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Love, Nina

Despatches from Family Life

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Love, Nina

By: Nina Stibbe
Narrated by: Nina Stibbe
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WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS POPULAR NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014

A laugh-out-loud true story of the trials and tribulations of being a live-in nanny in 1980s London and inspired a major TV series starring Helena Bonham Carter.

*****

In 1982 Nina Stibbe, a 20-year-old from Leicester, moved to London to work as a nanny for a very particular family. It was a perfect match: Nina had no idea how to cook, look after children or who the weirdos were who called round. And the family, busy discussing such arcane subjects as how to swear in German or the merits (or otherwise) of turkey mince, were delighted by her lack of skills.

Love, Nina is the collection of letters she wrote home gloriously describing her 'domestic' life, the unpredictable houseguests and the cat everyone loved to hate.

*****

'I adored this book and could quote from it forever' Nick Hornby

'Funny and sharp: no book this year has made me laugh more' John Lanchester, Guardian

'The funniest book I've read in ages' Sunday Times

'An unassuming comic genius' Independent

 Letters & Correspondence Literary History & Criticism Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence Funny Feel-Good Heartfelt Witty England
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Critic reviews

I loved this book. What a beady eye she has for domestic life, and how deliciously fresh and funny she is - a real discovery. (Deborah Moggach, author of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel')
The funniest new writer to arrive in years (Andrew O'Hagan)
Breezy, sophisticated, hilarious, rude and aching with sweetness: Love, Nina might be the most charming book I've ever read (Maria Semple, author of 'Where’d You Go, Bernadette')
Adrian Mole meets Mary Poppins mashed up in literary north London . . . Enormous fun
All stars
Most relevant
This is one of those books that I did not want to end. I want to buy it for all of my friends and would happily listen to it all over again. I feel bereft now I no longer have Nina Stibbe and the cast of characters from Gloucester Crescent in my life. These letters written to her sister Vic over a 5 year period in the 1980s are written and narrated in a very understated but incredibly heartwarming and funny style. Nina writes perfectly about the minutiae of daily domestic life and portrays the characters who live on or pass through Gloucester Crescent in a warm, funny, but never unkind way. I felt as though I were listening to letters from a friend. I loved the literary references which again, were so understated and Nina never becomes starstruck by any of the famous people she meets from the arts and literary world.
An absolute joy!

A heartwarming and hilarious listen

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I loved this book. Nina's innocence and lack of any pretension in the auspicious literary company in which she daily finds herself makes for a beautifully dry, hilarious style. Listened to it again straight away. Very highly recommended.

Haven't laughed so much for years...

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I enjoyed this book. When I bought it i was not sure what to expect but I liked nina's voice so decided to try it. I am glad I did because it had many amusing moments but at the same time seemed very normal. I felt that it was like a friend telling me incidents in her everyday life.

Love Nina

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This is the second Nina Stibbe book I have read and cannot wait to read more. It's such a simple concept, beautifully exercised in a series of short letters to her sister. I spent my college years in London in the late 80s and although I didn't share my waking hours with the likes of Alan Bennett and Jonathon Miller I could relate to her experiences. I'm afraid I have annoyed my partner constantly with little chortles and guffaws. Beautifully read by the author herself. An absolute must listen to!

Wonderful

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If you could sum up Love, Nina in three words, what would they be?

Laughs all the way through

What was one of the most memorable moments of Love, Nina?

It was a fnatastic trip down memory lane

Which character – as performed by Nina Stibbe – was your favourite?

Loved Nina and Alan Bennet

Any additional comments?

I would recommend the book to anyone who grew up in the 80's

Fabulous book for any forty something

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