This is one of my all time favourites. It was recommended to me by my father. This is the factual memories of a young boy in the time of famine in Northern Ireland, but it is so much more. It shows the hardship but more importantly it shows how love and humour gets them through. The simple touch of a mother passing her tea cup with the remains of the sugar in it to her son evoked a strong image of mother love. The battle with a cow to steal her milk is hilarious. I read this book almost in one sitting. When I finished the book I went to Antrim to see if the author had done what he had said he would do at the end and visited the cottage and also his mothers grave. A tiny park is opposite the cottage with an obelisk depicting scenes from the book which made me smile.

For me this book is a beautiful testament of a son's love for his mother.

If you read this book don't be put off by the occasional use of old slang, just read the paragraph through and don't get hung up with individual words. ( )