Scan barcode
stars_are_weird's review
4.0
Not nearly as spooky as I was hoping for when I picked it up. But it was still pretty good. Definitely a keep-and-reread type of book
mad_about_books's review
5.0
Have you ever read a work of fiction that just blew you away? A book or story that made you swear you would read everything the author wrote? I made myself that promise after reading Norman Prentiss' book ODD ADVENTURES WITH YOUR OTHER FATHER. His writing is uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time. Funny how those promises slip away until you find yourself want to read something that will take you out of yourself even if only for a little while.
Norman Prentiss' mastery of language makes reading INVISIBLE FENCES both psychologically disturbing and beautifully enlightening. He takes the 'invisible fence' metaphor far beyond our initial thought of keeping a dog within the confines of a property without chain links or pickets. The main theme is about childhood memories and how they build a fence around adult behavior.
INVISIBLE FENCES is a book to be savored.
Norman Prentiss' mastery of language makes reading INVISIBLE FENCES both psychologically disturbing and beautifully enlightening. He takes the 'invisible fence' metaphor far beyond our initial thought of keeping a dog within the confines of a property without chain links or pickets. The main theme is about childhood memories and how they build a fence around adult behavior.
INVISIBLE FENCES is a book to be savored.
verkisto's review
4.0
Before reading this novella, I thought "Quiet Horror" was a realm to which only Charles L. Grant belonged. He's still a one-and-only (the atmosphere he creates is unique), but Norman Prentiss is an author who understands it well enough to do his own version of a Charles L. Grant story. Invisible Fences is it.
The title refers to those devices used to keep dogs in yards, using a collar and an underground perimeter line. The author expounds on the idea by telling us how parents create invisible fences for their children: don't cross this street because a car could run you over; don't go into the woods because the junkies shoot up back there; don't leave the yard because we don't trust the people who live down the road. Sometimes it's for our own good, but it's the self-inflicted fences we create that can do the most damage, like when we stop leaving the house after one of our children dies.
The story takes its time building up the narrator and main character, from the time he was around eight to the time when he's in his thirties. He tells us the story of his childhood and those fences, and despite the point sometimes eluding us, the story is strangely compelling. Prentiss has a natural style that draws us in, and he has an eye for detail and an ear for dialogue. It's disarming, all the more so when the ball finally drops and we understand the reality of what we've been reading. It's chill-inducing.
Like Grant's In a Dark Dream, the story builds up toward its ending. Parts of it seem unimportant, and readers might find themselves questioning the point of it all; all I can say is "Hang in there." It will come.
I had already added Prentiss to my "authors to read" list, thanks to his short stories in the Dark Screams anthologies I read, but Invisible Fences reinforces that decision. I'm not sure if all of his stories have this quiet effect, but it only took two short stories and a novella to see how effective he is, so I'll be here for the long haul.
The title refers to those devices used to keep dogs in yards, using a collar and an underground perimeter line. The author expounds on the idea by telling us how parents create invisible fences for their children: don't cross this street because a car could run you over; don't go into the woods because the junkies shoot up back there; don't leave the yard because we don't trust the people who live down the road. Sometimes it's for our own good, but it's the self-inflicted fences we create that can do the most damage, like when we stop leaving the house after one of our children dies.
The story takes its time building up the narrator and main character, from the time he was around eight to the time when he's in his thirties. He tells us the story of his childhood and those fences, and despite the point sometimes eluding us, the story is strangely compelling. Prentiss has a natural style that draws us in, and he has an eye for detail and an ear for dialogue. It's disarming, all the more so when the ball finally drops and we understand the reality of what we've been reading. It's chill-inducing.
Like Grant's In a Dark Dream, the story builds up toward its ending. Parts of it seem unimportant, and readers might find themselves questioning the point of it all; all I can say is "Hang in there." It will come.
I had already added Prentiss to my "authors to read" list, thanks to his short stories in the Dark Screams anthologies I read, but Invisible Fences reinforces that decision. I'm not sure if all of his stories have this quiet effect, but it only took two short stories and a novella to see how effective he is, so I'll be here for the long haul.
kkehoe's review
4.0
A true haunting, one of ghosts and memories, wrapped in a tale of childhood and it's lasting effects, very well written and universally relevant despite the specific traumas of our own pasts.
jeanne25's review
3.0
Kind of slow at first but written well. It did pick up. Probably not something I would have bought for myself but I enjoyed it ok. I did like the way the story completed itself and the ending.
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
It's taken me a while to write this review because it's not clear to me how to do it without spoiling everything. Since I don't want to do that, I will be brief.
This is a coming of age tale, (sort of), involving young Nathan, his sister Pam, the baby sister they both lost, and their parents, (each dealing with the loss of their daughter in a different way.)
In the end, Invisible Fences is a literary ghost story. It doesn't show its cards until near the very end and when it is done, you will be forced to fold yours. It's powerful, sad and realistic.
The title refers to stories, (or warnings), that our parents told us, which drew invisible lines, we as children, shouldn't cross. Don't go in the woods, there are drug fiends in there! You know, things like that.
Let's review-powerful, sad and so realistic that the I felt as if I could reach out and touch the characters- any one of them-they were that solid. I also believe that I will be thinking about them for a while.
I highly recommend this novella for fans of literary dark fiction!
This is a coming of age tale, (sort of), involving young Nathan, his sister Pam, the baby sister they both lost, and their parents, (each dealing with the loss of their daughter in a different way.)
In the end, Invisible Fences is a literary ghost story. It doesn't show its cards until near the very end and when it is done, you will be forced to fold yours. It's powerful, sad and realistic.
The title refers to stories, (or warnings), that our parents told us, which drew invisible lines, we as children, shouldn't cross. Don't go in the woods, there are drug fiends in there! You know, things like that.
Let's review-powerful, sad and so realistic that the I felt as if I could reach out and touch the characters- any one of them-they were that solid. I also believe that I will be thinking about them for a while.
I highly recommend this novella for fans of literary dark fiction!
More...