Maggie & Me
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Get 3 months for £0.99/mo
Maggie & Me
Buy Now for £14.99
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Narrated by:
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Damian Barr
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By:
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Damian Barr
About this listen
It's 12 October 1984. An IRA bomb blows apart the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Miraculously, Margaret Thatcher survives. In small-town Scotland, eight-year-old Damian Barr watches in horror as his mum rips her wedding ring off and packs their bags. He knows he, too, must survive.
Damian, his sister and his Catholic mum move in with her sinister new boyfriend while his Protestant dad shacks up with the glamorous Mary the Canary. Divided by sectarian suspicion, the community is held together by the sprawling Ravenscraig Steelworks. But darkness threatens as Maggie takes hold: she snatches school milk, smashes the unions and makes greed good. Following Maggie's advice, Damian works hard and plans his escape. He discovers that stories can save your life and - in spite of violence, strikes, AIDS and Clause 28 - manages to fall in love dancing to Madonna in Glasgow's only gay club.
Maggie & Me is a touching and darkly witty memoir about surviving Thatcher's Britain; a story of growing up gay in a straight world and coming out the other side in spite of, and maybe because of, the iron lady.
©2013 Damian Barr (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
The Pride List of Queer Storytelling
Brings the 1980s back to life
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Would you consider the audio edition of Maggie & Me to be better than the print version?
This audio book brought the stories of Damian Barr to life for me, far more than if I'd read it myself.What was one of the most memorable moments of Maggie & Me?
There is a short reference to the local ice-cream van, and my own memories of chasing the ice-cream van flashed back. I had to stop reading and phone a friend.What does Damian Barr bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Damian Barr is clearly the character in this book. I would not have enjoyed it had it not been read by the author.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There were many moments in this book that moved me. There were many that caused me great anguish and concern. At one point, I thought things were going to turn too nasty to continue reading.Any additional comments?
I enjoyed this book and its narration. Afterwards, I phoned a few friends I went to school with back in the 1980s and we discussed may of the stories in the book. Crystal Gayle for example.Flashback to the 80s
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a really enjoyable read
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Best Book I've read/listened to in 2019.
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Would you listen to Maggie & Me again? Why?
This story is endearing, exciting, funny and overall a very enjoyable way to spend 7 hours and 27 minutes. While listening, I was entertained and really felt a connection to story teller’s dry humour and witty banter. It was so enjoyable to hear all the fantastic Scottish-isms and the insight into how hard it must have been to grow up in an area of deprivation during the time that Thatcher was in power.What was one of the most memorable moments of Maggie & Me?
It was really nice how Damien is introduced and the listener learns more about him as he learns more about himself as he grows up. The realisation that he is growing up gay in a difficult time in a difficult part of the country make you feel very close to him.What about Damian Barr’s performance did you like?
The performance of the reader was perfect. His delivery was warm, funny, honest and occasionally bitchy which added perfectly to the story.Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It was difficult not to laugh heartily out loud at some points (embarrassing if listening while on the tube). Really felt that by the end you knew exactly what Heather, Granny Barr and Teeny would have been like if you met them in real life!Any additional comments?
Overall, excellent, I would recommend this to anyone.Heartfelt story of 1980s Scotland & growing up gay
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