The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Behind the Barbed Wire Fence

AnnOgochukwu

The first thing that endeared me to this book was the genre, historical fiction. The other thing was that the cover reminded me of one of my favorite childhood stories which was about a girl who was kidnapped and held captive by a witch. For the sake of the genre and cover page, I believe I would have sampled this book even if it wasn't for this program. But it was when I read the OBC official review that I knew for sure that I wanted to read this book.
Reading the sample hasn't changed my mind, I liked the storyline of the book, and I'm curious to know how it ends. Besides the interesting storyline, what I liked most about this book was its narration and diction. For the narration, the author skillfully employed the stream of consciousness device, and the story flowed from the present to the past and back to the present. The diction, while sophisticated, was easy to understand, and the descriptive use of words left vivid and realistic pictures imprinted in my head. Overall, I enjoyed reading the sample of this book, and the book itself already sits on my shelf.
The only improvement this book needs is re-editing. I noticed a few subtle errors, nothing distracting though. For instance, in this sentence: "Thus, the obligation to provide me with a semblance of normality, physically, emotionally and socially, fell to the compassionate nuns and doctors," there should have been a comma after 'emotionally'.

First Ten review added on November 24, 2020, at 4:42 am by AnnOgochukwu.

evraealtana

Like all of Jennie Linnane's books that I've seen so far, the cover looks like a page from a coloring book, which doesn't really appeal to me. The official OBC reviewer's summary was intriguing, but I didn't enjoy the contents of the sample enough to match my expectations. I was irritated by the anachronisms in WWII history. Lucy says that everyone knew a war was coming, consistent with the setting being 1938, but she also knew that "the evil Heinrich Himmler was the principal architect of the various killing devices, culminating in the use of gas chambers" and that "the rumors stated that...millions of Jewish people were being systematically exterminated". By the start of the war in 1939, there were only 6 camps in existence with a total of fewer than 30,000 inmates. Gas chambers weren't in use until 1941, after Himmler noted that the use of firing-squad executions, which was the current method, was taking a psychological toll on the executioners and that more efficient methods were needed. Also, the extermination of Jews was in its infancy early in the war and didn't really ramp up until late 1944 into 1945; it was at this time that the numbers reached into the millions. Also, the usage of extermination camps was not known outside Germany until the camps' liberation by the Allies in 1945. So how could a New Zealand school girl have known all of that in 1938? Lastly, the only setting we have - NZ, 1938 - applies to her captivity; it is likely that the war talk was prior to this point, and so she might not even have known who Hitler was at the time that she was in the convent. Given that I also didn't really enjoy the sample, this confusion of easily researchable facts killed it for me, and so I will not continue reading. I noted three errors in the first ten pages: a missing hyphen in "huge and ghost white" (ghost-white); a semicolon in place of a comma in "Indeed, it was the lifeline that kept me going; kept me sane"; and a semicolon in place of a comma in "I had met Eric in 1936; two years before I woke up in the barbed wire prison". Three errors in ten pages makes me concerned that, contrary to the official OBC reviewer's opinion, the remainder of the book is likewise poorly edited.

First Ten review added on November 24, 2020, at 4:19 am by evraealtana.

xsquare

I thought that the illustration style of the cover is a bit reminiscent of a children’s book. After reading the blurb, however, I realised that my initial assessment was wrong. I would’ve sampled the book based on the interesting blurb alone, and the stellar rating from the official OBC review only served to make me even more keen to start on the book. I was immediately hooked upon sampling the book. I loved the poetic style of the author’s writing and the way that the author has set up the premise. There were no typos that I saw and there was nothing that the author could have done better. I am certainly excited to read the rest of the book.

First Ten review added on November 24, 2020, at 3:51 am by xsquare.

Mutai Marshal

The story is about a young girl, Lucy. Having gave birth to the latter, her mother fled away, leaving the child at the mercies of nuns. Lucy, however, sympathizes with her mother by claiming that the factors surrounding her birth were so tough that she couldn't maneuver around. The book was written from the first-person perspective. I loved most how detailed it is. It made me to comprehend the message well. Based on the hypnotic title and cover page, I would have read this book without sampling. It hinted on life struggles, which is a theme I love being conversant with. Having read the riveting review by OBC and sample, I will buy this book since I love books that incorporate twists and suspense. I noticed that commas were left out at times by the author. It made it difficult for some sentences to flow (such as missed comma after "Perhaps" in page 11 of 102). Therefore, I presume that it was not edited professionally. I recommend another round of editing to give this book a fluid flow.

