Durham Bookfestival 2021 Big Read

At the age of seventeen, after a childhood in an adopted family followed by six years in care homes, Norman Greenwood was given his birth certificate. He learned that his real name was not Norman. It was Lemn Sissay. He was British and Ethiopian. And he learned that his mother had been pleading for his safe return to her since his birth. Here Sissay recounts his life story. It is a story of neglect and determination. Misfortune and hope. Cruelty and beauty. Sissay reflects on adoption, self-expression and Britishness, and in doing so explores the institutional care system, race, family and the meaning of home. Written with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation's best-loved voices, this moving, frank and timely memoir is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity.

A difficult and uncomfortable read but yet also very poignant and important.I felt profoundly sorry for Lemn and the way he was treated so unfairly and ultimately unlawfully.
A powerful but difficult read

Reserved for TheHappyHippy

Going off to Bonnie Scotland to TheHappyHippy

Received this book from Kinedi via the Bookcrossing forum. It's the first book I've ever received directly from another book crosser (I've yet to meet another in real life!) and can't wait to read this. I am braced though as I've been forewarned it's not a particularly easy read given his life experiences.

A beautifully written book. Absolutely stunning. I loved its raw honesty. A must read for anyone working in children's social care and it should be a compulsory read for care workers in children's homes. It'll be a book I'll buy again and again to pass on to friends and colleagues. Loved it.

Posted on to Daffodil-2 as a RABCK. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Best wishes xx

Received in the post today from TheHappyHippy following a request in the Reading it Want it thread. Thanks very much. Also in the parcel was Not in the Flesh by Ruth Rendell.
I shall look forward to reading both books as soon as they fit into one of Plum-Crazy's monthly themes-see under Book Talk in the Forum.

REVIEW:-"I enjoyed this book although it was very sad in places. I was shocked at how Lemn's foster parents seemed to have abandoned him after being the only family he had known practically since birth. He was also let down badly by Social Services several times. I was pleased however to find out online that he has since found his birthmother and met her several times and also that he has become a quite famous poet."
Reserved for someone who I think will like it.

This book will be given to my friend Margaret J. who I think will like it.

To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.

I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.

When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.

Returned to me today by Margaret J who said she really enjoyed it.
Now reserved for my sister-in-law who I think will also like it.

This book will be given to my sister-in-law.

To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.

I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.

When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.

My sister-in-law has just told me that she left this book at Clippesby in August 2023.