Sarra B. (sarradee) reviewed Rabbit-Proof Fence : The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time on + 47 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
For some reason, the white government in Australia decided that half-caste aboriginal children shouldn't be raised by their parents and would be better off living in camps in order to be trained as domestic servants. This is the story of Molly, Gracie and Daisy who escape from captivity and follow the rabbit-proof fence thousands of miles home to their families.
The story is a little dry, as it is told in a very no nonsense aboriginal manner, without the kind of examination of motivations or background information that western readers are accustomed to having. The movie is a great adjunct, as the director fleshes out the book while still remaining true to the story.
The story is a little dry, as it is told in a very no nonsense aboriginal manner, without the kind of examination of motivations or background information that western readers are accustomed to having. The movie is a great adjunct, as the director fleshes out the book while still remaining true to the story.
Marcia K. (marwan) reviewed Rabbit-Proof Fence : The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time on + 496 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
The girls performed a marvelous feet is surviving a 3 month long walk back home, but the
book is written mostly off telegrams and a few odd facts. There is no day by day account of what really happened, thus I found it lacking in excitement. I think I would have preferred a novel written about the story loosely based on their experience. I had
just been in Australia and did enjoy knowing what they were talking about after being in several of the places in the book. That made it more enjoyable for me.
book is written mostly off telegrams and a few odd facts. There is no day by day account of what really happened, thus I found it lacking in excitement. I think I would have preferred a novel written about the story loosely based on their experience. I had
just been in Australia and did enjoy knowing what they were talking about after being in several of the places in the book. That made it more enjoyable for me.
Susan M. (Book-Trader) reviewed Rabbit-Proof Fence : The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent, informative, eye-opening book....another example of mans' inhumanity to man, disturbing.
Denise V. (denisei) reviewed Rabbit-Proof Fence : The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Disappointing. I was so interested in this book, but found it very poorly written.
The first 30 pages were confusing because the rabbit-proof fence was referred to several times, but not explained until much later.
Ideas were not developed at all. Rather, factual statements were made and story-like accounts given, but it didn't flow in a logical way.
You would need to know something about the history on which this book is based in order to enjoy this book. It could have been such a good book, but it just wasn't written well. Should have been about 3 times longer with more explanations of what was going on, not just anecdotal details.
The first 30 pages were confusing because the rabbit-proof fence was referred to several times, but not explained until much later.
Ideas were not developed at all. Rather, factual statements were made and story-like accounts given, but it didn't flow in a logical way.
You would need to know something about the history on which this book is based in order to enjoy this book. It could have been such a good book, but it just wasn't written well. Should have been about 3 times longer with more explanations of what was going on, not just anecdotal details.
Maura (maura853) -
Helpful Score: 1
Heartfelt story of the author's mother's escape from the Australian government policy that took Aborigine children away from their families. I just wish I could say it was a better book.
Full of fascinating information about the lives and beliefs of Aboriginal Australians, and their relationship with the challenging land that their people had survived in for thousands of years, but it would have benefitted from a good editor. Oddly enough, not to tighten it up (which is most often with the problem with a family history written by a non-professional), but to explain more, to provide context and to place the children's odyssey into the Bigger Picture ... both of Aboriginal culture and the appalling policy that took these girls from their families.
Full of fascinating information about the lives and beliefs of Aboriginal Australians, and their relationship with the challenging land that their people had survived in for thousands of years, but it would have benefitted from a good editor. Oddly enough, not to tighten it up (which is most often with the problem with a family history written by a non-professional), but to explain more, to provide context and to place the children's odyssey into the Bigger Picture ... both of Aboriginal culture and the appalling policy that took these girls from their families.
