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A Belfast Child

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A Belfast Child

By: John Chambers
Narrated by: Patrick Moy
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About this listen

John Chambers was brought up on Belfast's notorious Loyalist Glencairn estate, during the height of the Troubles. From an early age he witnessed violence, hatred and horror as Northern Ireland tore itself apart in civil strife. Kneecapping, brutal murders and even public tarring-and-feathering were simply a fact of life for the children on the estate. He thought he knew which side he was on, but although raised as a Loyalist, he was hiding a troubling secret: that his disappeared mother - whom he'd always been told was dead - was a Roman Catholic, 'the enemy'.

In a memoir of rare power, John explores the dark heart of Northern Irish sectarianism in the '70s and '80s. With searing honesty and native Belfast wit, he describes the light and darkness of his unique childhood and his teenage journey through mod culture and ultra-Loyalism, before an escape from Belfast to London - where, still haunted by the shadow of his fractured family history - he began a turbulent and hedonistic adulthood.

A Belfast Child is a tale of divided loyalties, dark secrets and the scars left by hatred and violence on a proud city - but also a story of hope, healing and ultimate redemption for a family caught in the rising tide of the Troubles.

©2020 John Chambers (P)2020 Bonnier Publishing Europe Freedom & Security Politics & Government War & Crisis Ireland Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Inspiring

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Great listen this book, very truthful account you can tell John wasn't holding back with alot of his stories. highly recommended

excellent story

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John Chambers has furnished us with a great insight to the realities of how the loyalist community experienced so much of 'The Troubles'. Listen with an open heart and you will be illuminated.

HOW IT LOOKED FROM THE GROUND

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Great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Struggled at points due to the side of the divide he was on but still felt an affinity with him throughout.
The narrator was great too.

Loved it I think (I'm not a loyalist)

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A brutally honest account of growing up in Belfast in the 1970s and 1980s. Heart breaking, what we did to each other, what we did to our children. John Chambers has done a brilliant job telling his story, which, in turn, is our story.

The narration is awful, almost unbearable at times. Words mis-pronounced and badly emphasised. Every time he said Shank Hill, it grated soooo much. Should have got Conor MacNeill to read it. He did a brilliant job on 'Close to Home' by Michael Magee - this is also worth a listen.

But in the end John's brilliant story more than carried me through the poor performance.

Brilliant story, awful narration

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I remember as a kid in the 70’s and 80’s hearing about the troubles on the news it seamed a world away from the quiet Hampshire village I lived in
In later life I was fascinated by the history but after listening to this book none of the real life is never really mentioned in history books
What an insight thank you John for sharing

A real eye opener

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I absolutely loved this book, so well written I could feel every emotion in this story. I am exactly the same age as the author therefore can relate to outside experiences. well worth a read.

a truly heart felt book

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I almost gave up on this early on , coming from Southern Ireland I found it hard to listen to the praise given to the orange order . I’m glad I stuck with it , as a young mod growing up during the same era it was fascinating to see the similarities and the memories can flooding back . I found it funny and sad in equal measure, although the authors biased to loyalism is glaring. A very good listen .

Funny and sad if a little one sided

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What a great read, giving a personal insight into and recounting his youth growing up in trouble torn Belfast. Both happy and sad at times, and as I am ages with the author, I can resonate with his story, without the obvious exception of the extreme violence. I'd have to say, there are some tough and hardy folk growing up in that city.
Fantastic.

great read

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Fantastic, really enjoyable.
Being from Belfast and some knowledge of that time frame made it an essential listen.

Great listen

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A very powerful life story with a mix of everything. A thoroughly excellent listen of not only one man but a whole families life.

Had a bit of everything !

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