Gypsy Boy

By: Mikey Walsh

Narrated by: Mikey Walsh

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Mikey's family were Gypsies. They live in a closed community and little is known about their way of life. As he didn't go to school, the caravan became his world. But although Mikey inherited a vibrant culture, his family had a dark hidden history. Eventually Mikey was forced to make a decision – to stay and keep secrets, or escape and find somewhere to belong.

©2009 Mikey Walsh (P)2010 WF Howes Ltd

Love!

gripping, emotional, real and raw. one of the best memoirs I've ever read. but it, read it and fall in love.

Gripping

Amazing story, I was drawn in, emotional roller coaster, very well narrated, I loved this book

Good story

That was a good story. Well narrated. But I just found it a little bit. Difficult to believe some of the things he said. Like he was beaten every day when he was under 10? And punched with all of his fathers mate. I don’t understand, why the father wasn’t charged. And that nobody noticed.

I’m not calling BS. But pretty close.

Beaten up

This is not an easy read. There is so much violence and abuse -- both physical and emotional, it breaks your heart. It makes you wonder how people can live outside society like this, with no one to help those poor children.
Kudos to the author for surviving it all and making peace with his past -- with very little help from the outside.
Kudos to those who overcame their prejudices and went out of their way to help Mikey.
I remember when I was a child, at times my mum would say:"the gypsies are coming", and then we were called into the house, all doors were locked, and the curtains drawn, and we had to be silent until they were gone again. None of us children knew why, it was just something the whole neighbourhood did when that white Mercedes pulled into our little street.
I still don't know what exactly my mum was so afraid of -- that they would rob her home, or us children? I'll never find out.
This book was a revelation in so many ways -- not that I had given the gypsies much thought before, though. I never knew or even met any, was only vaguely aware of their reputation.

So, if you're interested in the Romani and their culture, read this book, but beware -- what Mikey goes through as a child is sickening and very hard to take in.
The author himself narrates this book, and he did a great job! It is a very emotional book, and he narrates it perfectly.

Gritty and REAL

This book has really left an impact on me.
It is intense to listen to his voice recounting the often horrible situations and abuse he suffered BUT he has also provided a generous helping of comic relief and anecdotes that really help you get to know his family and himself. I felt so angry at times for the little boy he was I often found my self cussing out loud in my car as I listened and then just a moment later he’d have me laughing.
He survived so much and accomplished something incredible.
It’s definitely not your typical autobiography, I loved it.
I enjoy works of James Patterson, Michael Crichton, Diana Gabaldon, Stephen King, Stieg Larsson. If you do as well, I highly recommend this piece.
His narration is fantastic and I never had any difficulty recognizing which person was speaking.

Such a raw, emotional, and gripping tale!

I highly enjoyed this book! I listened to it everyday for a week, almost couldn’t stop! It was such an emotional and heartbreaking story of a little boy’s struggle to grow up different and not ever feeling like he fit in amongst his family or people. I learned so much about Gypsies that I was always so curious about and the author presented all the facts in such a fun narrative style. The fact that this story was narrated by its author was even more powerful and moving; I could feel his emotion through his voice. I highly recommend this book.

A moving read

This book touched me ..I laughed, I cried ... it starts a little slow, but keep reading.