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Annie's Boy
Annie’s Boy is a coming-of-age story as seen through the eyes of a boy and his mum living in Scotland in the 1970’s and 80’s where fear, violence, and struggle was an everyday part of life. It is a story of hope and quiet courage and perseverance that will take you on an emotional roller coaster that spans over fifteen years of their lives and what they did to survive. Gary and his mother lived in fear at the intimidation and violence that came from his father. At the age of ten, he agreed to testify against his father in court to try and stop the ordeal from continuing. The book is also a look at the tough and gritty life of Dundee during the period. Annie’s Boy will seize the heart of every reader as they struggle to put his book down.
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2022
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 7, 2023
This one reminded me of growing up in tough times in Dundee. It was a good story but lacking some of the good Dundee has and has had to offer .
September 17, 2023
When Gary Todd was 10 years old, he testified against his "father" in court. He was called a very brave boy. But he had put away childish things long ago; because events in his young life had robbed him of his childhood; because he feared that thing listed on a piece of paper as "father" would eventually succeed in his repeated attempts to murder his family; effectively Gary's was the last voice that could save his family.
"Annie's Boy" is Gary's poignantly lovely ode to his dear mum. It is truths laid down raw on the page, so that his own wife and children would come to know the wonderful woman who raised him to be the thoughtful, introspective, kind and caring man he has become. It is not only a testament to his own perseverance, but to the foundation laid by example of Annie Murphy Todd.
There are times in "Annie's Boy" where Gary so deftly brings you into private family moments between him and his mum—that are equal parts gentle strokes to the heart, yet also painfully excruciating to bear witness to—you want to turn away from the heartache of it. Interwoven throughout, the incessant, loathsome menace of his "father" will have you contemplating a voodoo doll and razor-sharp pins; you become helpless to take any other concrete action as each shocking event unfolds.
To those of us unfamiliar with the history, Gary succinctly explains the wholly detrimental results of Margaret Thatcher's heartless political power plays in the 1970s and 80s. How his once prosperous home of Dundee, Scotland became a graveyard of opportunity lost almost overnight. Closed factories and mines resulted in a haven for drugs, violence, guns and broken glass. Gary turned to boxing—an activity he has continued to dedicate his time to—as not only an outlet to focus his mind and condition his body, but sadly as preparation should the "father" return for one last attempt on their lives.
"Annie's Boy" is not remotely just a sad story of the crushing challenges of uncertainty and poverty, but an uplifting story of the consistent support of community, of friends and neighbors, of boyish and otherwise escapades, of fun and laughter. But above all, there is always, always the constant, loving tenacity and dedication of a good and decent mum named Annie; who raised a boy that became a man that to this day, holds fast to traditional virtues and values of persistence, resilience, commitment, honesty and respect, that have become all too scarce today.
"Annie's Boy" is Gary's poignantly lovely ode to his dear mum. It is truths laid down raw on the page, so that his own wife and children would come to know the wonderful woman who raised him to be the thoughtful, introspective, kind and caring man he has become. It is not only a testament to his own perseverance, but to the foundation laid by example of Annie Murphy Todd.
There are times in "Annie's Boy" where Gary so deftly brings you into private family moments between him and his mum—that are equal parts gentle strokes to the heart, yet also painfully excruciating to bear witness to—you want to turn away from the heartache of it. Interwoven throughout, the incessant, loathsome menace of his "father" will have you contemplating a voodoo doll and razor-sharp pins; you become helpless to take any other concrete action as each shocking event unfolds.
To those of us unfamiliar with the history, Gary succinctly explains the wholly detrimental results of Margaret Thatcher's heartless political power plays in the 1970s and 80s. How his once prosperous home of Dundee, Scotland became a graveyard of opportunity lost almost overnight. Closed factories and mines resulted in a haven for drugs, violence, guns and broken glass. Gary turned to boxing—an activity he has continued to dedicate his time to—as not only an outlet to focus his mind and condition his body, but sadly as preparation should the "father" return for one last attempt on their lives.
"Annie's Boy" is not remotely just a sad story of the crushing challenges of uncertainty and poverty, but an uplifting story of the consistent support of community, of friends and neighbors, of boyish and otherwise escapades, of fun and laughter. But above all, there is always, always the constant, loving tenacity and dedication of a good and decent mum named Annie; who raised a boy that became a man that to this day, holds fast to traditional virtues and values of persistence, resilience, commitment, honesty and respect, that have become all too scarce today.
February 21, 2023
As a former inhabitant of the beautiful place, I call my second home – Sydney, I understood so well that dreaded phone call none of us living away from home ever want to hear. The opening two pages when Gary is told the news of his mam over the phone gave me shivers.
