rachael's holiday" - a story to unfold.....What I got was the story about a relatively well off , beautiful though slightly over weight woman, whose life though mediocre and not so perfect was certainly no big hardship. When her twins go off to uni she selfishly retreats to bed for the year. Where relinquishing all responsibility she basically has everyone running around after her and does nothing constructive for the entire time. Yes it's a dream we've all had - that "life is just too hard...if only..." But do we? Well perhaps for the day but then reality and let's face it boredom crashes in and we get on with it.
I had no sympathy for the woman, just pure frustration and anger, in fact it actually left me feeling sorry for her bullish and chauvinistic husband, at least he tried to rise to the challenge of housekeeper, nurse and carer.
There were no other interesting , heroic, funny or endearing characters to save the story and certainly no one to identify with.
I did continue with the read in the hope that that story would finally make some sense, that there would be a point to it all, an aesops fable, but alas no the ending was just that - it ended.
Sorry Sue - very disappointing.
September 13, 2018
Well, it's one of those books that keeps one reading hoping that the ending might be worth it. It wasn't. It just ended. I'm sure the author had fun writing it, and I had fun reading it. But there was much more than just fun behind those well-written words.
The book won a 2012 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comedy. And it was indeed a rip of modern dysfunctional, dismantled families, drowned in -isms and postmodern practices. The woman in the bed inspired different reactions from different readers, like a Rorschach test of reality. It was also a litmus test of ourselves. Where do we stand on it all right this moment in our lives. Do we condemn or condone her behavior? Do we misunderstand all the characters? Have we lost it? None of them were really likable folks. Perhaps the author made fun of all the futile, senseless, empty choices people make and the sadness of lives wasted in vain.
At least at the end there was hope. Just a little. They were all cruel to each other, until simple kindness stepped in. Was that a moral message? Perhaps.
As usual I enjoyed the British wit. I constantly smiled while reading it, yet knew, a gut-feeling nestled deep down in my stomach, that is was in reality a sad book. There was that constant melancholic undertone to the otherwise humorous, light fun. It is a thought-provoking book for sure.
Eva removed herself from her own reality, watching the world pass by while being in bed for a year. If the planets turned on their orbits, she would not have known and would not care, while her husband entertained himself in his man cave out in the back yard shack, watching those planets and stars through his telescope, hoping to have one named after him, the astronomer, Dr. Brian Beaver, BSC, MSc, D Phil (Oxcon). He knew everything about the universe, except how to manipulate the dials on the washing machine. That might be a metaphorical statement...
The slightly autistic twins, Brian Junior and Brianne, were the math-wizkid-wonders, who triggered mom's bed rest after they left for university. As luck would have it, Poppy entered their little private world with a bang. A bear of a little brain, as she described herself, promised to sit at the back and keep her pretty mouth shut until she's up to speed. She promised to glam up their lives a bit. Truth is, when she was finally up to speed, there were no bones left in the entire family to rattle. They were strewn all over the place: the past, present, future and beyond. Poppy was unstoppable. While those without backbones did not grow some, their fate was sealed.
And of course, Eva Beaver, who once was known as Eva Brown-Bird, protested when Ruby, her mom, threw all her black outfits in the ocean. Perhaps that was the first trigger, unbeknownst to Eva. One of the first events of rebellion, was to kick a hole in Brian's leg with her high-heeled black shoe, in bed...
Life is not a whitened-out island for people. That was Eva Brown-Bird Beaver's discovery to make. On the journey, all the people had their own lessons to learn, and their own forgiveness to beg.
All it took was ONE act of kindness...
The book won a 2012 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comedy. And it was indeed a rip of modern dysfunctional, dismantled families, drowned in -isms and postmodern practices. The woman in the bed inspired different reactions from different readers, like a Rorschach test of reality. It was also a litmus test of ourselves. Where do we stand on it all right this moment in our lives. Do we condemn or condone her behavior? Do we misunderstand all the characters? Have we lost it? None of them were really likable folks. Perhaps the author made fun of all the futile, senseless, empty choices people make and the sadness of lives wasted in vain.
At least at the end there was hope. Just a little. They were all cruel to each other, until simple kindness stepped in. Was that a moral message? Perhaps.
As usual I enjoyed the British wit. I constantly smiled while reading it, yet knew, a gut-feeling nestled deep down in my stomach, that is was in reality a sad book. There was that constant melancholic undertone to the otherwise humorous, light fun. It is a thought-provoking book for sure.
Eva removed herself from her own reality, watching the world pass by while being in bed for a year. If the planets turned on their orbits, she would not have known and would not care, while her husband entertained himself in his man cave out in the back yard shack, watching those planets and stars through his telescope, hoping to have one named after him, the astronomer, Dr. Brian Beaver, BSC, MSc, D Phil (Oxcon). He knew everything about the universe, except how to manipulate the dials on the washing machine. That might be a metaphorical statement...
The slightly autistic twins, Brian Junior and Brianne, were the math-wizkid-wonders, who triggered mom's bed rest after they left for university. As luck would have it, Poppy entered their little private world with a bang. A bear of a little brain, as she described herself, promised to sit at the back and keep her pretty mouth shut until she's up to speed. She promised to glam up their lives a bit. Truth is, when she was finally up to speed, there were no bones left in the entire family to rattle. They were strewn all over the place: the past, present, future and beyond. Poppy was unstoppable. While those without backbones did not grow some, their fate was sealed.
And of course, Eva Beaver, who once was known as Eva Brown-Bird, protested when Ruby, her mom, threw all her black outfits in the ocean. Perhaps that was the first trigger, unbeknownst to Eva. One of the first events of rebellion, was to kick a hole in Brian's leg with her high-heeled black shoe, in bed...
Life is not a whitened-out island for people. That was Eva Brown-Bird Beaver's discovery to make. On the journey, all the people had their own lessons to learn, and their own forgiveness to beg.
All it took was ONE act of kindness...
November 17, 2012
I was surprised by so many negative reviews of this book. Lightweight fiction it is but it doesn't pretend to be anything else. I was drawn to it by the name of the heroine, Eva; the fact she was a librarian and that there were twins. In fact I couldn't put the book down. I can see a Tv series being made of it - very visual! I think it's gripping because everyone has been in the situation Eva finds herself in: fed up with everyone taking her from granted. Alexander would be played by Idris Elba. And yes it is simple kindness that gets us through.
November 17, 2025
This book was in a nutshell, absolutely TERRIBLE. So, not funny at all. But hey, my review might make up for it and give you a laugh.
I was ready for some light laughter with a good chick-lit book to break up the massive amount of serial killer filled crime book and psychological thrillers that were threatening to make me permanently depressed. I picked this one off my book shelf, a REAL book, breaking away from the millions to review on my Kindle. (Rebel). I bought this at a book stall (bottom of the box) at the markets for 30p some time last year. Not even worth that!
What is with all the accolades in the front of the book? Did they get PAID to make those review comments. Come on, you are having me on right?
IT IS JUST SIMPLY REALLY, REALLY BORING!
