Rebuilding Coventry

Couldn't put it downRead it in a day !Lots of women must identify with CoventryEveryone got what they deserved!!

Just managed to get a copy of this as it is one of the two books by Sue Townsend that I had not read. It is brilliant, funny and satirical with a touch of madness thrown in for good measure as you expect from herself.One of the things that struck me most was the description of being a rough sleeper, thought provoking in a simple yet evocative way. The other is this was first published in 1988 in Thatcherite Britain and yet it could have been written at any time during the past 23 years. Which is pretty crazy really, that various social problems have not disappeared even if the streets in most of our towns and cities are now paved with cappuccino.The best thing about Sue Townsend in all the books I have read is she cuts to the quick with such wit and humour and a sense of humanity she is one of my favourite authors of all time & should I ever get an invite to be on Desert Island discs would choose a Townsend complete works every time. Really looking forward to the new book out in March.

I am looking forward to reading this book, and will update my review once I've read it - but I'd like to ask how come there are already 5 reviews - the earliest seeming to date from 2005 - when it says that the book was only available on the market from 31st January 2013????Well, I've read it - and to be honest it was a bit dated and I wish I'd got a second hand copy - not as politically relevant as the Woman who went to Bed for a Year. I suspected from the start about the Barbie doll - and all the men (apart from Mr Slob the coroner (I found that situation very funny - but a bit unbelievable too now) - and the tortoise fiend who is perhaps a forerunner of the astronomer in that at least he has some kind of divergent interest) - all the men seem either out for sex or drink or both.

This book was enjoyable and written with the same flair and humour from occasionally bizarre workaday characters that you should expect from Sue Townsend. However, it suffers from the same weaknesses as any book of hers where the ending is always clever but a tad unsatisfying, particularly with the kindle edition. It tells you that you still have a sizeable chunk of the book left but this turns out to be a sample of 'The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year'.Read it for the excellent satire we've come to expect from Townsend and the insight into the human condition she so expertly lampoons.

Another enjoyable read from Sue Townsend. A good cast of characters. I found some of the action just seemed to get dropped but this is only a slight niggle. I'd recommend this book , especially if you like Adrian Mole as there is a lot about him at the end of the novel. Not in anyway involved in this story.

Didn't quite click with me. I suppose the plot is no more 'unreal' than the A Mole storylines but the characterisations were not as robust and I didn't cackle so often.

Early book by the much loved Sue townsend, short on length but big on humour!though it was about a city but coventry is a girl, a poor house wife , in a urban jungle, blond beautiful , big busted, she decides to knock off her terrible womaniser , neighbour., and what ensues is a great journey of discovery as she runs away from the law, meeting new people and having a few adventures along the way! sorry when it ended! would love for another sequel to it!

A good read. Very entertaining and well written