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The Madonna of Bolton
- Narrated by: Simon Vause
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
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The Madonna of Bolton
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Summary
Charlie Matthews’ love story begins in a pebble-dashed house in suburban Bolton, at a time when most little boys want to grow up to be Michael Jackson, and girls want to be Princess Di. Remembering the Green Cross Code and getting out of football are the most important things in his life until Auntie Jan gives him a gift that will last a lifetime: a seven-inch single called "Lucky Star"....
On his ninth birthday, Charlie discovers Madonna and falls in love. His obsession sees him through some tough times in life: being persecuted at school, fitting in at a posh university, a glamorous career in London, finding boyfriends, getting rid of boyfriends, and family heartbreak. Madonna’s music and videos inspire him, and her fierce determination to succeed gives him the confidence to do the same. Ultimately, though, he must learn to let go of his idol and find his own voice.
Charlie’s story is Billy Elliot meets Beautiful Thing wearing a conical bra - a story for anyone who ever sang their heart out, looked for love and dreamed of more.... The Madonna of Bolton will make you laugh, cry and Get into the Groove. It’s a book to Cherish and a Ray of Light, and it even has a little Hanky Panky.
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 29-05-23
The Narrator is dreadful
Nearly didn't finish this book, the narrator is dreadful, almost unlistenable. The man really doesn't know how to narrate, uses horrible voices, which are badly paced, speeded up in places that aren't necessary, flat with no inflection in others and generally don't do the story line merit.
The story itself is enjoyable, but really do yourself a favour and read the actual book.
Matt Cain, if you read your reviews, insist that Audible scrap this version and have another person read this for you. This does not do your writing justice.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Loquacious
- 02-07-19
Absolutely Gorgeous
This story will warm your heart. Especially if you enjoy the 70s 80s nostalgia... and are gay... and love madonna...
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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
- Weliza
- 01-10-20
Feel good book
A good coming of age book about a young man growing up gay in Bolton. Madonna gets him through a turbulent adolescence and later, at Cambridge uni, he comes into his own.
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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
- MR MARK J PEDDER
- 08-02-20
Love this book
There's no question that this book is beautifully and honestly written from the heart. Every inch of this I can relate to, echoing my own life and my obsession with Madonna. Equally my own battle of identifying who I am and facing truth seems to be a mirror image of the bulk of this book. Have now read it several times.
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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
- Richard/Samantha Whitehead
- 04-09-21
Outrageously funny!
sensitive, descriptive and outrageously funny. A great dose of nostalgia for anyone brought up in the 70s and 80s, and as a girl from Bolton this book was just perfect.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Justin D. Rumsby
- 28-09-18
Both corny and feel good
Yes, indeed; I have say this book is pretty corny. Mind you, the lead Character, Charlie, is - at times - annoyingly corny.
A boy who doesn't fit in at school who has an obsession with Madonna. Also, has probably always been gay from the start.
I identify with Charlie in way other than the gay issue. That is, I was obsessed with Madonna. I used to Madonna-ise my life and see everything did and went marry up with me. Unlike Charlie I ditched all that by the early 90s. Yet, for a brief revisitation in 1998, after coming through a bad time in my life, feeling renewal when Madonna appeared to go through some kind of rebirth. Unlike Charlie, I got tired and dissolution by Madonna from 2008. If the story didn't end with Hard Candy, I expect he'd still be a fan now.
However, Charlie's adoration does finally mature over the course of this story.
The characters are amusing. There!0's a lot of laughter here and there, along with sombre heart touching moments.
Someone remarked about how camp all the gay men are portrayed by the narrator. Well, he camps up almost ever single character. Only Charlie's dad and brother manage to escape that. One of Charlie's boyfriend's also.
Look out for a stark twist in this story latter on. It will have your jaw dropping.
Oh, one more thing I can relate to with Charlie is the football thing. Forced to play it at school. Charlie has a mild visual impairment (short or long sight at a guess) where my eye sight ''tis a lot worse. Thank god my parents didn't give me a brother. The relationship with the brothers is interesting comes with a revealing twist later on.
For all it's corniness, it's light hearted, deep felt and cones with intriguing and revealing twist.
You may identify something of yourself in Charlie, like me, if not totally identify with him.
Ph, the 80s reminiscing, thank you 😊
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4 people found this helpful
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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
- Michelle
- 27-07-18
Loved this!!!
A wonderful read, made me laugh and cry! Will be recommending this as a great summer read 😊
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1 person found this helpful
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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
- Anthony
- 07-09-22
Engrossing
Gay or not you will enjoy this,I'm wondering if based on author's life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Liam Curran
- 16-07-18
Blast from the past
Really enjoyed the story. Brought back a lot of memories . Some sad parts but left me feeling happy. I look forward to more from the author.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 23-08-18
Oh no.
Couldn't finish it. Made me cross! Spiffing narration but holy guacamole....couldn't love the main character.
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