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The Public Confessions of a Middle-aged Woman
Enter the world of Susan Lilian Townsend - sun-worshippers, work-shy writers, garden-centre lovers and those in search of a good time all welcome. Over the last decade, Sue Townsend has written a monthly column for Sainsbury's Magazine, which covers everything from hosepipe bans and Spanish restaurants to writer's block and the posh middle-aged woman she once met who'd never heard of Winnie-the-Pooh. Collected together now for the first time, they form a set of pieces from one of Britain's most popular and acclaimed writers that is funny, perceptive and touching.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2001
About the author
Sue Townsend
77 books959 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Susan Lillian "Sue" Townsend was a British novelist, best known as the author of the Adrian Mole series of books. Her writing tended to combine comedy with social commentary, though she has written purely dramatic works as well. She suffered from diabetes for many years, as a result of which she was registered blind in 2001, and had woven this theme into her work.
Susan Lillian "Sue" Townsend was a British novelist, best known as the author of the Adrian Mole series of books. Her writing tended to combine comedy with social commentary, though she has written purely dramatic works as well. She suffered from diabetes for many years, as a result of which she was registered blind in 2001, and had woven this theme into her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 1, 2017
Sue Townsend is the funniest author I know and I enjoy being made/allowed to laugh aloud occasionally, so I’m now steadily making my way through all her books.
This book is a collection of Sue’s articles from her monthly column for Sainsbury’s Magazine. At first, I was a bit disappointed by these articles since they seemed a bit short and lacking in substance. But soon I was totally addicted as with her other books.
As a child, I read in one of my father’s Somerset Maugham books that the easiest way to be funny was to tell the truth. And this is what Sue does – she tells the truth about the various ups and downs of her life, including her serious health problems.
Sue is able to write about anything, as is indicated in the last lines of her articles when she needs to create a specific number of extra words to give the article the exact length required by her editor.
The first article in the collection that riveted me was “Janet and John”, where she satirizes the idealized and simplistic family life depicted in these, our first reading books.
“They got on remarkably well, unlike most brothers and sisters I know, --- They spent a lot of time shouting, ‘Look, Spot, look! Look at the ball! Fetch the ball!’”
When Daddy came home from work, he sat in his armchair and read the newspaper. Mummy smiled serenely as she prepared tea. She then came to the kitchen door and shouted, ‘Come here, Janet! Come here, John!’
Sue hints at an “alternative” Janet and John book she has come across, called “Janet and John go into care”.
“Daddy is getting ready for work. ‘Where are my gloves, Mummy?’ he asks. ‘Look, Daddy, look, there are your gloves’, snaps Mummy, ‘though why you would want to wear gloves in August defeats me!’
Spot runs in and knocks Daddy’s briefcase over. A copy of Health and Efficiency slithers out and falls open at a picture of nudists playing tennis. John runs in, ‘Look, Janet, look!’ Daddy hits John on the head with his pipe, kicks Spot and leaves for work. Mummy dries her tears and walks to the village shop. She is still upset by the row with Daddy, and slips a tin of corned beef into her wicker basket.
Mummy is arrested for shoplifting ---. John looks up and sees Mummy in the back of a police car.”
And so on.
Another column discusses the advantages of being king (were Charles to become king, for instance).
“having twenty-four hour room service (every day) --- They don’t lie awake at night worrying about class, agonizing, ‘Am I upper-lower-middle?’ or ‘Am I lower-working scum?’ Kings can confidently assert, ‘I am upper, upper, upper’ and know that no British person will contradict them.”
To sum up, this is a brilliant, relaxing read. It is addictive and unputdownable, one of Sue’s best.
I have a great admiration for Sue Townsend who gifted us with all those hilarious books in the midst of her own grave health problems and growing blindness. She gives us an accurate representation of British life in these last decades as well as making us split our sides laughing.
