Held Me Captivated
Rebecca’s Secrets – This book dragged me through every emotion and held me captivated with every turn of the page. The uplifting camaraderie of childhood friends and the exhilaration of their exuberant embracing of a life outdoors contrasted with the misery of a home of poverty and grime, the conspiratorial hiding of the truth by trusted adults, and a glimpse into the terrifyingly seedy underbelly of East End London in the post war years.
There is something of Angela’s Ashes here in the seeing of this world through the eyes of a child, with a child’s turn of phrase – and the heart clenching knowledge that this is all true. In fact I know from being in touch with the author, who lived this life, that some of the more terrible scenes are in fact understated. This is a superb book, beautifully written, that will make you nostalgic for childhood freedom never again within your grasp, and thankful that you escaped the horrors and emptiness this little boy experienced.
Robert hart 