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sheryl_macca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.0
My Mum's friend was going to take a box of books to the recycling centre, thankfully, Mum intervened and brought a selection of the books to me. Given my vow to diversify my reading I decided to give all of them a go and Gypsy Boy was the first.
I find most people either love or hate this 'memoir of an abusive childhood' genre. I enjoy them and since Mikey Walsh was writing of a culture other than my own it had even more appeal.
Stephen Fry describes this book as "moving, terrifying, funny and brilliant. I shall never forget it". For me, this is one of the most consistently horrific memoirs of childhood abuse I've read. It really is relentless and it involves every type abuse possible although some are less graphic than others. 'Moving and terrifying' are the right words to describe this story. 'Shocking' is another one but I can't say I found it funny at all. There are definitely lighter moments of fun between siblings, moments of genuine childhood joy and wit. These moments do make the overwhelming abuse more bareable. They are a glimmer of hope and a highlight of the wild and free Romany Gypsy life.
Unfortunately, I couldn't go as far as to say that this book is 'brilliant' either. I fully appreciate that Mikey was unable to read or write until adulthood, that he missed out on the vast majority of his education but this book is lacking in nuance and detail. There'saa guarded feeling. Mikey isn't allowing the reading in fully. These stories are usually written like a diary, as though it's a deep and private conversation between writer and reader. Gypsy Boy is more like a story being told to a group of good friends in the quiet corner of the pub. I wanted more emotional exploration, greater insight into the mental struggles. Events are described graphically and the dialogue is authentic and powerful but I don't feel I truly understand what was in Mikey's heart.
The cultural aspects of Gypsy Boy came across genuinely and with pride. Mikey is brutally honest about the lifestyle and the values of the Romany Gypsies but this book is not a bashing of the culture at all. There's warmth and love for the community Mikey was compelled to leave behind. He isn't ashamed nor does he condemn the way of life as a whole.
I enjoyed the book but it's not as memorable for me as it was for Stephen Fry. The stand out parts I won't forget are not the powerful, emotional, personal elements. What stays with me is a more general shock of the overwhelming extent of the abuse suffered. I just didn't connect tightly and closely to Mikey Walsh as I wanted to.
I find most people either love or hate this 'memoir of an abusive childhood' genre. I enjoy them and since Mikey Walsh was writing of a culture other than my own it had even more appeal.
Stephen Fry describes this book as "moving, terrifying, funny and brilliant. I shall never forget it". For me, this is one of the most consistently horrific memoirs of childhood abuse I've read. It really is relentless and it involves every type abuse possible although some are less graphic than others. 'Moving and terrifying' are the right words to describe this story. 'Shocking' is another one but I can't say I found it funny at all. There are definitely lighter moments of fun between siblings, moments of genuine childhood joy and wit. These moments do make the overwhelming abuse more bareable. They are a glimmer of hope and a highlight of the wild and free Romany Gypsy life.
Unfortunately, I couldn't go as far as to say that this book is 'brilliant' either. I fully appreciate that Mikey was unable to read or write until adulthood, that he missed out on the vast majority of his education but this book is lacking in nuance and detail. There'saa guarded feeling. Mikey isn't allowing the reading in fully. These stories are usually written like a diary, as though it's a deep and private conversation between writer and reader. Gypsy Boy is more like a story being told to a group of good friends in the quiet corner of the pub. I wanted more emotional exploration, greater insight into the mental struggles. Events are described graphically and the dialogue is authentic and powerful but I don't feel I truly understand what was in Mikey's heart.
The cultural aspects of Gypsy Boy came across genuinely and with pride. Mikey is brutally honest about the lifestyle and the values of the Romany Gypsies but this book is not a bashing of the culture at all. There's warmth and love for the community Mikey was compelled to leave behind. He isn't ashamed nor does he condemn the way of life as a whole.
I enjoyed the book but it's not as memorable for me as it was for Stephen Fry. The stand out parts I won't forget are not the powerful, emotional, personal elements. What stays with me is a more general shock of the overwhelming extent of the abuse suffered. I just didn't connect tightly and closely to Mikey Walsh as I wanted to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Vomit
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