Supposedly one of the best-selling 'misery memoirs' of it's time, this book shocks, grips and pains with its true account of the little boy who was beaten, abused and mentally tortured by his monster of a mother who refused to call him anything other than 'IT.' At times this book was so painful to read that I had to put it down and go back to it a few days later.
Although not as gripping as the last misery memoir that I was reading was, this still kept me reading until the end. The account was disgustingly graphic and painful to read in some parts but very well put together all the same.
Although the story to this novel was genius (in fact it was said to be the idea for Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde) the language was awful to read. Quarter of a way into the book I was contemplating giving up, and I don't normally give up on books. The second half improved, but not enough that when I had finished the book I didn't give a cry of relief. 18th Century Scottish can get a bit much sometimes! So in short, great story, terrible language!
Unlike her other non stop hilarious novels, Barker has recounted the story of her life in a painfully brutal and honest way. The relationship she had with her father and how she coped when her mother went driving in a blonde wig with no license, this book offers a fascinating insight into her life that is also surprisingly charming and funny.
