Start reading A Celtic Childhood on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

 
 
 

Try it free

Sample the beginning of this book for free

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.
A Celtic Childhood
 
 
Share your own customer images

A Celtic Childhood [Kindle Edition]

Bill Watkins (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews) |
Digital List Price: £7.13 What's this?
Kindle Price: £5.70 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: £1.43 (20%)
Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £5.70   -- --
Hardcover --   -- --
Paperback --   -- --

Product Description

Review


""A Celtic Childhood" is a lovely memoir that reads as if you're sitting at the feet of a grandfather full of stories! This book is full of charming vignettes and hilarious antics." --Compass Book Ratings (formerly Squeaky Clean Reads)

"Deserves to be read for its own brilliance...laugh-out-loud funny...Watkins' tales make for pure reading pleasure." --"Publishers Weekly", starred review

.".. Will appeal to all people who enjoy music and myths and a wee bit of mischief." --"San Antonio News Express"

"A memoir that will remind some of "Angela's Ashes"--except this one is laugh-out-loud funny." --"St. Paul Pioneer Press"

"Watkins' work stands out because of the quality of the writing and the underlying humor behind the facts." --"Irish Voice"

"Guaranteed Good Read: As entertaining as "Angela's Ashes" or your money back!" --HarperCollins Australia

Product Description

A Celtic Childhood vividly portrays Bill Watkins' eccentric Celtic family: his vibrant Irish mam whose "hand is on the tiller" as head of household; his principled but stout-loving Welsh dad; and his Grandda, who has "a generous supply of Celtic songs and tall stories." These tales from Watkins’ boyhood find him disrupting weddings while dressed as a gangster, illegally operating a ham radio, and getting kicked out of Ireland for "vagrancy." The lively anecdotes of A Celtic Childhood sing from the page with a keen sense of rhythm.
See all Product Description

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 718 KB
  • Print Length: 313 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0976520184
  • Publisher: Scarletta Press (12 July 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B005CAPL7A
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #369,229 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

    •  Would you like to give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Bill Watkins
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Bill Watkins Page

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

Customer Reviews

4 star
0
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"A Celtic Childhood" is a very funny book about Bill Watkins' childhood in Ireland, England and Wales. This very well written narrative is jam packed with hilarious tales of his naughty childhood, catholic schooling, and forthright atheist father. There are also some moving tales about his family, growing up, and the history of the Celtic People.

The last quarter of the book, describing Bill Watkins' adolescence and very young adulthood is less slightly less funny, but equally interesting and an important part of the story.

As with "Scotland is not for the Sqeamish", there is an explanation at the start of all the unusual terms used in the book. There is also a sprinkling of myth and mythology spread throughout.

I read this book on the bus to work over a short period and received many inquiring looks for laughing out loud. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about people.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I am the Dutch translator of this book, and rarely have I enjoyed my work so much. Bill Watkins writes about his early years in a way which reminded of my own childhood, he has really been able to capture the wondering eyes of a bright child. The combination of fun and wisdom plus a taste of Celtic history throughout the book, and all this in precious language, make this book into a worthwhile piece of literature.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:  17 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
A book that will resurrect the spirit of impish youth 23 Nov 1999
By Donal McQuat - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
I was first recommended this book by a friend. Having already read Frank McCourt's 'Angela's Ashes' I was wary of what I assumed to be something of a similar subject matter. However I was pleasantly surprised. Rather than attempting to invoke a feeling of guilty depression upon the reader, Watkins book celebrates both the joys of growing up (many of us share the memory of a childhood that was poor AND happy)and the tenacious nature of the Celtic spirit without falling into the repetitive downward spiralling plot of AA. The overall mood is a positive one that involves the reader through rich descriptions and even a glossary to help with the cosmopolitan use of language. It is certainly a book that you can go back to and as a good book of this type should do, it leads the reader to fresh ground. I found myself wanting to know more of the historical and mythical characters alluded to in the text. If this is to be the first work of a trilogy I can only hope the best is yet to come!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
The Anti Angela's Ashes 8 Mar 2000
By John Gillis - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Given the timing and subject matter of Bill Watkins' "A Celtic Childhood," comparisons to Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" and "'Tis" are inevitable.While the similarities are evident, Watkins' and McCourt's styles are far from identical.

While McCourt's stories are humorous, they focus on the hardships of growing up poor in Ireland, seemingly from the point of view of an adult looking back on the past. Watkins, on the other hand, tells humorous stories that mention the hardships of his youth matter-of-factly, and is able to take on the point of view of the child describing the present.

Watkins' vivid imagination and gift for language are quite apparent in this memoir. The fantasies he created for himself as a child (and often acted out) are wonderful, whether he be Biggles the World War I aviator or the leader of a pack of American gangsters.

What stands out for me in this book is the relationship Watkins, as an only child, had with his parents (and other adult relatives). His mother is a woman of great creativity and salty language, while his father is a bit of a tosspot and ne'er-do-well who loves his son and imparts great knowledge of things scientific, philospohical and historical.

Watkins has the eye of the keen observer, always alert, missing nothing, and the ability to describe what he has observed with very creative uses of language.

I recommend this book strongly to fans of humor, memoir, and all things Irish. Watkins reportedly plans a trilogy, of which this is the first volume. (The second will allegedly be called "Scotland is Not for the Squeamish.") I can't wait to read it!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A Celtic childhood 24 Nov 1999
By Marie C McCarthy - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Bill puts a smile on your face every time you meet him. A Celtic childhood is an example of his exceptional wit and charisma ! Its a joy to have this book being Irish, I'm from Co. Limerick - what a great christmas present for the folks back home. Keep um coming Bill !
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject


























i.e., each title must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. GB Privacy Statement Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. GB Delivery Information Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. GB Returns & Exchanges