So basically a fifty something housewife, married to a boring fifty something nerd, has just happily seen the back of her two boring 17 year nerdy twins to University (Astrophysics of course) where there is no student shenanigans for these two. Not even when a naked girls offer free sex.
So she decides to go to bed - for a year, because that's what you do. She is not depressed, just a bit tired she says and likes bed. By the time we got to the bit when she was thinking walking to her ensuite to use the toilet was wrong, as she was "leaving the bed" and asked hubby to get some large plastic bags and tubing so she can deposit bodily fluids from the bed I was rolling my eyes and praying it got better, guess what? It didn't.
I would have thrown the book, but my cats would have pooped themselves if I did. And by this point I had totally had enough of this woman feeling pooping by walking a few steps to her en-suite was just totally ridiculous. Not even funny.
But by half way through I was thinking to myself "are we on a loop here?" it was like a broken record and not a good one at that. The plot is dire, the characters are confusing and flat. At times it's disjointed. It's not funny. It's not even entertaining. In fact it was a complete waste of time. I am not surprised at the overall low ratings of this one (should have looked first).
Look, if you ADORE every single chick-lit like book you MIGHT like this one, but if you have any book taste, a brain, or even a decent sense of humour, you are best to give this one a giant miss. Epic Fail.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
I was ready for some light laughter with a good chick-lit book to break up the massive amount of serial killer filled crime book and psychological thrillers that were threatening to make me permanently depressed. I picked this one off my book shelf, a REAL book, breaking away from the millions to review on my Kindle. (Rebel). I bought this at a book stall (bottom of the box) at the markets for 30p some time last year. Not even worth that!
What is with all the accolades in the front of the book? Did they get PAID to make those review comments. Come on, you are having me on right?
IT IS JUST SIMPLY REALLY, REALLY BORING!
So basically a fifty something housewife, married to a boring fifty something nerd, has just happily seen the back of her two boring 17 year nerdy twins to University (Astrophysics of course) where there is no student shenanigans for these two. Not even when a naked girls offer free sex.
So she decides to go to bed - for a year, because that's what you do. She is not depressed, just a bit tired she says and likes bed. By the time we got to the bit when she was thinking walking to her ensuite to use the toilet was wrong, as she was "leaving the bed" and asked hubby to get some large plastic bags and tubing so she can deposit bodily fluids from the bed I was rolling my eyes and praying it got better, guess what? It didn't.
I would have thrown the book, but my cats would have pooped themselves if I did. And by this point I had totally had enough of this woman feeling pooping by walking a few steps to her en-suite was just totally ridiculous. Not even funny.
But by half way through I was thinking to myself "are we on a loop here?" it was like a broken record and not a good one at that. The plot is dire, the characters are confusing and flat. At times it's disjointed. It's not funny. It's not even entertaining. In fact it was a complete waste of time. I am not surprised at the overall low ratings of this one (should have looked first).
Look, if you ADORE every single chick-lit like book you MIGHT like this one, but if you have any book taste, a brain, or even a decent sense of humour, you are best to give this one a giant miss. Epic Fail.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
February 3, 2018
‘The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year’ (2012) by Sue Townsend – is the entertaining, amusing, compelling and for the most part, perceptive story of our main protagonist Eva – who chooses to stay in bed for a year – along with the practicalities of doing so and the resulting ramifications and emanating shock waves.
Ostensibly, Townsend’s novel is a light, humorous and unpretentious look at modern middle-class (dysfunctional) family life – the story of a woman who makes a conscious decision (being seemingly neither physically mentally unwell) to retreat from life, from the expectations of her and her role as mother, daughter and wife.
‘The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year’ does however raise and allude to more serious points – Eva who doesn’t have a particularly difficult, challenging or stressful life – something which is readily acknowledged by her and yet….there is much here about the gender defined role of women in family life and relationships and the stereotypical gender based expectations therein. On the face of it – this is a quick, easy, amusing, light read – although there is certainly food for thought for those who wish to find it.
This is a colourful story with an almost bewildering array of supporting characters outside of the immediate family circle, who appear and disappear at a rapid pace. Whilst the twins do verge on being stereotypical at times (maybe intentionally?) and the novel does feel a little over long on occasion – it is generally strong throughout and overall satisfying.
It is somewhat perplexing the number of negative reviews that ‘The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year’ has attracted – it is a good novel, neither weighty, literary nor intellectual, but neither does it have pretensions to be so. Townsend has provided us with light, humorous and compelling fun – with serious undertones for those who wish to consider them.
Surely the utterly impractical and potentially selfish prospect of withdrawing from the responsibilities, pressures and expectations of modern life, to take an extended holiday from life, no matter what kind of life we lead – can at times be a very tempting prospect for us all?
Ostensibly, Townsend’s novel is a light, humorous and unpretentious look at modern middle-class (dysfunctional) family life – the story of a woman who makes a conscious decision (being seemingly neither physically mentally unwell) to retreat from life, from the expectations of her and her role as mother, daughter and wife.
‘The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year’ does however raise and allude to more serious points – Eva who doesn’t have a particularly difficult, challenging or stressful life – something which is readily acknowledged by her and yet….there is much here about the gender defined role of women in family life and relationships and the stereotypical gender based expectations therein. On the face of it – this is a quick, easy, amusing, light read – although there is certainly food for thought for those who wish to find it.
This is a colourful story with an almost bewildering array of supporting characters outside of the immediate family circle, who appear and disappear at a rapid pace. Whilst the twins do verge on being stereotypical at times (maybe intentionally?) and the novel does feel a little over long on occasion – it is generally strong throughout and overall satisfying.
It is somewhat perplexing the number of negative reviews that ‘The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year’ has attracted – it is a good novel, neither weighty, literary nor intellectual, but neither does it have pretensions to be so. Townsend has provided us with light, humorous and compelling fun – with serious undertones for those who wish to consider them.
Surely the utterly impractical and potentially selfish prospect of withdrawing from the responsibilities, pressures and expectations of modern life, to take an extended holiday from life, no matter what kind of life we lead – can at times be a very tempting prospect for us all?
Read
September 4, 2015Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible
It's that time of year when I have to ease myself back into a routine of actually going to work, you know, getting up early, appearing in the classroom looking kempt at the very least, if not well so, and, much more to the point, with 90 minutes' worth of scintillating and rewarding activities to promote active use of English prepared. Then add on to that the private tuition, which involves careful calibration of the precise amount of chivvying, cajoling and coaxing, the mix of encouragement, irony, gentle reassurance or simulated despair required to bring out the shy or quash the cocky, relax the nervous or bolster the confidence of the timid. Negotiating the changeover from endless freedom to serried routine is never particularly easy, and made more arduous this year by family stuff, so by the end of my working day, the prospect of spending the evening on the sofa with Sue Townsend is very appealing.
The whole concept is one that is bound to speak to me right now: just take to bed. Remove yourself from those interlocking orbits. Let the planets swing past.
Eva Beaver (daft name) does just that. And of course she can't keep it up forever, but reading about her attempt to hide from the world, go back to zero, and start over gave me a great deal of pleasure and not a few laughs. It's an absurd world we live in. This one is a lot more absurd than most, but not so far-fetched as to be ludicrous.
