Surviving the Battleground of Childhood (Construction of a Personality Book 1)
Book Details
Author(s)T.D. McKinnon
PublisherIA Publishing
ISBN / ASINB007BDLI7I
ISBN-13978B007BDLI74
Sales Rank2,063,426
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
This is the true story of the first fifteen years of a boy's life - growing up in the coal mining communities of Scotland and England in the 1950s and 60s and how he survives the adversities of that battleground.
The book is written on two levels; on the first level it is a compulsive, easy to read, true story. The protagonist's narration compels the reader's empathy as, from his earliest memory, he is beaten by a father who - subjected to the harsh existence of a coal miner, and frustrated by the betrayals of an unfaithful wife - vents his anger on him. After suffering a nervous breakdown in his earliest childhood, Thomas endeavours to escape his father's tyranny and his mother's complacency, but in his search for a nourishing love he falls foul of situations he is ill equipped to deal with; often taking him into forbidden and dangerous areas.
At just five years of age he is introduced to sexuality by the two little girls next door, who were themselves sexually molested by their uncle. When he is only six years old, taking advantage of his doting love and trust, a grandfather repeatedly sexually assaults him; unhappily this is just the beginning.
Enduring the interminable beatings and psychological tribulations at home and facing the predators, antagonists and bullies in his immediate environment; will his inner courage, determination and indomitable sense of adventure carry him through? Surviving near death experiences, and in spite of all adversities, will Thomas reach young adulthood, and still keep the balance of his mind?
On another level 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is a relative mud map that invites the reader to compare his or her own childhood adversities and to see past them. Offering a framework that will perhaps, in spite of perceived ruination for life, assist those in need to be survivors, not just casualties - maimed remnants of the battleground - but real survivors.
'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' will appeal to anyone who grew up during the 1950's and 60's, and more specifically still, to those who grew up in the working class areas during that era. Conversely, anyone with an adverse or traumatic experience in their childhood, or were subjected to a physically and or psychologically abusive upbringing will relate. However, the potential market for 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is endless. Sometimes funny, often tragic but an ultimately uplifting and entertaining story about growing up; most people - young, old and in between - will relate to it in some way, regardless of country, era or sociology.
* Nov. 22, 2011 - By Ruth Medcraft - 5 stars
"Amazing and heartfelt story about a young boy who overcomes childhood hardships and extremely difficulties in his young life, managing to turn his life around through finding the courage to overcome the many hard battles he faced. This book was so well written and different in so many ways than many autobiographies I have read. Well done, an absolute pleasure to read! I laughed, cried and was astounded by how well it was worded to make you feel that you could see it all happening and felt relief to see our young hero succeed in the end."
* 2008 - A review by Cherrell Ward at New Book Review:
T.D. McKinnon's 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is inspirational reading! This narrative about his childhood is a revealing story about painful experiences and the everyday struggle to overcome serious challenges he faced as a child, and the strength he developed in becoming a survivor. McKinnon's frankness and fearless attitude are amplified by his ability to tell a story well! I give Surviving the Battleground of Childhood - 4 ½ Stars!"
* 2008 - Pat Qua, Acclaimed Australian painter, sculptor and musician - 5 stars
"Such honesty about the difficulties of the human condition is rare to find - some damaging problems of sex and cruelty are faced with refreshing openness. I just couldn't put it down."
The book is written on two levels; on the first level it is a compulsive, easy to read, true story. The protagonist's narration compels the reader's empathy as, from his earliest memory, he is beaten by a father who - subjected to the harsh existence of a coal miner, and frustrated by the betrayals of an unfaithful wife - vents his anger on him. After suffering a nervous breakdown in his earliest childhood, Thomas endeavours to escape his father's tyranny and his mother's complacency, but in his search for a nourishing love he falls foul of situations he is ill equipped to deal with; often taking him into forbidden and dangerous areas.
At just five years of age he is introduced to sexuality by the two little girls next door, who were themselves sexually molested by their uncle. When he is only six years old, taking advantage of his doting love and trust, a grandfather repeatedly sexually assaults him; unhappily this is just the beginning.
Enduring the interminable beatings and psychological tribulations at home and facing the predators, antagonists and bullies in his immediate environment; will his inner courage, determination and indomitable sense of adventure carry him through? Surviving near death experiences, and in spite of all adversities, will Thomas reach young adulthood, and still keep the balance of his mind?
On another level 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is a relative mud map that invites the reader to compare his or her own childhood adversities and to see past them. Offering a framework that will perhaps, in spite of perceived ruination for life, assist those in need to be survivors, not just casualties - maimed remnants of the battleground - but real survivors.
'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' will appeal to anyone who grew up during the 1950's and 60's, and more specifically still, to those who grew up in the working class areas during that era. Conversely, anyone with an adverse or traumatic experience in their childhood, or were subjected to a physically and or psychologically abusive upbringing will relate. However, the potential market for 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is endless. Sometimes funny, often tragic but an ultimately uplifting and entertaining story about growing up; most people - young, old and in between - will relate to it in some way, regardless of country, era or sociology.
* Nov. 22, 2011 - By Ruth Medcraft - 5 stars
"Amazing and heartfelt story about a young boy who overcomes childhood hardships and extremely difficulties in his young life, managing to turn his life around through finding the courage to overcome the many hard battles he faced. This book was so well written and different in so many ways than many autobiographies I have read. Well done, an absolute pleasure to read! I laughed, cried and was astounded by how well it was worded to make you feel that you could see it all happening and felt relief to see our young hero succeed in the end."
* 2008 - A review by Cherrell Ward at New Book Review:
T.D. McKinnon's 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is inspirational reading! This narrative about his childhood is a revealing story about painful experiences and the everyday struggle to overcome serious challenges he faced as a child, and the strength he developed in becoming a survivor. McKinnon's frankness and fearless attitude are amplified by his ability to tell a story well! I give Surviving the Battleground of Childhood - 4 ½ Stars!"
* 2008 - Pat Qua, Acclaimed Australian painter, sculptor and musician - 5 stars
"Such honesty about the difficulties of the human condition is rare to find - some damaging problems of sex and cruelty are faced with refreshing openness. I just couldn't put it down."