First Ten review added on November 24, 2020, at 3:01 am by Mutai Marshal.

Melisa Jane

I would have sampled this book based on its title because I wanted to read about this separation. After sampling it, I won't finish reading it because I found some punctuation errors. For instance, the first sentence should have a period after "1938." I didn't find anything likable within the sample pages. I recommend another round of editing. This book has an official OBC review

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 10:23 pm by Melisa Jane.

Wy_Bertram

No, I would not have individually sampled this book. The cover is a bit unexciting and the blurb has me split both ways. It mentions some interesting aspect of the book, but I'm put off by the parts I don't find so interesting.

Reading the first ten pages did change my perspective on the book, however, I'll ultimately have to pass on this one because it's not the kind of book I typically read. I don't imagine it would hold my interest for very long, and I would hate to abandon a book halfway through.

I noticed missing commas after introductory words in several examples like: "Increasingly Australians were learning of the notoriously monocratic speeches Hitler imposed on the masses."

I liked the author's writing style most. She is an absolute wordsmith.

This book received a perfect rating on the website.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 7:39 pm by Wy_Bertram.

Manang Muyang

The title, cover, and blurb taken together give a good picture of what to expect from the book. I found all three inviting. I also have a soft spot for Australia and know the author from her previous books, also BOTDs. So I would have sampled the book. As usual, I found Linnane's narrative fascinating. I admire her eloquence, beautiful imagery, and solid character development. However, I am not compelled to buy the book at this time. The writing has a good flow. The author has a bias for using semicolons, though, and some of them seem unnecessary. One such occasion is at 47% of the sample: "Indeed, it was that lifeline belief that kept me going; kept me sane." I believe it is a stylistic style, though. I read the official OBC review that awarded full stars to the book. I have no reason to question the rating. Still, I am not buying the book.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 7:25 pm by Manang Muyang.

Stephanie Runyon

The cover of the book doesn't give the depth of this book the justice it deserves. The title is appropriate and I would have sampled this book based on Jennie Linnane being the author. I have read and enjoyed her books "Ironbark Hill" and "Irma's Daughters." I read the OBC review and it was very encouraging about the contents of the story. I didn't find anything to dislike about what I read. The first person narration was detailed enough to envision the isolation of Lulu. The descriptions of her upbringing were not overly wordy and gave depth to the main character. The book appears to be professionally edited. I was drawn into the story and ended up reading more than 10 pages. I will finish the book. I have no suggestions for improvement except maybe a different cover design to present a more powerful presentation.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 7:14 pm by Stephanie Runyon.

Gabrielle Sigaki

Behind the Barbed Wire Fence by Jennie Linnane is a historical fiction book that brings some aspects of the pre-war in Australia and some issues such as domestic abuse. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review that I saw and based on its genre since I have recently read a similar novel about domestic violence like this one. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind, and I won't read the entire novel since I have recently read a book about the same principal theme. However, I enjoyed the fact that the author brings historical aspects to this book, which gives it a unique aspect. Besides, the book seems professionally edited, and there's nothing to be improved in it.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 5:08 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.

Ari Martinez

If it wasn't for the First Ten program, I would not have sampled this book based on its title or cover because it did not catch my attention. However, the Official OnlineBookClub review left a good impression on me of the book, so I would have sampled it because of it. After reading the first ten pages, I have decided not to read the rest of the book because I do not want to read a tragic story at the moment, which is what this book appears to be. My favorite part of what I read was the way it starts at a later part of the narrator's life and then goes back to her childhood. I felt it made her story more intriguing. The book seems professionally edited, and there is nothing I would change about it to improve it.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 4:53 am by Ari Martinez.

Aubrey Lewis

The overall appearance of the book fits the story title but it's not very eye-catching, in my opinion. When I read through the official OBC review, I felt that I wouldn't be able to appreciate the book since I'm not fond of reading historical fiction, especially ones involving abuse of any kind. If I weren't a part of this program, I wouldn't have read the sample at all since the book's cover, genres, and summary didn't interest me enough to want to check it out willingly.

When I finished sampling the first ten pages, I decided not to read the rest of the book. The contents seemed professionally edited so far, and the author's writing style was sophisticated in terms of vocabulary. I liked that it was written in first-person point of view since it gave me access to Lucy's thoughts. The thought of her captivity disturbed me though, and I wondered how she got into that kind of situation in the first place. Sister Casima so far seemed like a blessing in her life and I also wonder what Eric's background is really like.

