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My Name Is Why

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My Name Is Why

By: Lemn Sissay
Narrated by: Lemn Sissay, Richard Burnip, Zoe Mills
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About this listen

At the age of 17, after a childhood in an fostered family followed by six years in care homes, Norman Greenwood was given his birth certificate. He learned that his real name was not Norman. It was Lemn Sissay. He was British and Ethiopian. And he learned that his mother had been pleading for his safe return to her since his birth.

Here Sissay recounts his life story. It is a story of neglect and determination. Misfortune and hope. Cruelty and triumph.

Sissay reflects on a childhood in care, self-expression and Britishness, and in doing so explores the institutional care system, race, family and the meaning of home. Written with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation's best-loved poets, this moving, frank and timely memoir is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity.

©2019 Lemn Sissay (P)2019 Canongate Books Ltd Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination Inspiring
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An incredible story told by the author himself. He hooks you in with his poeticism and passion. Highly recommend.

My favourite audible book to date

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This is beautifully written - the journey of a child, supported by extracts from official reports at the time, and commented upon by his adult self. It is tough and raw. It is the powerful journey of a child with a strong adult guide. An essential listen for anyone who ever needed, but did not have, a strong adult in their own journey.

Powerful

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Once I started to listen to this beautifully written, brilliantly narrated, autobiography, I could hardly bring myself to turn it off. This sad, stark and confronting account of Lemn Sissay’s experience of growing up in the UK’s, so called, care system, is the best audiobook I’ve listened to for a very long time.

Brilliant!

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What a beautiful book, a real life account of being raised in the UK care system, Lemn Sissay is a wonderful human being and an inspiration. I absolutely loved this book;)

“They took me away from me”

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This story is both heartbreaking and also engaging - the format of bringing all the perspectives together - you are left standing as a witness to institutional racism and child abuse. The author tells us enough about himself that we know his story and can feel his pain and that of others, but also his struggle, his incredible capacity to resist and we are left wanting to know more about this extraordinary story teller and poet. Look forward to another.

Truth telling

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.