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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
The novel centers around a traumatic event that ultimately brings a family together in healing. It's heartbreaking and moving and a little inspirational as these women all work together, support each other, and grow.
A gripping story about an event that has a rippling effect on every member of a family, but also about the generational trauma that can inform the actions of both victims and aggressors. There's a trigger warning at the beginning but Vermette is such a gentle storyteller so that the violence never feels sensational and glorifying. A quote near the end that sums up the feeling you're left with: "All these good women, holding each other up."
Oh my heart. The vicious cycle of violence is ever present in this book. My heart broke over and over and over again as the truth of what happened that awful night unfolded. About half way through this novel I realized I wish I had made a family tree because the more characters where introduced the more I realized how deeply routed and connected all of this was. I will say though, it was interesting that this assault was done to a female by a female, it is not a dynamic that is seen often but it doesn't mean it doesn't happen and exploring it offers a chance for people that experience "lesser occurring crimes" to feel represented. Not that it excuses Phoenix but to know that she was conceived via rape and then to commit rape herself brings a whole new level to the vicious cycle. My heart broke for every individual in this novel.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found the writing to be average at best and a bit disjointed, and the editing could have been better as well, as there were various typos that detracted from the reading experience. The multiple perspectives of the characters were not seamlessly integrated and it made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Furthermore, the incident at the centre of the book seemed a bit unrealistic. The characters in the novel were not well-developed and I was unable to connect with them emotionally.
Amazing that the author kept and evidenced the humanity in such a hard story. Impressively powerful and resonant ending without being sentimental or simplistic.
This book should have won Canada Reads 2017. No offense to [b:Fifteen Dogs|23129923|Fifteen Dogs|André Alexis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447727528s/23129923.jpg|42677741], which is also a fantastic book, but The Break is far more poignant and topical to present-day Canada. Compelling and well-written, I recommend this to all readers (except, perhaps, those to whom the trigger warning on the front pages applies).
Wow, I'm so glad I read this book *after* The Strangers!
Without spoiling, I had far more empathy for a reoccurring character in The Strangers, having read that one first.
Also, I found the characters to have the depth that I thought The Strangers lacked.
Recommended. I hope she writes more about these characters. The Break makes me want more of this storyline.
Without spoiling, I had far more empathy for a reoccurring character in The Strangers, having read that one first.
Also, I found the characters to have the depth that I thought The Strangers lacked.
Recommended. I hope she writes more about these characters. The Break makes me want more of this storyline.