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Shop Girl

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About this listen

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....

©2015 M. Portas LLP (P)2015 Random House Audiobooks Art Business Professionals & Academics Women Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Witty
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This was a great story. Really interesting to read about her early years. It's not often there is such detail about the formative years of someone successful so it's nice to hear. And I learned that Mary went to my school... a few years earlier though :)

Great story about Mary

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Fabulous to hear Mary read her own life story! A life of tears and laughter told in Marys own distinctive style.

Great!

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Would you listen to Shop Girl again? Why?

I would certainly listen to shop girl again, plan to in the near future, I love her ballsy out look on life and can see how she's go to where she has today, she has inspired me.

What does Mary Portas bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Hearing Mary read her own book draws you into her short tales, you can tell she is reliving it in the way she's telling her story.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I couldn't listen to her dog chapter found it too gut renching but her on her first night out made me laugh out loud and there are some other funny bits that make up for her dog. Mary had a tough time of it and there's plenty of people out there that should read this book, take it on board and make something of themselves, as it's possible in all, Mary has proved it.

Any additional comments?

The only thing I wasn't keen on was the choppiness of each chapter but over all I loved it.

A real insight into her life

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I heard Mary read this in snatches on Radio 4 and thus determined to hear it all. Having been brought up at much the same time I enjoyed the product references and description s of the current fashions almost as much as the poignant story of her childhood and adolescence.

Poignant coming of age story

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Mary Portas' story is interesting and inspiring. Lots of laughter and a few tears shed, her passion is clear as her childhood and early career comes to life. I can't wait for the next one.

Fabulous, when's the next instalment?

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