This book is a collection of Sue’s articles from her monthly column for Sainsbury’s Magazine. At first, I was a bit disappointed by these articles since they seemed a bit short and lacking in substance. But soon I was totally addicted as with her other books.
As a child, I read in one of my father’s Somerset Maugham books that the easiest way to be funny was to tell the truth. And this is what Sue does – she tells the truth about the various ups and downs of her life, including her serious health problems.
Sue is able to write about anything, as is indicated in the last lines of her articles when she needs to create a specific number of extra words to give the article the exact length required by her editor.
The first article in the collection that riveted me was “Janet and John”, where she satirizes the idealized and simplistic family life depicted in these, our first reading books.
“They got on remarkably well, unlike most brothers and sisters I know, --- They spent a lot of time shouting, ‘Look, Spot, look! Look at the ball! Fetch the ball!’”
When Daddy came home from work, he sat in his armchair and read the newspaper. Mummy smiled serenely as she prepared tea. She then came to the kitchen door and shouted, ‘Come here, Janet! Come here, John!’
Sue hints at an “alternative” Janet and John book she has come across, called “Janet and John go into care”.
“Daddy is getting ready for work. ‘Where are my gloves, Mummy?’ he asks. ‘Look, Daddy, look, there are your gloves’, snaps Mummy, ‘though why you would want to wear gloves in August defeats me!’
Spot runs in and knocks Daddy’s briefcase over. A copy of Health and Efficiency slithers out and falls open at a picture of nudists playing tennis. John runs in, ‘Look, Janet, look!’ Daddy hits John on the head with his pipe, kicks Spot and leaves for work. Mummy dries her tears and walks to the village shop. She is still upset by the row with Daddy, and slips a tin of corned beef into her wicker basket.
Mummy is arrested for shoplifting ---. John looks up and sees Mummy in the back of a police car.”
And so on.
Another column discusses the advantages of being king (were Charles to become king, for instance).
“having twenty-four hour room service (every day) --- They don’t lie awake at night worrying about class, agonizing, ‘Am I upper-lower-middle?’ or ‘Am I lower-working scum?’ Kings can confidently assert, ‘I am upper, upper, upper’ and know that no British person will contradict them.”
To sum up, this is a brilliant, relaxing read. It is addictive and unputdownable, one of Sue’s best.
I have a great admiration for Sue Townsend who gifted us with all those hilarious books in the midst of her own grave health problems and growing blindness. She gives us an accurate representation of British life in these last decades as well as making us split our sides laughing.
January 16, 2013
After being chatted up over a splendid meal by British culinary queen, Delia Smith who, at the time was the official spokescook of supermarket giant Sainsbury’s, Sue Townsends agreed to write a regular column of about 800 words in their new magazine: 'The Magazine'.
If like me, you weren’t shopping in Sainsbury’s ten to fifteen years ago, you can still catch all Sue’s witty, frank and often poignant musings right here in this book. ‘The Public Confessions of a Middle-aged Woman’ is a bulging collection of those Sainsbury’s columns all wrapped up in one neat package that you can dip in and out of with ease.
It doesn't matter that the events mentioned in the book happened over a decade ago, because the writing remains sharp and humorous throughout. It's the human touch that Sue gives each article, which makes them so easy to relate to.
Whether it's her poor relationship with the domestic appliances in her house, or the fact she seems to be the most burglarised person I have ever heard of, every time I put this book down I couldn't wait to pick it up again. It's stuffed full of slices of life as experienced first hand by Sue herself and is totally worth every penny paid to download it to Kindle or put it on your bookshelf.
I was a huge fan of Sue's Adrian Mole books when I was a teenager but hadn’t read anything of hers since. However, on the strength of this book alone I've added all her recent stuff to my wishlist, the first of which - 'The Woman who Went to Bed for a Year' I’m already reading.
If like me, you weren’t shopping in Sainsbury’s ten to fifteen years ago, you can still catch all Sue’s witty, frank and often poignant musings right here in this book. ‘The Public Confessions of a Middle-aged Woman’ is a bulging collection of those Sainsbury’s columns all wrapped up in one neat package that you can dip in and out of with ease.
