What an absolute pleasure

Loved this book from begining to end, thought i would struggle with the sad parts in terms of the difficult childhood however, the overiding theme of this book is strength and resilience so hear warming and profound. Thank you 🥰

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7 people found this helpful

delightful, poignant, beuatiful

I listened to the whole book in one go. the main caracter is such a beautiful ordinary soul. both fragile and strong. I couldn't help falling in love with Margrer Small and thinking about all other people who experienced anything like this being done to them in the name of civilized society. Amazing story, wonderful language and bot narrators are splendid :)

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6 people found this helpful

Excellent and thought provoking

I really enjoyed this book. I found it very moving and informative. I especially liked that the story was told from the point of view of someone experienced first hand what it was like live in institutional care for"mental defectives" and to have no way out. Margaret is a very engaging character. You want her to be able to have a good life & be free of the treatment she received from a prejudiced and ill informed system.

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3 people found this helpful

Good Story Well Narrated

Kept me interested all the way through, strong characters and good story line. Would recommend

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3 people found this helpful

One of the most moving and thought provoking books I have ever listened to too.

When I started to listen to this story I had no idea what it was about. However, I was hooked from the beginning. The narrator was absolutely magnificent. I cannot imagine anyone else delivering this story any better. I felt drawn in immediately. Having worked and volunteered in this field between 1972 and 1976 I found myself so emotionally invested and I have to say confused because I was involved at a time when change was happening. I also worked and volunteered with people who cared so very much. I found this an inspiring book but also a very emotional story. There are books that change your lives, I feel that is the power of a good story snd this story has done that for me. I can’t explained how or why but the tears I cried for Margaret were different to any I have cried before - so thank you for this book. To the narrator’s who were excellent and to the author for telling a story that is one of the most powerful I have read.

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2 people found this helpful

Wonderfully Insightful Book

This was an amazingly thought provoking, heart rending and yet hopeful story. Written with true compassion and care, I have heard many stories of a similar nature from people I was fortunate enough to have met through my work over the years. This wonderful book captures the stories of the institutions and its residents and those who 'cared' for them, often lacking an ounce of compassion and in many cases, downright cruel . I would highly recommend this book. Although Margaret is a fictional character, as the author states, it is the story of so many that were hidden away from the world and treated appallingly, due to wilful ignorance of society.
The ending broke my heart and I listened with tears pouring down my face - many were not so fortunate as Margaret.
I would highly recommend this book to everybody as an insight into life in the old-style institutions and how wrong it actually was.

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2 people found this helpful

A lovely little story

I found this audio very easy to listen to. Margaret is brought to life and her story is one that should be told. Although fictional it is an example of many children's lives born out of wedlock. Put into mental institutions because the families couldn't cope or didn't want to cope.
The stigma of becoming pregnant without a husband was looked upon as a sin.
In the 1960s I also found myself in the same situation. but I was lucky because I was supported by my parents and later married my babies father. That was 55 yrs ago.
I recommend this book because it is well written and well narrated.

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2 people found this helpful

Wonderful

I can say no more about this book that hasn’t been said already .
Well written , poignant , heartwarming and funny . Deeply shocking at times .
Very well narrated .

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2 people found this helpful

Didn’t want it to finish !!

Just loved this book so much. I could picture Margaret and felt for her all the way through her story. Happy and sad at the same time. Great book and easy to listen too !

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1 person found this helpful

Wonderful!

I loved this book and listened to it in almost one sitting. The characters are likeable and believable. The writing and narration is excellent- highly recommend.

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