Raw, visceral and extremely distressing this is an astonishing memoir. Jenni Fagan proves, once again, that she is an extraordinary, unique writer. I couldn't put it down.

Writer Jenni Fagan writes with brutal honesty about growing up in care in Edinburgh. It is truly a shocking story and I found it difficult to read at times. Passed from pillar to post and rarely shown any affection, it is hardly surprising that she was used by all the wrong people and had a serious drug problem by the time she was a teenager. I applaud her courage in sharing her tragic story.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
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This memoir left me heartbroken.

The meaning of Ootlin-Scottish Dictionary: alien or outsider

I found myself alternating been anger and sorrow, and it left me with many questions to which the following I’d love to receive answers:
• How can the care system allow children to be adopted by people without any idea how to raise them?
• Do they not have to receive counselling or training?
• How can care homes be places where children will be exposed to drug taking?
• How can care workers not see that children are beaten and exposed whether psychological or physical torture?

After reading the memoir, I searched for everything I could on Jenni Fagan. She’s overcome her past, writing both fiction and poetry. She gained her doctorate and has produced a film.

It begs the question; is Jenni one of the exceptional geniuses who come through the care system, beaten, and broken and yet, by some miracle of believing in themselves, able to survive and make their way through life?

Jenni Fagan, you opened this reader’s eyes to the care system and the horrendous mistakes made. Has the system set about fixing the system, or is it still in chaos? Your story has genuinely shocked and saddened me. I meditated while doing the forgiveness mantra for the little girl Jenni who must have felt so utterly alone and unloved. I’m so pleased to learn how your life turned around and how successful your writing is.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

I loved Jenni Fagan’s Luckenbooth and The Panopticon and so was intrigued to read her memoir. I was astonished by Ootlin, and stayed up all night to read it, fuelled by rage at her terrible childhood and fury at the adults who let her down time and time again. Her exceptional intelligence shines through and the actual writing is beautiful. That she survived her childhood is miraculous, that she went on to create such brilliant novels is something else again. I can’t recommend this strongly enough.

Powerful. Deeply tender and moving and honest and haunting. A visceral account of life growing up in care with Fagan's trademark beautiful, eerie prose and powerful storytelling. I'm already telling everyone I know about it, can't wait to have it in store. A privilege to read.

This is a truly heartbreaking, heart wrenching and empowering book, it fully shows how the care system can fail at time and the dangers that children can face from the adults around them, even their own family.

The adoptive mother is an example of this, such a evil person, I really hope the author has sent her some of her previous books, as a big eff you, look what I’ve achieved.

This also highlights the people who have positives impact upon children and encourage them.

This is an upsetting read at times, but fully shows the authors strength of character, a person who needs full kudos for telling her story.

Now to crack on with her previous books

I've read all of Jenni's books. Listened to her speak about her experience of the care system at a few book events, interviewed her on a couple of occasions myself. I thought I knew enough to feel prepared. But Ootlin was an utterly heartbreaking read all the same. One that shines with fierceness and hope and beauty though, just like all her other words do. Jenni writes: "It is most often unseen by much of the world but so many people live with extraordinary grace and defiance in the face of mortality and a world that can be far too hostile to the human hearts that try to make their home here." She certainly has. And it's taken a scarcely imaginable courage on her part, but now we can see her.