Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
13th out of 47 books
—
38 voters
Skallagrigg
Skallagrigg unites Arthur, a little boy abandoned many years ago in a grim hospital in northern England, with Esther, a radiantly intelligent young girl who is suffering from cerebral palsy, and with Daniel, an American computer-games genius.
Skallagrigg - whatever the name signifies, whoever he is - will come to transform all their lives.
Skallagrigg - whatever the name signifies, whoever he is - will come to transform all their lives.
Mass Market Paperback, 728 pages
Published
1988
by Penguin
(first published 1987)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
486)
Easily makes my top five
I have always been a prolific reader and sometimes have as many as five books on the go at any one time, picking up the one which most suits my mood.
This book is absolutely brilliant and so beautifully touches the emotions of the reader. It made me laugh and it made me cry. I cried often and long and deep.
It is clear that William Horwood has been close to cerebal palsy and his daughter, Rachel, does suffer from this condition.
The central figures are Arthur, a sufferer...more
I have always been a prolific reader and sometimes have as many as five books on the go at any one time, picking up the one which most suits my mood.
This book is absolutely brilliant and so beautifully touches the emotions of the reader. It made me laugh and it made me cry. I cried often and long and deep.
It is clear that William Horwood has been close to cerebal palsy and his daughter, Rachel, does suffer from this condition.
The central figures are Arthur, a sufferer...more
29 likes · like · see review
view all 23 comments
I do realize the folly of typing "even better than Duncton Wood !" which is another book nobody has read, but this novel takes the magic and the heartbreak of Duncton Wood and transposes the secret and the power onto the world of humans. Horwood has an eye for the untold beauty of the oddity, and the language to translate both oddness and beauty into a story the reader can follow, without falling into tired clichés or making you feel you've read this one a thousand times before. In fact, probabl...more
For years I used to puzzle over my choice, should the inevitable happen, and I was invited onto Desert Island Discs to select my one book to take with me to while away my days.
A lifetime of solitude for me, would be my ultimate test of self and I always believed that I could never pick a single book (Bible and The Complete Works of Shakespeare a given)that would act as my humanitarian surrogacy.
Across music, film, entertainment and until now literature, I have always been a fence-sitter. Not bec...more
A lifetime of solitude for me, would be my ultimate test of self and I always believed that I could never pick a single book (Bible and The Complete Works of Shakespeare a given)that would act as my humanitarian surrogacy.
Across music, film, entertainment and until now literature, I have always been a fence-sitter. Not bec...more
Undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read. Intriguing, emotive, harrowing, truthful and ultimately uplifting. In places it is astonishingly brutal but, believe me, the brutality is not exaggerated but par for the course in the old institutions - I worked in some of them in their final days and they were dreadful, hellish places.
The blurb on the books cover talks about it being a life changing book and I think it is, few books have had such an emotional impact on me as this one.
I have re...more
The blurb on the books cover talks about it being a life changing book and I think it is, few books have had such an emotional impact on me as this one.
I have re...more
This book was recommended to me by a friend, as it deals with the subject of disability. This is close to my heart, as I have a daughter with a rare syndrome. I have to say, this story quite blew me away, for many, many reasons.
Although the book was written and published in the 80's, I was surprised to find that it is not available as an E-book on Kindle. William, if you ever see this, I hope you will consider doing just that. However, I was lucky enough to get a paperback copy second hand.
Even...more
Although the book was written and published in the 80's, I was surprised to find that it is not available as an E-book on Kindle. William, if you ever see this, I hope you will consider doing just that. However, I was lucky enough to get a paperback copy second hand.
Even...more
1 like · like · see review
As a mother of a CP daughter I was unsure whether to read this book.Society even today can maginalise and ridicule disabled people.But Horwood handles the subject with such thoughtfulness and love that I was won over.The box of tissues were needed often.Parts of my life were echoed on the pages and my conflicting emotions of the past 30 years were brought back to me.
How fortunate it is that my daughter was born in this day and age.Although communication is difficult she has a machine like Esther...more
How fortunate it is that my daughter was born in this day and age.Although communication is difficult she has a machine like Esther...more
Wonderful book (hard to get hold of but worth the effort). I'll let a guy called Paul Silver do the spadework for me - he reviewed the
Horwood's own daughter had this disability and was the inspiration for the book.
Recommended without reservation, you just need to suspend your disbelief that you could ever enjoy a book about "spastics" for 20-30 pages."
Horwood's own daughter had this disability and was the inspiration for the book.
Recommended without reservation, you just need to suspend your disbelief that you could ever enjoy a book about "spastics" for 20-30 pages."
"I'm four chapters in and I can already tell that this is going to be one of the best books I have ever read. It is extraordinary."
Clearly, I was impressed enough to write the above statement almost immediately after starting this book. It really is an astounding achievement. The writing style is so natural that I forgot I was reading and that for me is the mark of a great writer. The descriptive passages never felt pretentious or flowery, the dialogue was rarely stilted or awkward. And it kept...more
Clearly, I was impressed enough to write the above statement almost immediately after starting this book. It really is an astounding achievement. The writing style is so natural that I forgot I was reading and that for me is the mark of a great writer. The descriptive passages never felt pretentious or flowery, the dialogue was rarely stilted or awkward. And it kept...more
1 like · like · see review
I first read this in my early twenties. I am now in my forties. This book has transcended time and remains one of my all time favourite books.
