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Maggie & Me

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Maggie & Me

By: Damian Barr
Narrated by: Damian Barr
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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. Heartfelt Witty Thought-Provoking Survival

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The Pride List of Queer Storytelling

To mark Pride 2023 Audible teamed up with non-profit organisation, Out on the Page, supporter and champion of LGBTQIA+ writers and writing, to release an extensive Pride List of Queer Storytelling. Featuring contributions from some of the UK’s most important and exciting voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, this audiobook is one of the many featured on the list that is available to listen to on Audible.
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A very real account of a child growing up with all what this woman did

A lovely book

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Had me laughing out loud. Conjured up memories of the 80s and how tough it was. Absolutely brilliant 10.10 from me

Brilliant

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Maggie and Me is an excellently written account of Damian’s journey through childhood in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain, his acceptance of his own homosexuality, and his survival of numerous traumas and neglect. I found it deeply sad in places, but the matter of fact narration style for me, prevented the story from becoming too depressing, as I think it might have done if I’d read the book. I also found it an interesting insight into what it was like at quite a pivotal time for Scotland. Damian’s experiences show the real and lasting impact of Thatcher’s rule. A thought provoking book!

Excellent - very moving

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Excellent narration and wonderful story. Didn’t want it to end. Picked this following a recommendation. Author is about 3/4 years older than me and I could relate to stories of growing up in 80s central Scotland. Loved telling my dad about Carfin’s two sunsets - he worked at Ravenscraig too

Excellent story, really engaging

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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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If you were growing up in the 80s, this memoir will have you laughing out loud. It’s also harrowingly gritty made all the more poignant by being read by the author. A great reminder of how hard it was to be homosexual and how far we have come. Highly recommend!

Brings the 1980s back to life

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Funny, sad, thought provoking and inspiring: Damian Barr cleverly ties his growing up with Maggie Thatcher's term as PM and shows that with the help of a few good people, a difficult childhood can be overcome but not by everyone. This is a book that I will think about for a long time

Poignant memoir

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What made the experience of listening to Maggie & Me the most enjoyable?

What made this title so good, was it was read by the author Damian Barr. He lived it, suffered it, then had the balls to write it.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved this story, because it finds humour in the adversity of a terrible childhood and adolescence. When you listen / read this book, the listener is so busy laughing they completely forget how terrible Damian Barr's circumstances really were. I don't know if this is typical of the Scot's attitude to life or whether it is an intrinsic part of their Celtic make up.

Have you listened to any of Damian Barr’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Maggie, Damian and Me

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Interestingly written, with hard hitting chunks of reality. Very engaging story with hard hitting emotion. Would recommend to all Glaswegians.

Informative & emotionally evocative

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A gem of a book, recommended to anyone born in the 70's and who grew up in the 80's & 90's. A true memory poke.

Best Book I've read/listened to in 2019.

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