Too Many Mothers: A Memoir of an East End Childhood

I bought this book because I like Roberta Taylor as an actress, and would have been happy to read anything by her. I had expected a quick in-flight-read kind of a book. But it was a much better and richer experience than that. By the time I put it down, every character had been etched so clearly and memorably on my mind that I felt as if they'd all rented a large house in my head, and were carrying on their colourful lives up there.

Although it's all based on real-life characters and events from her own past, this isn't a book about Roberta Taylor, it's a book about life in the east-end of London in the first half of the 20th century. There's a real poignancy about it. You get the impression that the 1950s are such a watershed in Britain that looking back is like looking over a high wall.

She crafts the story for maximum impact and enjoyment, not to make herself the centre or focus of it. She does it brilliantly - the structure of the book leads to a tightly-woven cloth of overlapping and interwoven threads, with the same narratives sometimes retold from two or more perspectives. There's both a clear, forward-thrusting narrative, and a contemplative, side-stepping and time-hopping one which gives depth and suspense.

Far from being just another memoir by a celebrity, for my taste, this is up there with some of my favourites like Kate Atkinson's Human Croquet, or Cider With Rosie, or Under Milk Wood. Now that many of the places in the book have long since been glazed and steeled with new Docklands developments, this is a beautiful memorial to a past which is indeed another country.

is it me? (2/5 people found this helpful)

I've read the other reviewer's comments on this book but have to say that I found it very boring..... I could have done with a family tree as I kept having to check back on who was who. It is the story of a poor East End family but once you accept this it becomes tedious to wade through all of the family's struggle to make ends meet. I'm afraid I abandoned it half way through which is something I rarely do!

brilliant! (4/4 people found this helpful)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Rough, tough women, hardship, tears but also lighthearted moments and lots of hope. Just a blimmin' good read.

A very enjoyable read (1/1 people found this helpful)

I really enjoyed this book. It focuses mainly on Roberta's life as a child, the two generations above her and how they interact with one and other. It had me laughing out loud in places and at times you do forget that this is a true story. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Roberta, family life and also to those who are interested in life in East-end London in the past.
Id now love to know what happened next and how Roberta came to be the actress she is today.

An Eastend Childhood brought to life with wit, humour and good writing (19/19 people found this helpful)

This is another one of these books which you will find hard to put down. This is really well written weaving in the all the family members in there own individual chapters. It is linked up with one memoir of a boxing day in 1956 which runs through the whole book. Mary and Bob have five daughters and two sons and it tells all there stories. Mary who's roots lie in an Irish travelling family spends her life begging, buying, selling and running from the Tallyman. She is a hard woman who seems to be ruled by money but in the abject proverty of London's East End between the wars who can blame her. We meet Granny Clara who sorts out young Mary. Uncle William who loves Flo who has a plate in her head. Vi who spends some time as a guest of HM Prison Service just like her Mother. Doll who wants something better and a baby, Win who falls in love with the wrong guy and Carol who marries the wrong guy. Robert who gets out and makes some life for himself despite his Mother stealing his 10 bob notes and young George who hits the road for New Zealand. You see them though the eyes of young Roberta who has to deal with her own idenity being a mystery. You do at times feel that this lot are a bit hard and Mary is not a perfect Mother by a long, long shot but the grinding poverty they have to put up with is an eye opener. Its also sad, funny and never does she once moan or pass judgement on any of them. She writes well and if you like Alan Bennetts obsevations and his family tales you will enjoy this.

Too Many Mothers: A Memoir of an East End Childhood

Roberta Taylor

Reader Reviews:

A bewitching read from a bewitching author (1/1 people found this helpful)

is it me? (2/5 people found this helpful)

brilliant! (4/4 people found this helpful)

A very enjoyable read (1/1 people found this helpful)

An Eastend Childhood brought to life with wit, humour and good writing (19/19 people found this helpful)

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