It doesn't matter that the events mentioned in the book happened over a decade ago, because the writing remains sharp and humorous throughout. It's the human touch that Sue gives each article, which makes them so easy to relate to.
Whether it's her poor relationship with the domestic appliances in her house, or the fact she seems to be the most burglarised person I have ever heard of, every time I put this book down I couldn't wait to pick it up again. It's stuffed full of slices of life as experienced first hand by Sue herself and is totally worth every penny paid to download it to Kindle or put it on your bookshelf.
I was a huge fan of Sue's Adrian Mole books when I was a teenager but hadn’t read anything of hers since. However, on the strength of this book alone I've added all her recent stuff to my wishlist, the first of which - 'The Woman who Went to Bed for a Year' I’m already reading.
July 9, 2022
I love these ramblings of Townsend about her life.
November 29, 2021
One of my few DNFs as the antiziganism put me off bothering with the rest.
October 19, 2017
I picked this up with the intention of just dipping in & out of it between other reads or for carrying around when my current read was too big but once I started it I just sniggered my way straight through it!
My first thoughts were that I'd make a note of anything I particularly related too or found very amusing - I soon gave up on that idea as I realised that covered the majority of the book! Maybe it's an age thing (as much as I hate the idea I guess, yes I am middle-aged) or maybe this type of humour is a British thing but whatever it certainly hit the spot with me.
R.I.P. Ms Townsend you will be sorely missed.
My first thoughts were that I'd make a note of anything I particularly related too or found very amusing - I soon gave up on that idea as I realised that covered the majority of the book! Maybe it's an age thing (as much as I hate the idea I guess, yes I am middle-aged) or maybe this type of humour is a British thing but whatever it certainly hit the spot with me.
R.I.P. Ms Townsend you will be sorely missed.
November 21, 2012
The title is unfortunate and the cover truly regrettable but this book was such a pleasure. Little teensy essays published in some magazine or paper in England, I don't know, all with a very spry, homey tone. I am bringing it to Florida and giving it to my mother, with the caveat that I have removed and destroyed the cover (shameful) and that some of the essays are poor and should have been edited out. By and large exactly what I wanted to be reading these past few uproariously emotional days. Le sigh (of comfort).
May 18, 2013
Ms. Townsend is English and she has that dry humor that I love. The book is a collection of her newspaper column stories. All are reflections on herself and her life. From her bad back to her problem with slugs, she makes mundane things funny. Each story is short, so its a great read for lunch breaks and waiting rooms.
The other thing I really enjoyed was her use of English slang words. She uses words like "larf", "gormless", and "groanies". It was lots of fun to figure out what the words meant. Fun read!
The other thing I really enjoyed was her use of English slang words. She uses words like "larf", "gormless", and "groanies". It was lots of fun to figure out what the words meant. Fun read!
November 16, 2017
On the one hand, it was interesting to catch glimpses of what it was like to be Sue Townsend; of her life and struggles with impending blindness.
On the other, some of these snippets were rambling and seemed to have been thrown together simply to fill column inches - which was, of course, their original purpose.
It's a dip-in, dip-out kinda book, and it's easy to skip through the ones you don't find interesting.
On the other, some of these snippets were rambling and seemed to have been thrown together simply to fill column inches - which was, of course, their original purpose.
It's a dip-in, dip-out kinda book, and it's easy to skip through the ones you don't find interesting.
July 30, 2012
Sue Townsend is infinitely more likeable than her Adrian Mole character and I enjoyed her wry observations. I'm writing a book right now and is always a blessed relief when I read about "real" writers and their struggles with deadlines.
She comes across as eminently likeable and funny. Recommend.
June 16, 2008
This is a book of very funny essays. Sue Townsend seems to be your average middle-aged woman, except she has an amazing sense of humor and the ability to see hilarity in mundane life.
