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The Necessary Aptitude

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The Necessary Aptitude

By: Pam Ayres
Narrated by: Pam Ayres
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About this listen

‘I never once attended a Sunday morning church service in Stanford. There was always the feeling that they weren’t aimed at families like ours.’

Pam Ayres was the sixth child in a hard-up family who lived in a council house, her parents’ generation were harrowed by the war. Yet they lived by the green in the village of Stanford in the Vale, where everything you needed was within walking distance and the sound of motorcars was rarely heard. Then reaching her teens, Pam realised how few opportunities she had. At fifteen she started working for the civil service, and for a social life she had the local ‘hop’. Pam knew she had to reach out for more, and sought it first in the WRAF. But it was some time before she discovered the unique talent that would make her one of Britain’s best-loved comics …

Containing Pam’s much-loved combination of humour and poignancy, The Necessary Aptitude is a beautifully written memoir of growing up in the country in post-war Berkshire.

©2011 Pam Ayres (P)2011 Random House Audiobooks Performing Arts Women Funny Feel-Good Heartfelt Witty Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

“Ayres gives a wonderful account of what it was like to grow up poor but respectable in post-war rural England. Some of her writing in the early chapters, describing life as the youngest of six children in a council cottage in the Vale of White Horse, Berkshire, has the original freshness of classics such as Flora Thompson's Lark Rise to Candleford.” Mail on Sunday
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This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a pure joy and pleasure. I laughed until my body hurt. It took me down memory lane reminding me of people and an era I had once known. Pam has managed to conjure up vivid pictures of her young life through to her military career that you feel you are there with her. Throughout the whole story you feel she comes from a caring and loving family. The icing on the cake being that the book is narrated by Pam herself.

Laugh until you cry

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If you could sum up The Necessary Aptitude in three words, what would they be?

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

What about Pam Ayres’s performance did you like?

Unforced. Funny. Lovely voice. Felt like she was in the room, having a chat.

Any additional comments?

I bought this title with no real expectations. Pam has always been around in the background of my life (childhood, tv, radio) and I thought it might be a pleasant enough 'listen'. It was a revelation. An absolutely wonderful tome - filled with genuine laughter, pathos and sharp observations regarding her own (very minor) flaws. I loved it! Cannot recommend it highly enough.Wonderful.

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL - a gem.

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Such a wonderful and charming book, I was tearful in the final chapters as I didn't want it to end.

Loved it!

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I've listened to this over and over and still love it. Coming from the area Pam does, many of the anecdotes ring so true to me despite the fact there is two generations between us. I loved listening to Pam's twang as a child and still love it today.

Absolutely love it

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Beautiful memories written and read so that you are instantly whisked away to that time

Excellent

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