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Peas and Queues cover art

Peas and Queues

By: Sandi Toksvig
Narrated by: Sandi Toksvig
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Summary

How do you get rid of unwanted guests? What do you do if there's a racket in the quiet carriage? How should you eat peas, and behave in queues?

How to behave, like how to punctuate, is an aspect of life that many are no longer taught. Thankfully, Sandi Toksvig has come to the rescue with her entertaining guide to modern manners, with characteristic wit and perceptiveness.

©2014 Sandi Toksvig (P)2014 Whole Story Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"This little book will change your life - and that of your loved (and unloved) ones. For the better. And make you laugh." (John Humphrys)

What listeners say about Peas and Queues

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If you love lists you'll love this

Is there anything you would change about this book?

If I could change about this book, it would be to present the lists in a less list like way. Don't quite know how this could be achieved but the wonderful Ms Toksvig reading lists complete with numbers is a tad irritating.

The book is basically Sandi's advice on etiquette and behaviour. It has value and where she adds more anecdotes or explanations on her thoughts the book is quite amusing and more interesting. I just had trouble with the lists!

If you’ve listened to books by Sandi Toksvig before, how does this one compare?

I've listened to a Sandi Toksvig novel and loved it. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to another one but will avoid any that are similar to this.

Any additional comments?

I don't think that the book converted well to being read out loud. Maybe reading it you would ignore the numbers and therefore it would be less repetitive.

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38 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Manners for Mary

What did you like most about Peas and Queues?

I never thought that a book about etiquette could ever be a good read or listen but i was prepared to risk any book written by the wonderful Sandi Toksvig and I was not disappointed. This is no stuffy tome about which knives and forks to use when attending a banquet at Buckingham Palace, it's a guide to simple good manners which make for easy living everywhere.

What did you like best about this story?

Ms Toksvig starts with simple ground rules for living at home then extends those simple rules and principles for helping "Mary" (a youngster of her acquaintance) to move around the world with ease and confidence. Mary is given help in all social situations from sharing a student flat to formal dining.

Which character – as performed by Sandi Toksvig – was your favourite?

This isn't a "story" as such but I found myself envying Mary the recipient of such practical advice given with Sandi Toksvig's usual self deprecating humour.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I enjoyed dipping in and out of the book and listened to it over several evenings

Any additional comments?

Just listen to it! Who ever thought that good manners could be good fun!

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27 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Gets better as you read more

What did you like most about Peas and Queues?

Sandi's sense of humour. Very tongue-in-cheek, as you would expect.

Any additional comments?

If you like Sandi, you'll enjoy this.

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11 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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It is exactly what is says

I love Sandi, but perhaps I misunderstood what to expect from this book. It is sort of funny, but mainly it is literally a lesson in manners for those who have none. If you already have pretty good manners it quickly gets dull.

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9 people found this helpful

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A Gentle Reminder of your manners

Others have remarked on the lists being intrusive, but in an expectedly orderly manner Sandi talks through her high expectations of you at every scenario.
I'm rather looking forward to the next time we go to a formal dinner, just so I can eat an orange with cutlery & firmly blame Ms Toksvig for the shambles I make of it!

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9 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Maybe enjoyable for an 8 year old ....

When Sandi reads the preface and it states it’s written for her 8 year old daughter/niece (whatever ... it ended up being so bad all I remember is the 8 year old bit as it’s repeated so often), I should have given up there.

Not funny, not particularly informative unless you have no moral compass or understanding of how to interact in society with some snippets about the history of the ‘why’.

Don’t waste your money ..... unless you are buying this for a child (and I don’t even mean a teenage child!)

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Hilarious guide to life!

An essential guide to life and in particular manners, all in a really amusing way. it also just wouldn't be the same if it were read by anyone else. Really good to listen to if your concentration isn't brilliant :)

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6 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

very amusing- gentle humour & info

a lovely listen- very informative but with gentle humour that makes all advise easy to take (or not) I have enjoyed regaling bits to my family and the Qi style facts/quotes are really fun. it's a gentle listen for while you are traveling nothing to get too worried or excited about but make you smile to yourself with the images painted.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Charmingly entertaining

It did take me a little while to take to this book, but ended up loving it.

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4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

This is the first ever book that I have returned to Audible. Maybe I was expecting more humour in this tediously boring book.

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3 people found this helpful