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sadiereadsagain's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. My father was born not far from where and not long after when this book was set, so I was really interested to see more of that world. But I was dubious, worried that this was going to be yet another child abuse story. Thankfully, this memoir is so much more than that. It's a story of the bond between a mother and son above all else, a story which warmed me and broke me in equal measures. It's also a funny, nostalgic and honest snapshot of a childhood in the Maryhill area of Glasgow in the 1950's which had me turning the pages, running through the closes with Robert and his friends and breaking my heart for his strong and funny mother. Lovely wee book.
dorianfm's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting insight into what it was like to grow up on the poverty line in working class Glasgow in the aftermath of World War II. Emotional, and thought provoking, made me consider how much I have, and how little my forbears were brought up with.
sshabein's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This memoir of a childhood in post-WWII Glasgow was far less "noble poor" than the previous Glasgow memoir I read, though the grim moments were not sensationalized either. The whole book is an interesting set of snapshots from a particular time in history, and it was both useful to me for the reasons that I read it, but also in general a decent book. I'd be interesting in reading more of his work.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs
plaintosee's review against another edition
4.0
Exquisitely crafted memoir. Loved the detailed view of life in Glasgow during and after the war.
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