• A Tiny Bit Marvellous

  • By: Dawn French
  • Narrated by: Dawn French
  • Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (84 ratings)

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A Tiny Bit Marvellous  By  cover art

A Tiny Bit Marvellous

By: Dawn French
Narrated by: Dawn French
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Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The hilarious number one best seller by comedian and author of Because of You and According to Yes, Dawn French.

Everyone hates the perfect family - so you'll love the Battles.

Meet Mo Battle, about to turn 50 and mum to two helpless, hormonal teenagers. There's 17-year-old daughter Dora who blames Mo for, like, EVERYTHING and Peter who believes he's quite simply as darling and marvellous as his hero Oscar Wilde. Somewhere, keeping quiet, is Dad, who's just, well...Dad.

However, Mo is having a crisis. She's about to do something unusually wild and selfish, which will leave the entire family teetering on the edge of a precipice.

Will the family fall?

Or will they, when it really matters, be there for each other?

A Tiny Bit Marvellous is the number one best-selling novel from one of Britain's favourite comic writers.

©2010 Dawn French (P)2010 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about A Tiny Bit Marvellous

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A big bit marvellous.

This audio book is absolutely delightful. Centred on three members of the Buttle family, they each take turns giving us snippets from their diaries, revealing extraordinary tales of everyday life. The emotions, journeys and revelations are beautifully written and superbly narrated by Dawn French. You will become wrapped up in the characters eccentricities and learn to love them, faults and all. I laughed, cried and laughed a lot more. Well done Dawn; you certainly have given us a marvellous book.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Marvellous but a Tiny Bit Long

This book was exquisitely and expertly narrated by the author, the highly marvellous Dawn French (whose early comedy sketch with Jennifer Saunders of a disordered mother and daughter eventually led to Absolutely Fabulous).

The novel is told in the voices of four members of the Battle family -- 50 year old mom having a midlife crisis; still-rivers-run-deep dad; 16 year old son with an Oscar Wilde fixation; 18 year old daughter Dora always about to hyperventilate in absolute, outright, oh-my-actual-god indignation. The story came together powerfully well in the last chapters and the ending was highly satisfying.

However, I did find the first half of the book slow. Far too much reflection and exposition by the characters, not enough story. Except for Dora. Dawn French's characterization is so rich and funny that even Dora's most self-absorbed, outraged uptalk is a treat. I could listen to Dora talk about nothing all day long. In fact, I kind of miss her now.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

More than a tiny bit marvellous

If you could sum up A Tiny Bit Marvellous in three words, what would they be?

Hilarious, narration was fantastic, story was entertaining, very enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Tiny Bit Marvellous?

Laughing out loud several times whilst on the train going to work.

What does Dawn French bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Dawn's voice brings her characters to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughing out loud in public - several times.

Any additional comments?

Very enjoyable, please write another Dawn!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Very Marvellous

I loved the story, kept me interested. Dawn did a fantastic job with all the voices her tone was very enticing. Would highly recommend .this audio

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not for me unfortunately.

I was quite looking forward to listening to this but I just couldn't get past chapter 12. To be honest, I'm not sure how I got that far. Dawn French's performance is lively, if not a bit over the top. I was just not captivated and couldn't relate to, or stay interested in the ramblings.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very marvellous

loved it. cries buckets of happy tears last chapters. love her voice. best book by her so far.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Totally Marvellous would be a better description!

What made the experience of listening to A Tiny Bit Marvellous the most enjoyable?

I think I loved Oscar the most, being an eccentric myself I was drawn to Oscar. The story is very funny but very touching.

What does Dawn French bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dawn has amazing comic timing which makes this book laugh out loud funny, she is a true genius!

Any additional comments?

I really recommend this book, it was amazing and I really enjoyed it!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Really Enjoyable

Dawn French's narration was great - the story is very basic, mum, daughter, son and dad - no great highlights or lowlights just very enjoyable. Did make me laugh out loud in more than a few spots - I'd highly recommend it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dawn French is a great author.

Where does A Tiny Bit Marvellous rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top five!

What did you like best about this story?

Everything - narration, story, characters...Loved it!

What does Dawn French bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She IS the book...her narration is wonderful.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The scene when the daughter meets her internet friend...extreme reaction! Not saying why...it would spoil it...

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Average

I love Dawn French and was looking forward to listening to this. Dawn read it well but the story is average and her performance suffers as a result. Buy it if you are a fan and have the credits available but otherwise you are going to be a bit disappointed. It won't have you rolling on the floor laughing.

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