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A Belfast Child
- Narrated by: Patrick Moy
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
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A Belfast Child
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Summary
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.
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What listeners say about A Belfast Child
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MR S.
- 03-01-22
excellent story
Great listen this book, very truthful account you can tell John wasn't holding back with alot of his stories. highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chris Casey
- 12-09-22
HOW IT LOOKED FROM THE GROUND
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.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-09-22
Loved it I think (I'm not a loyalist)
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jiffers
- 31-12-21
A real eye opener
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
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- moniecoco
- 19-05-21
a truly heart felt book
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.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Gregory McCabe
- 24-09-21
Funny and sad if a little one sided
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 .
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- franny
- 06-12-22
Hard Going.
This book is a bit of a struggle if you come from Northern Ireland. The book is read with an accent of long gone Northern Irish laced with more of an English accent. This definitely over shadows the story and makes it difficult listening. The details themselves are quite realistic but I would not unfortunately recommend this to a friend!
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1 person found this helpful
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- martinlangan
- 22-09-21
A Belfast Child
A lovely book, well written and read, I enjoyed every minute of it. God bless
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- Amazon Customer
- 14-11-21
Belfast memories
Great list and well.narrated very funny and full of Belfast Humour at its best
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- Kenny Hamilton
- 18-04-21
great read
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.
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