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Polly Courtney
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The Day I Died Kindle Edition

by Polly Courtney (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 168 ratings
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Can you walk away from your own life?

Dark, disturbing and utterly enthralling women’s fiction from a stunning UK talent.

It's 4am, London and a young woman comes to amidst sirens and screams – the result of a bomb that has left utter carnage in its wake. Wearing the remains of a tattered black dress and wrapped in a filthy blanket, she is utterly unaware of where – and more importantly – who she is.

Disorientated by overwhelming feelings of shame and guilt, the woman picks up an abandoned wallet from the gutter and, following her instincts, flees the scene. Escaping on a bus into a remote country village, she adopts the name 'Jo' in place of the identity that still eludes her.

Jo quickly builds herself a new life in the country, finding a job and settling into a new community. But fragmented pieces of her past keep encroaching on her present – from the realisation that she is an alcoholic, to a chance meeting with a man that triggers flashbacks – and Jo is forced to solve the mystery of her own identity.

But as she pieces together her past – and in doing so uncovers some shocking secrets about her old life – can Jo face the truth of who she is really is?

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  1. Print length
    480 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Avon
  4. Publication date
    11 Jun. 2009
  5. File size
    525 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

bestselling books; bestsellers 2019

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bestselling non fiction; non fiction bestsellers 2023

Product description

Review

‘Not your average chick lit!’
Closer

About the Author

The publication of Polly Courtney's debut novel, Golden Handcuffs, a fictional exposé of her career in the Square Mile, earned Polly acclaim in the Observer, The Times, Sunday Times, Independent, Guardian, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Evening Standard and many other publications. Aside from writing, Polly works on various sports-related web ventures including Girls in Football.com and is a keen footballer who plays for her local team, Old Actonians LFC, in West London. Polly also plays in a semi-professional string quartet, No Strings Attached, an all-girl ensemble that plays all over the UK. She lives in London.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002RI9U22
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon (11 Jun. 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 525 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 168 ratings

About the author

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Polly Courtney

Polly Courtney

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Polly Courtney is author of six novels as well as a regular commentator on TV and radio. She made her name in 2006 with GOLDEN HANDCUFFS, a semi-autobiographical account of life in the Square Mile. Her subsequent page-turners have tackled sexism, racism, lads' mags, fame culture and the wealth divide.

In late 2011, on the publication of her fifth novel, Courtney famously walked out on her publisher, HarperCollins, frustrated by the 'chick lit' covers assigned to her books. She went on to self-publish FERAL YOUTH, a compelling story set during the London riots and told from the perspective of a disenfranchised 15-year-old girl.

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
168 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. However, some find the characters irritating and unpleasant. Opinions are mixed on the storyline - some find it interesting and thought-provoking, while others consider it unrealistic and predictable.

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ReadabilityStorylineIrritability
6 customers mention ‘Readability’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They also appreciate the interesting characters.

"...A great book to read would recommend to any one looking for a good book!" Read more

"...Still, an enjoyable enough read." Read more

"...I found this book to be well written, interesting and the characters very realistic. I would definitely like to read more by this author." Read more

"...In all, this is a book which could have been a really cracking read...." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Storyline’3 positive5 negative

Customers have different views on the storyline. Some find it interesting and thought-provoking, with realistic characters and a fast-paced thriller filled with twists and turns. Others feel the storyline is ridiculous, unrealistic, predictable, and boring. There are also complaints about unfinished subplots and holes in the plot.

"...Sadly, the latter was not the case for this book. It didn't feel quite plausible and I wasn't convinced by the actions of the main character or the..." Read more

"...A book with great loveable characters and well thought through a lovely story...." Read more

"...What I got was second rate chick lit, a plot full of holes and a story so unbelievable that it pushed fiction into the realms of fantasy...." Read more

"This was a really interesting story, that was incredibly thought provoking for me, I think a lot of poeple at one time or another in their lives..." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Irritability’0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book irritating. They mention the characters are unrealistic and unpleasant.

