Blue-Eyed Son: The Story of an Adoption

by Nicky Campbell

Nicky Campbell, the Radio 5 Live and BBC1 Watchdog presenter, was adopted as a baby into a comfortable Protestant Scottish family. He always knew he was adopted, but didn't begin searching for his birth mother until he was in his thirties. When he found her, what she told him came as a shock. The clash of cultures, creed, and ideology between his parent's world and the world he grew up in couldn't be more striking. In this refreshingly candid book, he tells the story of his journey to find his parents, the dark secrets that have been revealed, and the journey he had to make after finding them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Adoption

346 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2004

Reviews

[John Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating read, autobiographical. Mainly centred around his tracing his biological parents. Along the way he discovers a half sister, also adopted. They connect and support each other in discovering biological family members. Wordy and the author’s professional status (radio and tv presenter and journalist) is ever present.

[Sull · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read! Nicky Campbell is an open & engaging character, & isn't afraid to lay himself emotionally bare as he follows the various clues that led him down the rabbit-hole of his search for his birth mother & father. First he found his mother (a mighty peculiar character in her own right) & his half-sister, a real soul-mate. Then years later he took up the search again and was able to find his father and--completely unexpectedly--subsequent myriad cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. Finally, to top it all off, he helped his new half-sister track down the living remnants of HER father.

This book makes it clear why adoptees become so completely obsessed with finding their biological families that they'll endanger all other relationships. It's a basic human need, to know one's roots, & should be a human right. NC conveys very well the terror and glory of it all, and the mistakes that can be made along the way, the idiocies on all three sides--the adoptees themselves, their adoptive families and their all-important & mysterious biological families. It's so easy for any of these folks to get it wrong, stumble, close the door when one should be opening it, turn away when one should be looking long & hard....

Not a perfect book by any means, as it shifts uneasily between investigative journalism & personal memoir, but amazingly moving.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess only folk from the UK and Ireland will be familiar with Nicky Campbell. He is a well known TV presenter (one of his shows reunites long separated families) and radio host. I was an avid listener of his morning radio shows when in England.

This is an autobiography and it is a hell of a 'story.' Not just of the adoption but it tells of Nicky Campbell 'finding' himself and maturing. The book starts somewhat memorably....'I was committing adultery in room 634 of The Holiday Inn in Birmingham...' is quite the start!

He tells of his life growing up in Edinburgh with his lovely parents and how he discovered his birth mother who had come/been sent from Ireland to give birth and then give up her boy for adoption. He discovers his roots in Ireland and reflects on life in Scotland, Ireland and England.

It's a very moving book and will make people like Nicky Campbell a lot more.

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Nicky Campbell on TV particularly on “Long Lost Family”. He seems quite a gentle character and always relates kindly to the people he is trying to reunite. In the book he comes across as a much more complex and more abrasive person. Parts of the book held my interest and others were very drawn out and I had to skim over those parts. His reunion with his birth mother was not very interesting as they seemed to have little in common and he seemed more interested when he found his birth father but I guess he had much more of a story to tell and that appealed to Nicky’s journalistic background. I was disappointed that we were not told anything more about his birth mother ….. is she alive or dead?

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is essentially an autobiography and family history from Nicky Campbell, famous in the UK as a Radio 1 DJ, Game Show Host and journalist. The Biography is told through the lens of his adoption and he goes backwards and forwards in time to tell this engaging tale. The story would be sufficiently dramatic with just the personal relationships, which tug at the heartstrings enough. Add in Nicky's own mental health struggles and it gets more dramatic, but this is far from all there is here. Think of being on both sides of a dispute, and this is where Nicky finds himself.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did the book pays out its rewards. Well worth a read.

[Kathryn Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thought provoking memoir on adoption and family history. Written in such a way that I felt I got to know the real 'Nicky Campbell.' I particularly enjoyed reading about Campbell's birth mother's complex relationships, and the link between Scotland and Ireland was fascinating. It made me realise how we are all walking 'on the bones of the past'and the amazing stories we all hold within ourselves and our families. Brilliant read.

[Kristy Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first part of this book. I enjoyed discovering how Nicky found his biological mother and sister and how he navigated this with his adoptive Mum and sister. I found the part where he found his biological father went too heavily into the IRA. I actually skipped a lot of this part. I can see why it would be interesting to Nicky, but as a reader, I just lost interest.
This book made me really keen to watch more episodes of Long Lost Family soon.

[Katie Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded)
Campbell describes his story with empathy, and is very open about the ups and downs of being adopted, as well as the journey and personal expression to finding his birth family. Some of the middle parts did drag a little bit which is why it lost some stars for me, but overall a poignant, fascinating read.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book about Nicky Campbell and his journey to search for his natural family. As a person who does their family tree I was intrigued by what he came across and his Irish links rspecially through his father. The book explains why he is so knowledgeable in the program 'Long Lost Family', which was the reason for coming across the book.

[Black Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite monotonous. I compare adoption books to my own which I'm proud to say gold's the readers attention by evoking so much emotion..be that laughter or tears..this book I found dull and couldn't recall any of it after reading

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicky Campbell recounts his search for his birth parents, and the highs and lows that are an inevitable part of that. I can only commend his honesty on the way he recounts those emotions felt strongly, and those not so strongly.

[Carol Bursey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heartfelt Story

A wonderful exploration of the meaning of family and the importance of knowing where we come from. Nicky traces his biological parents and finds the balance between nature and nurture in his life

[Peter]

An interesting read, with much more to it than you might think. Campbell doesn’t emerge as a very likeable soul, but it is a fascinating story nevertheless.

[Jean Kiani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

I found his Irish roots so interesting. It’s like a modern history of Ireland. Finding his Mum was very moving. Feel for his adopted Mum and sister though.

[Glyn Gasson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, brutally honest but very uplifting book of Nicky Campbell and his stepsister's search for their birth parents. Written by a man who genuinely cares.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Nicky Campbell’s search for his birth parents had me hooked from the beginning. It is a personal story but everyone will be able to identify with his themes of family love, the need for belonging and a clear sense of identity.
Campbell is a broadcaster and knows how to tell a story well. He charts the ups and downs of his search for his birth mother and father, the agonies of deciding to search, the worries about whether he was betraying his adoptive family.
He shares the pain, the anticipation of making that first contact: “She [his wife Linda]stood in the hall and dialled the number. I was sitting on the stairs, rigid with fear, my head buried in my hands, my body folding into a foetal position. I really didn’t think I could go through with it. I was petrified and exhausted. What the hell would I say? What the hell do you say? This woman gave birth to me. I needed an epidural.
“I had held this fantasy in my head for years. I had a mental picture of a beautiful but driven career woman – a free spirit who found herself in this impossible situation and made an extraordinary sacrifice. She gave her baby away. Her baby was about to catch up with her. we were about to speak to her. I was about to clothe this idealised wraith in humanity. At 29 I was about to make the first connection with my own flesh and blood, someone to whom I was genetically connected. That word – genetic – it had an almost sacred meaning for me. [It still does.] A genetic link; a magical bond. An inexpressible essence of belonging and being.
“From my seat on the stairs I could hear the ring at the other end. It stopped. A woman’s voice. Soft, Irish, hesitant and wary. ‘Hello.’
Campbell finds so much more than his birth mother and father, he finds his family. It doesn’t matter that he is a face familiar on the television, his story will affect everyone.
I read this book as research for my novel ‘Ignoring Gravity’, the story of journalist Rose Haldane who finds out at the age of 40 that she was adopted as a baby. How must it feel, at 40, to discover you are not who you thought you were? That your family lied? That every single ‘family medical history’ form you have filled in was invalid?

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I surprised myself by really enjoying this book which a friend loaned me. I found it to be a really interesting read and gave amazing insight into how adopted people feel when they are searching for their birth parents. It explores the differences between men and women and family loyalties. It made me think a lot more about the nature/nurture balance.

[Alys Scarlet]

I enjoyed this, although it is not terribly well written, and Campbell struggles to articulate the intensity of the emotions he felt on his journey, without repetition. But as a personal story, it is interesting, especially if any of the issues affect the reader.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always like Nicky Campbell and it was really interesting to read about the story of his adoption and his journey to find his biological family. His book is engaging and honest and a worthwhile read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and emotional read, feels like it really captures the essence of being an adopted child and the confusion and joy in discovering your biological parents and their family histories. A brilliant read.

[Bev Mattocks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but a bit drawn out towards the end.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! As a birth mother, I got a lot out of it.
Thank you for sharing your story 😀

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I nearly got put off by the first page but I read on and found it very interesting and moving.