'I found the boats late one afternoon . . . I was seven or eight at the time . . . I was frightened of going home, afraid of what I might find there, feeling sad and looking for refuge.'
'The Boy In The Boat' is a journey through Brian O'Raleigh's life, from his childhood as the son of an abusive drunken Irish father, to his own alcoholism and broken relationships, then on towards redemption and hope through self-help.
This story is compelling in its writing style and riveting in its content. The damage Brian's alcoholic behaviour wreaked in his own and numerous other lives and his battles to overcome alcoholism are described in a raw and honest fashion, as is the ultimate conquering of his demons at the end of the book.
Brian O'Raleigh's powerful writing is thoroughly engaging. He takes the reader through his journey with rawness and candour, in a style reminiscent of 'Angela's Ashes'. His life is a blend of childhood hardship and new-age discovery that will make essential reading for a wide and varied readership.
