Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van

The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van
The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van
Author: Alan Bennett
The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $14.00
Buy New (Paperback): $11.69 (save 16%) or
Become a PBS member and pay $7.79+1 PBS book credit Help icon(save 44%)
ISBN-13: 9780812969658
ISBN-10: 0812969650
Publication Date: 11/2002
Pages: 240
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 53

3.5 stars, based on 53 ratings
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

9 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 300 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Alan Bennett presents two stories dealing with possessions, or the lack of them. In the first story, "The Clothes They Stood Up In", the Ransomes return home to find their apartment totally stripped bare. Possibility immediately opens up before them. Who are they - now that their lifetime accumulations are gone?

The second story, "The Lady in the Van" tells about the strange life of Miss Shepherd, a London eccentric, who parked her overstuffed van in the author's driveway for fifteen years.

Both stories were entertaining, humorous at times, and always thought provoking.
reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A great book for bookclubs to discuss. Good stories that make you ponder the human condition. Wryly comic and heartwarming.
reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 51 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Very enjoyable quick read, charming and funny, that sneaks in the back door of your mind to make you wonder about your own attitude toward possessions.
Bernie avatar reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on
Helpful Score: 2
I couldn't get into this book. I was confused most of the time. Was the author trying to say this was real? A story? I just didn't get it.
reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was chosen by my book club, so at least one member loved it. It's somewhat slow and literary and British. If you like to watch BBC you might like this.
reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 81 more book reviews
I really enjoyed this. The lady in the van was amazing!!
reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 97 more book reviews
Such a joy to read!
reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 275 more book reviews
Very English, at times hilarious and also ironic, this book is a good, fun read.
reviewed The Clothes They Stood Up In / The Lady in the Van on + 46 more book reviews
What a wonderful, entertaining book.
I loved both stories in this book.....of course, after seeing the movie THE LADY IN THE VAN, who wouldn!'t love the book?
And the book and movie pretty much followed along the same.
Great, quick read, with a lesson to be learned about life, in each story.