I have Cerebral Palsy, and this book so alive and so human helped me come to terms with my condition as an adult, and to make sense of how the world around me sees me. It also helped others understand the bubble the condition places cp sufferers in.
All that said, the novel is a wonderful story of a young girl who struggles to find not only her place in the...more
I have Cerebral Palsy, and this book so alive and so human helped me come to terms with my condition as an adult, and to make sense of how the world around me sees me. It also helped others understand the bubble the condition places cp sufferers in.
All that said, the novel is a wonderful story of a young girl who struggles to find not only her place in the...more
1 like · like · see review
Wow - this book had me hooked. Not the normal style I read but it met me where I was at, and took me on what seemed like multiple adventures - only to discover that in reality the themes, story lines, and emotions were all interwoven like coloured patterns and echoes of patterns within a giant tapestry or piece of material of a loom... At first it all just looks like a giant mess - but at the end the intracacies are beautifully surprising, subtle, and so well thought through...
An insight into th...more
An insight into th...more
Like no doubt many readers, I don't understand some aspects of the publishing industry. I'm not talking about the "who the %$#^&*!!!! thought printing this was a good idea?" reaction all readers have at one point or the other. What I really don't understand, what I really want someone to explain to me, is why some books are publishing in the UK, Canada, and Australia, but not here in the United States, and why sometimes we have to wait, especially when it is the same publishing company. It's...more
8 likes · like · see review
I remember seeing this on my cousin's bookshelf many years ago, and I didn't read it because it was a little close to home - I have CP. Years pass, and a stoic, staunch flatmate recommends it, and that he cried.... so I was intrigued - such a pivotal book for me. I think? the author's daughter has CP, though even so - how does he get inside the story of it so well. I recommended it to heaps of people at the time - it's worth reading I think (whether you have CP or not...).
A truly remarkable book. The descriptions of characters was wonderful.I sat up until gone 2am to finish it and boy what an ending. One of my favourite characters is Tom. a Downs Syndrome boy whose devotion and belief in Amh is unswerving and totally devotional. It must make you realise that we have come so far since the 1920s in understanding disabled people and realising that just because their bodies arent as pliable as ours it doesnt mean their brains are unable to function too. A must read f...more
I read this book over 15 years ago, and was reminded of it today at work in the middle of a Disability Awareness training session. It is indicative of the powerful effect it had on me that I remember it so clearly. Such a heart-wrenching plight of a man with cerebral palsy who is institutionalised and then helplessly victimized by his carer for many years, but retaining his humanity and eventually finding freedom in a most unusual way. Incredible stuff.
This is an incredibly moving and rich novel about several individuals with significant disabilities and their struggles to live with dignity. Written from their view points, the book served as a potent reminder that every person is a full participant in life, regardless of appearance or deficit, and thus deserving of full respect.
Read this 25 years ago and still think about it -- if that's not a recommendation for a bok, what is? Gave me a real compassion for people restricted to wheelchairs and the absolute frustration that comes with it. Marvelous, sensitive, interesting, well written, important.
Amazing book which gives the reader insight into the handicap world while keeping you glued to the mystery of finding the Skallagrigg. It is long and the first few chapters almost made me put it down...but push through. Great ending and worth your time.
A wonderful book, I read this over 20 years ago and it still resonates within me. The adaptation by BBC2 was a travesty, and did not come close to doing this book justice. I urge anyone and everyone to read it; at least once.
I read this book when it was first published way back in 1987. It became my most favourite read and, has remained so ever since.
It tell's the story of a little boy Arthur dumped in an institution, when cerebral palsy was little known about. The abuse and neglect he and the other children suffered at the hand's of the so called nursing staff is heart-breaking
Some year's later however, when the world has become more enlighten Arthur meet's a young girl Esther who (also has cerebral palsy) with t...more
It tell's the story of a little boy Arthur dumped in an institution, when cerebral palsy was little known about. The abuse and neglect he and the other children suffered at the hand's of the so called nursing staff is heart-breaking
Some year's later however, when the world has become more enlighten Arthur meet's a young girl Esther who (also has cerebral palsy) with t...more
This was required reading for a course I completed on working with people with disabilities. A stunning book guaranteed to make you question ability and disability.
I have read this book a number of times over the years and it moves me every time. The book is so honest and inspiring a part of it is always with me.
I love stories that take you on an epic journey, spanning many years. This did and it was such a lovely journey to go on...
This is one of the best books I have ever read. Totally compelling story. A real shame that it is out of print now.
I lost myself in this one. A really great read with lovely twist. Been quite a few years since I read it and it still lives with me
a little dated now, but an amazing fairytale/lovestory with a twist. Love, love, love it. How we should all behave.
Probably my favourite book. So very very very clever, heart-breaking, moving, and incredibly well-written.
A Brilliant, Sad, Brutal, Joyous, Exhilarating, Necessary, Poignant, Tearful, Effing Wonderful book.
Fantastic read, makes you laugh and cry all at the same time, everyone should read this book
This is one the most wonderful books I've ever read! Hope to translate this into Dutch one day.
One of the books everyone should read. The insight into the human condition is remarkable. I read this book when it was first published and still remember it more than any other book I have read.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
