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Things I Couldn't Tell My Mother

My Autobiography

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Things I Couldn't Tell My Mother

By: Sue Johnston
Narrated by: Sue Johnston
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About this listen

Sue Johnston always seemed to be disappointing her mother. As a girl she never stayed clean and tidy like her cousins. As she grew older, she spent all her piano lesson money on drinks for her mates down the pub, and when she discovered the Cavern she was never at home. The final straw was when Sue left her steady job at a St Helens factory to try her hand at that unsteadiest of jobs: acting.

Yet when Sue was bringing up her own child alone, her mother was always there to help. And playing her much-loved characters Sheila Grant and Barbara Royle – although her mum wouldn’t say she was proud as such, she certainly seemed to approve. And in her mother’s final months, it was Sue she needed by her side.

The relationship with your mother is perhaps the most precious and fraught of any woman’s life. When she began writing, Sue set out to record ‘all the big things, and all the small things. Everything I wanted to tell my mother but felt I never could’. The result is a warm, poignant and often very funny memoir by one of Britain’s favourite actresses.

©2011 Sue Johnston (P)2011 Random House Audio Go Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Feel-Good Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant  
gentle bedtime listening I had to keep rewinding to make sure I hadn't missed anything

a gentle journey we can all relate to

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Fascinating insight into the life of Sue. I feel I know her! Very heartwarming. Would like to have met her mum and dad!

Brilliant

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An amazing book (audible book) this is. A full insight into the life of the legend that is Sue Johnston. A must read, if you’ve not had the privilege of doing so yet. 5 Star.

What a lady Sue Johnston is

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Lovely to get to know more about the women behind her on screen persona x

From the heart

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I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, I've saved a part of my day to listen to it. I've laughed and cried as Sue read passages that I could relate to. I would just like to say thank you. x

Didn't want it to end.

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I so enjoyed listening to Sue Johnston, she has an easy voice to listen to and so much of her growing up I could relate to being roughly the same age, I felt very moved listening to certain parts of her story but loved it and would recommend.

Heartfelt biography

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I have heard a good number of stories by female actors and in some occasions been disappointed. This book did not disappoint. Sue’s honesty and ‘feet firmly on the ground’ approach to life is refreshing. Great actir now writer. Thanks Sue

An amazing story

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This was the first Audio book I have listened to. It It was great to have Sue chatting to me while I caught up on my ironing and did some 'sifting and sorting out stuff' for several weekends! Her style is very natural, honest and down to earth. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad and sometimes joyful - this audio story kept my mind completely occupied while I got on with mundane tasks! I enjoyed it very much.

My first Audio Book

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What could Sue Johnston have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

It's rather difficult being constructively critical of an autobiography, you can hardly hope the author had had a different life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Maybe it is because I have had similar experiences with aging parents prior to their death, but this story does seem to labour the moribund aspects of coping with a dementia sufferer; bring back sad memories and tears running down my face. Not for Sue, but for the healing emotional wounds she has reopened.

A bit too much of the sad dilutes the happy.

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Having just read Miriam Margolyes’ book (which I found to be vulgar and boring) this was like a breath of fresh air. Interesting,heartwarming,honest and truly refreshing.

Binge listened!

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