March 13, 2022
Funny accounts of Sue Townsends life
April 18, 2026
I love Sue Townsend's books, but this was a disappointment. Reading one anecdote a week, as they were originally published, would likely have been much more enjoyable than reading through them all continuously, compiled into book form. Some were good, some were funny, but too many of them read like school essays that had to be completed within time constraints, and without much inspiration. After struggling through two-thirds of the book, I had to abandon the mission.
December 6, 2020
Invitata a scrivere una serie di articoli sulla rivista londinese Sainsbury's Magazine, Sue Townsend - autrice bestseller e creatrice del mitico personaggio di Adrian Mole, adolescente incasinato che abbiamo conosciuto a 13 anni e 3/4 e seguito fino all'età adulta - ci racconta, in questo libro, finalmente di sè. Perché, se è vero che ogni scrittore mette una parte di sé in tutti i suoi personaggi, è solo con questa raccolta di pezzi mensili, a beneficio del lettore britannico, che noi lettori che abbiamo amato i suoi libri fin quasi alla dipendenza possiamo capire chi è Susan Lilian Townsend. Una delle più famose autrici inglesi, di tutti i tempi, certo; ma anche una donna comune, alle prese con i problemi familiari e, soprattutto, con le scadenze lavorative, che la tengono alla scrivania giorno e notte, tra composizione di romanzi e articoli (inclusi quelli riuniti in questa raccolta) e la riscrittura dell'ennesima bozza di un'opera teatrale, o della sceneggiatura di un film. Ecco, quindi, Susan che con il marito acquista la mitica cucina AGA tanto sognata; che combatte accanitamente le lumache che le hanno invaso il giardino; che affronta con rassegnazione l'ennesimo tentativo di furto dei ladri, ormai di casa da lei; che viaggia perigliosamente attraverso la Grecia pur di raggiungere il luogo dove dovrà tenere un corso di scrittura; che, con la goffagine del suo Adrian Mole e i difetti di vista di Mr. Magoo, cerca di cavarsela alla meno peggio tra i continui ostacoli, anche fisici, della vita. Ogni articolo è un pezzo della vita di Sue, e un piccolo capolavoro di ironia. A fine lettura, siamo certi che Susan Lilian Townsend, scomparsa prematuramente nel 2014 per la sua precaria salute, è nel paradiso delle Grandi Scrittrici inglesi, insieme a Jane Austen e ad Agatha Christie. E, anche lì, le sta facendo sorridere.
May 10, 2024
Es handelt sich hier um Kolumnen, die Sue Townsend zuvor in Zeitschriften publiziert hatte. Beim erneuten Reinlesen wurde mir rasch klar, wieso ich das Buch beim ersten Lesen nicht gemocht hatte. Es hat einfach nicht die Energie und Stimmung der Adrian Mole-Reihe. Eigentlich sollte man es positiv sehen, wenn jemand unterschiedliche Dinge kann. Und die Texte sind ja auch unterhaltsam, wenn man dafür offen ist, nicht Adrian Mole, sondern Sue Townsend kennenzulernen. Aber tut man das denn tatsächlich? In der Einleitung schreibt sie ausdrücklich, dass es öffentliche Bekenntnisse sind. Im Gegensatz dazu würden die privaten nie zu Papier gebracht werden. Ausserdem ist manches derart skurril, dass es kaum wahr sein kann. Eine einzige Bemerkung zieht oft die ganze Begebenheit in Zweifel, die eben noch authentisch gewirkt hatte. Und eigentlich mag ich das, dass Sue Townsend ihre Darstellung immer wieder bricht durch einen Scherz, einen dummen Spruch oder Ignoranz einer der Figuren. Allerdings in diesem Buch hätte ich Klartext bevorzugt; dass sie dem Leser über sich mitteilt, was ihr angenehm ist. Ich fühle mich hier mehr an der Nase herumgeführt. Andererseits, Kolumnen sollen unterhalten. Und Sue Townsend hat nach meiner Meinung versucht, dies durch kontroverse Aussagen zu erreichen, wo man sich fragt: ist sie wirklich so? Jedenfalls ist die Themenvielfalt gross in den 90+ Kolumnen. The Times meinte, das Buch sei "proof, once more, that Townsend is one of the funniest writers around". Von mir erhält sie hier 3 Sterne.
July 7, 2021
Sue Townsend was an English playwright, novelist and humorist. For over a decade, she wrote a monthly column for "Sainsbury's Magazine"; this is a book of some of those columns. Most are humorous and sometimes, laugh-out-loud funny. Others tackle serious observations such as homelessness, lack of proper care for the elderly - and her own health issues. A heavy smoker for years, she developed diabetes. Always an obsessed shopper and fashionista, the sudden weight gain affected her greatly. She talked of being suddenly a size-16, 53 year old, looking for professional clothes for book tours, play debuts and travel. Townsend wrote "all the clothes in London are manufactured for exhibitionist seventeen-year-old stick insects. At my age, I need camouflage..."
Amen/
Amen/
March 10, 2017
First up I need to say that I had never heard of Sue Townsend or any of her work. This book is very British and also a little dated now. This book was a 'greatest hits' of articles she had written for a magazine/newspaper. I did not like the humorous stories but that was probably because there were too many references to places/event/situations that I am unaware of. Also, as previously stated the book is now 16 years old. I did however, really enjoy her serious articles and her reflection on life. In particular about "Gipton Estate" and "Wayne Webb". In my view that is where her talent really lies. This would be a good book if you are from Britain to read while holidaying abroad.
October 18, 2017
The canvas of this book seemed a little ragged for my liking. I am fully aware that this is a collection of short articles, but not too many of them turned out memorable or even a bit funny. Some seemed made out of thin air, and in some the author tells the reader directly that she had run out of ideas for her column and that's why she will just speak about whatever she sees that day. And I was surprised by the controversy of some of the facts - it made me feel somewhat fooled at times.
However there were a couple of entries that made me laugh out loud and want to have a friend as witty and bold as the writer.
However there were a couple of entries that made me laugh out loud and want to have a friend as witty and bold as the writer.
July 7, 2008
Please see my detailed review at Amazon.com
Grace's "Public Confessions" Review"
Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb!
These essays are *exactly* the type of writing that I love to do - short, humorous pieces about the amusements and frustrations of daily life. I don't do them as well as Ms. Townsend does, but I'll keep working at it. Luckily I have her for inspiration and laughs along the way.
Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb!
These essays are *exactly* the type of writing that I love to do - short, humorous pieces about the amusements and frustrations of daily life. I don't do them as well as Ms. Townsend does, but I'll keep working at it. Luckily I have her for inspiration and laughs along the way.
October 3, 2008
Series of articles, here as a ring.
When I first started to read this, I was reading it as I would a novel - and was not really enjoying it. Then I realized I should read it the way I read magazines - in bits and pieces, and started enjoying this very much. I was moved by the sections about her becoming partially sighted (and couldn't help thinking of a fellow bookcrosser who is currently having major problems with his eyesight). One of my favorite bits was the piece about November - maybe because I live in the mountains and some days, like today, are just so dreary...
When I first started to read this, I was reading it as I would a novel - and was not really enjoying it. Then I realized I should read it the way I read magazines - in bits and pieces, and started enjoying this very much. I was moved by the sections about her becoming partially sighted (and couldn't help thinking of a fellow bookcrosser who is currently having major problems with his eyesight). One of my favorite bits was the piece about November - maybe because I live in the mountains and some days, like today, are just so dreary...
April 24, 2012
A collection of her columns. She can write!...she is very funny at times,slightly funny at times and hilarious at times. I loved reading this book. 3 stars only because it is not engaging all the time. 3.5 .....but I cannot seem to record. 3.5 on this star scale.....
