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Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > Behind Closed Doors review
What is the real story behind the Exclusive Brethren Church in New Zealand?
This gripping and revealing first-hand account tells of one family's experience in the Exclusive Brethren community in New Zealand. Ngaire Thomas grew up, married and raised her children within the church. In plain, non-judgemental style, Ngaire describes life inside this community, with its strict rules.
Behind Closed Doors tells of the struggle Ngaire and her family went through in order to remain within this close but challenging community. She and her husband Denis, a very devout man, had a strong and committed marriage, raised five children and attempted to live a good life within the church. However, they were eventually excommunicated. Here Ngaire describes the trauma of adjusting to life 'on the outside' and its devastating effects on her children at the time.
This is a fascinating window into a world that few of us will ever know - told by a brave, intelligent and compassionate woman.
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Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 5th of September, 2005
This is not the sort of book I would normally read. However, once I had started reading it, I was unable to put it down. This was compulsive reading and I was gripped from start to finish. Fiction holds little interest to me, real life and other peoples' experiences of it enthral me.
I half expected when I first picked up this book to be confronted with years of bile released within these pages, this was not the case. What I did get was a non-judgemental, and what I assume was a non-biased account of Ngaire Thomas' life within the Exclusive Brethren and of the attitudes of those people involved with the Exclusive Brethren.
Ngaire recounts just how much of an impact that the Brethren has on the lives of its members, both from her own personal experience and the experiences recounted to her by other ex-members who have broken their silence to reveal the truth and the secrets behind the workings of the Brethren. She also reveals to what extent the Brethren influence the lives of its excommunicated member in their attitudes to life, and the separation caused by splitting families.
Ngaire's story will be of interest to many, from those who have been associated with the Brethren, to those who have encountered the Brethren. It would be of interest to those who have been affected and had their families split by the Brethren's strict policies dictated by one man's interpretation of the bible. Even if you do not think this book would appeal to you, I do urge you to read it-you will be surprised.
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