Too Many Mothers by Taylor, Roberta

by Roberta Taylor

Too Many Mothers is the remarkable story of Roberta Taylor’s early life and the extended family that brought her up. Nanny Mary was the wily matriarch, who would do almost anything to survive, including stealing from her seven children. Her nerve, humour and sheer determination were also the glue that held the family together. Roberta was born to a father Roberta’s mother adored, but that she herself would never know.

In this memoir, Roberta Taylor travels to the emotional heart of her childhood to reveal the lives led by the men and women who influenced her most in her formative years. Too Many Mothers is a portrait of an embattled family at war with itself and the outside world. From petty crime to pet monkeys, tender romance to emotional blackmail, illegitimacy, adoption and even murder, Roberta Taylor has written a bittersweet and ultimately unforgettable memoir of her early life.

Genres: Autobiography, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Samantha McNulty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too Many Mothers is a beautifully written memoir of an East End childhood.

CHapters are divided among the women in Roberta's earliest years, telling their stories; from birth to death.

The last chapter is from Roberta herself, retelling the entire story in her own words.

A lovely told story of the hardships and the wonderful moments in life.

[Linda Burnham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roberta Taylor might just as well have gone ahead and called this memoir "Too Many Crooks" as that is what they surely were and yes I realise that is what is subtly implied by the title "Too Many Mothers". Everytime I thought I was about to find a redeeming feature in one of this den of thieves, my hopes were dashed by yet another reprehensible action, and the rough diamond whom I thought was about to be revealed turned out to be a dirty lump of coal afterall . I have only finished reading "that damn book" (as I called it to myself) so that I could get it out of my house. Some may find it amusing, perhaps colourful, but I just found it squalid.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The people whose lives are documented in this book are my little niece & nephew’s grandparents and great grandparents. I’m really enjoying reading about their forebears.

Eta: now that I’m finished, my four stars are partly because of the family link, which made the book that much more interesting to me.

PS Big George’s youngest grandchildren are the most gorgeous, smart, happy little people. They are in good hands.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is family history written as fiction. The author describes homes and events in great detail so you can imagine them clearly, even when she would not have been there. The whole dysfunctional family are vividly described and have a complicated life. I did get annoyed with the thieving, devious, heartless granny Mary who stole from her own children and was always running up debts. This was an interesting read and one felt involved with the family described.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

😲

What a family 😲. Almost every crime committed by some or all. Reprehensible crimes were committed by family members to others in the family and outside the family.
I agree with some who say it should have been called to many crimes instead of its title.
It was really interesting though albeit a bit chaotic in the way the book was all mapped out. It was a wee bit all over the place.

[Reader]

Hi Roberta! You old hag. Just a little heads up from the granddaughter of “black” Dave!!!! Your his bio sister but refuse to admit it even refused dna . Well black daves dead now all you should be ashamed of yourselfs. Treated him like a piece of shit because well he was mixed. Your acting’s also shit and stop lying in your book cheers

[val jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into the past.

This book takes you back into post war Britain. The older generation will recognise some of it - a different world to today.An interesting read but quite repetitive.

[Caren Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to follow

I found the book hard to follow. I had to keep going back and reading bits again. There was no flow to it. No substance to it no start no middle and no end. A very strange book.

[Martine Gillard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did finish this to the end but I found it confusing trying to keep up with whose kids were whose which spoilt the flow of the story for me.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warts and all tale of East End life. I didn't like the structure, made things a bit confusing but the author brought the characters to life vividly and with humour.

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book, I didn't think I would but once I started it I found it quite hard to put down, I did find it hard keeping up with which child belonged to who but was a good book.

[Lord Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot how good this book was. Has Roberta no longer with us . I thought I read it again . In her memory.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

found this book a difficult read it felt more like who can steal what and to what extent

[Jackie Utting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. A nice easy but fascinating read.

[Sharon]

I found the sections to do with the Boxing day dinner rather confusing at times, but the section giving us the story of the sisters, was quite facinating.

Rather rough life her mother and sisters had, not to mention the grandmother and her husband. You would have to been tough to survive this life.

The ending was rather strange though.

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in February
I really admire Roberta Taylor's honesty in writing this book. Her sense of humour shone through as she told her readers about her family, their relationships, quarrels and troubles, warts and all. Roberta did not hesitate to tell us about the more unpleasant parts of her life and events that a less honest writer may have kept hidden.

[Masina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked Angela's Ashes you will like this book. It is the same type of story.
The mother in this story is really whacko thought , I just wanted to bonk her. I can't believe the way she treated her family !

[Angela Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reading. As my husband was an Eastender, I can say this book is very true to the lifestyle in the late 50s. I went from laughing to crying as I read. I only wish it told me how she got from that life to her current one. Maybe Roberta will do a follow-up. Here's hoping.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it from one end to the other.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, a really interesting insight to life growing up in the East End. Roberta is a great storyteller...

[Amkd69 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story about growing up in the East End. Loved it.

[Bitten Nicander]

Great book!!

[Alison Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read!

[Tracey Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great ! I really enjoyed it. What could have been a real misery memoir is dealt with in a very funny and philosophical way and is full of love.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Families are complex, messy, chaotic things. Taylor bundle hers up into an endearing memoir laced with moments of mirth.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

brilliant, the truth in hardship and the reality of the humour in the most darkest of times but when its most needed. so funny and real.

[Wendy Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

No my usual read but so glad I did read it as its brilliant !

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a true story well told, but it was hard to stomach the normalisation of the domestic violence. Husband/wife, Father/daughter.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Of all the toxic, ghastly, totally unlikeable people, the 'matriarch' in this family takes the cake. My advice to anyone contemplating giving this a go is - don't bother. I only read the book because I rescued it from going to the dump .. I should have let it go.