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The Unknown Bridesmaid

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The Unknown Bridesmaid

By: Margaret Forster
Narrated by: Sian Thomas
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About this listen

When Julia was eight, she was asked to be a bridesmaid at her beautiful cousin Iris’s wedding. Her mother saw this as a chore – expensive, inconvenient – but Julia was thrilled. When the time came, even the fact that her bridesmaid’s dress didn’t fit, and was plain cream rather than the pink she’d hoped for, couldn’t ruin the day. But after this, things began to go wrong for Julia, starting with an episode involving her cousin’s baby, a pram and a secret trip round the block.

A lifetime later, Julia is a child psychologist who every day deals with young girls said to be behaving badly. Some are stealing, some are running away from home, some are terribly untidy, some won’t eat or get out of bed. Julia has a special knack with these girls. She understands which really are troubled, and which are at the mercy of the way they are seen by the adults around them. But one day, Julia’s own troubled past starts to creep into her present. And as she struggles to understand her childhood self, she must confront the possibility that the truth may not be as devastating as she feared.

©2013 Margaret Forster (P)2013 Random House AudioGo
Fiction Literary Fiction
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What listeners say about The Unknown Bridesmaid

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

Much under-rated author!

If you could sum up The Unknown Bridesmaid in three words, what would they be?
Compelling family drama!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Unknown Bridesmaid?
Margaret Forster really is a much under-rated author. Although darker than the average household, she captures family life in all its details with a gripping accuracy, meaning there's no one single moment which stands out, simply an accumulation of fascinating interactions.

Which character – as performed by Sian Thomas – was your favourite?
The book teems with well drawn characters who are neither goodies nor baddies but wonderfully flawed human beings who are often extremely bad at judging their own weakensses and strengths.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Families - who'd have 'em ;)

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1 person found this helpful

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

Brilliant.

Margaret Forster has done it again. A fascinating story brilliantly read. Couldn't switch it off.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Roller coaster of emotions and feeling about the characters through out the book

While reading this it's easy to ride the roller coaster of emotions , and change sympathies with the various charters , makes one think or how words effect the young.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Abrupt ending!

I love Margaret Forster's books but this is the first one I listened to rather than read on the page. Sian Thomas is an exceptional narrator and really brought the story alive with her accents and inflexions. A five star listen and a must for all fans of this writer. It would make a great subject for a book group discussion! The main character is not endearing and her mother a bit of a monster. Who knows how she would have turned out with a different parental set-up? I found the ending too abrupt though and listened to it three times to see if I'd missed something!

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvellous narrative and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Narrator was amazing.Looking forward to listening more like this book.Margaret Froster my top favourite all time

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent! Sorry it was finished!

Where does The Unknown Bridesmaid rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This has to be one of my favourites. I found it very enjoyable.

What did you like best about this story?

It's thought provoking and believable.

Which character – as performed by Sian Thomas – was your favourite?

Julie held your attention at all times.

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

She told the story of her childhood with clarity. Her mother seemed a bit odd.

Any additional comments?

It was interesting how all the children in Julie's job seemed to relate to her own childhood.
I think Sian Thomas read and portrayed the story beautifully.

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

Wonderfully complex

A surprisingly deep and rich novel, covering family relationships, feelings and damaged individuals. Beautifully narration.

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

The unknown bridesmaid

I found this book weirdly compelling, Julia isn't a lovable character but her actions are understandable, the book made me think,of my own childhood episodes and realise how easy it would have been to go into a spiral of lies and deceit as Julia did. I liked the narrator. It's not a page turner but I enjoyed it.

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