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Motherwell

The moving memoir of growing up in 60s and 70s working class Scotland
By Deborah Orr
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3.85 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 4,815 ratings, 385 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Motherwell by Deborah Orr is a reflective memoir that explores the author’s upbringing in the Scottish town of Motherwell. Through her personal narrative, Orr examines the complexities of family relationships, the dynamics of her working-class background, and her journey towards self-discovery and independence. With candid honesty, she delves into themes of identity, societal expectations, and personal resilience.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to poignant memoirs that explore complex family dynamics and the influence of upbringing on personal identity. The narrative provides a vivid portrayal of a woman's journey through her childhood in a working-class Scottish town, offering insights into societal and familial expectations. It's particularly appealing if you're interested in stories that delve into personal reflection and explore the intersections of feminism, class, and self-discovery.

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The No.3 Sunday Times bestselling 'masterpiece' (Andrew O'Hagan)

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Sunday Times Bestseller

A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week

Shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize

'A fitting legacy left by a blazing talent' Observer

'A masterpiece' Andrew O'Hagan, Guardian

'Completely amazing' Lucy Mangan, Stylist

'A modern classic' Daily Mail

'Raw, compelling, wise and tender' Dolly Alderton

'Outstanding' Jenny Colgan, Spectator

'Razor-sharp, fearless and wonderful' Adam Kay

'Personal, political, and blazing with truth' Melissa Harrison

'Crammed with wit and intelligence' Financial Times

'Deeply tender and very funny' Kathy Burke

'Full of glinting pain, brilliant one liners and utter clarity' Suzanne Moore

'[Orr's] masterpiece' Evening Standard

'Intense and moving' Red

'Remarkable' Val McDermid, i

Motherwell is a sharp, candid and often humorous memoir about the long shadow that can be cast when the core relationship in your life compromises every effort you make to become an individual. It is about what we inherit - the good and the very bad - and how a deeper understanding of the place and people you have come from can bring you towards redemption.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Motherwell by Deborah Orr is praised for its candid and penetrating exploration of familial relationships, featuring unflinching honesty and a journalist's eye for detail. The memoir is described as intelligent and unsentimental, offering a powerful and enduring legacy. Its writing is noted for being both compelling and muscular, capturing the raw emotions and bitterness of Orr's experiences.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781474611466

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 January 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 270g

Pages: 304

Collections

Biography & Memoir Deborah Orr Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction

About the Author

DEBORAH ORR was an award-winning journalist, whose work regularly appeared in the Guardian, the Independent, the Sunday Times and in many magazines including Vogue, Grazia and Marie Claire. She was a contributing editor to Another Magazine and was the first female editor of the Guardian's Weekend Magazine at the age of thirty. Deborah was a co-creator of 'Enquirer', a play commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland, performed in London, Glasgow and Belfast, broadcast by Radio 4 and shortlisted for new play of the year in the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland.

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