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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. I listened to the audiobook from the library and then ordered a hardback copy for my shelf so I can look it over. I have already told at least 20 people to read it. It was the kind of book I couldn't put down because I wanted to finish it (which I did this morning while avoiding work in my pajamas for an unseemly amount of time), but also didn't want to continue reading solely because I didn't want it to end.
Maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of crime shows, but the intersection of crime x women's stories x family saga x indigenous lives x teaching us something with the best kind of heartbreak x gorgeous writing slayed me. This is the best book I read this year and will surely be among my longtime favorites.
I read that in the print edition, there's a family/genealogy chart to help keep track of the characters, but I was able to stay oriented in the audiobook (ably and beautifully read by Michaela Washburn, who, like Vermette, is of Métis descent).
The story spirals around a crime that occurs in the Break, an open swath of snowy land in north Winnipeg. There's a witness, and a victim, and another victim, and everyone has had something happen to them and been strong or not been strong, and gradually we learn the stories of each character. At times I held my breath worrying about them.
In the end, there's a beautiful resolution in several parts--fitting for the book's construction, which holds so many stories--that brought me to tears, and to tears again. I felt for the characters in the story, and I felt for the overlying metaphoric and not-so-metaphoric story of what has happened to this continent's indigenous people after the Europeans.
Anyway -- read it.
Maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of crime shows, but the intersection of crime x women's stories x family saga x indigenous lives x teaching us something with the best kind of heartbreak x gorgeous writing slayed me. This is the best book I read this year and will surely be among my longtime favorites.
I read that in the print edition, there's a family/genealogy chart to help keep track of the characters, but I was able to stay oriented in the audiobook (ably and beautifully read by Michaela Washburn, who, like Vermette, is of Métis descent).
The story spirals around a crime that occurs in the Break, an open swath of snowy land in north Winnipeg. There's a witness, and a victim, and another victim, and everyone has had something happen to them and been strong or not been strong, and gradually we learn the stories of each character. At times I held my breath worrying about them.
In the end, there's a beautiful resolution in several parts--fitting for the book's construction, which holds so many stories--that brought me to tears, and to tears again.
Spoiler
(I especially loved that ultimately, Emily gets to tell her story herself.)Anyway -- read it.
4.5 stars. Katherena Vermette is a very talented writer. I found the characters a bit hard to keep track of sometimes so I'm grateful she included a family tree at the beginning.
A powerful story of Métis life in a gritty urban setting. The Break follows a heartbreaking storyline of a young girl attacked and left in the snow. As the reader gets to know the various friends, family, the dynamics within the Métis community, and between Métis and white Canadians, we find that nothing is as it seems.
This audiobook was excellent. It's a heavy story told from the viewpoints of mostly women. It's real and raw and gritty. The narration was fantastic.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Sexual assault, Alcohol
Booooring. Easy enough read though. No wonder it was always available to borrow on Libby. There were too many characters which made me really confused most of the book. Up until the end, really. Also, kind of a sad story as non of these women had a healthy relationship with a man. Apparently man = bad in this story. It was weird.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes