The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Matt Cain (Author), Layton Williams (Narrator), Review (Publisher)

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It's never too late to start your life's big adventure....

Albert Entwistle was a postman. It was one of the few things everyone knew about him. And it was one of the few things he was comfortable with people knowing.

Sixty-four-year-old Albert Entwistle has been a postie in a quiet town in Northern England for all his life, living alone since the death of his mam 18 years ago. He keeps himself to himself. He always has. But he's just learned he'll be forced to retire at his next birthday. With no friends and nothing to look forward to, the lonely future he faces terrifies him. He realises it's finally time to be honest about who he is. He must learn to ask for what he wants. And he must find the courage to look for George, the man that, many years ago, he lost - but has never forgotten....

Narrated by Layton Williams, join Albert as he sets out to find the long-lost love of his life and has an unforgettable and completely life-affirming adventure on the way.... This is a love story the likes of which you have never listened to before!

This audiobook contains exclusive interviews by Matt Cain with gay men on their experiences growing up through the 1950s to within the 1970s and the 1980s.

Listening Length

12 hours and 33 minutes
Author

Matt Cain
Narrator

Layton Williams
Audible release date

27 May 2021
Language

English
Publisher

Review
ASIN

B091B7V8RR
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	12 hours and 33 minutes
Author	Matt Cain
Narrator	Layton Williams
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	27 May 2021
Publisher	Review
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B091B7V8RR
Best Sellers Rank	68,571 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 5,260 in Contemporary Romance (Audible Books & Originals) 5,864 in Gay Fiction 10,084 in Gay Romance

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		25%
3 star		9%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from other countries

Pat O'Meara

A beautiful read that tugged at heart strings !!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 August 2021

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A beautiful read that tugged at my heart strings, made me shed tears of sadness and tears of joy but first and foremost I lost my heart and fell in love with Albert Entwistle, what a fabulous character.

With retirement fast approaching and having been a postman all his working life, Albert realizes that life is going to change drastically. Having hidden his true character from everyone he knows it is now time to be honest with himself and them. It is also time for him to find George, the one man he truly loved but who he hasn't seen for fifty years.

Loved the way his friendship with Nicole played out and I rooted all the way for her to be happy too.

Uplifting, full of sensitivity and warmth I absolutely LOVED every step of the journey we travelled with Albert. Once started I couldn't put this wonderful novel down and finished it in the early hours of the morning.

Most definitely 5 stars from me and a highly recommended read.
Bravo Matt Cain it's an absolute belter.

5 people found this helpful

David Cross

Would absolutely recommend

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2021

Verified Purchase

Had this one on pre-order as I loved "The Madonna of Bolton" so much.

I found myself rooting for Albert from the very beginning and I was gripped as his journey unfolded. There is a good balance here between hard hitting matters such as how tough it was to be gay in Britain in the 1970s and the happier moments like the developing friendship with Nicole and Albert building bridges with his community in general. The flashback moments to young Albert and George worked very well in building up momentum and showing the contrast between the boy Albert was, the man he had become and the man he hoped to become. I also really enjoyed the depictions of places like Canal Street and the Vauxhall Tavern, linking the little Lancashire community back in to the wider world. Will also applaud for the mirroring of Albert and Nicole's stories highlighting that it doesn't matter which generation or background you come from, you can have a lot in common with even the most unlikely of people.

This book really gave me a boost and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. My only criticism is that it didn't come out sooner, really could have done with this during that lengthy winter lockdown! Bravo Matt Cain!

8 people found this helpful

Claire Wilkins

Hidden depths ~ Powerful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2021

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On the surface, this is a heart warming coming out story and a love story.

When you start peeling back the layers, it's a story a loneliness, of self-discovery and self-acceptance.

Moreover, it delves into how growing up in an era where being yourself wasn't just frowned upon, it was illegal and openly despised, impacted on how you formed relationships with everyone.

Albert cut himself off from the world when he had to end his first relationship. He never forgave himself. He never accepted himself. He always felt the full power of the shame his father inflicted on him. That's until his impending mandatory retirement brings home the full force of the loneliness he feels - has always felt - and he decides to do something about it.

What ensues is a love story, not just of romantic love, but of community and friendships. It's completely engaging, an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed out loud and I cried both tears of sadness and joy.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Full of emotion.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2021

Verified Purchase

I absolutely adored the beginning of this book.
The awkwardness of Albert, so touching, credible, sad, relatable.
His lifestyle was beautifully described, his relationship with his cat and ultimately her death were so touching.
The book is full of characters struggling in different ways to deal with life, love and misunderstandings.

I'm afraid the story seemed to lose its grip , certainly on me, as Albert gained self confidence and set off on his adventures. I found much of it hard to believe, after having been totally drawn in earlier.

The period reminiscences were accurate, the whole struggle for recognition and right to live openly were obviously well researched.
If only the second part of the book hadn't seemed so very familiar to others I have recently read.

That is just me, other readers will be eager to offer the full five stars.

It is so worth reading.

One person found this helpful

JenSurname

Five stars and a hug for Albert

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2021

Verified Purchase

It’s an easy, easy five stars from me. What a lovely book, telling the story of Albert and the people who come into his life as his retirement approaches.

At its heart, this is essentially a love story but it’s also an education. It tells the tale of a forbidden love, lost fifty years earlier, and the impact of that love on Albert and his desire to try to make amends for his past actions.

I sometimes read a book and find I really don’t give a monkey’s chuff about the main character, even though I know I’m supposed to. This certainly wasn’t the case with Albert Entwistle. As his story unfolded I found him more and more likeable, more endearing, and I enjoyed seeing his transformation and was rooting for him throughout.

His friendship with Nic was a joy to read and I found myself rooting for her, too. When I find myself battling anxiety on behalf of incidental characters, you know it’s wonderfully written.

There is humour throughout - and it’s northern humour, and I’m a Manc, so it suited me perfectly! - and also sadness, hope and joy.

But for me, it’s the conversations the follow the end of the book that really hit home the underlying theme of the story, and I’m so grateful they’re included.

** Matt: You’ve talked about the fear you experienced, as a gay man exploring your sexuality. How does it feel for you, when you look at young people now?

Peter: I don’t think they’ve got an idea in the world of what we went through. The troubles, the strikes, the struggles, you know, the Gay Liberation Front’s campaign for homosexuality, going on marches, et cetera. If it wasn’t for us, back in the seventies and eighties, going on these marches, they’d have nothing. They’d still be where we were then, now. I’m not looking for recognition or accolades. It needed to be done, but I think that there ought to be a far wider understanding, educationally, of what it was like back then. I think it’s important for our gay history that stories like these are told and then listened to.**

Matt Cain has done just that in this story. There’s a link to this incredibly important history and a reminder that we owe so very much to people like Peter… and George.

2 people found this helpful

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The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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