One of my favourite lines: Eva swiftly turns into an internet sensation, with weirdos camping opposite her house, awaiting the Second Coming or something comparable. Local TV comes to interview her, but only gets as far as Ruby, her Mum:
Charmingly non-pc, Ruby.
Irritatingly non-pc, the TV presenter Derek. So this reader was pleased to hear that he can be discombobulated:
It was great fun, but a bit long. On the other hand, if Ms Townsend had stripped out some then I'd probably be complaining that the ending was rushed. Eva's twin children were somewhat summarily dealt with as it is, you do get the impression that the author may have got a little impatient with them. As one might.
Anyway, Thursdays are my day to sleep in, recover, and, you know, clean out the fridge, clear out the mind, tick stuff off the to-do list. Get back to my more usual reading fare.
I'm getting there.
It's that time of year when I have to ease myself back into a routine of actually going to work, you know, getting up early, appearing in the classroom looking kempt at the very least, if not well so, and, much more to the point, with 90 minutes' worth of scintillating and rewarding activities to promote active use of English prepared. Then add on to that the private tuition, which involves careful calibration of the precise amount of chivvying, cajoling and coaxing, the mix of encouragement, irony, gentle reassurance or simulated despair required to bring out the shy or quash the cocky, relax the nervous or bolster the confidence of the timid. Negotiating the changeover from endless freedom to serried routine is never particularly easy, and made more arduous this year by family stuff, so by the end of my working day, the prospect of spending the evening on the sofa with Sue Townsend is very appealing.
The whole concept is one that is bound to speak to me right now: just take to bed. Remove yourself from those interlocking orbits. Let the planets swing past.
Eva Beaver (daft name) does just that. And of course she can't keep it up forever, but reading about her attempt to hide from the world, go back to zero, and start over gave me a great deal of pleasure and not a few laughs. It's an absurd world we live in. This one is a lot more absurd than most, but not so far-fetched as to be ludicrous.
One of my favourite lines: Eva swiftly turns into an internet sensation, with weirdos camping opposite her house, awaiting the Second Coming or something comparable. Local TV comes to interview her, but only gets as far as Ruby, her Mum:
'Eva's always been a bit strange. We thought she was retarded for years, doolally. She used to make up plays in the back garden, using the rabbit in a non-speaking part. They'd practise all day, then I'd have to go and watch. I'd take some knitting to pass the time. The rabbit was rubbish.'
Charmingly non-pc, Ruby.
Irritatingly non-pc, the TV presenter Derek. So this reader was pleased to hear that he can be discombobulated:
He'd had a few nasty surprises in the past, like the 103 year-old man who, when Derek asked for the secret of his longevity, shouted, on a live interview, 'Wanking!'
It was great fun, but a bit long. On the other hand, if Ms Townsend had stripped out some then I'd probably be complaining that the ending was rushed. Eva's twin children were somewhat summarily dealt with as it is, you do get the impression that the author may have got a little impatient with them. As one might.
Anyway, Thursdays are my day to sleep in, recover, and, you know, clean out the fridge, clear out the mind, tick stuff off the to-do list. Get back to my more usual reading fare.
I'm getting there.
November 10, 2019
Parar — O Primeiro Passo do Trilho da Mudança
Há quem faça greve ao trabalho, há quem faça greve da fome e haverá certamente quem se entregue a múltiplas outras formas de greve que agora não me ocorrem; Eva Beaver fez greve à vida!
Logo que os 2 filhos gémeos voaram do Ninho para a Universidade, Eva, fatigada duma vida pejada de tarefas e pouco sentido, decidiu parar, enfiando-se um ano na cama 🛌!
Poderá apetecer-nos abaná-la, sacudi-la, berrar-lhe aos ouvidos, despejar-lhe um balde de água fria, .... enfim... fazer qualquer coisa que a demova do enervante torpor em que se encontra, mas o facto é que, Eva Beaver se entregou a um estado de pura rejeição passiva: está segura do que não quer, mas não se lhe afiguram alternativas de mudança.
Parou por puro e simples Descontentamento!
Não será esse o primeiro passo do Trilho da Mudança?!...
“A Mulher Que Decidiu Passar Um Ano Na Cama” contém uma trama que rasa o caótico, e é possível que o leitor incauto perca o Norte, por entre os meandros duma narrativa aparentemente tresloucada.
Porém, o Nexo está por lá disseminado, camuflado... soterrado como um Tesouro que espera ser encontrado 😉😍
Há quem faça greve ao trabalho, há quem faça greve da fome e haverá certamente quem se entregue a múltiplas outras formas de greve que agora não me ocorrem; Eva Beaver fez greve à vida!
Logo que os 2 filhos gémeos voaram do Ninho para a Universidade, Eva, fatigada duma vida pejada de tarefas e pouco sentido, decidiu parar, enfiando-se um ano na cama 🛌!
Poderá apetecer-nos abaná-la, sacudi-la, berrar-lhe aos ouvidos, despejar-lhe um balde de água fria, .... enfim... fazer qualquer coisa que a demova do enervante torpor em que se encontra, mas o facto é que, Eva Beaver se entregou a um estado de pura rejeição passiva: está segura do que não quer, mas não se lhe afiguram alternativas de mudança.
Parou por puro e simples Descontentamento!
Não será esse o primeiro passo do Trilho da Mudança?!...
“A Mulher Que Decidiu Passar Um Ano Na Cama” contém uma trama que rasa o caótico, e é possível que o leitor incauto perca o Norte, por entre os meandros duma narrativa aparentemente tresloucada.
Porém, o Nexo está por lá disseminado, camuflado... soterrado como um Tesouro que espera ser encontrado 😉😍
September 9, 2012
As I am currently experiencing a bit of enforced bed rest, this seemed an apt book to read!
It is billed as ‘laugh out loud’ and ‘wonderfully funny’, according to the back of the book Jeremy Paxman said “The publishers could offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t laugh and be sure they wouldn’t have to write a single cheque” – I am not so sure that I agree. It is certainly sharp and well-observed, with humorous descriptions in places, but is it a comedy? I think not.
Beautifully and intelligently written as you would expect from Sue Townsend, it is in places briefly uplifting yet on the whole seemed to be a slightly melancholy, cautionary tale which serves as a reminder that we are all the same underneath all of our learnings and affectations and that we all seek that one person who understands us and accepts us for who we really are.
The overall message that came across was that we all hold on to things (careless insults, preconceptions, embarrassing memories, feelings of inadequacy) that we should have left behind years ago and yet, conversely/perversely, we fail to retain things which we should hold dear (compliments, friendships, self esteem/respect and kindness).
It is billed as ‘laugh out loud’ and ‘wonderfully funny’, according to the back of the book Jeremy Paxman said “The publishers could offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t laugh and be sure they wouldn’t have to write a single cheque” – I am not so sure that I agree. It is certainly sharp and well-observed, with humorous descriptions in places, but is it a comedy? I think not.
