My Name Is Why Audiobook By Lemn Sissay cover art

My Name Is Why

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My Name Is Why

By: Lemn Sissay
Narrated by: Lemn Sissay, Richard Burnip, Zoe Mills
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At the age of 17, after a childhood in an fostered family followed by six years in care homes, Norman Greenwood was given his birth certificate. He learned that his real name was not Norman. It was Lemn Sissay. He was British and Ethiopian. And he learned that his mother had been pleading for his safe return to her since his birth.

Here Sissay recounts his life story. It is a story of neglect and determination. Misfortune and hope. Cruelty and triumph.

Sissay reflects on a childhood in care, self-expression and Britishness, and in doing so explores the institutional care system, race, family and the meaning of home. Written with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation's best-loved poets, this moving, frank and timely memoir is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity.

©2019 Lemn Sissay (P)2019 Canongate Books Ltd Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Inspiring
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I struggle to understand how humans treat animals with cruelty, then reading this book made me angry and just sad. what am amazing story of courage.....

A "must" read

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so courageous and dedicated to write his own journey. Not giving up easily. Brave.

Perseverance . Courageous.

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We listened to Lemn Sissay read his book and it was mesmerizing.

I can only say that he is a very resilient person and a great talent. I am looking forward to Reading more books and poetry written by Lemn

So sorry when this book was finished

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it was an amazing experience to hear in detailed information. I always wondered the individual experiences. Thank you for sharing

astonishing story

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I liked the way this book was voiced by the author. His story is one of discovery of himself. Born to an unwed mother and placed into the care of the authority, his lifelong search to learn his true identity is heartbreaking and complex.

Touching Story

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Thank you for sharing your story with us. I believe I will look back at this book in 10 years as a personal turning point in my life. Thank you so much.

Beautiful

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Lemn’s memoir makes me continue to ponder why this world in which we live hates Blacks so much. Why, interwoven into the fabric of society, it is widely accepted that Blacks are less than, inferior. Why individually and collectively a person (and structural systems) willfully set out to demean, belittle and terrorize Blacks in particular (and “people of color” to a larger degree).

This brand of willful insanity is destructive to all and will amount to no good.

In Lemn’s story, why was this even done? There’s no meaningful answer(s) yet we see/hear of it and the likes time and again. Another Black soul was damaged...but Lemn has done very, very well with the blessings he was allotted.

I think Lemn is a resilient soul with a greatness and strength that maybe even he has yet to fully realize.

My immediate thoughts after reading My Name is Why

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Never heard a story that so visible punctured my heart, but saved me with it’s beautiful poems like an oasis in the middle of a desert but most of all showed me the perseverance of the human spirit.

Excellent book, narration and poetry.

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