Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Letters from Brenda
- Two Suitcases. 75 Lost Letters. One Mother.
- Narrated by: Emma Kennedy, Juliet Stevenson, Rafa Euba
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Letters from Brenda
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
After her mother, Brenda, passed away and her father sold the family home, broadcaster and writer Emma Kennedy found herself floundering, unable to make peace with the complex, charismatic woman who had been her mum. And then they found the letters....
This heartbreakingly funny book about the impact of discovering lost letters is a celebration of correspondence; those lost acts of penned love, the vivid snapshots in time scattered back through a life.
It is also about a childhood shrouded in shame, the lies Brenda told her family, the madness that set in and ultimately, what it means to be a daughter and a mother. Finally, Emma allows herself to explore what she couldn't while she was growing up: the question of who her mother really was.
What listeners say about Letters from Brenda
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-02-23
Fascinating
The story of Brenda is so interesting on many key. Emma’s narration is superbly. Loved this book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- nyecamden
- 05-06-22
Excellent
Hard to stop listening! Excellent performances by the author and Juliet Stevenson, and a really interesting epilogue by the psych in his own voice.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- B-Bonzo
- 22-05-22
Stunning labour of love
A fascinating and deeply sensitive exploration into the complex Woman that was Brenda Kennedy, undisputed star of book "The Tent, the bucket and Me" and TV series "The Kennedys".
Thankyou Emma for sharing your family with us in such a deeply personal way
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Julie
- 16-02-23
Expertly read, moving yet funny.
Emma, what a beautiful insight into your mum and your life. I have loved this book and have enjoyed your other books immensely. I mean to listen to them again. X
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Simon Benham
- 14-06-22
Wonderful!
What a poignant book! So interesting and thought provoking. There’s sadness and seriousness in Emma’s reflections, but it’s also very funny - those letters!!Wonderfully read by the author, with Juliette Stephenson reading Brenda’s letters. I listened to this book whilst travelling by train from the UK to Croatia - which was just perfect! Highly recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 16-07-22
Bloody brilliant
Laugh out loud funny and devastating at times. Beautiful writing and perfect narration. I'm recommending this to everyone I know!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jac
- 03-08-22
A rollercoaster ride
An emotional roller coaster of a book. So brilliantly funny, sad, scary and a deeply personal story.
I loved the wit and wisdom and was intrigued by Brenda’s story all at once.
Heartbreaking moments are suddenly lifted by the hilarity of her letters.
Not for the faint hearted though. A beautiful tribute.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tracie Clugston
- 10-07-22
A must read ( or listen to)
I remember Emma tweeting about Brenda and Tony a few years ago and the tweets always made me laugh, so it was an easy decision to listen to Emma and Juliet reading this book and what a joy, it’s made me laugh out loud and cry buckets, if you pick one book to read or listen to, I urge you to pick this one and you simply won’t regret your decision, thank you Emma for sharing your mum and dad with us. It feels like it was meant to be.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- lynnect
- 20-05-22
Absolutely brilliant
The best book I’ve read in ages. Absolutely loved it. It made me laugh, cry and understand my sister who died last year a little more.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-07-22
I loved Letters From Brenda
I consumed it! Hilarious and touching. Beautifully read by Emma and Juliet ('what a treat!' as Brenda might say)
I'm off to read more of Emma's work....
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!