Beautifully and intelligently written as you would expect from Sue Townsend, it is in places briefly uplifting yet on the whole seemed to be a slightly melancholy, cautionary tale which serves as a reminder that we are all the same underneath all of our learnings and affectations and that we all seek that one person who understands us and accepts us for who we really are.
The overall message that came across was that we all hold on to things (careless insults, preconceptions, embarrassing memories, feelings of inadequacy) that we should have left behind years ago and yet, conversely/perversely, we fail to retain things which we should hold dear (compliments, friendships, self esteem/respect and kindness).
December 20, 2021
Irritating characters, annoying plot & not at all hilarious.
December 2, 2012
I have never written a review in my life but there is always the first time.
I will try.
I only gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 as I didn't hate it.
Daily Mail said 'I laughed until I cried.' Sunday times also 'Laugh-out-loud...'
I guess I have no sense of humour? I laughed only 4 times at the beginning of the book.
This is a story about 50 years old Eva who went to bed for a year.
No, she wasn't in coma, she has decided to.
After 100 pages I was tired and wanted Eva to leave the bed but unfortunately she didn't.
Long story short:
Her children left home for the first time and went to the University.
Her husband can't do anything at home and has a lover.
She makes friends with window cleaner and falls in love with Alexander, who is a man with the van.
She then starts giving advices to strangers and becomes some kind of psychic?
The whole story is ridiculous. It is not funny and it is too long.
This is a story about a woman who goes through menopause but no-one says its loud.
I will try.
I only gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 as I didn't hate it.
Daily Mail said 'I laughed until I cried.' Sunday times also 'Laugh-out-loud...'
I guess I have no sense of humour? I laughed only 4 times at the beginning of the book.
This is a story about 50 years old Eva who went to bed for a year.
No, she wasn't in coma, she has decided to.
After 100 pages I was tired and wanted Eva to leave the bed but unfortunately she didn't.
Long story short:
Her children left home for the first time and went to the University.
Her husband can't do anything at home and has a lover.
She makes friends with window cleaner and falls in love with Alexander, who is a man with the van.
She then starts giving advices to strangers and becomes some kind of psychic?
The whole story is ridiculous. It is not funny and it is too long.
This is a story about a woman who goes through menopause but no-one says its loud.
February 14, 2020
This was my first book/novel/audiobook by Sue Townsend and I enjoyed it quite well. I’ll have to check out her other work when I get a chance between my regular true crime reads and memoirs. This one is about a fifty-year-old mom, Eva Beaver, who, after her twins leave for university decides she needs to take to her bed for a serious think. She wants to really figure out who she is, and what’s next now. As you might imagine, those around her aren’t too thrilled or supportive, but she’s as serious as it gets.
The narrator, Caroline Quentin, did a fantastic job on this I felt, which made it all the more enjoyable for me. I’m rather sensitive to voices and they can make or break a story so easily. It’s hard to imagine anyone doing this better now.
This book really had divided reviews for some reason. Quite a few people read it and didn’t like it. I guess it hit a hot button in them somehow. Which seems kind of strange, considering the book won some awards. And all of the people who read it and liked/loved it. I always find that interesting and wonder what there was about it that divided people.
First published on my WordPress blog, viewable here:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
The narrator, Caroline Quentin, did a fantastic job on this I felt, which made it all the more enjoyable for me. I’m rather sensitive to voices and they can make or break a story so easily. It’s hard to imagine anyone doing this better now.
This book really had divided reviews for some reason. Quite a few people read it and didn’t like it. I guess it hit a hot button in them somehow. Which seems kind of strange, considering the book won some awards. And all of the people who read it and liked/loved it. I always find that interesting and wonder what there was about it that divided people.
First published on my WordPress blog, viewable here:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
August 29, 2019
The Magic of Kindness
There are General strikes, Sick-out strikes, Slow-down strikes, Sit-down strikes....and Lie-down strikes
The first 4 are all common, well-known kinds of strikes. The last one was Eva’s private strike, cos for one whole year she did nothing but lying in bed 24 hours a day.
Why did she do it?
She did it cos she was tired of looking after everyone in her family as an unsalaried maiden.
She did it as a protest for her life’s emptiness.
She did it as a mute request for a lil attention... a small act of kindness...
Like Ellen Degeneres final message at the end of her lively shows — Be Kind to One Another — this book is an invitation to Kindness 🥰
“Be Kind and Change the World” sounds a lot like a cliché, but it also rings true, doesn’t it?! 😉
There are General strikes, Sick-out strikes, Slow-down strikes, Sit-down strikes....and Lie-down strikes
The first 4 are all common, well-known kinds of strikes. The last one was Eva’s private strike, cos for one whole year she did nothing but lying in bed 24 hours a day.
Why did she do it?
She did it cos she was tired of looking after everyone in her family as an unsalaried maiden.
She did it as a protest for her life’s emptiness.
She did it as a mute request for a lil attention... a small act of kindness...
Like Ellen Degeneres final message at the end of her lively shows — Be Kind to One Another — this book is an invitation to Kindness 🥰
“Be Kind and Change the World” sounds a lot like a cliché, but it also rings true, doesn’t it?! 😉
April 25, 2020
Ennek a regénynek az olvasása döbbentett rá valamire, amit igazából eddig is tudtam. A pillanatnyi életszínvonalam sokkal jobb, ha minőségi könyvet olvasok.
A kényszerű itthonlét alatt eddig csak jó könyveket olvastam (a Harry Potter sorozat esztétikai értékéről lehet vitatkozni, de az nyilván más szinten volt nagy élmény).
Egy jó könyvbe belemerülni most kb. olyan mértékű kikapcsolódás és feltöltődés, mint máskor egy nehéz nap végén beülni valahova barátokkal vagy elmenni valami kulturális eseményre.
Ha egy nehéz nap végén az ilyen élmények nem szórakoztatnak, nem töltenek fel, nem kapcsolnak ki, nem adnak értéket, hanem felidegesítenek, rombolják az agysejtjeim, silány minőségű időtöltést nyújtanak, akkor minek is csinálom...?
Nagyon ritkán hagyok félbe könyvet, általában akkor sem "direkt", hanem egy idő után elfogadom a tényt, hogy ha már X ideje nem nyúltam hozzá, valószínűleg már nem is fogok.
Eleinte ezt a könyvet sem akartam félbehagyni, de aztán megkérdeztem magamtól, hogy igazából miért olvasom, ha idegesít az írás kritikán aluli minősége, a szereplők valódiatlansága és szerethetetlensége, a cselekmény idiotizmusa. A molyos értékeléseiben azt írják, hogy az eleje jó, és idővel romlik a minősége, szóval ha szerintem már az eleje is minősíthetetlen, nyilván sok esély nincs a javulásra.
Szóval kereken száz oldal után arra jutottam, hogy fontos az öngondoskodás, ami ez esetben a könyv azonnali félbehagyását jelenti...:P
Vagy én öregszem és leszek válogatósabb az évek során, vagy ez tényleg az egyik leggyengébb könyv, ami valaha a kezembe került... (a kettő nem zárja ki egymást)
Bocsi, ez az értékelés nem annyira könyvről szólt, de eskü, még szétszedni se volt kedvem a hibáit, és ez azért sok mindent elmond.
