rworrall78's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Brilliant, moving full of spirit and the first person narrative heightens the reader's sympathy (I loved that little joke when he was referring to his own copy of capturing the rye and his notes made on it). I found myself desperate to find out what happened next even though I know broadly how it all turned out for the author. Desperately sad and yet joyful at the same time.
Would have been five stars but I found the inclusion of racist slurs difficult. I understand why it was done, it was written in the present tense that would have been how people spoke. Leaving the racism and bullying that the author and his friends did (nothing on there bullying and abuse that he suffered) in was very honest and human. Not sure the same decision would be made if it was the n word rather than the p word.
Would have been five stars but I found the inclusion of racist slurs difficult. I understand why it was done, it was written in the present tense that would have been how people spoke. Leaving the racism and bullying that the author and his friends did (nothing on there bullying and abuse that he suffered) in was very honest and human. Not sure the same decision would be made if it was the n word rather than the p word.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Bullying, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism
kellyinbookland's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
scottiesandbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
“It’s the blue of the Tories who just won the election. Like everybody she says she hates Maggie but I think they would get on, they’re both used to getting what they want. You don’t say no to Granny Mac. I imagine Maggie helping to pick out my crisp white school shirts. Maybe she’d show me how to knot my tie?”
Maggie & Me is a powerful, heartbreaking and yet inspiring memoir by the lovely Damian Barr, presenter of BBCs The Big Scottish Book Club. This memoir takes us through his life growing up in a Scottish housing scheme in the midst of Thatcherism, in a broken home and trying to be everything but himself.
Damian writes from a place with unapologetic honesty which is both brave and inspiring and unlike many memoirs I’ve read in recent years, he doesn’t come across as self inflated and egotistical. He gives you absolutely everything, warts and all.
Being from a mining village myself (albeit 10 years later) I did resonate with much of what Damian mentions in this story. Despite this though it was still truly individual and insightful. I found it sometimes very uncomfortable to read with many acts of domestic violence, child abuse, bullying, homophobia and just sheer heartache. But these things made the book what it was.
As for including Maggie herself, Damian has done this in a very unique and effective way. I see this book as a balanced look at what Maggie did for (and took away) from the people of Britain. Destroying the livelihood of the people surrounding Damian, reducing benefits of the poor and blaming them for being poor, clause 28 etc and on the other side inspiring a young boy to work hard and become successful.
She’s still the devil to me though!
Maggie & Me is a powerful, heartbreaking and yet inspiring memoir by the lovely Damian Barr, presenter of BBCs The Big Scottish Book Club. This memoir takes us through his life growing up in a Scottish housing scheme in the midst of Thatcherism, in a broken home and trying to be everything but himself.
Damian writes from a place with unapologetic honesty which is both brave and inspiring and unlike many memoirs I’ve read in recent years, he doesn’t come across as self inflated and egotistical. He gives you absolutely everything, warts and all.
Being from a mining village myself (albeit 10 years later) I did resonate with much of what Damian mentions in this story. Despite this though it was still truly individual and insightful. I found it sometimes very uncomfortable to read with many acts of domestic violence, child abuse, bullying, homophobia and just sheer heartache. But these things made the book what it was.
As for including Maggie herself, Damian has done this in a very unique and effective way. I see this book as a balanced look at what Maggie did for (and took away) from the people of Britain. Destroying the livelihood of the people surrounding Damian, reducing benefits of the poor and blaming them for being poor, clause 28 etc and on the other side inspiring a young boy to work hard and become successful.
She’s still the devil to me though!
hilarymak's review
5.0
I have enjoyed Damian Barr at 'The Literary Salon' and this was an amazingly honest and moving memoir. What was clearly a difficult childhood and adolescence in 1980s Scotland was reflected on without pity and regret. The power of education, and as he describes it 'the kindness of teachers' shone through and it encourages belief that change, development and growth can occur, even in the toughest of life circumstances. I look forward to his new novel with eager anticipation.
dar__winn's review
4.0
Maggie and Me is the autobiography of a UK journalist I’d never heard of, Damian Barr. It captured my attention because of the book cover and the premise. How could a little boy have been inspired by Margaret Thatcher during her tenure as PM?
Damian came from a hard-knocks childhood. You could even compare it to Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes – it was that grim! He grew up hearing all the adults in his life cursing at Ms. Thatcher and her draconian policies. His life would have been hard enough in his Scottish steel town council flats without the abuse that was heaped on him as a result of “acting gay.” His daily life bounced from neglect to horrific abuse to the joy of having a gay best friend his own age.
The book ends when the author reaches the age of 33 and has long since flown the coop on his personal history. If you enjoy rags-to-riches stories and LGBTQ memoirs, add this to your reading list. I’ll leave you to find the link to Maggie T!
Damian came from a hard-knocks childhood. You could even compare it to Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes – it was that grim! He grew up hearing all the adults in his life cursing at Ms. Thatcher and her draconian policies. His life would have been hard enough in his Scottish steel town council flats without the abuse that was heaped on him as a result of “acting gay.” His daily life bounced from neglect to horrific abuse to the joy of having a gay best friend his own age.
The book ends when the author reaches the age of 33 and has long since flown the coop on his personal history. If you enjoy rags-to-riches stories and LGBTQ memoirs, add this to your reading list. I’ll leave you to find the link to Maggie T!
lnatal's review
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
Damian Barr's reads his entertaining memoir of growing up in a Scottish steelworking town.
Damian Barr's reads his entertaining memoir of growing up in a Scottish steelworking town.
More...