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  • Spectacles

  • By: Sue Perkins
  • Narrated by: Sue Perkins
  • Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,948 ratings)
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Spectacles cover art

Spectacles

By: Sue Perkins
Narrated by: Sue Perkins
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Summary

Touching, engaging and hilarious, this memoir crackles with Sue Perkins' wit and humour. Narrated by the author herself, the refreshingly warm style of prose is infused with a lot of heart, making for an uplifting listen.

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Spectacles, the hilarious, creative and incredibly moving memoir from much loved comedian, writer and presenter Sue Perkins.

When I began writing this book, I went home to see if my mum had kept some of my stuff. What I found was that she hadn't kept some of it. She had kept all of it - every bus ticket, postcard, school report - from the moment I was born to the moment I finally had the confidence to turn round and say, 'Why is our house full of this s--t?'

Sadly, a recycling incident destroyed the bulk of this archive. This has meant two things: firstly, dear listener, you will never get to see countless drawings of wizards, read a poem about corn on the cob, or marvel at the kilos of brown flowers I so lovingly pressed as a child.

Secondly, it's left me with no choice but to actually write this thing myself.

This, my first ever title, will answer questions such as: is Mary Berry real? Is it true you wear a surgical truss, and is a nonspherically symmetric gravitational pull from outside the observable universe responsible for some of the observed motion of large objects such as galactic clusters in the universe?

Most of this audiobook is true. I have, of course, amplified my more positive characteristics in an effort to make you like me. Thank you for listening.

©2015 Sue Perkins (P)2015 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

What listeners say about Spectacles

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

What's not to love?

Any additional comments?

Sue Perkins is one of my favourite celebrities. She comes across as intelligent, funny, kind and like someone who has endless fascinating stories to share. I’m not usually interested in celebrity memoirs or autobiographies but was sold on the audiobook version of this with it being narrated by Sue Perkins herself.

Sue’s narration brings this audiobook to life. Listening to her stories is like going to the pub with an old friend for a catch up. I listened to this audiobook whilst doing chores and getting ready in the mornings and it made those mundane tasks so much more bearable. Not many people can make me laugh out loud at 7am on a Monday morning but Sue Perkins did. Not many people can make me cry whilst putting my mascara on but Sue Perkins did.

This book covers cake, travel, dogs, lesbianism, comedy, friendship, family and feminism all delivered in Sue's trademark humorous, warm and intelligent narrative. What's not to love?

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36 people found this helpful

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

I loved this book

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book - it was a bit of a chance download,not being in the realms of my usual choice of listening, but I have to say how much I liked it. It is narrated by Sue herself (very well). I usually go to sleep listening to my audiobooks but I had to turn this one off to get some! She has such a great way with words and comes across as witty, clever, humble, thoughtful, honest and fallible. Only trouble is, it made me feel like I wanted her to be my friend! (oh dear that sounds sad). I don't usually write reviews, but had to say how much I loved this particular one.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Laughed out loud often!!!

I loved this memoir as it was both incredibly funny in parts and sad in others. I was totally engrossed and couldn't stop listening. Beautifully narrated and a "must read" or should I say listen to book.

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15 people found this helpful

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

Fantastic

I laughed, cried and cringed along with Susan as she read her spectacular spectacles. Couldn't put it down, superb!

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14 people found this helpful

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

Made me laugh and cry out loud

If you could sum up Spectacles in three words, what would they be?

So funny
And cleverly put together .. Kept
My interest throughout like having a good gossip with a mate ! Loved it

Who was your favorite character and why?

Loved sues honesty and the way she described situations and don't know she was such a good impressionist !

Which character – as performed by Sue Perkins – was your favourite?

Her lovely mym

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes dads cancer and sues brain tumour and how they love each other so much
But never said it !

Any additional comments?

I loved it and didn't realise sue was so funny
Really enjoyed this book to and fro to work and am bit lost its finished !

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13 people found this helpful

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

Absolutely brilliant!

Where does Spectacles rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the top

What other book might you compare Spectacles to, and why?

Graham Norton Story of a he devil

What about Sue Perkins’s performance did you like?

Brilliant

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The hap hazard life of a TV presenter & comedian

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11 people found this helpful

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

Exactly what you would expect... but

If you could sum up Spectacles in three words, what would they be?

Funny, honest, revealing

Any additional comments?

A great collection of life stories told by the author herself - but you can expect some open and honest tales from childhood through to what approximates for her adulthood. If you like her, as I do, you will not be disappointed by her writing or performance in reading it. A total pleasure and not as silly as many might expect.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Book

Where does Spectacles rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have listed to a lot of comedian biographies. I would say that this sits firmly high on my list of books to listen too. I love how Sue has put fact and fiction together, along with it being funny; in places it is also quite sad.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spectacles?

Sue talking about how she drives and communicates with bad drivers.

What about Sue Perkins’s performance did you like?

Sue has been able to make even the saddest moments in the book into comedy. The book in places is very sad. I feel that Sue has got the balance just right, between fact and fiction.

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

This book is fantastic, one moment you will be rolling around in laughter, the next feeling upset and sad for her. Just a fantastic book.

Any additional comments?

A fantastic book 5 Stars!

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9 people found this helpful

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

very funny very honest

loved it !
had me laughing out loud on many occasions
very honest a must read !

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6 people found this helpful

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

Proper laugh out loud book

Sue rocks as s narrator and her accents are flawless

I'm sure that we must share a grandma though as hers sounded exactly like mine

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6 people found this helpful