Woman Who Went To Bed For A Year

I enjoyed so much reading this, but you must remember its a womans point off view, I think men who review this have a completely different attitude. The characters are eccentric and moving, especially the young girl Poppy who you come to love and hate at the same time. I can identify with Eva, having put on many holiday dinners and laughed and cried with her version of Christmas past. Sue Townsend has again written a witty and revealing book. Menopausal woman take different forms, but this one is quite original, I feel great compassion for Eva, yet she is happy with her bed and isolation from the society that demanded so much of her in the first place!

I just didn't find it particularly interesting or funny and finally gave up on it without finishing it. The narrator did a good job, but the content just wasn't for me.

So, when I got this book I was a bit sceptial because of al the commentary I read.I like Sue Townsens books a lot, all but the Queen Camilla book. That one just didn't do it for me, and I was a bit afraid this one would be about the same.But, having read a preview, I was curious, so I ordered it.I like the concept of this book, the idea of a woman who goes to bed for a year and all troubles that come with it. It was fun to read, although I cannot really say why. It's not one of those books that kept me hanging on to every word, wanting to know what happens next, but then again that's not always necessary.I do have some questions about some of the characters coming and going - somethimes I couldn't see the point of introducing them at all - but that might be just me.Also, I have the feeling that sometimes Sue was tired of some of the persona; and she got fit of them fast - that could have been better.All in all, a fun read with some good insights. I didn't really have to laugh, but I liked it enough to grade it a 3 star.

What a premise! What an unfortunate execution of a great idea. I own almost all of Sue Townsend's books, have read all of them. This one is with Rebuilding Coventry as my least favorite. It starts off really promising (who hasn't wanted to just be totally selfish for an extended period, sod the circumstances?) but never gets anywhere. The stories from different characters just sort of tail off or stop without any finesse. I tried very hard to find some good in the book but did not manage it. I would feel better about my experiences with Sue Townsend had I not read it.

Strange read and I disliked the end so made up my own.

I've enjoyed many of the Adrian Mole stories and I really enjoyed this latest offering from Sue Townsend. The title pretty much sets the scene and the idea of a long term stay in bed that is not the result of illness is certainly intriguing. The characters in the story keep the plot moving along nicely. I frequently considered while reading this book, that it would make a great movie. There were some great laugh out loud moments. I particularly liked her memories of the previous Christmas. This was a humorous commentary on contemporary Western society. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it without hesitation.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it speaks to the "overwhelming-ness" of a modern woman's life. Quite poignant and touching but not heart-breaking. It is not as funny as her Adrian Mole books but it isn't meant to be. It is worth the money -- read it. I recommend it.

A laugh-out-loud read. Loved it. Come on, be honest - what woman wouldn't want to take to her bed for a year and let everyone look after themselves for a change!!l

Out of pure respect for Sue T, I've given two stars, but truthfully it only warrants a one star. So not believable, so boring, such hideous characters, and what a whingebag the protagonist was! And cliched. I think I gave up with the toiletry waste request, but toiled on, purely because I do enjoy Sue T's prose. I loved Ghost children, and the Queen and I, and the premise of this which could have been hilarious,but it turned out to be an awful storyline. I do wonder why her editors and publicist didn't have a little word in her ear, but then I guess she was such a big namethey were probably in awe of what she did, and just let her get on with it. Of course then there is the revenue...so let's just pop in that old tired and cliched newspaper review "I laughed till I cried", works wonders every time.Sue was a great storyteller, but this time, sadly, she'd ran out.

Don't even believe the "hilarious" or "really funny" critics about this book. It is not.It's just a bunch of stories of people acting irrationally.When you realize that the most rational one is the one who seems to be the craziest, it's already too late to give up on the reading.The only reason I finished the book is because of being in the book club at my office, but I was the only one on doing so.

I was intrigued after watching a Sue Townsend Docu on TV as I wasn’t aware of this book and loved the title. Not far in I realised how ‘twee’ this was going to be and, indeed, it read like middle-class piffle which failed to suspend my belief I’m sorry to say. Not my kind of book but at least I gave it a try. Wouldn’t recommend I’m afraid.

I was quite hopeful for this book. It started off pretty well and I felt in touch with all the characters if somewhat frustrated at Eva being clearly ill but ignored as such by the professionals that visit her. But the biggest issue for me was the ending or lack thereof. It just stops. No answers to any questions raised in the book. So what became of Ho and his parents, Poppy and Brian, the twins, do Ruby and Stanley get it together, even the weirdos on the street are dismissed with a shared evening. Seriously this author must have just got bored of writing. I reckon there was at least an opportunity for her to have written an epilogue answering these points and most crucial of all what happens to Eva? So she is moved, so what, is she recovered. Sorry for any spoilers but I was seriously let down when I got to the last page.

Can there be a woman, especially one who is a wife and a mother, who has not at some point felt so exhausted and exasperated that the idea of going to bed for a year seems strongly appealing?So here is a woman who actually does that. Now most of us who actually tried to do that would become seriously bored after a few days, and with batteries recharged, would be ready to face living again. Not so in this instance. So what is the matter with her? Is she Ill, perhaps mentally ill? Is she lazy? She is certainly extraordinarily self-centred. And therein lies the problem. I just don't like the main character very much. She seems to me to be unable to use her own mind, regardless of all the time she has available to her, to reason on her situation. She uses and manipulates others, even those weaker than herself.I most books, a transformation occurs in the main character by the end of the book, and they gain insight into their life. Not so in this case. The ending is unconvincing and weak. There is no insight. No-one really gains any insight. Opportunities are missed.Furthermore, it is not funny.