- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton; First Edition edition (23 July 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340977965
- ISBN-13: 978-0340977965
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14.2 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (194 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 252,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Gypsy Boy
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Product Description
Review
'Explosive, sparkling and hugely entertaining - this is a twisted fairytale from a truly original mind' (Hayley Atwell, star of The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited )
'Gypsy Boy is a brilliant but bittersweet story, which reads like a magical fairytale. Although he could be excused for doing so, Mikey never descends into self pity - and has found the perfect balance between humour and harsh reality. Gypsy Boy sits somewhere between the grittiness of Irvine Welsh, and the charming warmth of Frank McCourt.' (Dermot O'Leary )
'Gypsy Boy is a brilliant but bittersweet story, which reads like a magical fairytale. Although he could be excused for doing so, Mikey never descends into self pity - and has found the perfect balance between humour and harsh reality. Gypsy Boy sits somewhere between the grittiness of Irvine Welsh, and the charming warmth of Frank McCourt.' (Dermot O'Leary )
Review
'It was a revelation. Moving, terrifying, funny and brilliant. I shall never forget it - an amazing achievement' (Stephen Fry )
'Touching, insightful, funny and incredibly shocking ****' (HEAT )
'Explosive, sparkling and hugely entertaining - this is a twisted fairytale from a truly original mind' (Hayley Atwell, star of The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited )
'Gypsy Boy is a brilliant but bittersweet story, which reads like a magical fairytale. Although he could be excused for doing so, Mikey never descends into self pity - and has found the perfect balance between humour and harsh reality. Gypsy Boy sits somewhere between the grittiness of Irvine Welsh, and the charming warmth of Frank McCourt.' (Dermot O'Leary )
'best memoir since Running with Scissors' (Attitude )
'Mikey Walsh's memoirs were an unexpected smash hit last year and the audiobook version is every bit as enjoyable.' (HEAT ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
'Touching, insightful, funny and incredibly shocking ****' (HEAT )
'Explosive, sparkling and hugely entertaining - this is a twisted fairytale from a truly original mind' (Hayley Atwell, star of The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited )
'Gypsy Boy is a brilliant but bittersweet story, which reads like a magical fairytale. Although he could be excused for doing so, Mikey never descends into self pity - and has found the perfect balance between humour and harsh reality. Gypsy Boy sits somewhere between the grittiness of Irvine Welsh, and the charming warmth of Frank McCourt.' (Dermot O'Leary )
'best memoir since Running with Scissors' (Attitude )
'Mikey Walsh's memoirs were an unexpected smash hit last year and the audiobook version is every bit as enjoyable.' (HEAT ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
104 of 108 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Gypsy Boy is my book of the year, and I would urge everyone to read it. It's the autobiographical story of Mikey Walsh, a boy growing up as a Romany Gypsy during the 80s and 90s. The pictures he paints of life in the camps, the Gypsy culture, and the Gypsy characters who had a major impact on his life (as they're not allowed to socialise with Gorgias - non-Gypsies) are stunningly vivid, conjuring in few words a real sense of place, so that as you read it's as if you can see and smell the places he describes, and as if you're watching the events unfold. Walsh uses a beautiful, lyrical narrative style, but never at the expense of clarity.
The early chapters about his birth and infancy leave his relatives to tell the story, and it helps to establish his mother and sister; as well as set up the major driving force of the narrative - his father's expectations for him. A prize-fighter himself, his father requires Mikey to carry on the line of well-respected Walshes, but it's clear from his first boxing lessons as a young child that he's never going to measure up and grow into the tough, fierce man that's required of him. Without any trace of self-pity, Walsh unflinchingly describes a childhood of horrendous physical, and even sexual abuse; but through using moments of tenderness and wit, he injects humour and pathos in equal measure, as he crafts a captivating story about a boy growing up and trying to fit in with the demands of his culture and satisfy his father's sense of honour. From the passages about his time at school, to the distance that grew between him and his sister, to the hopes he had for the future, Walsh carries you along with the power of his story-telling, and I found myself speeding up the pace of my reading, I was so keen to find out what happened next.
Gypsy Boy made me laugh out loud frequently. It also made me cry. Sometimes both within the space of a page. My only regret is that I read it too quickly instead of forcing myself to savour it, but it's certainly a book I'll return to. It's a brilliant and captivating story about a notoriously secretive and enigmatic race, told with wit and passion, through a stunningly elegant narrative voice. If you read nothing else this year, read Gypsy Boy!
