Oh Dear Silvia cover art

Oh Dear Silvia

The gloriously heartwarming novel from the No. 1 bestselling author of Because of You

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Oh Dear Silvia

By: Dawn French
Narrated by: Beattie Edmondson, Celine Rosa Tan, Dawn French, Gareth Armstrong, Jack Lowden, James Fleet, James McArdle, Jane Collingwood, Llewella Gideon, Maggie Steed, Patrice Naiambana, Pauline McLynn, Ruby Turner
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About this listen

Dawn French, number one bestelling author of A Tiny Bit Marvellous and one of Britain's best loved comic writers, returns with Oh Dear Silvia, a darkly comic pageturner that will have you hanging on her every word.

Who is in Coma Suite Number 5?

A matchless lover? A supreme egotist? A selfless martyr? A bad mother? A cherished sister? A selfish wife?

All of these. For this is Silvia Shute who has always done exactly what she wants. Until now, when her life suddenly, shockingly stops.

Her past holds a dark and terrible secret, and now that she is unconscious in a hospital bed, her constant stream of visitors are set to uncover the mystery of her broken life. And she must lie there, victim of the beloveds, the borings, the babblings and the plain bonkers.

Like it or not, the truth is about to pay Silvia a visit. Again, and again and again...

Oh Dear Silvia is the brand new novel from one of Britain's most loved comic writers and the number one bestselling author of A Tiny Bit Marvellous.

Praise for Dawn French:

'Extremely funny' Sunday Times

'A fantastic slam-dunk pageturner' Mail on Sunday


Dawn French has been making people laugh for thirty years. On purpose. As a writer, comedian and actor, she has appeared in some of this country's most long running, cherished and celebrated shows, including French and Saunders, The Comic Strip Presents. . ., Murder Most Horrid, The Vicar of Dibley, Jam and Jerusalem, Lark Rise to Candleford, and more recently, Roger and Val Have Just Got In.

Her bestselling memoir, Dear Fatty, was published to critical acclaim in 2008. Her first novel, A Tiny Bit Marvellous, was also a great success, going straight to No.1.

Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Romance Women's Fiction Comedy Funny Heartfelt Tear-jerking Witty Feel-Good

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Critic reviews

Beautifully observed. Makes you laugh on every page
Hilarious. Chortle-out-loud turns of phrase, razor-sharp observations
Fresh, extremely funny
Really enjoyable and highly recommended. Dawn French is a wonderful writer - witty, wise and poignant
A hilarious and compelling read
All stars
Most relevant
This is very well read by several people, including Dawn French. They all do a great job. In some places I was laughing so much I had to rewind and listen again. All the characters are believable and the book is very well written. I was left wanting more.

Great Listen

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What made the experience of listening to Oh Dear Silvia the most enjoyable?

Silvia is in a coma. I found it interesting that a person, and her relationships, could be 'brought to life' by her visitors and their one sided conversations.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Silvia's foreign cleaner who spoke to her in 'English' (as taught by her sons!)

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have not heard any other performances by Dawn French, but after listening to 'Oh Dear Silvia', I look forward to hearing more!

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

Despite the serious nature of the story, parts of the book made me smile, or even laugh out loud. The lasting feeling I got was the fact that we don't always know people as well as we think we do.

Any additional comments?

Oh Dear Silvia is so well written. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

*oh Dear Silvia *

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So beautifully written and the joy is in the narration. Perfect set of performers and Dawn French narrating throughout. Heavenly 🙂

Wonderful

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I really enjoyed the narration and felt it really enhanced the story I really warmed to the story and specially the concept with all the different characters and how they mixed together I found the character of Winnie very entertaining and Jo for her weird methods of trying to 'wake' Sylvia I could understand why Sylvia got rid of Ed he was a seriously dry dinner The character of Cat I felt was far fetched.Overall I really enjoyed it; was sad to finish and would recommend it

Sylvia listens?

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What made the experience of listening to Oh Dear Silvia the most enjoyable?

I thought Dawn French narrated her own story brilliantly. The observations of the characters where very true to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Silvia, as she is a delicious mix of mother, wife, career woman, lover etc., and portrays normal human beings & their rack of hats in life & how those are juggled, & understandably not always successfully.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

A really enjoyable, well observed story

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