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Lemn Sissay
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My Name Is Why Kindle Edition

by Lemn Sissay (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,985 ratings
See all formats and editions
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
INDIE BOOK AWARDS NON-FICTION WINNER

'EXTRAORDINARY' The Times, 'BEAUTIFUL' Dolly Alderton, 'SHATTERING' Observer, 'INCREDIBLE' Benjamin Zephaniah, 'UNPUTDOWNABLE' Sunday Times, 'ASTOUNDING' Matt Haig 'POWERFUL' Elif Shafak

At the age of seventeen, after a childhood in a foster 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.

This is Lemn's story: a story of neglect and determination, misfortune and hope, cruelty and triumph.

Sissay reflects on his childhood, 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.
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  1. Print length
    260 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Canongate Books
  5. Publication date
    August 29, 2019
  6. File size
    23259 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Lemn Sissay is a BAFTA-nominated, award-winning international writer and broadcaster. He has authored collections of poetry and plays. His Landmark poems are visible in London, Manchester, Huddersfield and Addis Ababa. He has been made an Honorary Doctor by the universities of Manchester, Kent, Huddersfield and Brunel. Sissay was awarded an MBE for services to literature and in 2019 he was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize. He is Chancellor of the University of Manchester. He is British and Ethiopian.

Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR LEMN SISSAY:

“One of the most original, challenging poets writing in Britain today, and his extraordinary, heart-breaking, courageous life story is the stuff of legend” Daily Mail

“Highly personal themes reach out far beyond his individual experiences to highlight the universal nature of rejection, loss, dislocation and healing” KIRSTY YOUNG, BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs

“Lemn Sissay is a passionate and powerful voice whose performances are humbling and exhilarating” KATE TEMPEST

“His gift as a writer – of plays, poetry, documentaries – is for turning life's base metal into gold” Observer

“Traces [Sissay's] path from gifted adolescent to accomplished poetic voice, railing with passion and prowess against the ‘quiet violence of the day-to-day’” Financial Times

About the Author

Lemn Sissay is an award-winning writer and popular broadcaster as well as being the author of five poetry books. He was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Huddersfield and the University of Manchester. He was awarded an MBE by the Queen for services to literature. He was the official poet for the London 2012 Olympics. He has worked throughout the world and is patron of the Letterbox Club, supporting children in care. His Landmark poems can be found in London, Manchester, Huddersfield and Addis Ababa. In 2015 he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Manchester. In 2019 he won the PEN Pinter Prize. He is British and Ethiopian.

@lemnsissay | lemnsissay.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07J1S3SPC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Canongate Books; Main edition (August 29, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 29, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 23259 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,985 ratings

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Lemn Sissay

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
3,985 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read or even better listen to Lemn’s reading on the audio book.
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
A remarkable story of resilience and a personal lifelong search for justice and the acknowledgment of truth. This story must be told and retold if we are to ever accept a profound and painful fact about governments in the world, we steal childhoods, lives, identities, families, languages and cultures to achieve an ideal of safety. Lemn’s story reflects teaches that one groups safety is another’s terror. It’s time for this as a larger conversation and the United Nations. No more stolen childhoods in the name of safety.
4 people found this helpful
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Sharon
5.0 out of 5 stars Heart strings, frustration, admiration
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2020
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This is “Why” is more than a question, it is the soul of a black boy becoming a man. A boy that’s rejected and punished for just being. A childhood of pain and yet, full of curiosity. A young man that’s determined to find his way (himself) in life. At last, out of the ‘care’ (barley cared for; more a bureaucratic holding cell) system he establishes his full potential and so much more.
5 people found this helpful
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4.0 out of 5 stars Scans are fixed
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
The reviews from 2019 saying the scans are unreadable you can ignore. They're fixed now.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read to understand the failure of government
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
A well written memoir of a kid stuck in “the system”. I was deeply saddened and angry for him, and the kids who share his story. Lemn’s account of his foster parents lack of reaction or empathy while getting electrocuted during bath time enraged me. The UK is no better than the US when it comes to race relations.
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ELLIE
5.0 out of 5 stars A very real account.
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2020
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A True assessment of a system that continue to exist today, in different forms but with almost the same results. Mankind Inhumanity to others, conducted with open eyes of Blindness.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A totally authentic account
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
The excerpts from the actual records make it so authentic, accompanied by the direct tone of the narrative. This leaves the reader free to have a genuine reaction of horror and anger.
What happened next? We need a sequel
One person found this helpful
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Jan Liu
5.0 out of 5 stars As amazing story
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
A story of the cruelty and terrible thoughtlessness of foster care and in stunning contrast the pain and the courage of one young man. Thank you, Lemn

H
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Mark Beech
5.0 out of 5 stars Horrific but Compelling Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020
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An important story to read. I can’t believe how he was treated at 12 years old. It’s incredible how he is a functioning adult. I am not sure I would be.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

sara
5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal story - recommend!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
One of the best books I’ve ever read - so moving and enlightening if at times quite sad. But what a wonderful and inspiring man who has overcome so much. I’d highly recommend (in fact I also listened to him narrate it on audible!)
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Brigid
5.0 out of 5 stars An important book.
Reviewed in Germany on January 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
What a gorgeous man, so well written. His story will move you to tears and his poetry to the stars! Everyone should read this. Including everyone in government, especially those who work in childcare.
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elisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Harrowing but wonderful
Reviewed in Italy on April 11, 2020
Verified Purchase
A harrowing story from Lemn Sissay (look him up), wonderfully compelling although torturous to read. I am a huge fan of his but even if you are not, it is worth reading this account of a system gone very wrong and the strength of a boy then man who made it through, although not unscathed.
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clairerp
5.0 out of 5 stars One of those stories that hits you at the core
Reviewed in Australia on March 21, 2021
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This book will touch your heart. I grew up in Wigan, this is a must read, the emotion is palpable throughout and laced with the most beautiful poetry in each chapter. Could not put this book down.
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SJR
5.0 out of 5 stars A story of overcoming the hardest circumstances
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
I first heard Lemn reading from his story on Radio 4, and found it a compelling listen. This book is also a compelling read. The tale is one of an unbelievably sad and difficult childhood, but this is no misery memoir - Lemn tells it in the most incredibly even-handed way, telling us what happened to him and trying to understand why, all supported by the running commentary of his social service files, extracts from which intersperse the text.
The bare facts of his story are tragic - he was born to a single mother at a time when this was socially unacceptable, she gave him up for temporary foster care while she went back to her home country, he was then placed with a family who wished to keep him, and when his mother wrote to inquire about his whereabouts, social services obstructed her efforts to find him. Then at 12, the only family he had known decided to give him up, and he was moved from one to another of a series of the most terrible children's homes. The fact that Lemn survived this, and is now a successful poet, writer, broadcaster and performer is testament to his talent, determination and tenacity, and the difference that a kind and supportive social worker can make, but you can see that it could so easily have been otherwise.

I would hope that the care system has got better since Lemn's childhood, but I very much fear that it hasn't improved enough. But I am glad that he made it through, and sad that his way was so tough - I would truly recommend this book to anyone, because in spite of the subject matter it is not a depressing read. The book has also encouraged me to explore his poetry as well - a very unique talent, forged out of the bleakest early circumstances, but demonstrating that good can come out of bad.
2 people found this helpful
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