And so the memories come flying back to haunt Gary of his childhood living in the ‘multis’ in Dundee, Scotland. I couldn’t stop reading and finished this book in two days and I definitely think Gary could continue about his life in Australia, book no.2 perhaps?
As a writer and teacher, I always say to students, try and describe the scene in your head using your five senses and I really felt I was seeing Gary’s early life from his writing. I am a big fan of memoir books and this was one of my favourite reads in 2022.
It is difficult to read in some parts and I did cry for the struggles his mother and Gary had to experience for many years. But the bond and love he has with his mother really shine from each page when they are not been harassed by his father.
It is a vivid, poignant, harrowing story of a time when life was hard and a struggle for a number of reasons mainly to do with the era. In that last chapter, I felt I was there, going through the motions before leaving for Oz and for a better life.
I had the honor of knowing Gary and his family while living in Oz. After reading his memoir, I understand all the pressures he put on himself to be the absolute best he could be and provide for his family – a true grafter with a dream of a better life which I truly believe he has achieved.
And so the memories come flying back to haunt Gary of his childhood living in the ‘multis’ in Dundee, Scotland. I couldn’t stop reading and finished this book in two days and I definitely think Gary could continue about his life in Australia, book no.2 perhaps?
As a writer and teacher, I always say to students, try and describe the scene in your head using your five senses and I really felt I was seeing Gary’s early life from his writing. I am a big fan of memoir books and this was one of my favourite reads in 2022.
It is difficult to read in some parts and I did cry for the struggles his mother and Gary had to experience for many years. But the bond and love he has with his mother really shine from each page when they are not been harassed by his father.
It is a vivid, poignant, harrowing story of a time when life was hard and a struggle for a number of reasons mainly to do with the era. In that last chapter, I felt I was there, going through the motions before leaving for Oz and for a better life.
I had the honor of knowing Gary and his family while living in Oz. After reading his memoir, I understand all the pressures he put on himself to be the absolute best he could be and provide for his family – a true grafter with a dream of a better life which I truly believe he has achieved.
December 13, 2022
I recently finished Annie’s Boy and was initially a bit lost for words. I was aware of the author, Gary Todd, through his previous writings on boxing and it was seeing him on a TV Show discussing Annie’s Boy that led me to reading his new release.
Gary tells the story of his challenges growing up in Scotland and there were plenty of challenges, but what really sets this book apart is that the reading of the story was so vivid, I felt I was able to picture all that was happening, like an observer viewing proceedings in real time.
I had a strange sense, this boy, this young teenager, this young adult whose story of life in Scotland that I was immersed in, was now the Gary Todd, residing in Australia, successful in the construction industry and highly regarded in the sport of boxing.
Gary’s success in life is a massive achievement and tribute to him when you overlay it with the challenges he so clearly articulates that were faced by all of those young people who grew up in the “multis”. Gary’s beating the life that most likely lay ahead is testimony to his resilience and courage.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who has the desire to read of true resilience against the toughness of life, I thank Gary for openly sharing his journey and penning this tribute to his beloved mum, Annie, in boxing parlance, Gary Todd is a Champion.
Gary tells the story of his challenges growing up in Scotland and there were plenty of challenges, but what really sets this book apart is that the reading of the story was so vivid, I felt I was able to picture all that was happening, like an observer viewing proceedings in real time.
I had a strange sense, this boy, this young teenager, this young adult whose story of life in Scotland that I was immersed in, was now the Gary Todd, residing in Australia, successful in the construction industry and highly regarded in the sport of boxing.
Gary’s success in life is a massive achievement and tribute to him when you overlay it with the challenges he so clearly articulates that were faced by all of those young people who grew up in the “multis”. Gary’s beating the life that most likely lay ahead is testimony to his resilience and courage.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who has the desire to read of true resilience against the toughness of life, I thank Gary for openly sharing his journey and penning this tribute to his beloved mum, Annie, in boxing parlance, Gary Todd is a Champion.
August 7, 2022
Annie’s boy is one of the best books I have read in many years. As an avid reader, this story had me turning the pages with the authors vivid account of his life , his determination to live in extreme circumstances. It was emotional , harrowing, funny and inspirational and I couldn’t put this book down until the final page. I cried, I laughted, and this story was so good, I didn’t want it to end. It’s a vivid account of a mother and son, fighting for life in a generation of challenges and struggles. If you think , Angela’s ashes, billy Elliot , brassed off , and Kes, Annie’s boy is a book for the ages.
April 14, 2024
Great story! Only covers the early years of the authors life but it's good that it does as I fear if it covered post emigration then it wouldn't flow as well.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews