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Shop Girl
- Author
- Mary Portas
- Narrator
- Mary Portas
- Publisher
- Transworld
- Publish Date
- 26 February 2015
- Run Time
- 6 hours 49 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
Young Mary Newton, born into a large Irish family in a small Watford semi, is always getting into trouble. When she isn’t choking back fits of giggles at Holy Communion or eating Chappie dog food for a bet, she’s accidentally setting fire to the local school. Mary is a trouble magnet. And, unlike her brothers, somehow she always gets caught…
Britain in the 1970s is a world where R. White's lemonade is drunk in secret, curry comes in a box marked Vesta and beanz meanz Heinz. In Mary’s family, money is scarce. Clothes are hand-me-downs, holidays are a church day out to Hastings and meals are variations on a potato theme. But these are good times and everything revolves around the force of nature that is Theresa, Mary’s mum.
When tragedy unexpectedly blows this world apart, a new chapter in Mary’s life opens up. She takes to the camp and glamour of Harrods window dressing like a duck to water, and Mary, Queen of Shops is born…
Critics Review
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Portas writes with wit and verve... The book has the narrative charm of Anita and Me or The Buddha of Suburbia; so when the darkness comes it's genuinely shocking. Shop Girl is a testament to survival. But most of all it is a love letter to her mother, Mary Flynn. Every joke, argument, cake baked, tenderness proffered, sings off the page. 'To my mum - How lucky was I getting you' is the book's dedication. And we are lucky to read it.
Independent
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Enormous fun, readable, nostalgic, poignant and authentic... Read it then give it to your daughter
Daily Express
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Absolutely fabulous... Colourful, camp and unexpectedly heart-rending, I loved it.
The Bookseller
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Her school stories are hilarious... a nostalgia-fest
Heat
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Portas's memoir is witty, fascinating and, at times, sad but always compelling
Stylist
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It breezes along seamlessly... with levels of charm, depth and humour
The Observer
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Poignantly described
Telegraph
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Heartbreaking
The Times
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Inspiring and emotional
OK!
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[A] delightful memoir... full of evocative images
Choice Magazine
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Mary Portas
- Narrator
- Mary Portas
- Duration
- 6 hours 49 minutes
- Release Date
- 26 February 2015
- ISBN
- 9781473525221
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Transworld
- Genre
- Autobiography: business and industry, Autobiography: general, Memoirs, Fashion and textile design
Synopsis
Young Mary Newton, born into a large Irish family in a small Watford semi, is always getting into trouble. When she isn’t choking back fits of giggles at Holy Communion or eating Chappie dog food for a bet, she’s accidentally setting fire to the local school. Mary is a trouble magnet. And, unlike her brothers, somehow she always gets caught…Britain in the 1970s is a world where R. White's lemonade is drunk in secret, curry comes in a box marked Vesta and beanz meanz Heinz. In Mary’s family, money is scarce. Clothes are hand-me-downs, holidays are a church day out to Hastings and meals are variations on a potato theme. But these are good times and everything revolves around the force of nature that is Theresa, Mary’s mum.When tragedy unexpectedly blows this world apart, a new chapter in Mary’s life opens up. She takes to the camp and glamour of Harrods window dressing like a duck to water, and Mary, Queen of Shops is born…
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