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The Madonna of Bolton

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The Madonna of Bolton

By: Matt Cain
Narrated by: Simon Vause
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Charlie Matthews’ love story begins in a pebble-dashed house in suburban Bolton, at a time when most little boys want to grow up to be Michael Jackson, and girls want to be Princess Di. Remembering the Green Cross Code and getting out of football are the most important things in his life until Auntie Jan gives him a gift that will last a lifetime: a seven-inch single called "Lucky Star"....

On his ninth birthday, Charlie discovers Madonna and falls in love. His obsession sees him through some tough times in life: being persecuted at school, fitting in at a posh university, a glamorous career in London, finding boyfriends, getting rid of boyfriends, and family heartbreak. Madonna’s music and videos inspire him, and her fierce determination to succeed gives him the confidence to do the same. Ultimately, though, he must learn to let go of his idol and find his own voice.

Charlie’s story is Billy Elliot meets Beautiful Thing wearing a conical bra - a story for anyone who ever sang their heart out, looked for love and dreamed of more.... The Madonna of Bolton will make you laugh, cry and Get into the Groove. It’s a book to Cherish and a Ray of Light, and it even has a little Hanky Panky.

©2018 Matt Cain (P)2018 Audible, Ltd Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Feel-Good Funny Heartfelt Witty
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Gay or not you will enjoy this,I'm wondering if based on author's life.

Engrossing

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A good coming of age book about a young man growing up gay in Bolton. Madonna gets him through a turbulent adolescence and later, at Cambridge uni, he comes into his own.

Feel good book

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A decent story but marred by the narrator's horrible clichéd camp accent he puts on for most of the gay characters

Good story but why the lisping gay narration?

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sensitive, descriptive and outrageously funny. A great dose of nostalgia for anyone brought up in the 70s and 80s, and as a girl from Bolton this book was just perfect.

Outrageously funny!

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As a huge Madonna fan, the references were great. Not a hugely compelling story but ‘nice’ coming of age / finding yourself piece. Wish I’d read it rather than listened though. Narration was insulting. Awful intonation, cliched and offensive voices, particularly of gay people. IRidiculously camp and whispering. Ruined it for me but glad I persevered. Read it… don’t listen to it.

Nostalgic sweetness. Terrible narration.

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