Behind Cloosed Doors - Jenny Tomlin

I have to say, this would not be my normal choice of reading material but a friend had just finished it and recommended it to me. It is written by Jenny Tomlin, the mother of actress Martine McCutcheon (best known for her role as Tiffany in Eastenders). It is the true story of her upbringing in London's East End in the 1960s and tells of her survival against all the odds. It is a harrowing story of starvation, beatings and sexual abuse at the hands of her father. He was a vicious bully who beats his wife and children on an almostly daily basis. He spends his life in front of the television waiting for his benefits cheque to arrive. Most of ...  Read the complete review

I read this book a few months back, and I found it to be very affecting. I am not usually a fan of so-called "misery memoirs" but I have found myself reading more and more of them lately, not too sure why, must be getting a bit morbid in my old age or something! But this has to be one of the worst cases of child abuse I have ever heard or read about. Jenny Tomlin is a truly inspirational woman. This book is a retrospective account of her life from early childhood to early adulthood. It can be very difficult to read at times and is certainly not for the faint-hearted. PEOPLE IN THE BOOK: Jenny - the author of the book. Jenny is the ...  Read the complete review

**PROLOGUE** It was while watching ITV's loose women recently that they had a guest called Jenny Tomlin on. We were told that she was the mother of Martina McCutcheon (the ex-EastEnders/film/singing star), and she started talking about her new book - Behind closed doors. It was billed as a biography that would was graphic and shocking…My wife decided she wanted to read the book so I went to WH Smith and bought it. Our copy was hardback and costs £9.99, I had just finished the book I was reading so decided I would grab it before my wife. Lets be honest everyone has a biography out these days - Jordan, Sharon Osbourne, Goldie Hawn, Jane ...  Read the complete review

My daughter first brought my attention to the heartbreaking story "Behind Closed Doors" by Jenny TOMLIN. It gives a truly shocking account of an extrememly sad and miserable childhood. Living in the Eastend of London Jenny gives a vivid insight into the dark and dingy world of abuse, and this is carried out by the very person who should love nuture, and protect, her and her siblings, HER OWN FATHER. Every social worker, and child protection agency should read this book as part of their training programme, I am not ashamed to tell you I was in tears, my heart so went out to Jenny, I felt I wanted to hug her better, such is the impact of this ...  Read the complete review

I didn't understand when people say don't touch me there daddy because in the story not once has Jenny ever said daddy it was dad. Anyways, Jenny's life is a living hell, her sister Kim and her brother Lawrence stand tall with eachother as they are abused and sexually abused as well as their mother. When I first read this book, her mother was not a strong woman enough to leave for the sake of her children. Auntie, I was surprised and happy for the second chapter. I really look up to this woman, she took care of Jenny, Kim, and Lawrence saving them from the abuse, still not knowing about it she finds out when Jenny confesses that he has touched Kim and ...  Read the complete review