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Broken Fences
Clair lives in the leafy suburbs and has worked hard to create the perfect life for her husband and two children. She knows it's a big bad world out there and her beautifully painted garden fences keep that world out. While her children are young, Clair is determined to do everything she can to keep them safe.
- GenresFiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 8, 2018
three and a half stars
The prologue is a chilling picture of someone preparing to take the lives of their two children and their own life. It then goes back to give the lead up to how this situation came about. It all started when new neighbours moved in nearby. Clair has done all she can to try and provide a safe environment for her children. But when these neighbours with their daughter, Chelsea, move in, things begin to change in ways Clair is not prepared for. There is something about Chelsea that sets alarm bells ringing for Clair. The more she tries to protect her children the harder life becomes.
From the prologue, which had me debating for a while whether I wanted to read this book, there is a tension that did keep me reading the pages. As circumstances unfolded I kept waiting for and expecting the twist. When it came it was not at all what I was expecting. Did it work? Maybe it’s just me, but I wasn’t convinced.
Still this is a strangely compelling read about family, and how far a mother can go or will go to protect her children. It also brings out how a person’s own past experience in childhood can influence their adult behaviour. It is also a book about neighbours and friendship as well as bullying, loneliness and obsession. For those reasons, this simply told but intriguing story set in Australian suburbia is worth reading, even if in my view the ending didn’t seem in keeping with the rest of the book. Others may well have a different view of this though. Loved the cover of this one.
The prologue is a chilling picture of someone preparing to take the lives of their two children and their own life. It then goes back to give the lead up to how this situation came about. It all started when new neighbours moved in nearby. Clair has done all she can to try and provide a safe environment for her children. But when these neighbours with their daughter, Chelsea, move in, things begin to change in ways Clair is not prepared for. There is something about Chelsea that sets alarm bells ringing for Clair. The more she tries to protect her children the harder life becomes.
From the prologue, which had me debating for a while whether I wanted to read this book, there is a tension that did keep me reading the pages. As circumstances unfolded I kept waiting for and expecting the twist. When it came it was not at all what I was expecting. Did it work? Maybe it’s just me, but I wasn’t convinced.
Still this is a strangely compelling read about family, and how far a mother can go or will go to protect her children. It also brings out how a person’s own past experience in childhood can influence their adult behaviour. It is also a book about neighbours and friendship as well as bullying, loneliness and obsession. For those reasons, this simply told but intriguing story set in Australian suburbia is worth reading, even if in my view the ending didn’t seem in keeping with the rest of the book. Others may well have a different view of this though. Loved the cover of this one.
November 20, 2011
Apparently Camilla Noli has a knack for dragging me headfirst into her books and leaving me unable to put then down until they have been completely devoured. This book certainly didn't disappoint; subtle yet striking, it's an excellent follow up to her, also brilliant, debut. Roll on the next! :)
August 23, 2018
I ended up in tears toward the end of this book. The writing is like a punch in your heart-so real and it certainly evokes what all human beings go through when they're struggling with anxiety and depression. I wish I didn't know how that feels.
June 4, 2024
This is a bit of an unsettling storyline. What lengths a mother will go to, to protect her children. So unsettling that it felt unrealistic to me. And no discrimination here, but I just don’t think anyone who isn’t a mother could relate to this storyline. In fact, I am a mother but even I found it hard to relate to, as I would never behave the way this mother did. And then when the story took a turn for the better towards the end, it was like the last few short chapters there was a flurry from the author turning everything around and everyone’s now happy and everything’s going to be ok! It was like the author hurriedly tied everything. In a pink bow and the story abruptly ended! As a positive , the storyline did make me want to keep reading to the end to see how it all unfolded. But it was just 3 stars and I would probably not recommend. Certainly not for anyone wanting something uplifting!!
February 28, 2019
I would have given this four stars but I just felt that the ending was too simplistic and tidy. You don’t come back from a severe episode of psychosis - in which you plan and almost carry out the murder of a child and the murder-suicide of your own children and yourself but for a coincidence - by learning to moderate your controlling behaviour and allowing others into your life. For all this turning over a new leaf, how exactly does Clair spend time with Mel, knowing that she would have killed Mel’s daughter if not for an unpredictable turn of events? How could someone so terribly unwell just recover? It’s not believable at all.