In ...carpenters on the run....she writes about them the whole time and ends up saying.......r u scared I will use u as material for my columns, do not worry, I will not!....
Ok...does not sound that funny on its own.... But as part of the whole column, that made me laugh....
In ...carpenters on the run....she writes about them the whole time and ends up saying.......r u scared I will use u as material for my columns, do not worry, I will not!....
Ok...does not sound that funny on its own.... But as part of the whole column, that made me laugh....
May 10, 2013
I enjoyed the "Sue Townsend" section of True Confessions , and so when I found out she published a book of her essays, I went straight to the library to check it out. While they are all rather short - they were written for Sainsbury's magazine - that is, to me, a good thing: if you get bored, you're never more than two or three pages away from the next essay. I especially enjoyed her witty and kind prose, especially as she was actually beginning to go blind as she wrote it. I know books aren't people, but if this was, I would call it "nice".
March 14, 2014
This is a great collection of contributions to Sainsbury (the supermarket) Magazine from around 1993 to 2002. They make entertaining, thought-provoking and very funny reading. This is an author who loves life and laughs at it (including her own serious health issues). Her writing is sharp, perceptive and, at the same time, kind - a wonderful gift. Many readers will be familiar with her Adrian Mole series. I did not realise, though, that she is also a successful screen writer. I would love to know her personally.
January 16, 2023
Quite enjoyed this book; its full of funny stories and anecdotes that we can all relate to in one way or another! Loved the fact the book is separated into little Chapters of 3-4 pages - makes it so easy just to dip in and read a few Chapters when you have a spare few minutes! Nice to read something that wasn't story orientated - made a nice change, especially as I just picked it up and read it for a few minutes at a time! One book to have on your Current Reading list I would say!
March 7, 2016
Good concept and consistently very funny, even it it reads like first rough draft. Lots of issues which could have been fixed on a rewrite such as the central characters who start redeemable only to end up on a journey to unlovable, more loose ends than a mop and a rushed end. Maybe Sue couldn't boring it all to a climax any more, but it was still a nice ride and put a smile on my face. Two and a half stars.
December 26, 2024
This book was a series of short articles written for a news magazine. Good for when you only have the time to read about 2 pages at a time. It was interesting to get to know the author of the Adrian Mole books a little better, although sad to learn about her gradual loss of vision as a complication of diabetes.
May 13, 2014
I found this collection a light hearted relief to everyday life. I laughed out loud and thought deeply with the different themes. Although I am not middle aged, I did relate too her thinking. I am sad to hear that Sue recently passed away and going by this book, I shall continue to read more of her books.
April 15, 2015
This book is a collection of the monthly articles written by the author for the Sainsburys Magazine - full of witty and ascerbic observations on all aspects of life, from writer's block to handymen, from Spanish restaurants that serve no Spanish food to some now-poignant comments on her health problems. 8/10.
May 8, 2016
This was a really enjoyable collection. Townsend muses on many topics: travel, writing, food, vodka, family, shopping, politics and many others. Her writing style is so personal and engaging. I read this from cover to cover, however I think it would be a great book to have in the smallest room... Or to pick up while reading something more demanding for a bit of light relief.
June 18, 2017
А я ведь так и не прочитала эту книжку. Начала читать из уважения к Адриану Моулу. Но увы, Моул не превзойден, даже самим автором. Книжка – главы из жизни Сью Таунсенд – про то, как она платит за к��артиру, выгуливает собаку, курит перед сном, пишет книжки и т.п. Юмор вроде как и присутствует, но редко. В общем поэтому и не прочитала. Хотя, может и стоило.
April 19, 2022
Self directed satire makes Sue Townsends collection of monthly columns a delight to read. One of those books that is deeply personal, but relatable to just about anyone. With her characteristic humour and tongue in cheek descriptions, everyone of the 800 word pieces become a chronicle of our times. A must read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews