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Audio Book Richard and Judy Book Club

Getting Rid of Matthew – Jane Fallon (Audio Book)

Getting Rid of Matthew is typical ‘chick lit’. I don’t think I’d have ever read beyond the first couple of pages under normal circumstances, but I happened to have a copy of the audio book, and as I didn’t have anything else to listen to at the time, I decided to give it a try.

Getting Rid of Matthew is about Helen’s affair with Matthew. Helen spends years trying to persuade him to leave his wife, Sophie, and move in with her. When Matthew finally leaves his family to be with his mistress, Helen realises that the reality is not quite how she imagined it, and decides she doesn’t want to be with him any more. She desperately plots ways to get rid of Matthew, and ends up befriending Sophie, in disguise, to try to push the couple back together.

The characters were reasonably realistic, but only Sophie was remotely likable. Most of the time I was wondering if people really are as stupid as them! The book emphasises the destructiveness of affairs, and the hurt they cause both the family and friends of everyone involved.

The narration was excellent, and I think it made a world of difference to the experience of reading the book. It was really funny, and time spent listening to the story flew by. It’s a light book, which doesn’t require your full attention, so is a good choice if you may be distracted.

I’m not normally offended by strong language, but perhaps because it was an audio book, and I have young children, I was very aware of the amount of swearing it contained. I found that I couldn’t listen to it when my children were around, and so this was a major drawback.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend the book, but it was entertaining to listen to.

 

7 replies on “Getting Rid of Matthew – Jane Fallon (Audio Book)”

Hmmm dont know if will read this now, I think I got it in one of my 5 books for £2 sprees when I couldnt decide on the fifth book. On audio I would imagine this is much more doable though. Ooh am 60+ pages into Netherland… unusual but very very good, thats all will say!

I know what you mean about the language and audio. Often when the kids are in the car, I have an audio going, but lately that has not been possible. The Outlander Series in not conducive to young ears!

I’m not a chick-lit lover – but I have listened to quite a few books on tape with strong language and, you’re right, there is something about listening to it that makes it more jarring.

I’m not a big lover of Chick-Lit but having said that there are one or two that I have read, really enjoyed and looked for others on the same theme by the same author – The Chocolate Lovers Club and Handbags and Halos are two that spring to mind that I really enjoyed for a lighter reading moment. Getting Rid of Matthew also came my way and other than being sure that I have read it, I have no other recollection of it! Seen at least one other by Jane Fallon on the bargain shelves but not even tempted from the £1 bargain bin! I don’t recall there being a lot of bad language in it, but then I don’t recall that much about it at all – I have to agree that it would be more prominent when listening rather than reading.

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