Back to Broady

'Back to Broady is at times hard going as you become emotionally invested in the lives of the Egan and Gleeson families. But even though turning the page can sometimes fill you with trepidation, you can't help yourself: you are desperate to find out what happens next, and you want it to be good news.' The Australian 'There are a lot of good times, struggle and tragedy, but Caroline van de Pol never sentimentalises her subject. As the pace draws her back, she catches that sense of deep, unlikely attachment - even in the January heat - for the housing commission place that made her.' The Age and Sydney Morning Herald 'It is courageous people who can write about times where growing up with tragedy, love and poverty, blend and become a part of the person you are.' Blue Wolf Reviews 'A complex yet compelling read. Caroline shows us what it was like to grow up in a large Irish Catholic family in one of the poorer suburbs of Melbourne. The laughter, the tears, the joy, the hopelessness and the hope. In spite of the at times almost insurmountable odds, the family is held together by a strong bond of love and shared experiences. I found this book very enjoyable and satisfying to read, from start to finish.' Good Reads 'Any memory of childhood or youth is usually filled with the joys remembered and only occasionally tinged with sorrow regret and hardtimes . This book has a little of each in almost equal measure but the true test of autobiographical writings is how truly honest and exposed the author allows themselves to be. In this book the author leaves no doubt as to the authenticity of her exposure level, with raw emotion the overidding feature. An enjoyable but often confronting read and a must for anybody looking to come terms with the pain of loss.' Amazon