Unfortunately, although the story has potential, nothing really piqued my interest enough to keep on reading, so I'll have to pass on this one. Since my reason is due to my own personal preference, I don't think there are any improvements the author needs to make.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 4:37 am by Aubrey Lewis.

Rodel Barnachea

After I pored over the book's official OBC review and Amazon page, I decided not to purchase the book. To begin with, the book's cover, genre, and title did not appeal to me. Nothing in the plot or the characters interests me. I believe it's a matter of personal taste. Sampling the title did not change my mind. I wouldn't purchase the book for similar reasons I stated above; it's also because nothing in the sample convinced me to read the rest of the story. The sample contains Chapters 1 and 2 and some pages of Chapter 3. What I liked most is reading about the cat that keeps her company while she is imprisoned in the house. I also liked reading about her hobby of writing. I didn't note any errors in the sample, so I believe the title is professionally edited. I have nothing to suggest to the author.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 3:06 am by Rodel Barnachea.

Hazel Arnaiz

I will not sample the book outside the program. The cover was not captivating. The colors were pale, and I think the drawing needed more sharpness. The title reminded me of someone held captive. However, the woman on the cover was merely looking beyond the fence. She did not express the intentions of escaping. She just looked in deep thought. I am uncertain if this was intentional. Also, I seldom read this genre. The blurb was clear and concise, just enough to provide an idea about the story. There were a few customer reviews, which were all positive. After sampling, I appreciated the writing style. The detailed descriptions were enough to draw mental images. It included only relevant points, which made the story flow smoothly and kept a steady pace. With regards to editing, I did not notice errors. As for improvements, I have no further suggestions. The official OnlineBookClub review was insightful, which made me reconsider to keep this book in mind. But for now, I will pass.

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 2:47 am by Hazel Arnaiz.

Sou Hi

If it's not for this program, I don't think I would go for this book. The cover depicts the title well, but it's not attractive. There are not many responses from Amazon's customers, but the official review looks interesting, so I opted for the sample. It begins with Lucy being trapped in a stranger's house, forced to cook for the house owner and his dogs. The scene then switches back to her past, where she recalled the matters with her mother, the nun who took care of her, and her love interest.

I like the concept of this book, with the pre-war theme and the Great Depression. However, the flow is not very smooth. I feel that some parts don't connect well, since there's no proper timeline. It's as if the narrator just says whatever comes to her mind. Also, without Amazon's summary, I wouldn't understand what happened to Lucy at all. While the editing seems fine, there are some weird punctuation marks usages, such as lack of commas, or an ellipsis is used instead of a period. The content is not very intriguing either. Since it does not pique my interest, I will not buy this.

Error example: 1938 The bushland, somewhere between the coast and the hinterland -> Should be [1938. The bushland]

First Ten review added on November 23, 2020, at 2:36 am by Sou Hi.

Jorge Leon Salazar

The story begins in 1938 and is told in the first-person perspective. Lucy, the main character, is held captive in a place surrounded by barbed wire. Her jailer has several huge and menacing dogs. She plans to escape. Next, the narrative goes back to tell about Lucy's birth in St. Declan’s convent. Subsequently, the book recounts her woes of being abandoned by her mother after she was born with a gaping cleft palate defect.
From what I read in the first pages, the story seems simple but well structured and presented. An interesting plot looms around Lucy's kidnapping about whether or not she can escape. Plus, there is an eventual romance with Eric. This is confirmed in the official review, which is very flattering for the book. However, the story did not capture me completely; it seems that the plot is encapsulated only in the possible escape of Lucy. In addition, the development around the romance with Eric seems predictable, and with much drama for my taste. The editing seems outstanding as I didn't see any errors or typos. I only saw a detail in the table of contents where the title of chapter 2 appears in larger and highlighted letters. The cover is very striking by showing a woman behind a barbed-wire fence. In conclusion, I think I will not read the rest of the book.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 8:49 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.

LinaJan

When I first laid my eyes on ‘Behind the Barbed Wire Fence’ by Jennie Linnane, I did not have a clue what it was about. But if I were browsing at a bookstore and spotted it from afar, the cover and the title of this book would have carried me over straight to it, and no crowd could have stopped me. I cannot pinpoint why it seems to have such power over me; I also do not know why the cover and the title made me think of Tom Sawyer. Upon reading the official onlinebookclub.org review, I found myself intrigued and wanting more. Having also had the opportunity to sample ‘Behind the Barbed Wire Fence,’ I found myself seething at the telling of a woman’s position in those days. Soon, even with the prior knowledge of what is to come acquired from the review, I found myself rooting for Lulu when she first laid her eyes on Eric. I find the book to be written in an enthralling manner; it also seems to be professionally proofread. I cannot wait to find out how Lulu’s story develops.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 6:30 pm by LinaJan.

