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  • I Left My Tent in San Francisco

  • By: Emma Kennedy
  • Narrated by: Emma Kennedy
  • Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (241 ratings)

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I Left My Tent in San Francisco

By: Emma Kennedy
Narrated by: Emma Kennedy
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Summary

It's 1989, and Emma and her best friend, Dee, head to the USA to make their fortune. But completely inept and virtually unemployable, they discover that they can't even get a job in McDonald's.

Forced to travel from California to New York with only pennies in their pockets, they bounce from scrape to scrape, surviving on their wits and the kindness of strangers. Bad luck and misfortune throw everything their way - snakes, earthquakes, black magic and incontinent dogs. They even get kidnapped by a sex-crazed midget in a Ferrari. This never happened to Jack Kerouac.

A startlingly honest and ridiculously funny book, I Left My Tent in San Francisco tells the miraculous story of how the hapless pair made it back alive to tell the disastrous tale.

©2011 Emma Kennedy (P)2015 Random House Audiobooks
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What listeners say about I Left My Tent in San Francisco

Average customer ratings
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Hugely enjoyable

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The book is consistently funny and Emma Kennedy is a great storyteller as she relates her adventures across America. Bad luck seems to follow her and her friend like a curse but even so they battle through with an unflagging joy and optimism that is actually inspiring.

What other book might you compare I Left My Tent in San Francisco to, and why?

I listened to this as a fan of Emma Kennedy rather than any real interest in travelogues. This is a great follow up to “The Tent, The Bucket and Me” which is the obvious thing to compare it to. Personally I prefer this one, though others might disagree (and do looking at other reviews. Each to their own). If she writes a third instalment then I’ll buy that too.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Hard to narrow it down. She tells a series of funny and touching anecdotes. Her writing style can be poetic when it’s required but is generally clear and insightful. Her personality shines throughout, which is complemented well by having her narrate.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I probably could have done given the chance. As it was I finished it in less than a week which is pretty fast for me.

Any additional comments?

Not sure of her pronunciation of “adobe” but I’m only basing that on the Pee-Wee Herman movie.

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Hilarious!

This is quite simply a beautiful piece of writing; funny, warm and hugely enjoyable- highly recommended!

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Cried laughing!

Loved it! Weirdly not what I thought Emma Kennedy would sound like! Amazingly funny.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant!

I laughed out loud throughout this - what an amazing story! I love Emma's accents and you're drawn into the story further with her delivery.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Not as enjoyable as the last...

I didn't enjoy this book half as much as I did the tent, the bucket and me. As another reviewer mentioned, the constant change of volume was irritating and nearly made me give up listening to it. One minute her voice is so low you can barely hear it, the next it is booming in an over the top dramatic style.

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I laughed until I cried

I don’t think that I have ever read or listened to a book that made me laugh as much as this book did. Emma Kennedy is hilarious and I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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2nd book read by emma. Loved it but..

I did find the ups and downs of the volume the only negative. The quiet whispering to the shouting. I understand Emma is emphasising the emotions within the context of the story but it's a bit too much in places.
Other than that, loved the madcap adventure and the funny episodes. Can't wait to start the next book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

Amazing. Loved every minute. Truly absorbing. Could not stop listening. Beautiful narration. Emma has a wonderful voice. Easy listening

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What a brilliant book

Emma Kennedy brings this book to life. Loved it! Her narration style is a joy!

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Laughed out loud!!

What a cracking book, I roared and laughed out loud - Emma is hysterical, I would definitely recommend this book.

Emma please write another book!!

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