A review by claire60
Maggie and Me by Damian Barr

3.0

A memoir about growing up in the west of Scotland amidst, deprivation, violence, alcoholism and abuse, it was a really tough existence and particularly as Damian began to realise he was gay. Each chapter opens with a quote from Margaret Thatcher, which at times gave important context especially as she decimated the main industries and source of work in Scotland. Damian's father worked for the steel plant at Ravenscraig, he describes the hard, dirty work, well and the beauty of the double sunset as the furnaces lit the neighbouring sky. There is also the horror that as children they were playing in and around incredibly toxic materials. The book is most affecting as he writes about his struggles, being bullied at school, the way he protects himself from the alcohol fuelled parties in his teens, although he also doesn't allow his sister to be in his safe room even though there is a spare bed. I can appreciate that he was doing what he needed to in order to survive but it does rather suggest that he is following Margaret Thatcher's individualistic ideology a little too much. I wasn't sure about the whole 'Maggie and me' concept, at times it felt like a construct, at others necessary to explain her impact on Scotland, however, at the end it is clear that he admires her and was thrilled to be told that she would have liked him. That just left a sour taste for me and almost ruined my experience of the whole book. I would say if you want to know about the hardships of the west of Scotland read Shuggie Bain and if you want to enjoy Damian Barr's writing read You will be safe here, or read this but maybe avoid the epilogue.