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The Boy with No Shoes: A Memoir [Paperback]

William Horwood
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Book Description

4 April 2005
Five-year-old Jimmy Rova is the unwanted child of a mother who rejects him, and whose other children bully him. The one thing he can call his own is a pair of shoes, a present from the only person he feels has ever loved him. When they are cruelly taken away, Jimmy spirals down into a state of loneliness and terrible loss from which there seems no recovery.

This triumphant story of a boy’s struggle with early trauma and his remarkable journey into adulthood is based on William Horwood's own remarkable childhood in south-east England after the Second World War. Using all the skills that went into the creation of his modern classics, Horwood has written an inspiring story of a journey from a past too painful to imagine to the future every child deserves.

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The Boy with No Shoes: A Memoir + Hyddenworld: Spring + Awakening (Hyddenworld Quartet 2)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Headline Review (4 April 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0755313186
  • ISBN-13: 978-0755313181
  • Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 2.8 x 19.9 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 121,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'a powerfully moving memoir' -- The Telegraph

About the Author

William Horwood was born in Oxford in 1944, the illegitimate last child of five. He was a feature editor with the Daily Mail until 1978 when he began work on the first of his now classic Duncton Chronicles series which became instant international bestsellers.

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional 27 Jun 2005
By Ping
Format:Paperback
Difficult childhoods often make compulsive reading, but rarely, if ever, can an author have drawn out such vivid, compelling and moving episodes from an often wretched life with poetic sensitivity. William Horwood, or Jimmy as he calls himself here, is buffeted by cruel tides and cold, dark currents from pre-school days, as if cast out on the treacherous coastal waters which form the backdrop to the story. Yet, although he is imprisoned by a cast of brutal characters there are just enough compassionate people who reach out to him at each turn.
What sets this book apart is the quality of the writing and the quiet, powerful exploration of themes which affect us all. It is, quite simply, exceptional, and builds towards a chapter which is one of the most intensely gripping I have ever read.
Not to be missed.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant 13 May 2005
By Paulas
Format:Paperback
Just finished reading this book. Once opened you cannot put it down. It was a very moving book and the characters were so real you thought you knew them all personally. Wanted to finish the book to see what happened at the end but when it was finished was disappointed as the story had come to an end felt it could go on and on and felt as though I was missing my friends. Gave the book to some friends of mine and they thoroughly enjoyed it as well. A few tears were in the making. Reading Skallagrigg now and love this one also. Mr Horwood is a brilliant writer and I would love to read more in this style of writing.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The best Christmas present of 2005 13 Feb 2005
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
My step-daughter gave me the book as a christmas present because she thought 'it's the sort of book I would like!'. I started to read but at first thought that it might be too disturbing. I have not read any other books by Michael Horwood but that was not necessary as this was a memoir written as though it belonged to someone other than the author. This book reflects the affects that poor parenting can have on a child and in particular a child who does not know who his natural father is which leads to depression. The book takes on many twists and turns and is about his relationship with his grandmother, bullying, forming friendships which help make up for deficits in the boys childhood. I was really moved by the book and at times wondered how the author has managed to make a success of his life.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning
Wonderfully written. The story of a boy growing up in a dysfunctional family in 1950's southern England. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tinbum
5.0 out of 5 stars boy with no shoes
Great story and story telling. Easy to understand how he became such a respected author . Wish it was in audio form as well. Read more
Published 3 months ago by liin
5.0 out of 5 stars The Boy With No Shoes
I knew my emotions were being manipulated with this book, but William Horwood is such a good story teller, it was a pleasure to be led. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Dicken
5.0 out of 5 stars Memoir of a childhood past
Like so many other readers of this book, I think it is brilliant. I came across it in a Charity Shop and it looked appealing so I brought it, read it, and couldn't put it... Read more
Published on 30 May 2010 by Thelma Batchelor
5.0 out of 5 stars A class above other childhood memoirs
There seems to be a glut of books about awful, abusive and neglectful childhoods just now, but, apart from 'Angela's Ashes', I can't think of one as haunting and well written as... Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by John Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
I first read this book as a talking book as I have a sight impaiment but wanted my wife to read it (she is normal). It was a really good story with a sort of happy ending
Published on 7 Nov 2009 by D. H. Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars A Boy with no Shoes
Beautiful book which made me cry

Excellent condition book as promised plus it was delivered earlier than expected.
Published on 22 Jun 2009 by D. J. Higgs
5.0 out of 5 stars My Favourite writer
William Horwood has been a world class writer since the publication of Duncton Wood...almost 30 years ago. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2009 by M. B. Kay
5.0 out of 5 stars An enthralling memoir
I enjoy reading memoirs and this book had good reviews in the Sunday Times. It is a story of an unhappy childhood growing up in Deal in Kent. Read more
Published on 29 April 2009 by Dr. David A. Stopher
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!
I don't normally review books as more often than not there are frustrating weaknesses or you sense the narrow appeal of what you've read. Neither can be said of this book. Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2008 by Mark J. Whiting
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