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Slammerkin

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Slammerkin

By: Emma Donoghue
Narrated by: Charlotte Stevens
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Strangers might remember a trip to see a girl hang, but who would spare a thought for the who’s and how’s and whys? 'At thirteen, Mary, the daughter of a poor seamstress, longs for fine clothes as her neighbours hunger for food and warmth. For the love of a gorgeous red ribbon she finds herself seduced into a life on the cold, dangerous streets of late 1700s London. Her saviour is Doll, a gaudy young woman who takes her under her wing. But Mary soon discovers that she can't escape her past and that people like her pay must pay dearly for yearnings not fitting to their class

©2000 Emma Donoghue (P)2012 Hachette Digital Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
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Critic reviews

"Utterly gripping" (The Times)
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Slammerkin is the name for a loose fitted garment worn by women in the 1700,s.The title hints at the loose morals of this century,the story itself tells of the corruption of an innocent child who makes one crucial mistake and ends up paying for it with her life.

Mary's story is told by the author in such a way that

it is easy to conjure up the vivid images of the dirt and filth of the London streets,the lewd talk and behaviour of the characters.

In contrast to this bleakness is the introduction of the rural Wales,which gives the reader a glimmer of hope for Mary's character but alas her short life will not let her shake off her past sins.

I originally read this book about five years ago and at the time it left me feeling sad for the people of that time,but nothing really changes .life is easy for some and hard for others depending mostly on which bed you are born in. Looking around the world today there are young people living equally miserable existences,we havent eradicated the horror of not having the choice to live the life we really want .

The audio version somehow adds to the atmosphere of the time ,we have the sense of hearing to add another dimension.

Well worth reading or listening to ,Emma Donoghue has done an excellent job here .

Slammerkin

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This is the first book I have read by Emma Donoghue. The character of Mary is seemingly doomed from the start. She is living in extreme poverty with her mother step father and half sibling. She wants a better life than what her mother has had but ends up with worse when she is raped by a street seller and becomes pregnant. Her mother when she finds out throws her out in the street. She is then gang raped by a group of men before meeting up with a prostitute Doll Higgins.
As a character Mary is not a likeable character. She is selfish and manipulative and very materialistic. She is focused on her self and her own needs. She shows cunning and conniving and is ultimately a criminal. It is not difficult to see why Mary developed in this way considering her back story. The story is sad and especially about the lives led by prostitutes in London during this time. Other characters like Doll are equally interesting and add to the story.
The author gives a graphic description of London as seen by the poor. I was rooting for Mary and felt so sad at the end of the book. This is based in fact although the author did add fiction to the story. Overall I would recommend but be prepared for a sad read.

Very sad and hopeless

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A truly remarkable story, superbly told. Even more amazing is that it's a true story.

Such superb narration

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I've read this book a few times and was keen to listen to it also.
It is such a dark and depressing story but also full of personal strength. Young Mary (as Head in the Welsh accent) does what she can to survive. Her ambitions are high and far away but she tries. Sadly the ending is not as she hoped.

Great telling of Emma Donoghue's story.
And still my favourite book of hers.

Harrowing but Brilliant

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'hats off straight away for gentle & lilting but characterful narration - so well done and wholly right for the story, for the time, the place and most of all for 'Mary'.

I selected this on the basis of 'Room' but any comparison would be apples & pears..!

This is the life-story of Mary. As an only child who is 'fallen', Mary is sent away & must learn survival on the city's harshest backstreets - this world together with the loss & rejection of her parents, shapes her.
When later there is opportunity for safety and quiet, can Mary un-learn the hardest of lessons life has taught her..should she look for & can she live with compromise; can there be for her, social approval, belonging & peace of mind?

This book has a real sense of era - I could almost smell those foul backstreets then feel the rich white velvet, the softness of Jane & the finger-prick of the seamstresses needle..

The storyline 'pauses' in part to colour-in the minutiae of everyday life - a slower pace that might not suit all listeners. I was perfectly happy though, plodding on, enjoying the slow building of relations & communication & the contradictions for and within the troubled young woman who is Mary; beautifully written I think & Id recommend.

I loved this but maybe not to everyone's taste..

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