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The Woman Who Walked into Doors

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The Woman Who Walked into Doors

By: Roddy Doyle
Narrated by: Caroline Lennon
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About this listen

 Paula O'Leary is hugely popular with the boys from her working-class Dublin neighbourhood. But it is the charming Charlo Spencer who finally gets her. Yet after their honeymoon, everything changes. When Charlo first strikes her, she is stunned. But as his violent outbursts develop from slaps and bruises to broken fingers and knocked-out teeth, she gradually loses all self-respect, denying how bleak things are and drinking heavily. This is the heart-rending story of a woman struggling to reclaim her dignity after a violent, abusive marriage.©1996 Roddy Doyle (P)2007 Isis Publishing Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Romantic Suspense Women's Fiction Suspense Heartfelt

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The Women Behind the Door cover art
The Women Behind the Door By: Roddy Doyle

Critic reviews

"In feeling the pulse of a raw Dublin suburb, Doyle is recording a beat which can be recognised all over the world." ( The Times)
"[Doyle] climbs into a woman's skin so brilliantly that you have to pinch yourself to remember this was written by a man." ( Sunday Express)
All stars
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the narrator was great, very believeable as Paula.
the story was horrific and the idea that this is some womens life right now made me want to donate to my local womens refuge

quite horrific actually

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Where does The Woman Who Walked into Doors rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

TOP! I loved it

Who was your favorite character and why?

Paula is my favourite character.

What about Caroline Lennon’s performance did you like?

I loved her voice and her Irish accent was perfect for this book

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have loved to enjoy it all in one go but time restraints meant I couldn't.

Any additional comments?

I really think this is a great observation of life and I enjoyed the ways of each different character. I was waiting for 'the point of change' and when it came, I was very impressed.
I did not want to leave Paula when the book ended and was delighted to discover a sequel! YAY!!

Fantastic read - I did not want it to end!

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read this book years and ago but the audio book so much more powerful excellent narration

brilliant

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Roddy Doyle puts himself into the personae of a working class Irish woman and somehow manages to pull it off.
I listened to this book on Audible and the combination of Doyle portrayal, imagery, and depth of character, along with Caroline Lennon's brassy but simultaneously pathos-abundant delivery brings this sadly abused woman to life.
Not an easy listen, and definitely not for readers or listeners looking for a happy ending.
But an amazing and perceptive insight into the truama of a battered wife.
Would this story have been better told if it had come from the pen / keyboard of an actual woman?
Probably? Maybe? Who knows? But so convincing is Doyle's depiction of the woman's feelings that somehow, as a man, I'm left with the feeling that very little more would have been added.

How does he do it?

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This isn't a shock-horror sort of book, using gratuitous violence to stun the reader. Rather, it shows how domestic violence is almost a daily experience for some women. The most shocking aspect is the realisation that this is just an ordinary family. There's almost certainly a 'Paula' living in your street!

Such insight!

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