Dance For Your Daddy: The True Story of a Brutal East End Childhood

by Katherine Shellduck

Growing up poor in London’s East End, Kathy was eight years old when her father forced her mother into prostitution. When their mother fled, Kathy and her sisters were left behind. A compelling memoir of an extraordinary childhood.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

211 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a little girl growing up with an abusive father and a prostitute mother is hard enough to swallow. But then when the mother's partner is then murdered in front of the little girl by her father things get even more terrifying. This was an especially harrowing story, and Katherine handles her story with wit and bravery. I finished it in one sitting.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very sad, sad story. It's told in the present tense which was a little odd for me in the beginning although I got used to it as it went on. That's not something that usually bothers me at all but for some reason it did with this book.
It's also a shorter book- all of 212 pages yet it took me awhile to get through it. It seemed like the first three quarters of the book were really drawn out and then the last quarter was where it started moving. That isn't to say the first parts were "bad" because they weren't- they give the reader a very detailed glimpse into what Shellduck's childhood was like.
I liked how she didn't spell everything out and left things up to the reader to kind of assume. She told enough for you to make general assumtions and then hit back on them later.
Some things she said just hit me as odd also. Her mother did a few things that to me are appalling and one HUGE thing that is damn near unforgivable in my eyes yet she never once mentioned how her mother was wrong for this. Yet she mentioned her father's misgivings. That struck me as odd. But then, I only know what I read in this book about the story so I can't really say too much.
It's a decent read for memoir lovers definitely and it'd be even better if the reader doesn't find it as slow as I did.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Any recommendations to similar books are greatly received. I love non-fiction.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

part of deciding how good a book is for me is if it held my attention. at first i was very intriged. i must say as the storyline went on it became bit more boring and confusing to figure out what was actually going on. then it seemes to jump ahead in time very drastically and i felt like it ended with out a real conclusion. now dont get me wrong it did have an ending but i was left feeling unsatisfied and probably would not have been so eager to finish this book if it had been any longer. it almost felt like the author was geting tired of writing as i was getting tired of reading.

[Crystal Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this read, had to push through to finish it. It didn't really grip me and I found myself carrying on to get to the good part but it never really came for me.

Nothing to do with the author just not my cup of tea, I was expecting more suspense, heartache and tragedy.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad story, very different to what I normally read. Was interesting.

[Garry Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was actually less brutal than I was expecting. I felt like I really didn't get to know as much about her mum and dad as I was hoping.

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this type of story and did enjoy this. However it was very short and all seemed a little rushed somehow. Not the best I've read if I'm honest.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Snippet:"I found this book at the local department store for just a few dollars. I thought it might make for an interesting and quick read to entertain me on my train ride to work. Little did I know how much I would enjoy it.
Katherine "Kathy" Shellduck is, by profession, a journalist but this memoir is in no way formal. It is written in a relaxed, easy to read style, making it a wonderful book for all kinds of readers to grab and enjoy."
Full Review; http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/2011/1...

[Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not really into this. I am not sure what it was about it. I really did not get into it until way later in the book...I did feel for her father in the story in some ways...But then the way she wrote it, made it sound like her father was a pimp for the mom. Most of the book I was confused ion why she had written it in the first place. Thus only making it a 3 star reveiw.

[Karen Osment · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read similar books to these before which were better, went more in depth and were more emotional. I still enjoyed this short story of Kathy's life with her sisters and the conclusion about her father, but didn't finish it feeling anything in particular, whereas other books of this genre can stay with you for days, weeks and years after.

[Jennifer Leather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I read this I read "the little prisoner" and "rock me gently" the tag line for this book says it's the true story of a brutal west end childhood. After reading the other two books first these girls have quite a nice life. The last half of the book bored me and I'm sorry to say I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a true story written by a woman who wanted answers, perhaps she was too late because the one person she wanted to see has died (her dad). This is a nice story but not one of the best I have read.

[Theweebarrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a true story based on growing up in poverty in the east end of London . It took me a while to get into this book, it was good but only gave it 3 as i thought it was tough going

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about this book was that although the author had a miserable and disruptive childhood, she kept her sense of humour. You felt for her but she had you smiling to yourself as well.

[Natasha May Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brutal upbringing indeed.

[Pinkyjoanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good autobiography of Katherine life as she remember it. Very sad set of circumstances in which she had to find out what really happened between her mum and dad. Brilliant read.

[Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 .... Didn't like this at all, dull, unemotional and uninteresting. Flicked through most of it

[Chloe Hinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book! I felt like I was actually in the book it was just so good! Got a little boring towards the end chapter though!

[Katherine Callaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a sad story but told in an intriguing way, she had humor and heart. I really enjoyed the read greatly

[Judith Yeabsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your standard retelling of tough childhood all turning out OK. Not a bad plane type read.

[Hayley Kirk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Starts off amazing and quickly becomes boring and remains boring. Very sad true story however.