A kényszerű itthonlét alatt eddig csak jó könyveket olvastam (a Harry Potter sorozat esztétikai értékéről lehet vitatkozni, de az nyilván más szinten volt nagy élmény).
Egy jó könyvbe belemerülni most kb. olyan mértékű kikapcsolódás és feltöltődés, mint máskor egy nehéz nap végén beülni valahova barátokkal vagy elmenni valami kulturális eseményre.
Ha egy nehéz nap végén az ilyen élmények nem szórakoztatnak, nem töltenek fel, nem kapcsolnak ki, nem adnak értéket, hanem felidegesítenek, rombolják az agysejtjeim, silány minőségű időtöltést nyújtanak, akkor minek is csinálom...?
Nagyon ritkán hagyok félbe könyvet, általában akkor sem "direkt", hanem egy idő után elfogadom a tényt, hogy ha már X ideje nem nyúltam hozzá, valószínűleg már nem is fogok.
Eleinte ezt a könyvet sem akartam félbehagyni, de aztán megkérdeztem magamtól, hogy igazából miért olvasom, ha idegesít az írás kritikán aluli minősége, a szereplők valódiatlansága és szerethetetlensége, a cselekmény idiotizmusa. A molyos értékeléseiben azt írják, hogy az eleje jó, és idővel romlik a minősége, szóval ha szerintem már az eleje is minősíthetetlen, nyilván sok esély nincs a javulásra.
Szóval kereken száz oldal után arra jutottam, hogy fontos az öngondoskodás, ami ez esetben a könyv azonnali félbehagyását jelenti...:P
Vagy én öregszem és leszek válogatósabb az évek során, vagy ez tényleg az egyik leggyengébb könyv, ami valaha a kezembe került... (a kettő nem zárja ki egymást)
Bocsi, ez az értékelés nem annyira könyvről szólt, de eskü, még szétszedni se volt kedvem a hibáit, és ez azért sok mindent elmond.
January 25, 2013
Prior to reading this book, my only experiences of Sue Townsend were Adrian Mole, whom at my mother's suggestion I read when I was younger. As remarkable here as in her other writing is Townsend's ability to cloak what is, upon reflection, often quite a set of starkly grim human truths in humour.
On the day that her 17 year old twins move to university in Leeds, 50-year old Eva Beaver discovers a soup stain on the arm of the chair she painstakingly upholstered herself. This is the final straw, and she takes herself off to bed for a year, although she does not know this at the time.
Her twins are borderline autistic, her husband is an astronomer having an unsatisfactory affair with a colleague and he will now have to learn how to do all the tasks that Eva has spent 17 years doing without his noticing: Christmas, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, laundry...
The humour gets progressively darker throughout the novel until finally leaving you at a place in which you are not altogether sure you are comfortable to be. Townsend is adept at handling the subtleties of everyday life, and as a reader you are completely unaware of the lessons she has taught you until you close the book. This is a one-sitting sort of book, which carefully manipulates the absurd and deftly deals with all the practical matters of going to bed for a year.
On the day that her 17 year old twins move to university in Leeds, 50-year old Eva Beaver discovers a soup stain on the arm of the chair she painstakingly upholstered herself. This is the final straw, and she takes herself off to bed for a year, although she does not know this at the time.
Her twins are borderline autistic, her husband is an astronomer having an unsatisfactory affair with a colleague and he will now have to learn how to do all the tasks that Eva has spent 17 years doing without his noticing: Christmas, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, laundry...
The humour gets progressively darker throughout the novel until finally leaving you at a place in which you are not altogether sure you are comfortable to be. Townsend is adept at handling the subtleties of everyday life, and as a reader you are completely unaware of the lessons she has taught you until you close the book. This is a one-sitting sort of book, which carefully manipulates the absurd and deftly deals with all the practical matters of going to bed for a year.
November 27, 2012
I think expectations ruined this book for me. I'd read some magazine articles about it before reading, including one that said it was the book that people should be obsessing over, instead of the 50 Shades series (which I heavily dislike). The cover quotes were also very exciting, saying it was hysterically funny, witty, passionate etc etc.
I've read maybe one other Sue Townsend book, and that was The Queen and I. So, I didn't know what to expect from this book, and I'm still not sure what category it falls into.
Either, it's a comedic novel that isn't funny at all.
Or, it's a serious and thought provoking book, or at least, an attempt at one, with nothing much going on under the surface.
I found the book to be very good for the first 1/4 of its length, it was funny, it seemed to be moving towards an interesting conflict, and more funny situations. But it didn't.
As the book went on, I became angry with the main character, because she was so totally unrealistic. The book was billed as being about a woman who'd had enough, and finally given up the struggle - and that idea interested me. What I got was a well off woman with two shitty kids and a berk of a husband, who really, I felt no one would ever have married.
So, I had no sympathy for the main character, or any of the characters really.
None of the characters seemed to talk to each other, instead they parroted 'meaningful' speeches at each other.
I read the last parts of the book, struggling to enjoy anything about it. I hated the plot, the main character, the sheer unbelievable events, that weren't even funny in their lunacy (eg. what happens to the twins at the end).
As a comedy it failed on every level, and, as a meaningful or poignant tale of modern life, it failed doubly. I couldn't see any meaning beneath the selfish, nonsensical and ofttimes cruel activities of the characters, and I tried my best to find it.
The thoughts that Eva had during her bedridden spell were vacuous and annoying - world hunger, war, etc. Who doesn't get depressed about these things? And she didn't even seem that concerned about the things that 'worried' her so much.
And then right at the end, we find out, in one paragraph, the one interesting and tragic thing that ever happened to her...and it's never commented on at all.
I still have no idea what the point of this novel was.
I would recommend reading 'I still dream about you' by Fannie Flagg, which is at least a better attempt at showing an older woman, struggling with the cruelty of the world.
I've read maybe one other Sue Townsend book, and that was The Queen and I. So, I didn't know what to expect from this book, and I'm still not sure what category it falls into.
Either, it's a comedic novel that isn't funny at all.
Or, it's a serious and thought provoking book, or at least, an attempt at one, with nothing much going on under the surface.
I found the book to be very good for the first 1/4 of its length, it was funny, it seemed to be moving towards an interesting conflict, and more funny situations. But it didn't.
As the book went on, I became angry with the main character, because she was so totally unrealistic. The book was billed as being about a woman who'd had enough, and finally given up the struggle - and that idea interested me. What I got was a well off woman with two shitty kids and a berk of a husband, who really, I felt no one would ever have married.
So, I had no sympathy for the main character, or any of the characters really.
None of the characters seemed to talk to each other, instead they parroted 'meaningful' speeches at each other.
I read the last parts of the book, struggling to enjoy anything about it. I hated the plot, the main character, the sheer unbelievable events, that weren't even funny in their lunacy (eg. what happens to the twins at the end).
