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reabookreviews's review against another edition
4.0
There has always been something about the Gypsy way of life that has fascinated me. When I was in WHsmiths the other day I saw The Sunday Times best seller Gypsy Boy book by Mikey Walsh which was on a promotion on buy one get one free and had to get it. Where I live there are many Gypsy familys around and travellers also seem to come often much to the distaste of the gypsy families so I thought the book may give some more insight to their way of lives.
We are introduced to Mikey Walsh as a child who comes from a well thought of Gypsy family known for the bare knuckle fighting Kings. When Mikey was only a child he was expected as the first son to follow in the families foot steps and become the king of the bare knuckle fighters but it is clear that this is not what Mikey wants and we follow his life of abuse from his father who is trying everything possible to make Mikey into the trophy son he wanted.
I felt like the book was two books in one an educational book detailing the Romany gypsy way of life and also a heart reaching book about a small lads abusive upbringing. We are taught about the difference between the true Romany gypsies who are very tidy, and clean and who care and look after where they live and their belongings and Travellers who are usually Irish travellers who don't seem to have any care for where they live and the disruption and untidiness they bring. I have to hold my hands up and say before I read this book I didn't know the difference between the two.
I read through the book following Mikeys struggles of day to day life hoping that he will soon be able to escape the way of life. Mikey is not ashamed in anyway of the Gypsy world but can no longer live with the constant abuse and needs to make a decision as to stay with his family in the gypsy world and keep many secrets hidden or make a break for it and escape from the gypsy world. The way in which Mikey writes his story makes you feel as if you are part of the story watching from the sidelines in his trailer.
I really enjoyed this book and think it was very brave of Mikey Walsh to write his story. It is nice to see after all he has been through he still had the get up and go in him to do something with his life. I do not usually like to read books about child abuse but this book is so much more than that. I like the way at the end of the book it is not just left on a cliff hanger we get to hear a bit of Mikey in his later life. I would defiantly recommend this book especially to anyone who has an interest in the traditional Romany Gypsy way of life.
We are introduced to Mikey Walsh as a child who comes from a well thought of Gypsy family known for the bare knuckle fighting Kings. When Mikey was only a child he was expected as the first son to follow in the families foot steps and become the king of the bare knuckle fighters but it is clear that this is not what Mikey wants and we follow his life of abuse from his father who is trying everything possible to make Mikey into the trophy son he wanted.
I felt like the book was two books in one an educational book detailing the Romany gypsy way of life and also a heart reaching book about a small lads abusive upbringing. We are taught about the difference between the true Romany gypsies who are very tidy, and clean and who care and look after where they live and their belongings and Travellers who are usually Irish travellers who don't seem to have any care for where they live and the disruption and untidiness they bring. I have to hold my hands up and say before I read this book I didn't know the difference between the two.
I read through the book following Mikeys struggles of day to day life hoping that he will soon be able to escape the way of life. Mikey is not ashamed in anyway of the Gypsy world but can no longer live with the constant abuse and needs to make a decision as to stay with his family in the gypsy world and keep many secrets hidden or make a break for it and escape from the gypsy world. The way in which Mikey writes his story makes you feel as if you are part of the story watching from the sidelines in his trailer.
I really enjoyed this book and think it was very brave of Mikey Walsh to write his story. It is nice to see after all he has been through he still had the get up and go in him to do something with his life. I do not usually like to read books about child abuse but this book is so much more than that. I like the way at the end of the book it is not just left on a cliff hanger we get to hear a bit of Mikey in his later life. I would defiantly recommend this book especially to anyone who has an interest in the traditional Romany Gypsy way of life.
ladyreading365's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
persian_green's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Car accident, and Alcohol
sevenlefts's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so this isn't the best-written or edited book out there. But I love that it was written, and I really grew to like Mikey and his story. I could really feel the simultaneous fear and affection he had for his family, and his descriptions of his family's nomadic life is fascinating. Be warned, though, some of the more graphic sections are not for the faint of heart.
I don't know that I would have had the courage to come through his experiences as strongly as he did. It's a quick read, and although it doesn't delve as deeply as I'd hoped into Romany culture, it does provide an insider's glimpse into a gritty, unique and disappearing world.
I don't know that I would have had the courage to come through his experiences as strongly as he did. It's a quick read, and although it doesn't delve as deeply as I'd hoped into Romany culture, it does provide an insider's glimpse into a gritty, unique and disappearing world.
booksarecoolwhoknew's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
No rating because it feels strange to rate the story of someone’s life, but I found it fascinating and pretty much couldn’t put it down til I’d finished it
lisaar91's review against another edition
3.0
I find it really hard to review true stories. You aren't commenting on someone's work. But their life.
This is being made into a a tv series (or tv film) next year on the BBC. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do it!
This is being made into a a tv series (or tv film) next year on the BBC. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do it!
casspro's review against another edition
2.0
This is not something for the faint of heart. I don't quite know what I was anticipating, but this book called to me from the library shelves. I agree with some of the other reviewers that it seems a stretch that Walsh remembers so many vivid details and conversations from when he was four, five, six years old. A lot of this must have been hand-me-down stories, exaggerations, or retellings of already existing memories. The big take-away from this book is violence. Physical, sexual, mental, emotional. Whether it's true or not, the details are gut wrenching and skin crawling. I guess I wanted something a little more romanticized; I wasn't prepared for the reality that Walsh portrays of the Gypsy culture.