The Tearaway

by Dean Williams

Dean Williams was born into the tough Scartho area of Grimsby in 1972. His father was a violent, hard-drinking trawlerman who spent most of the year at sea and his shore time drinking and fighting. Obsessed with making young Dean 'man up', Bob beat him and locked him in a cupboard under the stairs for days on end. Dean's mother, Andrea, did her best, but was also terrorised by Bob Williams. From the age of seven Dean was known locally as 'the spike thrower', for accidentally impaling the head of a young tormentor with part of a bicycle. The aftermath was a wayward teenage life, expulsion from school and notoriety through football hooliganism. But there were also times when Dean's childhood captured echoes of a simpler way of life, playing out until dusk, catching newts and nicking gobstoppers. This astonishing memoir, although touched by darkness and violence, is infused with the sharpest humour. It has the atmosphere of a David Peace novel colliding with a Shane Meadows film. Like a cutting-edge, nouveau Dead Man's Shoes, or a Somebody Up There Likes Mefor the 21stCentury, it is an uncompromising account of a life lived on the margins and the power of the creative spirit.

310 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2012

Reviews

[Jackie Ewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book to be an enjoyable read. However, it made me sad because its a true story of young boys life. His life was hard, & at times dark & disturning. It took you on his journey from a boy, puberty & finally becoming a man. I felt I came to know the people he met along the way. At times I felt I wanted to take him away & give him a hug. He worked hard when he got a job, really put his heart & soul into it. Obviously he met girls/women along the way & proved himself to be a Gentleman by not revealing any intimate stories about them. You cant say that about a lot of men now. He worked his ass off & has now made a whole new life with a family & new direction of work. Truly inspiring read & goes to prove if you want something bad enough you can get it. I wish Dean well in the future & hope he continues living the dream.

Jackie - Belfast

[Shelley MacKenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was far more than i expected, Heartbreaking and tearjerking but the author comes through defiant and couragous - ignoring hardships that life has put upon him to try and better himself - to show that you dont have to be stereotyped, that you can become whatever you want to be if you try. A bad boy gone good you will be rooting for Dean throughout, and you will be laughing yourself silly at his sense of humor.
A brilliant book that i would reccomend to everyone.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really surprised me. It's written from the heart, in an amazingly graphic way. Some readers will be repulsed by what they read and others will be fascinated by all the twists and turns that are wrapped up in a young, abused northern lads life. So many aspects of life since the 70s are here and some readers will find themselves on memory lane at times, whilst others will find that understanding and compassion are drawn out of them. I found myself laughing at times when perhaps I shouldn't have. For me, this book was hard to put down.

[Ami Wager · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book. Apart from the fact the author jumps about from time to time, with lots of after thoughts, I didn't like the way violence and football hooliganism were treated with respect... It was a bit of a bore at times, and although it was a true story I felt little to no sympathy for the main character due to the writing style. Shame.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book especially considering that most true stories are very similar. I felt you really got to know dean and his daft ways. Well done dean inspirational !