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Shop Girl
- Narrated by: Mary Portas
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
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Shop Girl
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Summary
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....What listeners say about Shop Girl
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SL Trivuncic
- 15-03-22
A nostalgic memoir that will make you laugh and cry
TV retail guru Mary Portas shares evocative memories of her working class upbringing in Watford with Irish parents and a crowded household of siblings during the 70s. From tellings off at convent school to her first proper job dressing up the Harrods window displays this quick paced memoir switches from a girls’ version of Adrian Mole to a deeply moving coming of age story. I hope there’s a part two underway. Mary would indeed have been a great actor as this narration shows.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Juli Scanlan
- 09-05-16
Great!
Fabulous to hear Mary read her own life story! A life of tears and laughter told in Marys own distinctive style.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JJ
- 01-07-16
Down to earth, well written & read
After hearing a Mary Portas interview, I was intrigued to learn more about her personal story. Mary, through this frank, funny, warm and at times heartbreaking autobiography, transported me back to the days of her (and my own) youth, with acutely accurate descriptions of the mood, music, style and pre-occupations of those times.
I heartily recommend this book and I'm hoping that soon, Mary will tell us what happened next!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Sumner
- 22-03-15
Loved this
A real in site into the world of retail . I loved the references at the beginning if each chapter . I was transported toy childhood , youth and time as a student in London .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- M. Ho
- 18-07-21
Evocative memoir, brilliantly read by author
Loved this! Impressionistic, rather than linear narrative, but so vivid, moving, entertaining, & evocative of the era. Brilliantly read by author Mary Portas, giving it her all with her acting talents - RADA missed a gem! Short, sweet & will repay relistening. Enjoyed BBC R4’s serialisation, but here you get the full work. Well worth the purchase.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- C. A. Mealing
- 01-05-15
Poignant coming of age story
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jaytee
- 31-03-15
What an amazing memory!
I can't remember but a few moments from my boyhood. Was very impressed how this talented, stylish and intelligent lady remembered so much, bring it all to life so well. Good times and not so good. Rather inspirational I think. Well read by the author - makes it all the more special.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Tyler
- 17-04-15
Great, funny to tragic and everything in between
I really enjoyed this. Amazing to find out such interesting things about Mary. Beautiful description and lovely accents. Loved the references to products in my childhood like Caramac bars and R White's lemonade.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kes101
- 14-03-15
Great performance by Mary herself
Good story and sincerely told. Was expecting the story to continue when it came to an abrupt end though so that was disappointing.
Most moving part for me surrounded the unexpected death of her mother.
Overall it was a fairly normal family saga set in the suburbs of N. London.
Would definitely recommend this book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Alison R Russell
- 06-03-15
A story of tenacity in small chunks.
An autobiography written in unusual style, which took a little getting used to. A sparky child who had to grow up too quickly, but with a heart. A great trip down memory lane of 70s and 80s.
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3 people found this helpful