The early chapters about his birth and infancy leave his relatives to tell the story, and it helps to establish his mother and sister; as well as set up the major driving force of the narrative - his father's expectations for him. A prize-fighter himself, his father requires Mikey to carry on the line of well-respected Walshes, but it's clear from his first boxing lessons as a young child that he's never going to measure up and grow into the tough, fierce man that's required of him. Without any trace of self-pity, Walsh unflinchingly describes a childhood of horrendous physical, and even sexual abuse; but through using moments of tenderness and wit, he injects humour and pathos in equal measure, as he crafts a captivating story about a boy growing up and trying to fit in with the demands of his culture and satisfy his father's sense of honour. From the passages about his time at school, to the distance that grew between him and his sister, to the hopes he had for the future, Walsh carries you along with the power of his story-telling, and I found myself speeding up the pace of my reading, I was so keen to find out what happened next.
Gypsy Boy made me laugh out loud frequently. It also made me cry. Sometimes both within the space of a page. My only regret is that I read it too quickly instead of forcing myself to savour it, but it's certainly a book I'll return to. It's a brilliant and captivating story about a notoriously secretive and enigmatic race, told with wit and passion, through a stunningly elegant narrative voice. If you read nothing else this year, read Gypsy Boy!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have just finished this book, I could not put it down, and it has left a lasting impression. Many of the reviews here echo my own feelings and thoughts but one of the things which shone through this autobiography is the courage with which this young gypsy lad endured the horrendous treatment meted out to him. It is hard to believe that some of these things actually happened, and are allowed to happen, in this day and age.
The inner struggles and torments he suffered, trapped in an alien world where all he felt and wanted was inexpressible and unattainable because of tradition and bigotry, would have overwhelmed a lesser soul....and that is why this book is inspirational. It is distressing at times and heart-rending, but it is also full of hope and shows that the human spirit has a huge capacity to win through, and will ultimately survive and conquer.
Your journey with Mikey will bring you tears, laughter, incredulity and hope. You will find it hard to put this book down as you follow him through his torments and struggles. Wherever you are now Mikey, thank you for daring to put pen to paper and share your expeiences with us!
The inner struggles and torments he suffered, trapped in an alien world where all he felt and wanted was inexpressible and unattainable because of tradition and bigotry, would have overwhelmed a lesser soul....and that is why this book is inspirational. It is distressing at times and heart-rending, but it is also full of hope and shows that the human spirit has a huge capacity to win through, and will ultimately survive and conquer.
Your journey with Mikey will bring you tears, laughter, incredulity and hope. You will find it hard to put this book down as you follow him through his torments and struggles. Wherever you are now Mikey, thank you for daring to put pen to paper and share your expeiences with us!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an amazing peice of writing. It was so easy to read. As soon as it arrived I got stuck in. It is a powerful journey that makes you realise that no matter what you go through you can make it in the end. I am so very proud to know that Mikey has told his story as I know it will help hundreds if not thousands of people who may have or are going through similar upbringing. Blessings to all that read this wonderful book.
Thanks to Mikey you are a true champion.
Thanks to Mikey you are a true champion.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very good reading
This was a really good read into the life of Gypsy's and lets you know and undertand the life of Gypsy lifeGypsy Boy: One Boy's Struggle to Escape from a Secret World . Read more
Published 11 days ago by lennox
Brilliant
An absolutely brilliant book. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. Read the whole thing in 2 days.
A great read from start to finish. Read more
A great read from start to finish. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Kelly
eye opener
Glad I bought this book, on reccomendation, a real insight into a world which we 'gorgias' are sometimes quick to stereotype. Can't wait to read the sequel, Gypsy boy on the run.
Published 1 month ago by NW
Brilliant i could,nt put this down
This book was brilliant I learned a lot from it about the travelling community and their values. I would recommend it to everyone i couldn't put it down. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nic75
An honest and sad eye opener to dispell any romantic myths of gypsy...
An absolute must have book which provides a very clear and very often distressing insight to the romantic fantasy of gypsy life.
Published 1 month ago by kate of highbridge
I read this book too quickly...
If you were ever bullied as a child or grew up feeling like you didn't belong then Gypsy Boy will strike a (massive) chord with you. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Graham J. Sharpe
Brilliant Read
An amazing insight into the lives of Gypsies. Brutal and a hard read a times but definitely work persevering with.
Published 2 months ago by small69
I am so glad that I didnt dismiss this book as it turned out to be a...
I was recommended this book by a friend but I have to admit I thought I might not be able to identify with the story and end up being bored as I didnt think it was my cup of tea. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nadia
Upsetting Yet Compelling True Life Tale
Finally decided to buy this book and the follow up as had a long coach journey to kill. I had heard something about the books and read an excerpt of one of them in Attitude but... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Terry Eastham
great read
as I said it was a great read.It was all I thought it would be.The service was also top class.
Published 3 months ago by guilvn
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