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  • Love, Nina

  • Despatches from Family Life
  • By: Nina Stibbe
  • Narrated by: Nina Stibbe
  • Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (536 ratings)

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Love, Nina

By: Nina Stibbe
Narrated by: Nina Stibbe
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Summary

In the 1980s, Nina Stibbe wrote letters home to her sister in Leicester describing her trials and triumphs as a nanny to a London family.

There’s a cat nobody likes, a visiting dog called Ted Hughes (Ted for short) and suppertime visits from a local playwright. Not to mention the two boys, their favourite football teams, and rude words, a very broad-minded mother and assorted nice chairs.

From the mystery of the unpaid milk bill and the avoidance of nuclear war to mealtime discussions on pie filler, the greats of English literature, swearing in German and sexually transmitted diseases, Love, Nina is a wonderful celebration of bad food, good company and the relative merits of Thomas Hardy and Enid Blyton.

At the age of 20, Nina Stibbe moved from Leicestershire to London to become a nanny. Later she studied at Thames Polytechnic and worked in publishing. She now lives in Cornwall with her partner and children.

©2013 Nina Stibbe (P)2013 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

“I adored this book, and I could quote from it forever. It’s real, odd, life-affirming, sharp, loving, and contains more than one reference to Arsenal FC” (Nick Hornby, The Believer)
"Adrian Mole meets Mary Poppins mashed up in literary north London... Enormous fun” ( Bookseller)
“What a beady eye she has for domestic life, and how deliciously fresh and funny she is” (Deborah Moggach, author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)
“Despatches from Family Life is the laugh-out-loud story of the trials and tribulations of a very particular family. Breezy, sophisticated, hilarious, rude and aching with sweetness; Love, Nina might be the most charming book I’ve ever read” (Maria Semple, author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette)
“Nina Stibbe is the funniest new writer to arrive in years. Love, Nina is her first book - a memoir so warm, so witty and so wise, it’s like finding the friend you always deserved” (Andrew O, Hagan)

What listeners say about Love, Nina

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Love Nina

I enjoyed this book. When I bought it i was not sure what to expect but I liked nina's voice so decided to try it. I am glad I did because it had many amusing moments but at the same time seemed very normal. I felt that it was like a friend telling me incidents in her everyday life.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Narrated as written - It Works

I am not usually a lover of the short story or a novel in letter form but this is fabulous. A view of the world of a 20 year old who is very honest about her opinions re Thomas Hardy, Chaucer, Shakespeare and total body shaving and loads more. I have to agree with most of her views (especially re Shakespeare and Chaucer, though not so much Thomas Hardy I think he is funny) but her cooking must have been 1980's awful. Just read you will love it

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    5 out of 5 stars
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thorough y entertaining!

Really enjoyed this just a little bit different and entertaining lighthearted keep me smiling the whole time I was listening to it thank you very much Nina

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Very funny

I really enjoyed listening to Nina telling about her life as a nanny which was vey amusing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved this book

Funny, charming, warm and affectionate. This is a wonderful book, made even more so by the fact it is is narrated by the author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stibbe speaks to us all

I loved this book so much. Brilliantly read and so very pleasing. Use your credit on this folks.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining account told in a lively manner

Kept listening longer than intended as very easy on the ear Time passed really quickly

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Doesn’t translate well as an audiobook

Interesting enjoyable listen but probably comes across better on the page. The repetitive dialogue around who says what gets frustrating. Enjoyed the 80s references and loved the afterword at the end which ties up the loose ends. I adored Will and Sam.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A comic joy

I loved the book and wanted to hear Nina reading it. I've read it twice and listened to it three times. Her wide eyed innocence on arriving in 1980s London is touching and funny. Always funny, the more so for being true. This reading is a true gem.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lost myself

At first wondered how I would get on with this book but soon found myself 'involved' - loved her voice and tones used - no real point to the book but no reason to not read it either - no regrets! Don't usually review books but do want others to read

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