"...And the story was neither dark nor disturbing, just very very irritating and laughably unrealistic...." Read more

"...She's rash, rude, an addict who seems to fall for every man who wanders past her, sweary, and a total liar...." Read more

"...about this book that draws you in and Jo comes across as a rather unpleasant person. I only wish I could return it to Amazon and get my money back...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Book lover
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 July 2009
    Verified Purchase
    I read a review in a Magazine and decided to buy it as they gave such a strong recommendation!

    It was a highly enjoyable book. The story begins with "Jo" waking up after a bomb blast and has lost her memory but has a bad feeling so she makes a run for it!

    You follow Jo through making new friends, remembering her past and finding her future! A book with great loveable characters and well thought through a lovely story.

    A great book to read would recommend to any one looking for a good book!
    Helpful
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  • Lavendyr
    3.0 out of 5 stars Easy-reading chick lit
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I've read a lot of Polly Courtney's books now and have enjoyed them all - she has an easy, pleasing writing style and generally a good handle on what she's writing about.

    Sadly, the latter was not the case for this book. It didn't feel quite plausible and I wasn't convinced by the actions of the main character or the reactions of those around her.

    Still, an enjoyable enough read.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Jossie Marie
    5.0 out of 5 stars thought provoking
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This was a really interesting story, that was incredibly thought provoking for me, I think a lot of poeple at one time or another in their lives wish that they could start all over again. I found this book to be well written, interesting and the characters very realistic. I would definitely like to read more by this author.
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  • Janine Hesp
    1.0 out of 5 stars Far too unrealistic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I know that fiction is just that, but this book really pushes it to the limit.

    We are supposed to believe firstly that London's night buses spend their days in a depot in Oxford, despite there being many, many depots in London itself. Then, we are led to believe that our "heroine", who has just escaped a bomb blast, is wearing tattered clothes and is all battered and scraped up, has the presence of mind to seize upon the identity of some bloke whose jacket she's wearing, and that dressed as such (and with no shoes), she walks into a job because the proprietor of the café thinks she's the foreign girl he interviewed recently. Then, an old dear takes her into her home, despite the fact that she hasn't got the first clue who she is. But the one which did it for me is that this person, with a fake CV and an ID which does not belong to her, managed to walk into a job working with vulnerable children. And not only that, but she managed to persuade them to pay her in cash. In order to work with children, one would need to be vetted and CRB checked. And if someone is going for any job at all, these days an employer needs to see a passport as proof that you are legal to work in the UK. Had the author of this book taken just a short time to do some actual research, she would have discovered this. The entire thing was so far fetched that it totally spoiled any enjoyment I might have got from reading it.

    Also, there were so many sub-plots which went completely unfinished. "Jo" is an alcoholic but that seemed to be forgotten partway through, and for someone with an addiction, she seemed to be managing very well without her fix. We never really found out what the bomb plot was all about. The entire reason that "Jo" wanted to run away from her life in London was sort of explained, but it didn't really make a huge deal of sense to be honest. And while I'm talking about her life in London, when she did manage to find out who she actually was, there was no mention of what happened to her flat, her possessions, etc.

    In all, this is a book which could have been a really cracking read. From reading the blurb about it, I had expected a fast paced thriller, filled with twists and turns. What I got was second rate chick lit, a plot full of holes and a story so unbelievable that it pushed fiction into the realms of fantasy.

    Very, very disappointing.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Louise Kingham
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Day I Died
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book would recommend for light reading couldn't put it down. First book I have read from Polly Courtney.
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  • Marie Hart
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not sure ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Could not get into storyline. This author confused me with start of opening chapter, would not recommend to friends, thanks.
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  • lana
    5.0 out of 5 stars good book for women !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, I love it !
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  • Miss Denny Taylor
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2010
    Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
    The Day I Died
    The thing I liked about this book is the way the author conveys emotion. The thoughts & feeling of the main character, known as Jo, come across in such a way that you can relate to her experiences as if they were your own. It's not a fast paced novel, but slow & methodic, but as it's played out like pieces of a puzzle ben fit together, this keeps you gripped & interested.
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