Odette Chace

I like the alliteration of the title but do not like the cover. I particularly dislike how purple the woman's skin is. The synopsis on Amazon left me feeling confused. For one, I was unfamiliar with the slang term "humpy." More importantly, however, the synopsis just goes from Lucy being imprisoned to her being "indirectly affected" by antisemitism. These events seem like they belong in different books. The official Online Book Club review gave the work a perfect rating of 4 out of 4 stars. The review didn't contain a lot of analysis or new information about the book, so it didn't impact my opinion at all. I probably wouldn't have sampled the book if I weren't part of this program. However, I enjoyed the sample more than I anticipated and was glad that the backdrop of WWII was included from the beginning of the work. I have hope that the book is much less disjointed than the synopsis. I found Lucy relatable and she had a clear voice. Unfortunately, the book seems rather depressing and I'm not invested enough to finish reading the book. I did not notice any errors in the sample and believe the work was professionally edited.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 4:54 pm by Odette Chace.

AntonelaMaria

I liked the sample but I am not interested enough to buy and read the rest of the book. I feel like the sample didn't give me enough information to go on. It was a bit confusing. But after reading the Offical OnlineBookClub review I got the idea about the storyline. I think it is an interesting and emotional read but I am not curious nor am I in the mood to read this book. I didn't notice any grammatical errors. I wouldn't change anything about the book. However, the cover could be more aesthetically pleasing.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 4:35 pm by AntonelaMaria.

Bertha Jackson

I like everything about this book. The title, cover, genre, blurb, and OnlineBookClub review reinforced my desire to read this book. The amazon customer reviews do not really say anything about the book. The book appears to have been professionally-edited because I did not see any errors in the first ten pages. I have purchased and added this book to my WTR bookshelf, and I hope to read it after I finish my current book. I did not see anything in the first ten pages to change. I do find the use of UK and Australian terminology a little distracting. For instance, I had to look up what a “humpy” was.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 4:23 pm by Bertha Jackson.

Timothy Rucinski

From the review and cover, I would never have selected this book to read. I'm not interested, right now, in reading about spousal abuse and imprisonment. The first ten pages are perfectly in line with the review. However, at first glance, I thought the cover, because of the light pastel colors, was for a kiddie book. That reason alone would have had me pass on this in a bookstore.
Perhaps a darker cover would strike the note of the possible horror within. The writing is very well done and the book appears to be professionally edited as I saw no errors. There isn't anything about it that I did not like, other than the subject matter. The only recommendation for improvement is do redo the cover.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 4:17 pm by Timothy Rucinski.

Kirsi Cultrera

I did not enjoy the appearance of this book. I felt the cover was somewhat childish, and I would’ve probably skipped checking this book out if it wasn’t for the First Ten program. I recall reading an Official OnlineBookClub review of this book earlier, and it did paint a far more interesting picture of this story than the outward appearance leads me to expect. I enjoyed reading the sample pages, as the author’s writing style was catching. I would’ve hoped for a faster pace in plot development, but on the other hand, that would’ve probably had a devastating influence on the chosen writing style. I found myself feeling sorry for the protagonist, who was up for some trouble because of her own bad choices. The historical aspects of the story were interesting and enjoyable. The book seemed professionally edited to me. I am sure many readers will find this piece enjoyable, but for myself, I found the topic a bit too heavy. Lately, I’ve been choosing mostly happy books for reading, and even though the contents of this book were heart-wrenching, I doubt they would’ve turned out fortunate.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 3:59 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.

Diana Lowery

Even though the mention of barbed wire in the title evokes happy, childhood memories of my grandparents' farm, the cover of the sad woman reminds me of a concentration camp. I would not have chosen to read this book for that reason. However, I recognized the name of the author from another of her books, so I was interested. The blurb mentioned that the setting was during the Great Depression which also sounded interesting. The review described the book as captivating, which was another plus. Reading the first ten pages, I was confused by the word "humpy" but then realized that the setting was in Australia, so it made more sense that I didn't know the meaning of that word. I did not see any errors, and because I like the author's writing style,and the fact that it is set in Australia, I will finish reading the book. I did not see anything that needed to be improved.

First Ten review added on November 22, 2020, at 3:59 pm by Diana Lowery.

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