Annie's Girl: How an Abandoned Orphan Finally Discovered the Truth About Her Mother

Not sure where to start with this book, I'll be honest, I bought it because it was 99p, and wanted a cheap read.It was not my usual type of book, and expected to get bored quickly, but the way the story is told, literally had me sat reading every spare minute I had.Heartbreaking to read what these poor children went through, and how it affects the rest of their lives.It is that well written I all of the dialogue became "Irish" if that makes sense and I could almost taste, smell and feel the orphanage.To anyone thinking of buying this, I wont spoil but please give this a go.This book would be ideal for a long plane journey where you want time to pass quickly - it will and you'll be waiting to pick the book up again.I wish this lady a very happy life. She deserves it.

I couldn't put this book down. My heart was so heavy as I read of the physical abuse for children really no more than babies. The Nuns really have a lot to answer for. How they could think that they were doing God's work when they were so cruel is a mystery to me. I really hope they did answer to a higher being. Maureen's determination to survive was admiral. I would love to know she fared in Canada.

First off i would like to say Thank you to Maureen for telling her story, revealing what she and others went through.It is because of her and others who do speak up that we can all be aware of the horrors that go on behind closed doors and hopefully help to stop children having their childhoods taken from them by abusers.It is very hard i guess for others to understand how childhood abuse can affect that child right into adulthood, because it does, it does affect all the way through to adulthood one way or another. If a person has been brought up through childhood Not to question, not to join in conversations, not to speak up then it is incredibly difficult to all of a sudden be in the big wide world and start asking questions especially in emotionally charged situations like Maureen came across. There were probably a 101 questions she wanted to ask when she left that orphanage but right at the moment she could of asked she felt unable to. That is down to her upbringing and impossible for her to of felt comfortable enough to ask questions. The way Maureen has written this book it hopefully it helps others to understand how difficult it is to be suddenly in the outside world and free of the ongoing childhood abuse and the controlling environment. Maureeen all the way through is trying to better herself and fit in and find her way in life which can be incredibly difficult for victims young or older. She shows amazing courage throughout the life she has written about in this book. What an incredible lady to actually have the greatest of empathy towards those who were in the orphanage with her and whom were left in there when she was allowed to finally leave and even the understanding she has towards her own Mother, Family and the Lady who brought her up for the first 3 years. Maureen has not given too many details of the abuse the children suffered but its easy enough to understand that there were more unthinkable horrors that went on.I read this book in just 3 evenings, and some parts made me laugh, feel sad, angry, yet amazed that she fought through so much and did what she could to better herself.It would be lovely if Maureen did find love, happiness,belonging and security when she did get abroad.If there was another book by this author then i would not hesitate to buy it.

I Purchased because it came up as a recommendation against another purchase. I'd never heard of the author but thought for 99p I'd give it a go. Must admit I didn't realise until read the online details on Amazon listing of the book, which I've just done, the story is in fact the author's own story, which makes it even more upsetting. I'm currently mid way through this book and I'm thoroughly enjoying it, despite the upsetting subject nature. So well written despite often feeling upset for the child, I just couldn't put it down. I've heard the stories of how the Irish nun's treated children, but had never realised just how cruel they really were until I read this book. I can't believe I can't find any more books by this author, she writes so well and with such passion, I can't believe this is going to be a one book wonder., or at least I hope it isn't? Despite the subject matter, this book is deffinitely a great read.

The immense suffering of a child how she survived the cruelty of those nuns and make good her life.I would like to think that this couldn't happen today and that these nuns were never brought to justice just religious fanatics even the better ones knew what was going on and did nothing and wicked perverted priests these people were protected by their church for years they swept it under the carpet.The book has a lot of sadness and happy moment but for myself i felt enormous anger but she makes good from her bad experiences incase anyone thinks it's been made to sound worse for the book it's all true my husband suffered in the hand of Catholic brothers as a child they were monsters to the children and it's still hard to talk about it so Maureen thank-you for sharing your story and i hope the rest of your life has been good

When I read the sample of this book I wasn't sure it was for me, but I'm so pleased I carried on with it. The story of Maureens life and suffering with the nuns was shocking. Although they were not all as cruel as one certain one. A Catholic priest was just as wicked too. I would love to know how Maureens life progressed. Such a well written book, I could really feel for Maureen, and the other orphans who suffered so badly.

The hardest part of this open-hearted story was realising it was a true life account! So much sorrow, cruelty, survival, deprivation and much much more has been shared with the readers of this sad story about what actually happened to Irish orphans. This author has to be commended for sharing her early life and how she battled to make her way as an adult once she got out of the orphanage.

Amazing book. Could not believe the life these poor children went through under the control of the Nuns!! Though she did wonderfully well n the end

Most enjoyable in spite of the dire circumstances which the girl Maureen was subjected to.

J'attendais qu'il soit très difficile à lire mais en fait il est écrit dUne façonne très factuelle et très agréable à lire.Hautement recommandé.

This was a good book, but was like reading a novel, I only like non fiction. So if this was a true story, it did not read like one. I finished reading it, but would have been happier with a true story.

Annie is was am amazing woman. I'm of Irish decent and sadly I recognize the behavior of the nuns and the shame put upon the girls and the mothers force to give up their children.

A heart breaking story. Just wonderful how the spirit and soul cansurvive through such cruel and brutal circumstances.

The author illustrates perfectly what life was like for an orphan growing up in Ireland. It's touching and honest, and the candor with which the story is told not only makes this an easy read, but also conveys a sense of familiarity. Despite the fact that this is a very personal account, you get the impression that this is exactly the way she she would tell the tale of her life were you to sit down with her and hear it first-hand.

Loved this book. I had just finished Martha Long's Ma Series and Annies's Girl although sad was wonderful the way you saw her growth and progress in life. An amazing woman to have gone through this kind of abuse.

I've read many books on the industrial schools. This books isn't as harsh as the others but still shows how nasty the catholic nuns were.A very sad time for those who lived it

Great book.

I was one of the village girls who attended the orphanage some ten years after Maureen left. This book confirmed my worst fears of life inside those high walls. Happy that the author found a good life later on and met nice people who helped her with that.

a brilliant book from page 1 to the very last page. It was well worth reading this book

Courageous and inspiational story of young girl's trials in orphanage and subsequent transition to outside world. Thoroughly recommend reading this book.

Annie's Girl, was an interesting memoir. I just wish I would've come across it sooner, I did a little digging on the author and she passed in 2014. I do highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a more intimate sentimental memoir. It's a funny, sad, and honest inside view growing up an orphan and wanting to fight for a better life.