Jamie’s Keepsake

by Michael Gallagher

Two housing scheme boys dream up a plan to steal priceless antiques from a nearby stately mansion... Burrell Collection antiques that have been stored in packing crates for decades and are just asking to be nicked. It’s a plan that grows with them through their adolescent scrapes and battles. But one of them is really after the masterpiece portrait that hangs in the mansion house library. It obsesses him because it reminds him of his mother, at her happiest and best, like she was before his brother died.'I felt I was there, running around the housing scheme and surrounding countryside. It's so full of the tangible, physical feel of the place. The dialogue is witty, sharp, authentic and often very funny.''Fascinating, charming and powerful.''One of our top ten novels of 2020.' The Bookbag Review.'Pollok Country Park on the outskirts of Glasgow is the idyllic setting for Michael Gallagher’s wonderfully written novel. He grew up in the nearby housing estate, and often heard tales of boys who stole ancient artefacts from Pollok Mansion House, including Ming vases that were destined for the Burrell Museum. When similar treasures, mysteriously “found in the attic and found in a shoe box” appeared at London art auctions, (factual) it spurred Michael into writing the book.But this is not a crime novel. It is an outstanding and ultimately gripping coming-of-age story, delicately dealing with social history and themes of loss, adolescence, motivation and love. And told without the usual Glasgow stereotypes. Jamie’s Keepsake is the first real cultural response to the Burrell Collection, ‘gifted’ to Glasgow in 1944 and reopened to the public in 2022. You can bet it won’t be selling in the souvenir shop at the Burrell Museum.'

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2020

Reviews

[Gary Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

At 65 yrs old this book took me back to my very early years growing up in the south side of Glasgow. The story is a good portrayal of our lives at that time and brought back many memories.

[Elizabeth Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels like I’ve hit a run of 5-star reads lately but this book deserves it. The characters are distinct, complex, and believable; not an easy feat with a group of young teens plus a motley crew of guardians. The setting is so real I feel like I could walk between places in the story. I don’t feel engaged with a lot of books told from a mainly male pov. This one worked for me. Highly recommend.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story with engaging characters. The author paints you a picture of their life in Glasgow that you won't forget. I was not prepared for the twist at the end!

[Mark Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

[Paula Rafferty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters were good but the story was poor

[Michaelgall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceivingly graceful and thoroughly enjoyable.

This book moved me so much I just had to read it again, as soon as I finished it. I’d recommend it to everyone.
I’m now planning a trip up north to visit Pollok Country Park, the setting for most of the book.