The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4
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The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 Audible Audiobook – Abridged

Sue Townsend (Author), Stephen Mangan (Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,674 ratings
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To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first publication of Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole, Penguin Audiobooks are re-releasing the audiobook edition of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 in downloadable audio. This classic of comic fiction is hilariously read by Stephen Mangan, who played Adrian Mole in the The Cappuccino Years and also starred in The Green Wing as the hapless Guy Secretan.

Friday January 2nd: I felt rotten today. It's my mother's fault for singing 'My Way' at two o'clock in the morning at the top of the stairs. Just my luck to have a mother like her. There is a chance my parents could be alcoholics. Next year I could be in a children's home.

Meet Adrian Mole, a hapless teenager providing an unabashed, pimples-and-all glimpse into adolescent life. Writing candidly about his parents' marital troubles, the dog, his life as a tortured poet and 'misunderstood intellectual', Adrian's painfully honest diary is still hilarious and compelling reading 30 years after it first appeared.

Previous page
  1. Listening Length
    3 hours and 6 minutes
  2. Author
    Sue Townsend
  3. Narrator
    Stephen Mangan
  4. Audible release date
    December 29, 2011
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B006R6BAJG
  8. Version
    Abridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 3 hours and 6 minutes
Author Sue Townsend
Narrator Stephen Mangan
Audible.com Release Date December 29, 2011
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Abridged
Language English
ASIN B006R6BAJG
Best Sellers Rank #315,291 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,927 in Teen & Young Adult Humorous Fiction
#2,223 in Humorous Fiction for Children
#11,328 in Teen & Young Adult (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
4,674 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jill Nicely
5.0 out of 5 stars secrets of the suburbs
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
When Adrian Mole decided to start a diary at the ripe old age of thirteen and three-quarters, he had no idea how far his words would reach. He was just a kid growing up in Leicester, England, with acne and a crush and a bully and a crazy home life. In other words, he’s a teenager living in the provinces (the equivalent of the suburbs in America).

Adrian reads lots of books but he doesn’t always do well in school. He’s a little jealous of his best friend Nigel, because of all of expensive stereo equipment and his brand new racing bike. He has a crush on Pandora Braithwaite, with her treacle colored hair and her pony. And to get out of math class, he agrees to help take care of elderly Bert Baxter and his fierce Alsatian Sabre.

However, the real drama is at home, where his parents drink too much and smoke too much and laugh too loud. He longs for quiet, intellectual parents who live with dignity and grace. Instead, he finds himself the child of a mother who lives big, loves big, wears bright colors and makes friends wherever she goes. His father is a little more like Adrian. He likes order and cleanliness, but he also loves to play his music too loud and he adores his wife.

But the path of true love never does run true, and when Adrian’s mother starts spending more time with the neighbor Mr. Lucas, Adrian starts to worry about what will happen to them at home. But as the days go by, and Adrian’s diary entries add up, and the neighborhood goes all out for the wedding of Charles and Diana, and Adrian earns the attention of his beloved Pandora, and his parents argue, and Bert is made to move into a nursing home, and Adrian finds the best way to deal with a bully, and he reads and writes poetry and questions life and learns about love, this diary becomes a funny, poignant, self-indulgent, ironic reminder of what it feels like to be a teenager.

I can’t even tell you how many times I have read this book or this series. Sometimes, when I just need a bit of comfort or some humor, I will open one up and start reading, for the chance to be back in Adrian’s world. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 is one of my all-time favorite series, and while I know not everyone will be able to appreciate the voice of this kid, I find that I just can’t get enough.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Totally a great read for anyone who wants to have a giggle ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2018
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I ordered this book because I needed a little bit of a laugh. It did not miss! I read the entire thing in two days and wanted more! Totally a great read for anyone who wants to have a giggle or two.
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Jeff JohnsonWC
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this then bought the series
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
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Saw recommendation in NYTimes that this was a great funny book. I bought one and was laughing out loud by the first few pages. So I bought the entire series. Love the style of writing. Love the humor.
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Deanna D. Dudley
3.0 out of 5 stars cute,
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2023
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Smart, funny. Told from the perspective of a young man on the spectrum, I would guess. A fun, quick read.
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Mary T. Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars Adrian Mole - Unique personality
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2018
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This book was one of the most enjoyable and refreshing books that I have read in a while. Adrian is such a unique character and some of his thoughts and ideas made me laugh out loud! I would love to read a follow up book so we could see how Adrian continues to grow into an adult. Great read and I would recommend it to anyone.
One person found this helpful
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MikiA
4.0 out of 5 stars Funny but sympathetic
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2018
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A very funny account of early teen angst. It's impossible not to like Adrian even though he's a bit of a pain. He does have a good heart and tries so hard to get everything right. The book has aged fairly well, probably because of its commitment to the universal experience of not quite fitting in.
One person found this helpful
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betty
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all 12 year olds
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2014
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Adrian is so funny and yet everyone in the universe can relate when they look at their own preteen and teen years and all the insecurities and zits and first kisses (did I do it right?) of that age. I watched this on TV when I was stationed in England in the 80's and my daughter was in elementary school. I still think about the kids singing, "We shall, we shall wear red socks!" I just gave my daughter and her family red socks for Valentine's Day. I just read this book and now will give it to my grandson for his 12th birthday.
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liz N
4.0 out of 5 stars good s new
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2022
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Rather slow delivery but good condition.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Chris 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Bought for a Laugh!!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Hi Everybody, my Mum's original copy of this book had literally fallen apart, so as a Laugh I rebought a new copy. Within minutes of the book arriving, me and my Mum were laughing hysterically to poor Adrian, especially the painful details of his School trip. A must read for anybody, timeless, funny and the sort of humour you just don't get these days. If you fancy a Laugh get a copy, it is a must read, especially for teenagers!! We loved the book first time around and even now it's still funny! One of our Family favourites. Thankyou for reading my review.
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giovanni ponzi
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in Italy on October 2, 2022
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Tutto
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ranjana rawat
5.0 out of 5 stars Hillarious
Reviewed in India on November 1, 2021
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Found of this book . So hillarious and hysterically comic . I’m in love with Townsend and Adrian mole. What a diary of a adolescent . I never thought I would be enjoying reading this book. The diary is an account of day to day event of Adrian mole in more satire form. He is so mature and at the same time very witty too..
2 people found this helpful
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Susi
5.0 out of 5 stars Schulsachen
Reviewed in Germany on October 30, 2021
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Tolles Buch, liest sich gut und schnell
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E.G.S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Buena lectura
Reviewed in Spain on January 27, 2021
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Lectura para adolescentes. Primer libro de la saga, comedia de ficción. Es un libro escrito como diario, centrado en los problemas de una adelescente.
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