As a comedy it failed on every level, and, as a meaningful or poignant tale of modern life, it failed doubly. I couldn't see any meaning beneath the selfish, nonsensical and ofttimes cruel activities of the characters, and I tried my best to find it.
The thoughts that Eva had during her bedridden spell were vacuous and annoying - world hunger, war, etc. Who doesn't get depressed about these things? And she didn't even seem that concerned about the things that 'worried' her so much.
And then right at the end, we find out, in one paragraph, the one interesting and tragic thing that ever happened to her...and it's never commented on at all.
I still have no idea what the point of this novel was.
I would recommend reading 'I still dream about you' by Fannie Flagg, which is at least a better attempt at showing an older woman, struggling with the cruelty of the world.
January 26, 2013
I've been a Sue Townsend fan ever since Adrian Mole painted his room black (except for the show-through Noddy hats) in The Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4. She manages to weave humour and pathos through her books, making them eminently readable and slipping truths into them under the cover of odd characters and interesting situations.
In this book, Eva's twin children, autistic brilliants who never relate to anyone else, have left for university, and Eva decides to retire to her bed. Forever.
The idea appealed to me - the thought of opting out of life, just spending time lolling about, having others serve you, letting them know how much work you've put into making the world the way it was for your family. I remember having the same feeling when I left my husband - I'd done so much for him, from renewing his car license to organizing health care, that it wore me out.
Eva grows afraid to step out of her bed, and gradually things get odder and odder. She gives advice to a passing cabbie and he spreads the word of her wisdom, and soon she is surrounded by acolytes, begging for answers. Her husband is caught in a several-year-long affair. Her children are terrorized by a fellow undergraduate, who insinuates herself into every aspect of their lives. Eva's selfishness puts her at risk.
Somehow the world whirls around Eva, crises rising and falling, and through it all, Eva wonders what the world is about.
The last lines of the book made me break out weeping, suddenly.
I wept because of the simplicity of the answer, and because I knew I'd miss Eva.
In this book, Eva's twin children, autistic brilliants who never relate to anyone else, have left for university, and Eva decides to retire to her bed. Forever.
The idea appealed to me - the thought of opting out of life, just spending time lolling about, having others serve you, letting them know how much work you've put into making the world the way it was for your family. I remember having the same feeling when I left my husband - I'd done so much for him, from renewing his car license to organizing health care, that it wore me out.
Eva grows afraid to step out of her bed, and gradually things get odder and odder. She gives advice to a passing cabbie and he spreads the word of her wisdom, and soon she is surrounded by acolytes, begging for answers. Her husband is caught in a several-year-long affair. Her children are terrorized by a fellow undergraduate, who insinuates herself into every aspect of their lives. Eva's selfishness puts her at risk.
Somehow the world whirls around Eva, crises rising and falling, and through it all, Eva wonders what the world is about.
The last lines of the book made me break out weeping, suddenly.
I wept because of the simplicity of the answer, and because I knew I'd miss Eva.
February 9, 2015
I would probably give this book a 2.5 if that option existed, if only for the first few chapters. I've always liked Sue Townsend and found The Queen and I very funny.
This book begins with real promise. I liked the way the characters unfolded and could sympathize with Eva's weariness with the whole repetitive and thankless domestic cycle. Behind the laughter, I could feel the sadness, particularly in Brian, as horrible as he was.
But then it began to feel as if half ripe plums were being lobbed my way. Characters appearing for no apparent purpose, only to be abandoned or just briefly sketched out - Sandy Lake and the anarchist, the Hos, even Poppy. And I really wanted more of Stanley. There's no real development of these characters as characters - they lie flat on the page as mere space takers with incomplete stories.
In the end, I was tired of the book and couldn't wait for it to end. I read the last couple of chapters at warp speed and ended up liking only Alexander and Stanley.
This book begins with real promise. I liked the way the characters unfolded and could sympathize with Eva's weariness with the whole repetitive and thankless domestic cycle. Behind the laughter, I could feel the sadness, particularly in Brian, as horrible as he was.
But then it began to feel as if half ripe plums were being lobbed my way. Characters appearing for no apparent purpose, only to be abandoned or just briefly sketched out - Sandy Lake and the anarchist, the Hos, even Poppy. And I really wanted more of Stanley. There's no real development of these characters as characters - they lie flat on the page as mere space takers with incomplete stories.
In the end, I was tired of the book and couldn't wait for it to end. I read the last couple of chapters at warp speed and ended up liking only Alexander and Stanley.
July 28, 2018
Tried to like this book. Did nothing for me. Not much time to waste on books that do nothing for me
February 18, 2025
What started out as a book that had me snorting with laughter didn't turn out quite how I expected but, unlike other reviewers, I liked the end.
Eva is bored with her life. She's sick of being taken for granted. Her children ignore her, her husband is having an affair and her relationship with her mother isn't exactly one of mutual support. So Eva decides she's going to stay in bed -- for a while - to get her thoughts in order. Let the family look after her for a change.
Of course when you've got a selfish family it's more than likely not going to turn out well. The children make minimal effort at understanding and the husband continues to be useless. Thankfully there are others who see the light in Eva and want to make her life better.
The character of Eva is an interesting one. Which of us hasn't entertained the idea of just taking a backseat to see who notices? Eva's descent into more entrenched despondency is sad but not unexpected. What lifts the book are the sub-plots and other characters who come into the lives of the family- not least of them is Poppy who made my toes curl up with distaste.
An excellent book. Very funny in parts and filled with pathos in others. I listened to the audio version read brilliantly by Caroline Quentin. Her version of Poppy set my teeth on edge. Bravo.
Eva is bored with her life. She's sick of being taken for granted. Her children ignore her, her husband is having an affair and her relationship with her mother isn't exactly one of mutual support. So Eva decides she's going to stay in bed -- for a while - to get her thoughts in order. Let the family look after her for a change.
Of course when you've got a selfish family it's more than likely not going to turn out well. The children make minimal effort at understanding and the husband continues to be useless. Thankfully there are others who see the light in Eva and want to make her life better.
The character of Eva is an interesting one. Which of us hasn't entertained the idea of just taking a backseat to see who notices? Eva's descent into more entrenched despondency is sad but not unexpected. What lifts the book are the sub-plots and other characters who come into the lives of the family- not least of them is Poppy who made my toes curl up with distaste.
An excellent book. Very funny in parts and filled with pathos in others. I listened to the audio version read brilliantly by Caroline Quentin. Her version of Poppy set my teeth on edge. Bravo.
June 14, 2013
I am begrudgingly giving this book one star out of five, simply as I managed to drag myself through 346 long pages and not reach the end, thus the one star is a feeble thought that in the last hundred or so pages it might have gotten better. OH MY GOODNESS. What an absolute waste of my time!!! Having heard from many people that Sue Townsend was a great author and the Adrian Mole books were fantastic, I thought this book looked good and I would give it a read. I thought wrong. Never have I read a book where almost all of the characters were unlikable! First of all, the main character Eva, whom I would have thought Townsend had created to be a witty, sarcastic, middle aged woman that her readers could relate to and find something admirable in her actions. I for one think Eva was completely selfish in her actions and wonder who on earth could manage to stay hidden away in their bed for months on end, while family and friends tend to her every need. Yes, Brian has an affair with the infuriatingly-annoying Titania, but why he remains loyal to Eva is beyond my understanding. Also I can't comprehend why some of the male characters, like Alexander and the young policeman, fall madly in love with a stranger in a bed. The apparently 'autistic' twins don't remain within their stereotypical traits, for instance when 'Barry' the taxi driver comes to visit Eva after having suicidal thoughts, Brian Junior comes in to his mother's room, wielding a baseball bat, minutes later giving the man tips to websites he can join. Sorry, I thought Townsend was focusing on the twins being unsociable? One last point before I try to pretend I never read a page of this book... Yvonne's death was a bit ridiculous. Why bring in a main character, have her connecting with the other characters & being like any other seventy-something mother-in-law, just to kill her off in such a meaningless way?! Townsend's apparent need for humour to be in every crevice of the book seeped out of the pages like a crass creature, when they were discussing the death of Brian's mother and making jokes in a pointless manner. Don't read this book. It is unrealistic to the point of an unfunny joke. I'm tired & crabby because I wasted 346 pages for nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2012
The woman who went to bed for a year by Sue Townsend.
This novel was a terrible read, it had no plot, the characters were dreadful and the whole story just seemed ridiculous and had absolutely no point to it. I really cant understand how this book got published. Would have expected way better from Sue Townsend.
If you looking for something light and witty to read but has a great story line then read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
This novel was a terrible read, it had no plot, the characters were dreadful and the whole story just seemed ridiculous and had absolutely no point to it. I really cant understand how this book got published. Would have expected way better from Sue Townsend.
If you looking for something light and witty to read but has a great story line then read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
August 28, 2013
Sue Townsend tries to be clever with The Woman Who Went To Bed For A Year and is making an obvious effort to straddle comedy, drama, tragedy and social commentary. Unfortunately, the effort is more obvious than the result and the tone is uncomfortable throughout.
The plot is simple, and potentially interesting. A middle-aged woman effectively has a breakdown, decides to go to bed and stay there for a year. Her family and an expanding cast of bizarre eccentrics become entirely responsible for her care.
The initial progression is relatively intriguing, particularly in seeing the reactions of her husband, mother and mother-in-law. The Woman is at its best when it focuses on the family drama, the complexity of the relationships and the human drama that comes from the situation. In many ways, the book is strongest when the ensemble cast come together, rather than in small groups, largely because none of the sub-plots are interesting enough in isolation.
Townsend gets carried away and the plot descends into a sheer farce around midway, with the arrival of TV crews and desperate fans clamouring for a glance of Eva. While the whole novel is far-fetched, this element asks the reader to suspend more disbelief than is reasonable and is just a bit of nonsense too far. Strangely, the phenomenon dissipates and plays no part in the conclusion, which also renders it a pointless tangent that would have been better omitted.
The main issue with the book, to my mind, is the how unlikable all of any of the key cast are. It is impossible to sympathise with Eva Beaver when she is portrayed as selfish, self-centred and petulant. The character could have been shown in a completely different light that would have provoked a more positive response to the reader and, in turn, the book.
The supporting cast are just as dreadful. Nobody could ever tire of happily battering Poppy to death. The twins, Brian Junior and Brianne, are fleetingly funny in their deadpan hedonism but quickly grate. The only vaguely likeable character in the whole jamboree of nutjobs is Alexander, who is in fact awarded a degree of empathetic treatment. The key scene, towards the end, where the development could have been perfected is rushed and unexpected. It feels like Townsend’s editor tapped her on the shoulder and told her she had 20 pages left and could she hurry it up a bit.
The book’s conclusion fails on all levels. It simply stops. The impact of the last few pages on the characters is far more significant than the event itself, but no attention is paid to them in the slightest. There’s also no explanation as to why these same events hadn’t happened a year ago or what in particular triggered their occurrence now. None of the sub plots are resolved in any satisfying way, with threads just left dangling all over the place.
Where Adrian Mole excels in social commentary, The Woman cannot replicate it. A slapdash assortment of caricatures and weirdoes does not a social commentary make. The stupidity of Brian and Titania’s relationship mars any reflection on society; the unpleasantness and extremity of Poppy makes light of mental health issues and the mothers, Yvonne and Ruby, shift personalities so often it’s clear they are underdeveloped.
Despite an impressive back catalogue of classics, with regret, Townsend should have stayed in bed herself instead of writing this book.
The plot is simple, and potentially interesting. A middle-aged woman effectively has a breakdown, decides to go to bed and stay there for a year. Her family and an expanding cast of bizarre eccentrics become entirely responsible for her care.
The initial progression is relatively intriguing, particularly in seeing the reactions of her husband, mother and mother-in-law. The Woman is at its best when it focuses on the family drama, the complexity of the relationships and the human drama that comes from the situation. In many ways, the book is strongest when the ensemble cast come together, rather than in small groups, largely because none of the sub-plots are interesting enough in isolation.
Townsend gets carried away and the plot descends into a sheer farce around midway, with the arrival of TV crews and desperate fans clamouring for a glance of Eva. While the whole novel is far-fetched, this element asks the reader to suspend more disbelief than is reasonable and is just a bit of nonsense too far. Strangely, the phenomenon dissipates and plays no part in the conclusion, which also renders it a pointless tangent that would have been better omitted.
The main issue with the book, to my mind, is the how unlikable all of any of the key cast are. It is impossible to sympathise with Eva Beaver when she is portrayed as selfish, self-centred and petulant. The character could have been shown in a completely different light that would have provoked a more positive response to the reader and, in turn, the book.
The supporting cast are just as dreadful. Nobody could ever tire of happily battering Poppy to death. The twins, Brian Junior and Brianne, are fleetingly funny in their deadpan hedonism but quickly grate. The only vaguely likeable character in the whole jamboree of nutjobs is Alexander, who is in fact awarded a degree of empathetic treatment. The key scene, towards the end, where the development could have been perfected is rushed and unexpected. It feels like Townsend’s editor tapped her on the shoulder and told her she had 20 pages left and could she hurry it up a bit.
The book’s conclusion fails on all levels. It simply stops. The impact of the last few pages on the characters is far more significant than the event itself, but no attention is paid to them in the slightest. There’s also no explanation as to why these same events hadn’t happened a year ago or what in particular triggered their occurrence now. None of the sub plots are resolved in any satisfying way, with threads just left dangling all over the place.
Where Adrian Mole excels in social commentary, The Woman cannot replicate it. A slapdash assortment of caricatures and weirdoes does not a social commentary make. The stupidity of Brian and Titania’s relationship mars any reflection on society; the unpleasantness and extremity of Poppy makes light of mental health issues and the mothers, Yvonne and Ruby, shift personalities so often it’s clear they are underdeveloped.
Despite an impressive back catalogue of classics, with regret, Townsend should have stayed in bed herself instead of writing this book.
October 20, 2015
I've read many unkind reviews of this book, and, to all of its critics, I must reply: clearly you've never been stuck on a dreadful merry-go-round that cannot seem to be stopping (or slowing down) for about two decades. I've not been either. But I do know how it is to want to shout to the scenery around you 'Stop! I want to get off! I've just made the one bad decision - do I have to put up with it forever?'
And I think one must be heartless to not resonate with Eva ever so slightly. I mean, really. She's stuck in a love-less marriage with a scoundrel of a cheating husband and a couple of very 'special' *cough - autistic - cough* twins. And this is between her mother's worsening memory and her mother-in-law's incessant nagging. So when the kids (finally) leave for Uni, she goes to bed. At stays there.
The story is a touching one, about how a family starts to unravel once the main thread decides to cut itself off. It's a tale of compassion and mercy, and also one about acceptance and love. Would recommended to anybody who feels they deserve a break from real life, only to immerse themselves in the lives of those more unfortunate.
And I think one must be heartless to not resonate with Eva ever so slightly. I mean, really. She's stuck in a love-less marriage with a scoundrel of a cheating husband and a couple of very 'special' *cough - autistic - cough* twins. And this is between her mother's worsening memory and her mother-in-law's incessant nagging. So when the kids (finally) leave for Uni, she goes to bed. At stays there.
The story is a touching one, about how a family starts to unravel once the main thread decides to cut itself off. It's a tale of compassion and mercy, and also one about acceptance and love. Would recommended to anybody who feels they deserve a break from real life, only to immerse themselves in the lives of those more unfortunate.
September 30, 2012
I hoped this book would be funny, but sadly, it isn't. A woman called Eva decides, for no good reason that I can see, or any reason at all, to stay in bed for a year. Somewhat improbably, she manages to get several people, including her husband, mother, and mother-in-law, all running around bringing her food and drink. Even more improbaby, a handsome handyman called Alexander takes an inexplicable fancy to her, and starts running aroun waiting on her too. And people start coming to her for advice (why?). Most of the characters in the book, including Eva herself, are very tiresome people.
There are a few (very few) amusing moments in this book, but most of it is dull and rather pointless. We never really find out why Eva is in bed, and the question of why people continue to indulge her in this nonsense remains unanswered too. Her husband even meekly agrees to move out of the house (which presumably he is paying for) when she demands it. And we never find out what has happened to her strange children either. It is altogether rather a waste of time.
There are a few (very few) amusing moments in this book, but most of it is dull and rather pointless. We never really find out why Eva is in bed, and the question of why people continue to indulge her in this nonsense remains unanswered too. Her husband even meekly agrees to move out of the house (which presumably he is paying for) when she demands it. And we never find out what has happened to her strange children either. It is altogether rather a waste of time.
March 6, 2013
I was going to give it 3 stars. I ended with two because of very poor ending. It is an easy read, yet the one which leaves you with major question of why you wasted all that time reading about a fifty-year old eccentric woman along with all other eccentric English people of various ages in the novel which clearly demonstrates how very strange and different Englishmen are. The novel is based on strong social irony but to my taste it was at times too straightforward and primitive to be enjoyable.
October 24, 2012
This book was a little strange and whilst I wanted to like it a lot, mainly on the merit of the author, I’m afraid it was quite tedious to read at times.
The book definitely seems like a book of two halves to me. Fortunately the fact that Townsend is a gifted and able satirist saved the first half of the book somewhat and, as an ever-curious reader, I quite enjoyed seeing where it would all pan out around the theme of escape. The second half, however, where Eva Beaver, a ‘beautiful’ (we are told) middle-aged woman has, by now, voluntarily retreated to the confines (and safety?) of her own bedroom for a few too many months, proved a bit too much for me and the dominance of crazy characters (estranged husband and his affair living in the shed, purely strange and devoted to scientific theory twin offspring, etc. etc.) seemed to kill any plotline and enjoyment for me personally.
I think sometimes we relate writers to their best achievements and past strengths. Nostalgic as I am, I loved the Adrian Mole series after it debuted in my early teenage years. This must have been a ‘teen into adulthood’ kind-of thing tainted with a touch of the forbidden. Obviously, I am aware that this series itself ‘darkened’ as Adrian grew up and matured but Townsend's transition to almost ‘pitch black’ within this book surprised me greatly. All credit, I do understand Townsend’s metaphors of retreat and need for purity (isolation, white room) but her lack of comedy as the book progresses left me feeling quite abandoned and, quite frankly, in need of a good belly laugh (evidently to be sourced from somewhere else) by the end. Also understood by me is the fact that society is depressing – point taken. It’s heavy going though that Townsend doesn’t lessen the load and following Eva’s mental decline is quite taxing by the end. In fact, I almost wanted to crawl into a white room myself. Maybe, this is the author’s desultory or deliberate point but I just didn’t have her down for this and, as much as it surprised me, it plainly exhausted me.
To sum up then, would I recommend? For the journey, curiosity and critique then maybe I would but then in a book-club setting I’d be ranting that Townsend has gone ‘way down’. To friends, would I recommend for the reading pleasure alone? Hell no, there are far too many other books in the world. Give this a wide berth unless you have to or unless you really, really want to.
The book definitely seems like a book of two halves to me. Fortunately the fact that Townsend is a gifted and able satirist saved the first half of the book somewhat and, as an ever-curious reader, I quite enjoyed seeing where it would all pan out around the theme of escape. The second half, however, where Eva Beaver, a ‘beautiful’ (we are told) middle-aged woman has, by now, voluntarily retreated to the confines (and safety?) of her own bedroom for a few too many months, proved a bit too much for me and the dominance of crazy characters (estranged husband and his affair living in the shed, purely strange and devoted to scientific theory twin offspring, etc. etc.) seemed to kill any plotline and enjoyment for me personally.
I think sometimes we relate writers to their best achievements and past strengths. Nostalgic as I am, I loved the Adrian Mole series after it debuted in my early teenage years. This must have been a ‘teen into adulthood’ kind-of thing tainted with a touch of the forbidden. Obviously, I am aware that this series itself ‘darkened’ as Adrian grew up and matured but Townsend's transition to almost ‘pitch black’ within this book surprised me greatly. All credit, I do understand Townsend’s metaphors of retreat and need for purity (isolation, white room) but her lack of comedy as the book progresses left me feeling quite abandoned and, quite frankly, in need of a good belly laugh (evidently to be sourced from somewhere else) by the end. Also understood by me is the fact that society is depressing – point taken. It’s heavy going though that Townsend doesn’t lessen the load and following Eva’s mental decline is quite taxing by the end. In fact, I almost wanted to crawl into a white room myself. Maybe, this is the author’s desultory or deliberate point but I just didn’t have her down for this and, as much as it surprised me, it plainly exhausted me.
To sum up then, would I recommend? For the journey, curiosity and critique then maybe I would but then in a book-club setting I’d be ranting that Townsend has gone ‘way down’. To friends, would I recommend for the reading pleasure alone? Hell no, there are far too many other books in the world. Give this a wide berth unless you have to or unless you really, really want to.
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