Porky

by Deborah Moggach, Alix Dunmore (Narrator)

At school they called her Porky on account of the pigs her family kept outside their bungalow near Heathrow. But she felt no different – not until she realised she was losing her innocence in a way that none of her friends could possibly imagine. Only a child robbed of her childhood can know too late what it means to be loved too little and loved too much ...

Listeners are advised that this audiobook contains scenes of abuse.

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Deborah Moggach is a British writer, born Deborah Hough on 28 June 1948. She has written fifteen novels to date, including The Ex-Wives, Tulip Fever, and, most recently, These Foolish Things. She has adapted many of her novels as TV dramas and has also written several film scripts, including the BAFTA-nominated screenplay for Pride & Prejudice. She has also written two collections of short stories and a stage play. In February 2005, Moggach was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by her Alma Mater, the University of Bristol . She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a former Chair of the Society of Authors, and is on the executive committee of PEN.

Reviews

[HattieB · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: incest, domestic violence, domestic abuse, sexual content, racism.



This book dealt with some very unsettling and dark themes but was written well. If you don't feel like you can read books with the above themes, or don't feel like you're in the right headspace to do so then I wouldn't want to go out of my way to recommend it. However, it is written well and the writing felt very atmospheric. I don't think I am going to reread this book, but it's going to live rent free in my head for a long time.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard book to read, but very well written.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well told tale of incest from a bit very loving family in the first person, leading up to where the narrator is now.
Good stuff.

[Di · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio book about Heather who was sexually abused by her father from age 10. Told in first person, explores the confusion of a young girl who loves her father and submits to him so as not to hurt him. It’s a dysfunctional and very poor family. The mother is physically abused by her husband and leaves the family home on more than one occasion, including whilst her new born son Teddy, is still a baby. It’s quite a grubby book. Heather grows up hating herself and becomes quite promiscuous eventually being attacked and scarred by her then boyfriend. Quite a sad and hopeless situation.

[Tami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although very well written, I would not recommend this book. It's subject matter is dark and distributing, but unlike many other books with serious/dark subject matter, there is nothing to gain by reading it. Nothing except having to suffer through a recount it horrible events. No lessons, no redemption, no revelations. I did not enjoy it at all.

[Susan Borgersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an early Moggach I believe. An interesting narrative with genuine and very familiar settings.

[Sara G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Lord this one tore my heart out. Couldn't put it down though.

[Jayne Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot more dark and serious than a lot of Deborah Moggach's other work, and I found it a lot more difficult to get into. It was a harder read, too, as very little is actually explained, you have to read between the lines.