A very well-written book, compelling and searching but let down by a Pollyanna ending.
A very well-written book, compelling and searching but let down by a Pollyanna ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2024
4 stars for the heart hitting realness
This was a surprise page turner for me. Not a book I would usually read but I loved it.
Follows a story of a women’s love for her children, the lengths you’d go to to protect them and mental illness. At times a tough read but one with such heart and realness
This was a surprise page turner for me. Not a book I would usually read but I loved it.
Follows a story of a women’s love for her children, the lengths you’d go to to protect them and mental illness. At times a tough read but one with such heart and realness
October 21, 2019
It was well written, but too close to home in parts to get more than 3.5 stars, as it was a bit unsettling.
May 18, 2014
This book starts with a shocking prologue which drags you into the story. I have to confess I rattled through the 288 pages very quickly, the 34 chapters are short which adds to the tension within the pages of this story about a mother who is obsessed with protecting her children.
Clair is a surburban housewife living somewhere in Australia with her husband Peter and two children, Marty and Beccy. One day whilst watching from her window Clair sees a new family moving into the house that backs onto hers. She is immediately aware that the young Chelsea is not going to be good for her family.
The novel is mainly set in the domestic setting of the group of houses, Marty and Beccy have long been friends with Tabitha and Sammy who live next door. The children are used to visiting each other through the gaps in the broken fence and Clair reports on and watches the games that they play. One day something awful happens and Clair has to go into overdrive to protect her children.
This is a good but unsettling book about motherhood, of obsessions and bullying.
Clair is a surburban housewife living somewhere in Australia with her husband Peter and two children, Marty and Beccy. One day whilst watching from her window Clair sees a new family moving into the house that backs onto hers. She is immediately aware that the young Chelsea is not going to be good for her family.
The novel is mainly set in the domestic setting of the group of houses, Marty and Beccy have long been friends with Tabitha and Sammy who live next door. The children are used to visiting each other through the gaps in the broken fence and Clair reports on and watches the games that they play. One day something awful happens and Clair has to go into overdrive to protect her children.
This is a good but unsettling book about motherhood, of obsessions and bullying.
October 28, 2009
Mmmmmmmmm don't know about this. Uncomfortable topics - no doubt about that, actually made me feel ill for much of it - not pleasant. Thought the writing was a bit basic at times, & then subsequently came across as a tale creating shock value rather than displaying the true message that was intended to be given - one of how quick & all consuming depression & anxiety can be & of how hard it can be to overcome. A story about when a Mothers love is too much.
December 13, 2009
This really touched a chord with me - a mother struggling with taking care of her children partly because of what happened to her in the past and partly due to her anxiety to be a "good mother". I really liked how the world of the children was shown, with its own rules and its own values. The story built up very emotionally - I almost didn't want to read the end - but was happy (thankfully) with how it concluded!
November 22, 2010
This book wasn't one of my favourites, but I didn't completely dislike it either. I wanted to keep reading until something really exciting happened, but I was dissapointed at the end. Maybe it's because I'm not a mother, and I couldn't connect to the character, therefore the book wasn't as interesting to me.
August 18, 2011
I know,its possible to get overwhelmed at times especially if childhood has been disturbing and your basic pychological needs are not met...I like this book overall...as I know its possible to loose the fine balance
February 22, 2013
I wanted this to be better than it was. while the book drew me in and I wanted to see what happened, the writing was only average and I felt there was more to the mother's childhood anxiety than we were told..making her reactions implausible in their intensity to some extent.
July 26, 2011
A very quick, yet gripping read. Highly recommended for thriller lovers!
May 24, 2012
read my review here ... http://bonnie-simple-beauty.blogspot....
June 21, 2012
Very quick read!
April 8, 2013
Found this book a little disappointing - preferred Still Waters.
September 22, 2013
Could not put this book down, quite like Noli's previous book A Mother's Tale. Less shocking and not as painful to read but still page-turning!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews