Jenni Muir

Advantages: Quick reading, quite facinating!!
Disadvantages: None

...I'm not by any means an avid book reader and have to be in a mood to actually sit down and start a book but I was recommended this book by a friend and managed to find a copy. This book is the true story of the author Jenny Cockle. From a very young age Jenny has been plagued by the same vivid dreams, that of a young woman named Mary living in Ireland, In the dream Mary was actually on her death bed full of fear pain and anxiety at the thought of leaving her children. As Jenny grew up more detail appeared in her dreams and she could describe the cottage in detail where Mary lived also the Village and the children, she drew maps of the roads and landmarks and filed these away. Later on Jenny managed to get hold of a map of Ireland and scanned the area which she knew from her dream and there indeed was the village in where Mary had... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: a truely inspirational, gripping book
Disadvantages: a disturbing read

...This is the story of Martine McCutcheon's mother Jenny Tomlin and the sexual, physical and emotional abuse she suffered as a child, growing up in the 60's. The only respite Jenny and her brother and sister get from their abusive every day life is when they are sent to visit their auntie, who gives them the love and nurturing that every child deserves. This was a quick and easy read; Tomlin writes in a frank, no-nonsense, "tell it like it was" style unlike some similar biographies. However this makes her story all the more disturbing. I found the most horrifying part to be that although Jenny and her brothers and sisters could report their mother and father, no-one would believe them; the police were happy to believe the father (who denied what was happening) and wouldn't even speak to the children, and the NSPCC officer did not try... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: a good read
Disadvantages: depressing

...I found this book in our local charity shop for a £1 its original price should have been £7.99. I dont usually read biographies, but something in the title intruiged me. It is about an east end family who grew up in depressing conditions with little money. Jenny and her sister oftern suffered under their father who used them to gain moeny from the authorities..The father failed to work as he supposedly had fits. Although he was still capable of abusing his children. Jenny tries to tell the social worker but is not believed. The girls only repireve is when they go to visit thier Aunt. The thing which touched me is Jenny has included family photos in the book, these photos say so much that words cannot, the expressions on the faces, the body language being portrayed its all there, the photos upsset me more than reading the book... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful