These Four Walls

by Susan Cameron

An enthralling tale of three generations of an East Coast family. Beginning in Depression-era Halifax, continuing to present day, it is the story of three orphaned sisters―the choices they make, the secrets they keep, and the consequences their children must deal with.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Book Club

500 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 16, 2009

Reviews

[Bev Walkling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book which spans several generations focusing mainly on the life of Rose, one of three sisters orphaned at an early age. Rose and her younger sister Lily are forced by the church out of a comfortable, caring foster home into an orphanage where residents are given numbers and live emotionally cold, regimented lives. Fifteen year old sister Violet is sent elsewhere and her sisters are not to know where ot why. Set shortly after the Halifax explosion and running through war and on to a time when Lily's daughter is in her middle ages (past child-bearing time), the story begins at Rose's death but quickly goes back to the time of her youth. Life is difficult for Rose. One way or another the people she loves either leave her or disappoint her. She possesses many skills but somehow doesn't seem to recognize how unique and talented she is. She lives a life of secrets and at her death, slowly some of the secrets are being revealed.

This is an interesting well written book. The writing style in the older section of the story was easier for me than that used when telling Barbara's part of the story. Don't expect anything madly exciting in this story. Over all it left me with a feeling of sadness for both Rose and her daughter.Times were tough back then. People suffered and there was still a class system that was hard to traverse. I wondrr if the four walls of the tigle were simply self-imposed barriers.

[Peggy Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting fiction about Depression-era Halifax and I would say, including Veith House (although it's not named as such in the book - it's referred to as the "Protestant Orphanage"). A mother-daughter multi-generational story showing the class differences in the city and the impact of the war on the city.

[Deane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give this story 3 1/2 stars because it is not quite a 4 for me. It is what I would call a 'nice' story....nothing really exciting in the writing; just a tale that evolves as the 3 sisters are placed in a Protestant orphanage after the death of their parents due to tuberculosis; their adjustment; their leaving at 16; getting jobs; making friends and boyfriends; living in the busy port of Halifax during WWII....and then suddenly we are at the end of their lives with a lot of information regarding the intervening larger part of their lives crammed into a few pages which made me feel 'cheated'.

My main reason for choosing this book to read was because it is set in Halifax, Nova Scotia and a boyfriend is from a village near Yarmouth, my home town.

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A narrative set in Halifax of a woman who grew up in a halifax and a world far removed from today.This book is not only a historical perspective of halifax in the twenties and thirties but also a view of the culture and influences of religion and the prevailing systemof dealing with homeless children

[Jess Van Dyne-Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book exploring relationships between sisters and friends. I think I especially liked it due to it being set in Halifax. Living close to there makes the story interesting.