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Every Day Is Mother's Day

By: Hilary Mantel
Narrated by: Sandra Duncan
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Summary

Evelyn and Muriel Axon, mother and daughter, lead a haunted existence. Objects of horror to their neighbours, they evade or terrorise any social worker who crosses their path. Inside their house, they pursue a covert persecution of each other, shrinking from the unseen occupants of their spare room. But change is in the air…

Every Day is Mother's Day is a merciless comedy of colliding lives: of sex, death, madness, adultery and the social services.

©1985 Hilary Mantel (P)2013 W F Howes Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Strange…rather mad…extremely funny…she reminded me of the early Muriel Spark" ( Auberon Waugh)
"What a terrific book" ( Fay Weldon)

What listeners say about Every Day Is Mother's Day

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

Very Odd indeed.

It was kind of like a very miserable version of Abigail's Party! I had to listen to the end just to find out what happens to the badly cared for disabled person.
It does stick in your mind because of the traumatic storylines within. I probably should have given it more stars, but how can you give stars to awful topics. I will give it a 'very good and well written' here though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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mantel magic

If you could sum up Every Day Is Mother's Day in three words, what would they be?

entertaining surprising and enjoyable

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

All of sandras performance are great, she has excellent range of voices, with clear diction and pace - I especially enjoy the nicola upton series as sandra captures the period charm perfectly

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent book, beautifully read

Hilary Mantel is a wonderful storyteller and writer. Having read several of her other novels, all excellent, I was not disappointed by this one. She is expert at drawing real characters with real depth. Sandra Duncan narrated this book perfectly, really giving understanding and feeling to every character and the story. Highly recommend this book.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

First time reading Hilary Mantel I thoroughly enjoyed it. Good to hear some well written narrative and performance.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Utterly addictive

I'm not even sure why I bought this but within minutes I was hooked. It is utterly addictive.
Hilary Mantel's writing has never been more vivid, more immediate, and her eye for detail more acute: the social worker telling Colin she did not think he was married because he looked too unkempt, or Sylvia looking like a 'badly constructed Christmas decoration that someone had forgotten to put away' as they head for the nightmare dinner party.
The dialogue can make you gasp in shock and delight (especially in Mrs Axon's final talk with her daughter, but spoilers would be unfair).
Sandra Duncan is the perfect reader for this, outstanding with Evelyn Axon's querulous tones.
Altogether an amazing package, and I already have the sequel downloaded.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Totally enthralled

Very well written. Hilary Mantel has an unerring eye for detail.Her characterisations are written in perfect prose,every word chosen carefully.
The narration was perfect.
It has made me want to read more by this author.

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

Pretty depressing tbh

I know it’s supposed to be dark but it could do with a bit more humour. I was really depressed by the end! Beyond Black struck a better balance I feel…

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

Disturbing and enthralling in equal measures!

Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? A Mother and Daughter relationship, a Mid-life crisis, deteriorating mental states, a series of failures, and something sickly spiritual and untoward.

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

A marvelous odd story

What a loss is Hilary Mandel. She was a wonderful author with a rich imagination and keen dialogue. Even if it wasn’t such an interesting story the lyricism would be beautiful to listen to. Love her writing

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

Outstanding

This sounded like a short story.

Nevertheless, this was outstanding, from start to finish.

A community of characters, that were engaged in a world of honesty, tension, mystery, frustration, life issues, emotion and reality.

Enjoyable!

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