2008-10-10 Harrowing but not particularly well written

Before people criticise me for not raving about this book I should add that the content was totally horrifying and made me cry on more than one occasion. The reason was simply that the treatment of these children was so appalling, so outrageously cruel and so evil that anyone not moved must have a heart of stone. As a parent myself I found Eunice Spry's behaviour deeply upsetting and hope she is never released from prison.

The problem is the style in which the book is written. It's not good and there are many occasions where phrases are repeated in the same paragraph and it doesn't read well as a whole. I believe the additional writer was Andrew Holmes and his style is poor and clumsy. That's a shame as Christopher's Spry's tale is compelling and thought-provoking. But for a book like this to be a success it needs more than mere content - and one can't just praise a book because of the shocking treatment of the writer and the sympathy one feels for those who suffered at the hands of a monster as 'Mother'.

If you can cope with the child abuse depicted within I recommend you read it. But if you want a skilfully written account you might be disappointed.