Once in a House on Fire

Given her start in life, it is all the more remarkable that Andrea Ashworth should have turned out to be an Oxford graduate with such a compelling memoir under her belt. Her father died when she was five, her mother was left, poor and isolated in 70s, depressed Manchester to bring up Andrea and her younger sister singlehandedly. Along comes a physically abusive stepfather who sets about dragging the young family into the pits of despair, petty crime and sordid poverty. But Ashworth writes an enchanting story that blends social history (the 70s are rendered with an acute eye for detail) with poetic intensity. She turns a child's uncomprehending gaze on the domestic horrors of working- class life when it is dominated by a vicious man and drunken, self-pitying mother. We know, as we listen with Andrea, that her mother has decided to leave her man when she puts Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" on the turntable. Unfortunately, we know, too, that she was kidding herself when said man comes home and twirls her round the front room to the sound of Motown disco. We know, because Ashworth makes us re-live her childhood by dint of her astonishing gift for storytelling. --Lilian Pizzichini

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I AGREE WITH MOST - Rated
This is a brilliant book. Abusive stepfather, mother who constantly vows to break free but just can`t do it for one reason or another, and stuck in the middle is a desperately unhappy child. You can`t help wondering at the intelligence of these women who take up with men who abuse their kids - and why they seem to be the only ones who can`t see that something is terribly wrong - even though it`s right there under their noses. Well thought out title ....

Stays in my memory - Rated
I was given this book just after it came out and loved it from beginning to end. I have since bought it for many of my friends as presents and it is one of the few books I can read over and over. It has stayed in my memory since first reading-wonderful!

Just a touch too long. - Rated
A good read although a little long for me as a memoir. I liked it most because I knew the songs etc as I grew up at the same time as the author. The blurb on the back is a little excessive as the Scotsman uses `brilliant' 4 times, not quite that good a book for me!

Her life has made her the person she is now. I don't envy her having gone from pillar to post as a child and I can't imagine what it must've been like living with an abusive father and step-father feeling useless to help her mother. However, she had the strength to get out when she could and manage it with little distress to her family. Very well written but it dipped half way through for me and I was looking forward to being on the home straight.

I could imagine all of the `characters' which is a sign of a good writer and I would possibly read more by this author. I found the poverty part of her life much more interesting as I work with children from backgrounds such as this. Parts of her life are shocking if you haven't been brought up like this but Andrea tells it in such a way that the shock wears of and it becomes the norm, which is dreadful to feel like that as a person.

A book I've had for a while and one I'm very pleased to have read. I will recommend it to others.

it's grim up north - Rated
A fairly unpleasant childhood recounted in a rather tediously. Clunky, undergrad imagery; "the skies wept. When they weren't weeping they sulked".

Her story is neither traumatic enough to be shocking, warmly drawn enough to be engaging nor well written enough to be worth it for the sake of the language. It lacks charm and purpose.

Choose something else to read. This has little to offer.

Very good book - Rated
I read this book when it was first published and it has stuck in my mind. In fact, as an English teacher, I used a couple of passages as stimulus for creative writing with my GCSE groups. I found it really enjoyable to read and would recommend it really very highly.